Fix Computer Problems Guide

Has spyware taken over your computer? Learn the 3 levels of spyware to know for sure…

“The only difference between the fool, and the criminal who attacks a system is that the fool attacks unpredictably and on a broader front.” (Tom Gilb)

It doesn’t matter if your computer is compromised by professional villains or just by the geeky kid across the street, once your sensitive files have been broken into your life may never be the same. Spyware is one of the most unrated forms of “espionage” occurring in the world today.

Most computer users think of this kind of program as a being just as an annoying or embarrassing kind of prank. But criminal-minded programmers know better.

In the past, spyware and its close cousin adware were simply wicked bits of “paid advertisements” for shady website publishers to attract customers. But soon, more malicious coders determined to use these programs to really “spy” on innocent people and dig out as many of their victim’s secrets to use or sell on the black market as possible.

These new programs are being crafted by “professional” development teams just like a “real” software company. The programs are sophisticated and slick.

At its most innocent level, these spy packages just track your browsing habits (where you go and what you do on the web). Your email addresses are also raided. This information is then sold to websites for advertising.

At an intermediate level, a “keystroke” logger (a program that observes and records what you type on your keyboard) can be used in combination with web-tracking software to dig out the keywords, passwords and usernames you use when visiting sites such as eBay, PayPal and your bank.

The final level is in which spyware has completely overwhelmed your computer and all your sensitive information is laid-bare to any prying eyes that want to view it. Your ID/SSN numbers, your home address, personal photographs, your banking or other financial information is dug out and sold to the highest bidder.

This is then used to create everything from fake driver’s licenses for teenagers, terrorists, and illegals to making dupe credit cards used to run up charges under your name. Your “identity” has been stolen and compromised for years to come.

Your computer can be turned into a “zombie” and thousands and thousands of fake emails could be sent through your connection to the Internet. This will result in your ISP (Internet Service Provider) taking action and limiting or shutting down your account. And with unpaid charges bouncing about your credit card report will soon be in a shambles as well.

What you should do now to lock down your PC…

• Download from the Net or buy a good anti-spyware software package. For free try Ad-Aware or SpyBot’s S&D. Or use SpySweeper if you need an industrial strength cleaner.
• Scan your hard drive and follow any instructions on removing items.
• Install a good personal firewall program to slow down pop-ups and other nastiness.
• Password protect any personal folders where sensitive documents, photos, etc are stored.
• Download and install a password storage program like “Password Safe” to securely store your usernames and passcodes.
• Use strong passwords.
• Change passwords every 6 months for your bank, eBay, PayPal and other financial institutions.

Are you sabotaging yourself with spyware?

“The Amish Virus
You have just received the Amish virus. As the Amish don’t have any technology or programming experience, this virus works on the honor system. 
Please delete all the files from your hard drive and manually forward this virus to everyone on your mailing list.  Thank you for your cooperation.”
 
As a computer technician, the first time I read this joke, I laughed out loud. Yep, I thought to myself, ain’t that the truth. I know from both personal and professional experience that spyware programmers can cause a lot of damage not only to a computer but also to your personal life if they have access to your sensitive files.

But all jokes aside, the most dangerous person who can access your machine is not some remote foreign hacker but you and your family. Often when I visit a client who is having spyware issues, I often find that the bulk of their problems are self inflicted.

Malicious programmers can only hide their products inside of innocent looking pop-ups, webpages or “freeware” programs hoping to lure some unwary computer user into downloading them. Like a fisherman on the river bank, they can only cast out appetizing bait hoping to hook you.

But it’s you, the computer user who can do whatever you like with your machine:

Like download files or programs from unknown sources…

Or turn off your firewall, because you find it annoying…

Forget to download and update security patches for operating system…

“Borrow” programs from your good buddy and install on your PC…

Visit high-risk websites catering to game “cheats”, offshore gambling or the “babe-of-the-day”…

Use weak passwords or don’t change them frequently enough…

Change the security and privacy settings on your web browser, so you don’t have to keep approving downloads…

Never look at the URL or address of website to make sure you haven’t been redirected to a spoof site…

Never read the EULA (end user license agreements), opt-in terms, privacy statements, and any notices with any software you download.

I feel, that to a certain extent, lack of proper knowledge on how to prevent spyware is a problem but still a good many clients just don’t care enough to stop their bad browsing habits. They like doing what they want on the Net and they just figure that spyware is the “cost” of doing business as usual.

But this “it can’t happen here” mindset is exactly what the bad guys are looking for. They have created the best “lures” they possibly can but you still have to “take the nibble” to get caught.

Spyware like the “Amish Virus” relies on people to make their own selves victims.

If you want to prevent having your personal files exposed then you should read what to do when you get hacked…

Hey, it could happen to you. I know. I am professional PC technician and it happened to me. Yes, I write how-to articles and tell all my clients the same things: be careful of “freeware” programs, watch where you download stuff, change password frequently, etc. All the rest but despite my best efforts I got jacked!

It happened innocently enough. I was doing some work for a client and was trying to convert some music and video files into a more portable format. But all the good software was only had “paid” versions and I wanted to save myself some money. So I logged into some geek forums and started nosing around.

One guy recommended this little “freeware” program he had used to good success. So I clicked on his link and surfed over to a software directory I had never used before and downloaded it. The program was running fine, when I noticed that my hard drive was being hit really hard, with its activity light going nuts.

So I quickly stopped the program and uninstalled it. But within a few days I got emails from eBay complaining that I was sending out “spam” emails to other users all across the eBay system. When I logged in, I realized that “someone” had used my user name and password to fraudulently send messages selling some kind electronic gear from a seller in Poland!

Dang! I had been hacked!

What Not to Do…

Don’t panic. You have to remain calm so you access the damage and take the appreciate action. Running around downloading this and that “fix-it” software program can only make worst. Take a breath and get a grip…
…What To Do

I immediately took my PC off the Internet (I turned off my cable modem), then restarted and entered Safe Mode (hit F8 after the PC logo). I ran both of my anti-spyware and anti-virus programs for a deep scan of my PC. I found several Trojan Horse programs, which I removed.
Then I manually searched the “Program Files” folder to see if I could find any strange programs (don’t do this unless you know what to look out for). I then used the Windows “Add/Remove Programs” module and got rid of thing suspicious.

After I was sure had scrubbed down my computer and was clean, I logged back online and entered my eBay account. I changed by password and then changed the password for PayPal also. I tried to remember every online account I had visited over the last several days. Oops, my bank!

So I contacted my local bank and changed the password for their account too. Was this strictly necessary…hmmm, I wasn’t sure, but I could recovered from a shut-down eBay account a heck of alot faster than I could from empty checking account!

So after changing passwords for any websites I was working on and any other accounts, I could settle down and figure out what I had done wrong. I routinely use anti-virus and spyware killer software. I have a good firewall installed and I seldom download “freeware” from unknown sites, but I got in a hurry and I overrode my own rules. Being cheap was alot more than the few bucks the software would have cost once I tallied the “price” downtime and lost productivity.

But it could have been worse. I didn’t lose any money or my identity!

Is your computer infected with spyware? Check out these 10 warning signs to take action today…

It’s been estimated that over 60% of all computers have some kind of spyware installed and most of their owners are unaware! If you are tired of your PC running slow and filling your screen with those nasty pop-up then you will want to read the 10 warning signs listed below. Afterwards check out my “action plan” and what you can do to rid yourself of your spyware infestation.

1. Browser Hijacks - When I used to get a call from a customer saying that their homepage had suddenly changed, without them doing anything, I knew to bring my anti-spyware fighting software. Malicious programmers love to change your browser settings to transfer your homepage to their “client’s” websites.

2. PC is Crashing - Without warning, your PC starts crashing, freezing or locking up, but you haven’t added any new software or updated anything recently.

3. Pop-Ups - You open your browser to visit your favorite blog site then “WHAM!” You are suddenly drowning in pop-ups! Your screen is full of brightly colored lures to porn, gambling or gaming websites. You click on the “Close” or the “X” to shut it down…uh, oh something is downloading to your machine!

4. Strange Favorites - You notice that there is a strange looking icon in your favorites. You click on it out of curiosity. You are caught in a webring of girly webpages…drat it, you’re at work!

5. Strange Icon on Desktop or in Systray - You know notice a “winking” red light on the bottom-right in your Systray display. It says you have been infected. You hurriedly click on it to see what is wrong. Then a pop-up appears that says it is downloading an “anti-virus killer”…uh, oh.

6. Strange New Files Appear - You are poking about in your files and you notice that some odd, spyware-killer software has a folder on your hard drive. Where did that one come from?

7. Strange Emails - While searching for a note you dropped to the boss, you notice that you have lots of strange emails in your “Send” folder. You didn’t send them, especially the ones in a foreign language.

8. Strange Toolbars - You open up your browser and now you have 3 toolbars instead of just one. What gives? When you try to remove, or change the settings, they keep coming back no matter what you do.

9. PC runs sluggish or slow - Granted your computer may not be the newest kid on the block but lately it has been moving slower than the Street Dept fixing a pothole. It takes several minutes for it logon and go out on the web. And it takes forever for you do to the simplest things anymore.

10. Hard Drive is running all the time - You have noticed that your hard drive is running all the time now. Even when nobody is on the machine! You can see the activity light blinking away and you can also hear the drive being accessed. Huh?

Action Plan - What to do next…

Download from the Net or buy a good anti-spyware software package. For free try Ad-Aware or SpyBot’s S&D. Or use SpySweeper if you need an industrial strength cleaner.
Scan your hard drive and follow any instructions on removing items.
Install a good personal firewall program to slow down pop-ups and other nastiness.

If you want to avoid being overrun with spyware then read and avoid the five mistakes most everyone makes…

You have already heard enough about spyware to last you for a lifetime. So why is your machine acting so strange lately? The crashes, the sluggish behavior and the pop-ups are driving you mad.

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