Unless you’ve been on another planet for the last five or six years you have surely heard of Spyware and I would hope you are taking precautions against your PC being infected. But do you know that the precautions you take may be ineffective in protecting your PC? Here are my Top Ten Facts about Spyware – some of them may shock you!

1. The average home PC contains 30 pieces of spyware according to an audit carried out in 2006 by security company Webroot Software. The type of infections range from the relatively harmless adware programs to malicious system monitors and trojan horses. Adware programs are software installations that display advertisements. System monitors are much more malicious and track a computer user’s Internet activity and capture personal information. Trojan Horse is the name given to malicious software which, although harmless itself, opens the way for more malicious software to be installed. Webroot Software found that, on average, the 30 pieces of spyware would contain at least 1 system monitor and 1 trojan horse.

2. Your identity can be a few mouse clicks away for criminals. Spyware can gather and report all the personal information about you including credit card numbers, bank account details, user names and passwords. According to The Identity Theft Resource Center, 13.3 people in the U.S. become victims of identity theft every minute. Although not all of these are due to spyware, it’s still a chilling thought that it can happen so easily if your PC is infected with this kind of malicious software.

3. Spyware can slow down you computer. Any computer has a limited amount of system resources. Every time another piece of software is run the computer must share out its resources ever more thinly. Malicious software infections result in longer boot times and an overall slowing down of the PCs performance.

4. Spyware can dramatically slow down your Internet connection. Every Internet connection has a limited amount of data it can transfer at any one time. All spyware communicates with the Internet thereby using up some of your available Internet communication. The more spyware, the more Internet communication will take place and the less space on your Internet connection for your own use.

5. Spyware can turn you into a ‘spammer’. Some spyware can download other software on to your PC that can relay Spam. In some cases this may lead to your Internet connection being blocked altogether if your ISP (Internet provider) traces instances of Spam to you.

6. Spyware can easily be installed on your computer without your knowledge. In some cases just one piece of Spyware can lead to many, many more as the initial infection downloads and installs other malicious software stealthily in the background.

7. Spyware can allow hackers to control your PC. Some versions install ‘backdoors’ to your PC that can allow someone from the outside to connect to your PC over the Internet and take full control of its use. Your PC can then be turned in to a ‘zombie’ that sends out spam, Trojan horses and computer viruses in their millions.

8. Some Spyware removal programs install Spyware. Why would they do that? In order to hide their own spying software. Think about it. You install an Anti-Spyware program to protect yourself against Spyware. The bogus Anti-Spyware program sweeps your PC for all Spyware except it’s own secret list of allowed spy software. You think it’s doing a great job and feel secure in using your PC when all the while secret spy software is sending out spam or monitoring your use looking for personal details. See spywarewarrior.com for a list of bogus Spyware removal software.

9. The best Anti-Spyware program only finds 90% of Spyware. Check out the review of Anti-Spyware software in any PC Magazine and you’ll find that none of them detect any more than 90% and most cannot remove more than 80%. Don’t be fooled in to thinking it’s not worth using any Anti-Spyware programs, after-all 90% is a whole lot better than 0% which would be the detection rate without the Anti-Spyware software.

10. Many computer users resort to wiping their PC and re-installing everything again in order to rid their system of Spyware. While this will do the trick, there is no guard against re-infection and can be a waste of time or lead to a loss of important data. After the system is back in use it may only be a matter of minutes before it’s infected again

Are you useing Microsoft Security Essentials to protect your computer from virus and spyware? Are you having issues with MsMpEng.exe hogging the cpu. Basically, using a large amount of resources, like 100%! It’s eating the CPU time and a lot of memory. The system will work just fine, even after running for hours, when suddenly the system slows to a crawl, almost to the point you have to reset the system. I finally narrowed the culprit to MsMpEng.exe, the scanner for MSSE (Microsoft Security Essentials).

Good news is, I think the cpu hog problem is solved! I found a link on a Google search about adding exclusions, which I suspected would be a problem for things like my backup programs. I added Crashplan and Syncback programs already, but what I found in that Google search was that you need to add the MSSE directories in C:\ProgramData to the exclusion list. WHAT!!??? Are you kidding me? MSSE doesn’t already exclude itself? Come on MS!! I really like MSSE, but that’s pretty stupid.

Go ahead and add these to MSSE exclusions:

• C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware
• C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Microsoft Security Essentials
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials

Note: I do recommend people run a manual scan with MalwareBytes and SuperAntispyware once in a while, along with the real time scanner in MSSE. MSSE didn’t catch a recent trojan at one of my clients, same one was blocking MalwareBytes too. Only SuperAntispyware cleaned the system properly.

A successful social network allows users to virtually connect with each other and share common ideas, goals, and values.  Social network services can prove useful to small businesses as they provide a way for them to get their name out to the public and build relationships. Here are some of the top social networking websites for small businesses:

1. Facebook. Although it hasn’t always reigned supreme, in recent months Facebook has come head to head with Twitter. Facebook is more stable technically and offers many features that Twitter doesn’t.

2. Twitter. Twitter has definitely gotten a lot of face time in the news lately, however, it still has some work since it’s in its infancy. Luckily for avid users, the creators are continually working on new features and better functionality.

3. LinkedIn. Many business professionals use LinkedIn. It’s a great resource for posting an online resume and highlighting your business skills.

4. Myspace.  Up until the last year or so, Myspace was the number one social network. However, Myspace has really falling behind — some might say it’s been left in the dust. Although it’s in decline, Myspace still holds value for some social media.

5. Ning. Although Ning has millions of users, it’s little known and utilized by most people. Ning has revolutionalized social media in a lot of ways in how it boasts thousands of niche networks within itself.

6. Bebo. One of the better known social network sites among the smaller sites, Bebo, like Myspace, gives users the option to customize their profile. Bebo has recently increased traffic because of new features that let users see their friends’ activity on other social networking sites.

7. Orkut. Although its little known in the U.S., Orkut is extremly popular in other countries, including Brazil and India. Most surprisingly is that its owned and operated by Google.

8. Hi5. Hi5 has been floating around as a social network for a while, but has never been able to keep up with the competition of Facebook, Myspace and others. It has most of the same features as Myspace and Facebook, but is more popular in Central America.

9. Friendster. Many people think that social networking began with Myspace, but it really originated with Friendster. It remains a top-notch social network similar to Myspace and Facebook, despite being overtaken by them a few years ago.

10. Xanga. Of the ten listed here, probably one of the lesser known, although its been around for more than 10 years. Xanga is different in how it focues on photo, video and web logging.

In today’s world you need every outlet you can get to promote your business. Social Media is becoming a big part of every business marketing plan. Social Media done the right way can help you to get your business brand out there to people that would have never heard of your company.

Call us today to find out how we can help you with your social media needs so you can concentrate on the core of your business.

If your computer is used a lot and keep it most of the time it’s a good idea to clean it every now and then, one of the main problems with computer over heating is dust. Cleaning out this dust can extend your computers life and make keep it running faster and quieter.

If you have a desktop computer then the main place dust will accumulate is around the CPU unit and fan areas. To prevent your processor from over heating there is a fan connected to a heat sink which sits on top of the processor to disperse the heat. This fan blows air down on to the heat sink to cool it down as the heat is passed up from the CPU. Because the fan is constantly blowing air it also blows the dust particles in the air in to the heat sink, over time this can clog up the computers heat sink reducing its effectiveness. Because of the dust your fan may have to blow faster making it louder and more costly to run. Normally you can see if the fan is clogged by simply removing your computer cover and looking at it. If your fans heat sink is really clogged up with dust and dirty looking it is a good idea to clean it to avoid costly repairs. When dealing with the inside of your computer or anything electrical ensure the power is turned off and it is unplugged first.

The best way to clean out the insides of your computer is by using a can of compressed air and special nozzle, you can buy these from any computer store or staples. The spray nozzle is useful for getting in to those tricky places. When spraying the compressed air into your computer, make sure you don’t spray it for to long as condensation may form some drops of water. After blowing away any dust from your computers heat sinks give it a gentle wipe over with an anti-static cloth. You can also use the compressed air to blow out the dust from the keyboard and power unit. They also sell small battery operated vacuums for computers.

Cleaning the inside of your computer doesn’t take long providing you have the correct equipment, and once done you notice an immediate improvement in your computers performance. The fan will not need to blow as hard so it will be quieter and thanks to the processor running at a cooler temperature your whole computer should generally run that extra bit faster. I try to clean my computer every 4 or 5 months or so to keep it running efficiently.

Warnings:

1. If you’ve never opened your computer casing before, or if the thought makes you a bit squeamish, you should take your computer to a professional to have it cleaned.

2. Never use liquids on the inside of your computer tower!

3. Make sure your computer is unplugged before cleaning it, and be careful not to loosen or disconnect wires inside of the computer casing.

4. Don’t try to use glass cleaner or other liquids (other than rubbing alcohol if necessary) on an LCD monitor.

If you don’t feel you would like to clean your computer your self or have a fear of messing up something call Premium Technology Solutions today to set up an apointment to have your computer cleaned.

631-961-1204

http://www.premiumts.com

Premium Technology Solutions Research team continued to monitor the email spam campaign with the theme related to popular social networking website Facebook.

The email pretends to arrive from Facebook telling the user that their password have been changed and further instructs them to open the attachment to receive their new password. Like in previous campaigns, the email has zip archived attachment which contains an executable file. The sample e-mail format is shown below:

Campaign: Facebook Password Reset file spam

Attachment: Facebook_password_346.zip (contains Facebook_password_346.exe)

Subject: Facebook Password Reset Confirmation! Important Message

Email Body:
————————
Dear user of facebook,

Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed. You can find your new password in attached document.

Thanks,
Your Facebook.
————————

The email message looks like below:

The malicious executable file attachment uses an icon similar to MS Word document to lure users into opening the file. The file looks like this:

If the user downloads and executes the attached malicious file, it performs the following activities:

Installation:

• Drops a DLL file nnfj.tqo (20,480 bytes) in %System% directory and runs it.

The dropped DLL file looks like this:

Registry Changes:

The DLL file modifies the following registry entry to ensure that it starts on every system reboot:

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Value: “Shell”
Original Data: “Explorer.exe,”
Modified Data: “Explorer.exe rundll32.exe nnfj.tqo nhemkk”

Remote Connection:

The DLL file tries to connect to a remote URL http://funnylive201(REMOVED)/bb.php and may download additional malware.

Facebook is already aware of this email spam and has issued a warning on their website.

This Trojan is also known as Oficla.M [Microsoft], Oficla.EV [ESET], and Mal/FakeAV-BW [Sophos].

Remember – NO website that uses usernames and passwords will ever send you an email asking the following:

1 – Reply with your username and password or account number

2 – Download this attachment and run it to change your password

3 – Click this link to change your password

If you feel you have been tricked into any of these instances and have a virus stop what you’re doing and take your computer off the internet. Run you’re virus scans.

If all else fails call Premium Technology Solutions to find out what can be done

In December of last year, a hacker gained access to more than 32 million usernames and passwords from the users of RockYou. After obtaining and studying the data from that hack, data security firm Imperva has come up with a list of the top ten most common passwords. (http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/26/common-internet-passwords/?test=latestnews) In reading the list of passwords, I felt the need to pick my mouth up off of the floor. In this day and age of Identity Theft, people are still using things such as 123456 as a password!

The report states that “Nearly 50 percent of users used names, slang words, dictionary words or trivial passwords (consecutive digits, adjacent keyboard keys, and so on).”. That is absolutely insane. I understand that most people in the world are not uber Geeks. I get that not everyone is a “power user”. But anyone who has turned on a computer and connected it to the Internet has heard of the dangers of having your information hacked.

Have we gotten lazy? Do people feel as though it’ll never happen to them? After all, you aren’t rich, or famous. Why would someone want to hack you? People don’t realize that it’s the average Joe that many hackers are after. They want your social security number. They want your health records. They aren’t trying to bilk you out of millions of dollars. They just want your information so that they can use it to their own advantage.

Making up strong passwords is not a difficult thing to do. You don’t even have to come up with one all by yourself (I don’t!). There are several different types of password generators available – many of which are free.

PC Tools happens to have an excellent (and reputable) password generator. (http://www.pctools.com/guides/password/) You can also use the super-secure password generator on GRC. (https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm) That one will create a 64-character random – and unique – password. You can use as many characters of it as you wish.

There’s also a service available to find out how secure your passwords are. The Password Meter (http://www.passwordmeter.com/) will give you a score, based on a specific set of criteria. The Password Meter checks for minimum requirements of at least eight characters, and at least 3 out of the following 4: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

Do yourself – and your identity – a favor. Never use the same password twice. Don’t use a password that is any combination of your birthdate, your child’s birthdate, or your pet’s name. Take the time to be sure your passwords are secure, and to change them periodically.

Yes it is true. The virus is called Koobface.

One method by which the Koobface virus spreads is via e -mails and posts that appear to be messages sent by friends or contacts from social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. The messages typically include invitations to view video clips. when the recipients click on the provided links, they are taken to a counterfeit YouTube web site and informed that they need to install an Adobe Flash plug -in to view the video. The fake plug – in installation procedure is a ruse to cover the loading of Koobface’s trojan horse program on the user’s computer.

MORE INFORMATION:

If the user choose to install the executable, a fake error message is displayed.

Facebook is already aware of this threat and is purging the spammed links from their system.  But with dozens of Koobface variants known to exist, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.  It’s important to note that spammed links leading to Koobface are likely to come from infected friends, reminiscent of early mass-mailing worms.  The safe-computing practice created more than 10 years ago still applies today, which is not to open any unexpected email attachments, even if they are from someone you know.  Only in this context, it must be expanded to the following:

As for the motivations behind this Koobface variant, analysis shows that during infection a proxy server is installed to %ProgramFiles%\tinyproxy\tinyproxy.exe and a service named Security Accounts Manager (SamSs) is created to load the server at startup.   This component listens on TCP port 9090 and proxies all HTTP traffic, in particular looking for traffic to Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Live.com for the purpose of hijacking search results.  Search terms are directed to find-www.net.  This enables ad hijacking and click fraud.

Office Outlook 2007 helps users better manage their time and information, connect across boundaries, and help remain safe and in control. Here are the top 10 ways that Office Outlook 2007 helps users increase productivity and improve collaboration.

Computer security has become a major problem for most users but you’ll find plenty of help and advice at these top sites.

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