The other day we came across a computer infected with Personal Security. Here is what we found out about this malware.
From Bleepingcomputer.com

Personal Security is a rogue anti-spyware program from the same family as Cyber Security. This program is promoted through the use of malware that will install it on your computer without your permission. In order to protect itself, this program will automatically attempt to terminate security programs that may help to remove it. When installed, Personal Security will be configured to start automatically when Windows starts. Once started, it will scan your computer and display a variety of infections, but will state that it will not remove them unless you first purchase the program. In reality, the infections it finds are either fake or legitimate programs that if deleted could cause problems with the proper operation of Windows. Therefore, please do not act upon any of the files it states are infections.

Removal Instructions: Bleepingcomputer.com

Please note that neither Dweebs On Duty or Bleepingcomputer.com can be held responsible for what may happen to your computer while trying to remove malware.

We do offer our computer services in the Monroe, Detroit, and Ann Arbor Michigan areas, so if you are having problems removing this please give us a call at 888-693-9332 or email us.

The best way to get rid of spyware and viruses is to not have gotten them in the first place. I know that is easier said than done but I think there are a few simple steps that you can take to help prevent infections. These steps range from being careful with what you click to adding an internet only user account.  These steps are fairly easy to implement but you have to change your behavior for them to really work.  Some of these you may have heard before but may have forgotten to implement and some will be new to you.  Lets get into it.

Switch to a more secure internet browser

Internet Explorer is widely known as the least secure browser.  The main reason for this is that it is the most attacked browser. Because it holds the majority of users it is attacked the most.  The other part is that the code is inherently insecure and while Microsoft updates it often, the users do not and thus are vulnerable.

How do you remedy this problem?

Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to surf the net. They are free and you can get them both from http://www.dweebsonduty.com/recomended-software. The install is easy and quick and when you first run one of those programs they will import your settings from Internet Explorer and you will be ready to go. Then you will just surf the internet as you always have, you just click on a Chrome or Firefox instead of Internet Explorer.

Create A Limited User Account In Windows

Another good way to prevent spyware and viruses is to create a limited user account in Windows and use that to surf the internet. The limited user does not have the ability to install programs and some spyware and viruses will simply not be able to install themselves because they do not have the rights.

This link from Microsoft shows you how to add a new user in XP:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/accounts.mspx

This Link From Microsoft shows you how to add a new user in Vista and 7:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Create-a-user-account

Do not click on links or open attachments in your emails

This is an oldie but a goodie. You should never click on a link in your email, no matter who it is from and what it says. If you get a notice from facebook, paypal, ebay, your bank… you need to type the address in your self to get to those sites. This will prevent phishing attacks, where hackers get your username and password by making you think that you are at one site but in fact your are at another.  Links can also install malicious software on your computer.

As far as attachments just do not open them without scanning them with your virus scan first. If you cant scan them, do not open them.

Run Windows Update Automatically

There are people that still think Windows Update will break your computer and that is simply not true(Most of the time). If you are not updated the day the update comes out you are ready for an attack. The hackers get the list of updates and write viruses to attack those items that were fixed in the update because they know that many people do not update Windows and will be vulnerable.

Microsoft tells you how to make sure you are updating here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/automaticupdate.mspx

Use A Firewall

Firewalls offer another layer of protection against malware. Windows has a firewall built in and if you have a router, your router will have one built in as well. Firewalls block unwanted and uninvited network requests. The don’t even allow the connection to be made and thus the malware doesn’t even get a chance to run. I highly recommend that you get a router if you do not have one.

This one is one of my favorite routers:
Linksys by Cisco WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router

This link from Microsoft tells you about Xp’s firewall:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/Internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

This link from Microsoft tells you about Vista and 7′s firewall:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/firewall.aspx

Have updated Antivirus and Antispyware

You need to have both and Antivirus and an Antispyware. In fact I recommend that you have at least 2 Antispyware programs installed.  Head over to http://www.dweebsonduty.com/recomended-software and look in the security section and download and install what you need.  Just and FYI, you cant have more than one Antivirus but you can have more than one Antispyware as long as they are not running all of the time. The Antispyware programs that we list on our page do not run all of the time unless you upgrade them to the paid versions.

With that being said, these programs are no good if they are not run properly. You need to make sure to scan at least once a week with each program.

Conclusion

Just implementing 1 of these steps will make you many times less likely to get a virus, use them all and any virus that gets in deserves to get in .

Of course if you need any help you can head over to http://www.dweebsonduty.com/contact-us and we can help.

I just got done cleaning Internet Security 2010 off of a customer’s computer so I thought I would alert you to the threat.

From Bleeping Computer:

Internet Security 2010 is a rogue anti-spyware program that is installed through the use of malware. Once installed, Internet Security will be configured to start automatically when you login to Windows. It will then scan your computer and display numerous infections, but will not remove anything until you purchase the program. These infections, though, are all fake and are only being shown to trick you into thinking you are infected so that you then purchase the program. It goes without saying that you should definitely not purchase this program.

If you want to remove Internet Security 2010, the instructions are here. If you are not comfortable following the steps, give use a call. If you live in Metro Detroit, we can pick it up or clean it in home. If you live outside of our area but your internet is working, we can connect remotely.

Dweebs On Duty – 888-693-9332

With a staggering 90% of computers having spyware on them at one time or another. It is important to have the right tools to detect and remove the malicious programs. While antivirus is a good start, you need an antispyware program to supplement your security suite. Our recomentdation is Malwarebytes Antimalware you can find it at http://www.malwarebytes.com