Back in September of 2013, CryptoLocker produced 27 Million dollars in ransom within the first 3 months of existence. CryptoWall and CryptoLocker usually infects users by attaching itself to e-mails and making itself look like something legitimate, like a UPS or FedEx delivery report, a Scan or Fax from your office machine, or in the latest version, an incoming fax report. The attached files are usually nested inside of a .Zip file.

Once a user is fooled into executing the attached file, the virus encrypts files on your computer and files on mapped drives and then demands that you pay hundreds of dollars by MoneyPack or BitCoin for a decryption key.

Ask yourself right now, “Am I sure that I am protected against this type of threat?”  If you are not sure that your network is protected against the damage that CryptoWall 3.0 can do – call 310 464-2387 now and let’s discuss how we can protect your network and your data from being destroyed beyond recovery.

“Your Computer has been locked!” – Fake FBI Warning

While browsing a website, my computer suddenly displayed this screen.  My first reaction was “whatever, ALT+F4″  My next reaction was “oh – that didn’t work.”  I have dual monitors, so one of them showed only my desktop background.  The other showed this bogus message.  I tried “CTRL+ALT+DEL” and then run task manager, but I would be returned to my blank desktop and this message. The message did exactly what it threatened to do, and it did it pretty well.  I’ve been a computer network engineer for over a decade and this thing briefly left me feeling locked out… WOW

The message claims to be from the FBI warning that “The work on your computer has been suspended on the grounds of unauthorized cyberactivity.”  The message further states “To unlock your computer and to avoid other legal consequences, you are obligated to pay a release fee of $200.”  (OK thieves – at least be reasonable, and by the way I hope you die painfully for all the trouble you cause)  The message advises you to go to your local 7-11, Rite Aid, Kmart, CVS, Walgreens or Walmart and pickup a “green dot MoneyPak” voucher.

This is (obviously) a fake message.  The creator of this virus is dressing this scam up as an FBI enforcement warning when it’s really a trick to have you send them $200 bucks!  This is a great specimen of “Ransomware” where a virus gets into your computer, locks your files or your access and then demands money to unlock your files or access to your computer.  This type of ransomware has usually surfaced as fake anti-virus in the past.  So incase you were on the way to the store to pick up a MoneyPak card, please don’t!

So now that you know this is a fake message and that your computer IS NOT LOCKED by the FBI, see our “Your Computer has been locked” virus removal guide.  Our virus removal guide doesn’t require any downloads and doesn’t require you to purchase anything.

If you require further assistance, as always, feel free to call (888) 777-WURX.  One of our engineers will be glad to help you rid yourself of this pesky virus for much less than  the $200.00 the ransomware is asking for.

Click HERE to see our Virus Removal Guide for the Fake FBI Virus

When we use the computer as an administrator (or an account with administrative privledges) you are more vulnerable to malware and viruses because the payload that malware contains will be able to execute as an administrator on your computer and do whatever it’s programmed to do.

To enhance the security of your computer against viruses and malware, change your own account type to limited, but only if there is another user on the computer with a computer administrator account. The computer cannot be without an administrator.  You must use a computer administrator account to change a user’s account type.  Your account is probably already an administrator account.

In Windows XP, after you have changed your user account to a Standard account, you will need to log off and back on as an administrator account whenever you want to install/remove/change software and system settings.

To make your Windows XP computer a lot more secure, do the following:

1. Open User Accounts - click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts.
2. Click the name of the account you want to change.  If there is only one account (your account), Add an account to be your new administrator account and make it an administrator account.
3. Click Change the account type on your day to day use user account.
4. Click Computer administrator or Limited, depending on the type of account you want, and then click Change Account Type.

Hope you found this article useful.  If you have any questions or require assistance with your computer or network in the Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire area, give us a call at (888) 777-WURX.

Please like our company at http://www.facebook.com/itwurx

//#1: Logon as standard user account that does not have administrative privleges!

For those of you who don’t know what that means, an account with administrative privleges may make changes to your computers settings and files.  For day to day use, we simply do not need this ability.  Whatever programs you use while you’re logged onto your computer with administrative privleges will have administrative access to your computer.

As an administrative user, when you click a “loaded” link in an email or a website, you can be directed to malware such as viruses, spyware and adware which will be able to deploy it’s payload on your computer.  If you do the same as a standard user – the payload will be enumerably less able to harm your computer because it can only ruin your user account profile, not your whole Windows installation.  Here is a link to an article “If you weren’t already worried about privledged users, you should be” where an industry professional is speaking about this concept as it relates to an enterprise setting, but the concepts are equally important at home and in the business.

So how do you make your user a standard user?  Well to summarize the process before getting into the details, you’re going to need to make sure you have one account to use as an administrative account and an additional account to use as a standard, or restricted, user.  This should be done on any computer running Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.  We’ll update this post with a link to an artical that describes the process of configuring user accounts and user account permisions.

//#2 Be sure that you have an anti-virus program installed with current virus definitions!

At a minimum, run Microsoft Security Essentials.  Microsoft provides a free anti-virus program called Microsoft Security Essentials which provide basic anti-virus protection at no cost and free of advertisements and nag screens.  For greater levels of anti-virus protection and configurability, consider anti-virus programs from other vendors such as Symantec – Norton Anti-Virus and Symantec Endpoint Protection, McAfee, NOD32, Kaspersky, AVG and Sophos just to name a few.

//#3 Surf safely even though you have anti-virus software installed and updated!

Just because you have anti-virus software installed and up to date doesn’t mean that you’re invulnerable.  It’s a common misconception that, just because you have anti-virus installed, you’re 100% protected.  Anti-Virus software is prophelactic, it offers protection but not invulnerability.  A common response we get when diagnosing a virus is “but my anti-virus is up to date.”  I like to say “If you think that you’re not going to get wet tromping around in the rain just because you’re wearing rain boots, you’re mistaken.”  That’s what anti-virus is – protection – rain boots.  Watch your step – Don’t click on suspicious links.  If a friend messages you with a link, encouraging you to click on it, verify with them that they sent the link.  Don’t install browser plug-ins, unless you’re sure they’re from a vetted source.

//#4 Be warry of the FREE word!

There is somebody (countless somebodies) out there preying on our love of free stuff!  While there certainly are plenty of legitimate offers for free and valuable products and services – there are exponentially more bogus ones.  When you include the word ”Free” in a seach using a seach engine such as Bing.com or Google.com you will need to be especially careful.  For example – the term “free music download” is going to return results from sites that are designed to exploit you with advertisement of false or outragious offers for access to the free music.  A very common attack method is to bundle malware into the free content you download.  Another common method is to require to install a “Plug-In” to recieve the free content.  When surfing the web, searching the web and checking your e-mail – be extra suspicious of anything free and resist the urge to be curious.  Your assailant is counting on you not to resist the urge.