Malware, Spyware and Virus Removal


Is your computer behaving oddly? Are you seeing advertisements or other windows popping up frequently? Then there is a good chance you may have a Virus, Malware or Spyware on your computer.

Viruses are usually a piece of code that is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting your computer system or destroying your data. Their primary goal is to damage your computer system without much gain to the virus creator.
Malware can have many different symptoms such as seeing advertising or your search preferences being changed to a different search engine/website. More serious infections can monitor your online banking and shopping activities recording your credit card and banking information.
Spyware is software that enables a user to obtain covert information about your computer/online activities by transmitting this data covertly from your hard drive. This could be anything from your address book to your online banking information.

It is important to know that some of these Malware infections can come from software claiming that it can remove Malware for a price.

If you suspect your computer of being infected by Malware contact me today and call 250-448-5341!

 

 

More information about Malware (Spyware and Viruses)

As little as a few years ago computer security was relatively simple, you installed Anti-Virus Software and you’d be relatively safe. Today however the threat landscape to your computer and data has changed substantially and determining what is friend or foe is considerably more difficult. Removing any of these infections and security threats is important to ensure your safety.

While some of these pieces of software are relatively easy to remove others are quite difficult to find and eliminate as well as more destructive. To get your computer checked and cleanup contact me today (250-448-5341) and we will get your computer running smoothly.

Malware

While all pieces like Spyware, Adware, Trojans and Viruses are Malware they each have their own individual goals to accomplish. As a whole Malware is software that is intended to damage or disable your computer. The short term goal in this usually is just to be malicious and cause your computer to fail, more recently however this type of software has been used more commonly to extort money from users by holding their data hostage  usage or instill fear about the users safety.

Malware can do this by limiting access to your data and asking you to pay to get this access back. Our recommendation is to never pay this no matter how legitimate it may seem, call me (250-448-5341) today to have your computer serviced and cleaned.

Spyware

Spyware is software that enables a user to obtain covert information about your computer/online activities by transmitting this data covertly from your hard drive. This could be anything from your address book to your online banking information. Many times this software is used for Phishing (gathering data about an individual in the hopes to recreate an identity for malicious use) activities which can affect various aspects of your life.

Adware

As its name indicates this is software that automatically displays or downloads advertising material (often unwanted) when a you are online. You may see popups and banner ads displayed, whenever you open your web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera) or while running a search.

The goal of Adware is to present you with advertising based on your online browsing habits by monitoring your searches and then bombarding you with pop-up/pop-under adverts. Adware usually is not installed on its own and usually comes with Spyware or other Malware to get into your computer.

Viruses

Viruses are usually a piece of code that is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting your computer system or destroying your data. Their primary goal is to damage your computer system without much gain to the virus creator.

Trojans

A Trojan may give a hacker remote access to a targeted computer system. Operations that could be performed by a hacker, or be caused unintentionally by program operation, on a targeted computer system include:

  • Use of the machine as part of a botnet (e.g. to perform automated spamming or to distribute Denial-of-service attacks),
  • Electronic money theft,
  • Infects entire Network banking information and other connected devices,
  • Data theft, including confidential files, sometimes for industrial espionage, and information with financial implications such as passwords and payment card information
  • Modification or deletion of files
  • Downloading or uploading of files for various purposes
  • Downloading and installing software, including third-party malware and ransomware
  • Keystroke logging
  • Watching the user’s screen
  • Viewing the user’s webcam
  • Controlling the computer system remotely
  • Encrypting files; a ransom payment may be demanded for decryption, as with the CryptoLocker ransomware
  • Using computer resources for mining cryptocurrency
  • Linking computer to Botnet
  • Using infected computer as proxy for illegal activities and attacks on other computers.

As you can imagine a Trojan infection opens you up to a variety of security concerns which should be remedied. If you suspect an infection have your computer serviced to remedy the issue.

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