If you don’t have Malwarebytes protecting your machine now, you SHOULD get it right now. TODAY…
(Read below, I have also included links to the software in my write up here below.)
Over the past 6 months or so, I have been getting more and more calls from people who are getting the Windows Security Center Malware or other similar malware on their PC’s. This malware package and ones like it, actually look almost identical to the real Windows Security Center, or other official windows programs, so its really next to impossible for most “regular” users to be able to tell the difference between the malware, and the official windows programs.
The biggest problem with this, of course, is the fact that because it looks official when they see it, the user pretty much instantly clicks on something within the malware, thus activating it and helping it install into their machines further. Often this spawns other malware that claims to be some kind of security or virus scanning software. This “rogue antivirus” or “rogue security” software then tells the user that their computer is infected (usually quite badly) and then tells them in order to remove the viruses that it has found, you need to purchase the “full version” or register the antivirus or security software for a sum of cash, usually through a credit card. Someone, or in fact a whole group of people out there are probably driving expensive sports cars and buying huge houses with the millions of dollars they are scamming from people all over the world. I imagine there are some out there that are more susceptible to this kind of scam than others… Seniors perhaps… So just imagine how many people actually fall for this trick!! Someone out there is getting RICH from this scam. In fact most viruses and malware out there today do not focus on damaging or causing harm to your PC or data… In fact they all try to pay off for the scammers with cash. Its the main motivator for malware and viruses these days. And its BIG business…
I have done some research into this stuff and the origins of it, but have not been able to get a consensus from my clients on where they are all getting it from. I can’t seem to peg this down to one place although i would bet that it is coming from some kind of website out there (not usually through emails), and possibly even through some kind of advertising that a website might be getting paid for and not even knowing they are helping spread this horrible menace on people of the world. I have seen some kind of IP connection to an address range that originates in Russia, but that’s as close as I have come.
Now… What can we do to fight this malware and rogue software?
Over the past couple years, I have been using Malwarebytes antimalware to repair a LOT of people’s computers. More recently, since about November 2009, I have been getting more and more calls. In the first few months of 2010, and up to today, the calls are coming in more and more. These things are spreading like wildfire, and its attacking everyone in all walks of life and in all habits of web usage and surfing. It seems that ANYONE can get this stuff on their PC.
Of course, when i get a call, the PC is already infected. I use Malwarebytes to clean the malware off the PC for them. Sometimes its really tricky and I have to do things like slide in Malwarebytes in Safe Mode, and even scan in safe mode to remove the malware, and then scan again when the PC is logged on regularly as well. Sometimes it gets so bad that the user’s profile (user settings etc) are infected and the profile needs to be wiped and re-made. In the most extreme cases, (so far about 2 in 200) I actually have to back up their data and re-install the operating system. Consider the hourly rates of my services, or even any other computer tech out there and the price adds up, especially if you need to have it cleaned again down the road because of a repeat malware infection. While we are able to clean up and get rid of the malware most times when we come out, the free version of malwarebytes works great in these instances where the malware is ALREADY on the PC.
What can we do to stop it from happening in the first place? Stopping Malware from even getting on your computer in the first place is a very simple thing. If you have malwarebytes already, all you have to do is purchase a ONE TIME license for your malwarebytes software, and then activate the REALTIME monitoring features it has. This will place a small icon in your task bar down near your time on the bottom right corner of your screen that shows you the malwarebytes software is actively watching and blocking the malware from getting on your PC! If you don’t have Malwarebytes software on your PC already, you really SHOULD have it, like right now… yesterday in fact. Malwarebytes is the number one tool in my toolbox right now. I install it on every machine I work on now. I also HIGHLY recommend that all my clients in fact register/purchase the cheap 27.00 Canadian license to enable the real-time monitoring. By having the software watch your machine in real time and prevent the malware from infecting your PC in the first place, you then save your time, money and aggravation of having your PC rendered un-usable, and then having to pay a tech to come out to fix it. Money well spent. VERY well spent….
If you wish to download the software and register it for real time use, you can simple CLICK HERE to pay the ONE TIME charge to license the software. Once you do so, you are also presented with a link to download the malwarebytes software. You then simply enter in the ID and license key to your malwarebytes software, and activate the real-time protection. You will then be protected from malware by the industry’s number one malware detection and cleaning software. Malwarebytes does not beleive in repeat charges or subscription based software like a lot of other places do. You only pay ONCE for your protection. Everyone should have this.
If you need any help with this stuff, you can also contact me through this site, or through my main tech site Affordable Computer Tech
