Viruses are known to plague millions of computers each year. They can cause a lot of frustration and annoyance because your computer is not acting the way it should be; it is the difference that you notice that can prevent any further damage done to your computer. It is important to keep a look out for any indication that your computer is infected, so here are 10 simple signs to help you notice a computer virus:
Your computer is really slow. Like really, really, REALLY slow.
Nothing responds when you click on an icon and/or your software applications do not work correctly anymore.
The system reboots, freezes up, or crashes for no reason.
Your antivirus security program and/or firewall is suddenly disabled.
You can’t access your disk drives or hard drive.
You are suddenly unable to print
You start seeing strange pop-up windows stating that you have a virus or that your computer is infected. (Usually the name of the virus program/scanner is something you have never heard of and you can’t seem to close the annoying window).
You start seeing pop-up advertisement windows at unexpected (random) times.
You have major problems trying to install or download software, especially an antivirus software.
You seem to have suddenly lost the icons on the desktop and/or all other program files in our folders.
If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms on your computer, the best solution is to bring it in to Computer Doctor. We have seen the nastiest of viruses out there, and we are confident that we can nurse your computer back to health. If you have any concerns about your computer at all, please give us a call at 862-7019, we would love to take care of any computer issues you may have! You can take 15% off a Virus Removal and Tune Up service by mentioning this article before November 18, 2016!
Is your personal information and data worth the best protection and security services available? Of course it is! Computer Doctor is proud to now offer remote support, asset reporting, and system monitoring for residences in the Greater Bangor area. These services encompass more than just anti-virus— it is full system protection!
Computer Doctor’s managed security services program is comprised of intrusion prevention, proactive detection, and behavioral analysis. Deployment and updating of software is centralized to ensure coverage and consistency. Additionally we can offer web filtering and both onsite and cloud based fully managed backup. A wide range of detailed reports can be provided so you can feel confident in our efforts to support you.
But, what is the real difference between stand-alone anti-virus software and Computer Doctor’s residential managed services?
Stand-alone anti-virus software simply focuses on anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware; all of which are important to your PC’s security but your computer actually needs more security than what is traditionally offered. Computer Doctor’s Managed Anti-Virus Services has everything your PC needs; it includes what standard anti-virus software offers, plus much more! You can receive a monthly status and threat report based off the issues our network operations center has detected. Your computer also will run scheduled virus scans, and we offer both Windows and third party software patch management. We take the guesswork out of what to click and get rid of the nagging reminders for constant updates.
A major advantage to Computer Doctor’s Managed Services is the extra support you would receive by enrolling in this program. You have the option of unlimited remote support sessions for any unlikely issues your computer might encounter— from the comfort of your own home! Many computer issues can be repaired quickly and easily through a remote support session with the Computer Doctor.
What is the cherry on top of Computer Doctor’s Managed Services? Device health monitoring. The health of your computer is monitored and reported for any potential issues and if there is a problem, both you and the Computer Doctor are alerted. Problems like hard drive failure, viruses, and anti-virus expiration, printing, windows services, and blue screen issues can all be addressed quickly and efficiently. Your computer repair will be our top priority with a fast turn-around time.
Computer Doctor’s Managed Services provides you with complete PC peace of mind. Security, software, and hardware issues will be monitored and reported to both you and to the Computer Doctor. With that knowledge, you can bring your computer in to the shop to receive a quick and cost effective repair. We offer a plan that includes unlimited support and repair; if your situation qualifies for this beneficial program, Computer Doctor becomes your personal IT department! Monitoring occurs 24/7, and you can have peace of mind knowing that our systems are on the job.
This is a brand new service that only Computer Doctor can provide in the Bangor area. You will not find this convenience at any other shop around, and we are proud to offer it to residential users. Do you know of a small or home based office that could benefit from these services? As part of our initial launch of these comprehensive services we are offering 25 discounted custom packages. We can design the perfect amount of support for your family or small business in a very cost effective package. If you have any questions or would like to enroll in this innovative program, please give us a call at 862-7019 or stop in the shop at 50 Main Road North in Hampden!
With a new year comes new ways for hackers to attempt to gain access to your personal information and data, and 2016 is no different. Actually, 2016 is foreseen to have the most frequent cases of the most malicious viruses ever: ransomware. Security Magazine predicts ransomware attacks to grow this year because “greater numbers of inexperienced cybercriminals will leverage ransomware-as-a-service offerings which could further accelerate the growth of ransomware.”
Ransomware is a virus that stops you from using your PC, and holds your PC or files for ransom. Some versions are called “FBI Moneypak” or the “FBI virus” because they use the FBI’s logos to trick people into sending the hacker money. The virus will often claim you have done something illegal with your PC and you will be fined by your local or federal government agency. Obviously the claims are false, but if you pay the fine to the supposed agency, then there is no guarantee that paying the fine will give you access to your PC or files again. Here is an example of a page that may pop up to convince you that you are paying the government for your illegal actions:
The virus can prevent you from accessing Windows, encrypt your files so you can’t access or use them, and stop certain apps, such as your web browser, from running. The hacker will demand you to do something to regain access to your PC or files; it is usually to send them money in the form of BitCoins over the internet or a MoneyPak. Ransomware has been known to charge over $1500 to give your data back, but of course that is not always the result of this expensive transaction.
A family of these ransomware viruses is called FakeBsod. FakeBsod uses a malicious piece of JavaScript code to lock your web browser and show a fake warning message when you visit a compromised webpage. The message says to “contact Microsoft technicians” because of an “Error 333 Registry Failure of operating system” on a blue screen. If you call the number shown on the blue screen, you will be asked to pay money to “fix” the issue. This is an example of the fake warning message:
After the ransom note has been displayed, the virus begins encrypting files. When a file is encrypted, the ransomware generates a key for each file that only the hacker knows. This means that the hacker holds your files hostage paying the ransom is no easy feat and there is a good chance that after you empty your wallet, your files may still be irretrievable.
Unfortunately there is no easy or guaranteed solution to restore a PC or its files after they have been infected with a ransomware virus. However, there are some steps you can take to protect your data from it:
Back up your data regularly. Simply putting your most important files on a $10 thumb drive from Staples could save you hundreds of dollars in the event of a ransomware infection.
Verify email sources. Many virus infections come from emails, so make sure you check the sender’s email address before opening any link or downloading anything from your email. Even if it seems enticing, don’t do it!
Bookmark websites. Bookmarking your frequently visited and trusted websites can prevent you from visiting a malicious website by accidentally typing the wrong web address.
Update your security software. Update any antivirus or security software you may have to provide an extra layer of protection for the latest ransomware viruses.
Use specialized software to block encryption viruses. Computer Doctor can install specialized software to help protect you from this specific attack.
Hopefully you will be lucky enough to avoid these harmful and cruel viruses and you take the necessary precautions to protect your valuable data. In the horrible event that you believe your computer is infected with ransomware, please call the Computer Doctor at 862-7019 as soon as possible! The sooner you catch the infection, the more likely it is that your information can be retrieved. The Computer Doctor has dealt with ransomware countless times and is the best resource in the area to return your PC and files back to you— without encryption and at a much better price! He has a customized and tiered approach to ransomware. For your own specialized software to prevent a horrific infection, look at our Crypto Innoculation page!
Come see us at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, in the same building at River Town Family Eye Care. You can call us at 862-7019 if you have any questions! We also do Remote Support Sessions as well as House Calls. If you bring in your computer for a virus removal, mention this article until February 15 and receive 10% off!
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