PCinfospace

AVG is no longer safe. Fake Anti-Virus programs have figured out how to get around its protection. These fake programs are spy-ware and can steel your identity or badly damage your computer.

What is it?

It is best described by using a definition:

A rootkit is a software system that consists of a program or combination of several programs designed to hide or obscure the fact that a system has been compromised. Contrary to what its name may imply, a rootkit does not grant a user administrator privileges, as it requires prior access to execute and tamper with system files and processes. An attacker may use a rootkit to replace vital system executables, which may then be used to hide processes and files the attacker has installed, along with the presence of the rootkit. Access to the hardware, e.g., the reset switch, is rarely required, as a rootkit is intended to seize control of the operating system. Typically, rootkits act to obscure their presence on the system through subversion or evasion of standard operating system security scan and surveillance mechanisms such as anti-virus or anti-spyware scan. Often, they are Trojans as well, thus fooling users into believing they are safe to run on their systems. Techniques used to accomplish this can include concealing running processes from monitoring programs, or hiding files or system data from the operating system. Rootkits may also install a "back door" in a system by replacing the login mechanism (such as /bin/login) with an executable that accepts a secret login combination, which, in turn, allows an attacker to access the system, regardless of changes to the actual accounts on the system.

Rootkits may have originated as regular applications, intended to take control of a failing or unresponsive system, but in recent years have been largely malware to help intruders gain access to systems while avoiding detection. Rootkits exist for a variety of operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and Solaris. Rootkits often modify parts of the operating system or install themselves as drivers or kernel modules, depending on the internal details of an operating system’s mechanisms.

How do you know you have one of these very aggressive Virus tools?

You will not be able to complete a Virus scan successfully.  It is trying to protect itself from deletion.  Some Anti-Spyware programs may find them but may not be able to get rid of them.  These are deeply embedded in the operating system and may have already done their damage by the time you suspect there is a problem.

What should you do?

Mainly do not wait.  You most likely will need to reload the entire operating system.  They are the carriers of Trojan horse viruses and worms as well as other devastating attacks on your computer and your privacy.  If you do nothing your computer may come to a screeching halt.  You may have your passwords for vital accounts (such as banking) compromised.  Entire bank accounts have been emptied by using this method. If you have a program that will take one of these nasty visitors don’t bet it’s gone.  It may propagate (multiply) and then resurface at a later time. I don’t play around with these.  Just do it right and you won’t have to do it over.

If you do reload your system don’t forget to back up your data.  Once you have it backed up reload your computer and reinstall a good updated Anti-Virus program.  Now scan the files you had backed up before you put them back in the current system.  They may be the source of the virus to start with.

SPAM  is junk mail.  Certainly it is mail you don’t need or want.  It is an attempt by the sender to get your attention at all cost to you.  It may be trying to get you to buy something or even sell something.  It offers deals too good to be true.  It may attempt to get your personal information.  In fact this is now the number one threat.  It may (and often times does) carry a virus or spyware program that can damage your computer or obtain your personal information.

How do I get these to start with?

There is no one good answer to this. However, e-mail is the number one way. If you enter a so- called “bad site” (one that is infected) you may get a program that generates these unwanted visitors.  What is worse is you might spread them to others through email and/or infected files that are passed from one person to another. This is especially true if you are networked together like many are in small and large companies.  In larger companies the Virus or spyware program may reside on the server and infect every computer on the network and cause a large amount of damage before it is even detected. These “bad guys” can happen at anytime under any circumstance.

How can I protect myself?

Stay away from sites that may contain infections.  These are normally sites that contain unacceptable or even illegal materials. Don’t open e-mails that you don’t recognize.  Don’t send jokes or chain letters.  These are known to carry these unwanted programs. The main thing is to buy the best anti-virus and anti-spyware program you can afford.  Many companies combine these two types of programs.

Is there anything I have to do with anti-virus programs?

Yup! You need to make sure they are always up to date and activated.  If you let your program expire it will not protect you.  This is exactly what the virus writers are hoping for. By keeping your program current you protect yourself against the latest threats.  You need to totally replace the program as often as you can.  Each program has updates that will help you protect your computer. Be sure to scan your computer at least once per week and check for updates to the program. Don’t let the cost of the program be a road block to protection.

How do I know if I am infected?

You may start getting a lot of unknown and unacceptable mail.  Normally you also get a lot of pop ups.  It might even drive you crazy.  The computer usually slows way down.  It might be hard to get any work done because of this.  If you can not send or receive mail or get into the internet you may be infected.

What is a SCAM and how is it related to SPAM?

Normally SPAM is a SCAM.  SPAM is the vehicle of transport. The writer is secretly trying to get you to do something you don’t want to. They can obtain information they can use to commit identity theft or other illegal activity.  They may be trying to gain access to your money by planting a virus in your computer that will gather your personal information and then send it to the sender at a given time and place.  Entire bank accounts have been emptied using this method.

Some SCAMs have claimed that they are seeking money so they can get to the US etc.  They play on your sympathy.

You should report any SCAMs you think are real rip offs to your local authorities.

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You will be able to record using your VCR just as you did before.    If you are hooked to cable or Satellite you will not need to do anything. What if you don’t have Satellite or Cable? You will need to purchase a converter box.  This box converts digital signals to analog (older) signals. You will be able to record any channel that you can get on the converter box.  SEE: www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009 to get answers and to get started. The complexity of the setup may depend on the area you are in and what channels you want to watch.  In some cases you may need two antennas if you want to watch one channel and record another.  If you want to watch a station without moving the direction of the antenna you can get away with using a splitter. How do I set up my VCR? I will briefly describe it.  Wow! now you will have yet another remote to deal with.  Tune the VCR to channel 3 or4 (follow instructions shown in the converter box manual), and set you TV to display video from your VCR (this is the remote for your TV not for the converter box).   The biggest problem I have been seeing is that people try to do this physically on the TV.  You need to use your remote.  These days most if not all the setting are on the remote. Now pick up the new remote for the converter box (not the one for the TV) . Click the menu button and scan for channels.  Mostly I found that the instructions in the manual are pretty good and even come in English.  Would you believe that?

I feel I need to write this article because to many people get memory mixed up with storage.  I am not going to reinvent the wheel here.  I have put some links to sights that I feel explain the subject pretty good.  If you buy something off their sites so be it.

Memory is your working space.  If you didn’t have memory you couldn’t even type a letter, run a program or anything else.  It is the life blood of why computers work in the first place.

The main kind of RAM in today’s computers is  Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM).  However, numerous types of RAM exist.  This is due to the fact that computers keep changing.  Technology changes so fast that it is all but imposable to keep up with.  You need to be sure what type of RAM you have in your computer before you upgrade.  Types of memory

What if you run out of memory (RAM)?
This would not be good! The first thing you will notice is that it gets difficult to get anything done.  It slows down everything you are trying to do. When this happens the program you are running will attempt to find memory any place it can get it.  The only place to go is  the hard drive.  This is called paging.  The problem is that it will attempt to access areas of the hard drive that are already being used.   Certain programs can take up a lot of memory and once in a while it is a problem when your trying to work with a lot of programs at a time.

How can I solve this?
There are two things you need to look at.

• How big is your hard drive? If your hard drive is almost used up this could be a big problem and may in fact cause a crash if there isn’t enough room to start with.

• Can you add RAM?  Hopefully your motherboard will allow you to add more RAM.  Put in as much as you can afford.  This is the single best thing you can do to upgrade and improve the performance of any computer.
• You should close any programs your not using. I feel this is important.  It may make your day a lot easier because it will speed up the program you are actually working on.

What if my computer is still slow?
You may have a Virus.  This is the main cause of this symptom.  There are numerous other possibilities but this is the big one.  Spy-ware is also a possibility.  If you feel you have run out of energy trying to figure it out I feel you need to take it to an expert in your area.

For more detail there is a lot of info on the web.  I like this one: How stuff works