Eugene Computer Geeks Blog

Have the FBI / Monkeypak virus?  You’re not alone. It’s been spreading like crazy and wreaking havoc among the nation.  Eugene Computer Geeks removes the FBI virus for only $30!

The FBI virus is a scam called scareware or a Ransom virus. It is downloaded accidentally, and then locks users out of their computer and claims they need to pay the FBI $200 to avoid prosecution by using the anonymous payment service Moneypak.  Don’t fall for the scam! Hire Eugene Computer Geeks to remove it for you.

Our virus specialist comes on-site at no additional cost (if within the Eugene / Springfield, Oregon city limits).  Scheduled drop-offs available upon request.

This is a guaranteed service, and we have lots of experience with removing this particular virus.  Our competitors charge as high as $200 to $300 to remove it.  We find this unjustified considering it only takes 5-15 minutes to properly remove.

FBI VIRUS REMOVAL SERVICE: -$30! Guaranteed removal. Takes about 5-15 minutes.  On-site removal  This service is for removal of the FBI Virus only.

FULL VIRUS REMOVAL AND PREVENTION SERVICE: -$60! 2 hour service. Removal of FBI / Moneypak virus and all other viruses, malware, spyware, and adware. Most PC’s infected with the FBI virus are infected with other Viruses or Malware as well.  We also install advertisement blocking software, and ensure you have adequate protection installed and setup correctly.  Our Geeks install a malware cleaning tool, tutor users how to stop viruses, and how to properly maintain their PC.

Remote Removal may be available upon request, even if you are not in Oregon.

Call (541) 357-7222 or email [email protected]

Many people do not know that they can actually get spyware on their mobile phones, but the issue is becoming more prevalent as mobile users increase their mobile Web traffic, download and share files and otherwise compromise the safety of their phones. It is possible to enjoy all of your favorite mobile features on your without subjecting your phone to spyware and other risky issues, but it is important to take a few precautions in order to protect yourself and your information.

Install Security Software

Just as you can use anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your computer, you can purchase and download protection for your mobile phone. Although security software is not completely foolproof, it can help keep your mobile phone free of threats. Several moderately priced mobile security software options are available in the Amazon, Android and Apple mobile app stores.

Turn Off Your Bluetooth

Bluetooth literally opens your phone up to communicate with other wireless devices. Malicious users are quite adept at locating and infiltrating mobile devices whose Bluetooth settings are active; it takes very little time to install a malware packet for a savvy techno-hacker. Unless you are in the process of exchanging information with a known user or chatting away on a hands-free device, your Bluetooth should be disconnected.

Avoid Suspicious Websites and Text Messages

If you find a site on the mobile Web that makes you a bit suspicious, you are better off avoiding it altogether. Text messages received from unfamiliar numbers should be discarded immediately. Often, these spam texts offer links or downloads to receive exclusive deals or products. Unless you opted to receive text ads from a company, be wary of these messages.

Be Careful When Downloading

Downloading ringtones, games and other applications can put your mobile phone at a high risk for spyware. Although many websites offer legitimate products, a mobile app from a scammer may be hard to detect, especially in the Amazon and Android marketplaces, Google Play, as these have an open policy for submitting downloadable material. Apple’s app store offerings are tested prior to being listed, so iOS users have a lesser chance of contracting a mobile virus than Android users if they stick to the marketplace. Read user reviews and be sure that you trust the source of a download before putting any software onto your mobile.

Look For the Signs

There are several easily identifiable signals that may indicate that your phone has been compromised by malware or spyware. Thoroughly examine the software contents of your mobile if any of the following behaviors manifest:

– The screen randomly lights up when no one has touched it.

– It connects to the Internet randomly throughout the day.

– It makes strange noises during mobile voice calls.

If you have noticed any of these signs, you should take your phone to your service provider. Someone from your mobile phone company can completely clean out your phone and restore it to its original settings, which will get rid of any spyware which you may have downloaded.

by Jaye Ryan, a freelance author who enjoys writing about mobile phone security and safety for MobilePhones.org.uk.

The time of malware/virus free Macs has permanently passed us. It seems that most Mac users believe that they are invulnerable to attack; the reasoning is that Macs have such a low market share that there is no reason to target and attack them. While true, it is also a rapidly growing market share that hasn’t gone unnoticed by hackers. The entire IOS is under attack, even iPhones and iPads are not safe either.

Apple has outpaced the growth of the PC industry for 23 straight quarters, making Apple products a very compelling target for hackers. The main vulnerability comes from Java programs, using drive-by-download methods infecting your Mac just by visiting websites, and the new web standard HTML 5. As HTML 5 comes to be malware will actually infect and run in your browser without you knowing, it will most likely be used to attack other computers to cover the hacker’s tracks and make you look like the culprit. This is a scary and sobering fact that should not be overlooked.

Many of the same infections affecting PC computers are moving to the Mac market. Scare-ware as previously mentioned on our site is becoming more prevalent affecting up to 600,000 computers this year, with 98% being Mac computers. One of the biggest threats to the Mac OS has been termed flashback; it poses as the Adobe flash installer program infecting your computer. If you don’t have it already download X project from the Apple App Store, in the newer versions of the Mac OS is a built-in malware scanner. Now is the time to take action, you need-you have to protect your Mac.

Although hackers have realized that Macs are great targets, Apple has begun stepping its game up and is beginning to beat the security drum. The new version and all future versions of Mac OS will have tightened security with a feature called gatekeeper. Gatekeeper is a new protection tool which you need, to help keep you safe, it requires all developers to register with Apple and have their applications verified and signed by Apple before their release to the general public. When installing software on your Mac make sure to use Apple signed software unless you specifically know where the software is coming from. iAntivirus is a great free app which you can find on the App Store developed by Norton a trusted security company, you can and should download it to seamlessly scan your system for any possible threats.

For many people, computers have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. We rely on them for communication, school, office work or for simply getting information from the internet. Your home computer can be vulnerable to damage just like any other machine in your house, especially when you are connected to the internet.[1] Therefore, it is important that you learn and take measures in order to protect your home computer from any potential damage.

Most infections require user interaction in order to be activated.[2] The virus usually requires you download and run an application from a malicious website or as an e-mail attachment. Always ensure that all Windows updates are applied. Before installing a new application, you should consider the potential risks. Do you really need this new application? Do you trust the author?

Spyware and adware can also have an impact on the performance of your computer.[3] A good way to scan your computer for spyware and adware is by using an anti-spyware package, such as Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/). This package is available free of charge.

You should always ensure that you install a personal firewall if your computer is not behind a router. A router bridges devices together with NAT, and usually has a built-in firewall. A firewall is important as it acts as a filter which protects your computer from malicious content from the internet. Some popular software firewalls can be found at the MakeUseOf website (http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-top-firewall-programs-computers-security/).

Another important method for home computer repair is system restore. It is important that you are aware of how to create restore points on your computer. If there is any damage to your computer, you can restore your computer to a previously secure checkpoint. In order to prevent loss of data it is also recommended that you back up your computer’s data on a regular basis.

If you would like to switch to an operating system less frequently targeted by hackers, and have a much more stable computer, it may be worth looking into desktop-friendly Linux distributions. Do not be fooled- switching to Linux or Mac OS does not mean a more secure computer by itself.[4] Steps must be taken to ensure the security of your computer, no matter what operating system is installed.

Please check out our article on “15 Things Every PC User Should Know“.

[1] “Computer virus – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.” 2003. 5 Jul. 2012 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus>

[2] “How to Protect Your PC – Rhode Island State Division of Information …” 2010. 5 Jul. 2012 <http://www.doit.ri.gov/security/protect/index.php>

[3] “Spyware Workshop Report.” 2005. 5 Jul. 2012 <http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/03/050307spywarerpt.pdf>

[4] “Mac OS X Report: Virus Infects 600000 Computers – ABC News.” 2012. 5 Jul. 2012 <http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/04/mac-os-x-report-virus-infects-600000-computers/>

If you are reading this article then you are probably looking for information regarding home computer repair check points.

For many people computers have become an indispensable part of our daily lives and we rely on them for communication, for school and office work or for simply getting information from the internet.

It is true that your home computer can be vulnerable to damage just like any other machine in your house, particularly when you are connected to the internet. Therefore it is important that you learn and take measures in order to protect your home computer from any potential damage. In this article I will discuss some of the most important tools that play a key role with regard to home computer protection as well as home computer repair methods.

You must ensure that you invest in a recommended anti-virus software which can provide you with continuous online protection. It is important to point out that anti-virus software provides fixes for the latest viruses and it also helps to secure your computer against phishing and spamming. It is essential that you update your anti-virus package on a regular basis. The most popular anti-virus packages include McAfee, BitDefender, F-Secure, Kaspersky Lab, Symantec Norton and Panda. (Our Favorite being Kaspersky.) A typical package will usually cost between $30 and $60, however it is important to note that some of the best anti-virus packages are actually available free of charge, such as Avast, Microsoft Security Essentials, Avira, and AVG. (We feel Avast is the best free option.)

Spyware and adware can have an impact on the performance of your computer. A good computer repair and protection method is to scan your computer using an anti-spyware or anti-adware package such as Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware, Ad-Aware and Spyboy Search and Destroy. The great thing is that these packages are actually available online free of charge, and they do not conflict with your regular anti-virus program.

It is also very important that you update your home computer on a regular basis with recommended and critical updates as these help to protect your home computer against potential damages as well as rectifying non-functional devices.

You should always ensure that you install a personal firewall if your computer is not behind a router, because a router has a built-in physical firewall. (If you use wireless, or have more than one computer connected to your network at once, you are behind a router and safe.). A firewall is important as it acts as a filter which protects your computer from malicious content from the internet. Some of the popular firewalls include Norton, McAfee and Zone Alarm.

Disk Defragmentation and Disk Cleanup are critical tools that come built-in with your computer and these are important home computer repair methods as they help free up space on your computer, therefore make sure you run these tools on a regular basis.

The Error-checking utility is another built-in home computer repair utility which checks the hard disk for bad sectors and will also attempt to recover them.

Another important method for home computer repair is system restore. It is important that you are aware that you can create restore points on your computer so if there is any damage you can then restore your computer to a previously secure checkpoint. In order to prevent loss of data it is also recommended that you back up your data on a regular basis.

Finally, If you don’t want to worry about viruses, and have a much more stable and secure PC, switch to the free OS, or “Operating System”, called “Linux”. By far the best way to have a secure checkpoint is to switch to Linux, which is easy to use nowadays.

Overall, Apple still makes a much more stable and secure product, but the price is signifigantly higher than a PC.
Please check out our article on “15 Things Every PC User Should Know“.

Article by Eugene Computer Geeks.  Offering In-Home Computer Repair in Eugene, Oregon.

1. Clean the Junk off your computer regularly.
Download the free program CCleaner and click “Run Cleaner” to clean the
junk that piles up on your computer, including history, temporary internet
files, cookies, recycle bin, and much more. You can also use the built-in
Windows tool “Disk Cleaner”, which isn’t as thorough as CCleaner, but
better than not running anything at all.

2. Defragment Hard Drive.
If you have Windows 7 or Vista, Defragment is scheduled to run
automatically once a week. Defragmenting keeps the hard drive running fast
and organized. For XP you need to run the degrag program manually. For
Vista and Windows 7, check to make sure the defrag has been running
regularly. I recommend turning off the auto defrag and downloading “Smart
Defrag” by IObit which will defrag your computer whenever your idle, and
it and does a much better job defraging than windows defrag tool.

3. Don’t Fill Hard Drive above 80% capacity.
Having the hard drive too full can risk causing it to crash and slow down
your computer. If you need to free up space, run the program CCleaner.
Also I recommend you do a search for all files on the hard drive by
searching “.”, and then click the “size” button at the top of the “size”
column to sort from largest to smallest files on your computer.

4.Just because you have antivirus software, doesn’t mean you are
protected.
Antivirus programs are only around 40-85% accurate at stopping viruses.
Use at least one cleaning-only tool with your antivirus program such as
Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, or Kaspersky Free Virus Removal Tool.
These tools do not provide real-time protection, so they wont conflict
with your current antivirus program. For a free antivirus program that
has real-time protection, I recommend Avast or Microsoft Security
Essentials.

5. Monitor Start-up Programs and Services.
Click Start and in the Search Box (Use “Run” for XP), type: “msconfig”.
Click the Startup Tab, and uncheck any programs you don’t need running all
the time in the background. Next click the Start-up Tab, and check the
box “Hide Microsoft Services”. Uncheck all the services you don’t need
running.

6. Safely Remove a USB device.
Before removing a USB device, be sure to safely remove by clicking the
“Safely Remove” icon on the right hand side of the taskbar, and then
select the device you’d like to remove. By not safely removing a USB
device you can risk having the device crash, especially while writing data
to it.

7. Only Install Programs you Need.
Having too many programs puts you at risk of getting more viruses,
spyware, and malware. It can also slow down your PC and take up hard drive
space.

8. Be wary of links and attachments in e-mails.
One of the most common ways people get viruses, hacked, or scammed is
through e-mail. Be wary of any links or attachments in e-mails, even if
the message is from someone you trust. It’s very easy to spoof e-mail
address identity, and hackers and some viruses can send e-mails from your
friend or family members. I also recommend not clicking any links to banks
or sensitive sites, as phishing attacks are getting much more
sophisticated and hard to detect.

9. Download Programs From Trusted Sites.
Download software from trustworthy sources. The website CNET.com scans
all downloads for viruses, and they have a HUGE database of programs. Most
of the time CNET will have what you need.

10. Check Temperatures.
Check the temperatures with various sensors in your computer including
CPU, GPU, and hard drive. I recommend using the free program “Open
Hardware Monitor” from openhardwaremonitor.org. The program will also tell
you the CPU load percentage and some other useful information that is good
to know. Keep an eye out for any temperatures that get above 55 degrees C.

11. Check sites for HTTPS.
Whenever giving out sensitive information such as credit card numbers on a
website, check to make sure the site starts with HTTPS:// instead of
HTTP://. HTTPS sites use encryption called SSL, and make your browsing
experience much more secure. Most browsers will also show a locked padlock
icon on sites that use the SSL encryption.

12. When You Delete a file, It’s not really gone from your
computer.
When you delete data on your hard drive and empty the recycle bin, its not
actually leaving your hard drive. The data just gets moved to an unused
part of the drive, and waits their until it gets pushed off by new
incoming data. To securely wipe data from your hard drive, use the free
program CCleaner to wipe the free space. Make sure you check the box
“Wipe Free Space” before you click the “Run Cleaner” button.

13. Windows does not come with Microsoft Office.
A common misconception is that Windows comes with Microsoft Office. This
is simply not the case. I recommend everyone try “Libre Office”, which is
a free Office suite that is fully compatible with Microsoft Office.

14. Do your Windows Updates.
Updates help correct problems and fix vulnerabilities. Run your Windows
updates even when set to automatic. You still have to regularly manually
install the downloaded updates.

15. Use a router for your network instead of a modem.
Routers have a built-in firewall that gives you a much higher level of
security. When your devices are behind the router, they are invisible to
the outside world. If a hacker was to scan your IP number they would only
be able to see your router and not the devices behind it.

A lot of people ask me “What is the best way to protect my computer from viruses, malware, and spyware?”.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should only have ONE program that provides protection. If you have two antivirus programs that provide real-time protection, they can conflict with each other and cause problems, not to mention slow down your computer.

I also suggest that you have at least one cleaning-only tool, which is used for scanning and removing viruses, spyware, and malware that get past your antivirus protection program.

If you are willing spend around $40, I recommend Kaspersky, which is the best commercial anti virus program you can buy. They also have a full 30 day trial that we recommend you try before purchasing.

The best free antivirus program is Avast Free Home Edition. Avast has excellent detection ratings and protection methods that really make it the best choice. Avast sometimes has difficulty installing on some computers, and can run slow on really old PC’s. If this is the case I recommend you use Microsoft Security Essentials.

For cleaning-only tools, I highly recommend you install Malwarebytes and/or Super Anti Spyware. These programs will not interfere with your regular antivirus protection software but must be run manually at least once a week.

Make sure to update your antivirus software regularly.

Owner/Operator
Cameron Voss
–Eugene Computer Geeks

www.eugenecomputergeeks.com