Risk Avoidance, Dharam Khalsa from Bluelink IT Solutions gave us an education on the many ways our client’s computers can be compromised.
8 Ways your Computer can be at Risk
- Viruses – intended to damage your computer, typically is self replicating
- AdWare – automatically displays or downloads advertising material (often unwanted)
- SpyWare – enables a user to obtain covert information about another’s computer activities
- MalWare – intended to damage or disable computers
- Phishing / Whaling – attempt to obtain sensitive information
- ScareWare – malicious computer programs designed to trick a user into buying and downloading unnecessary and potentially dangerous software, such as fake antivirus protection.
- RansomWare – a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
- IOT – Internet of Things that attack attached devices: cameras, phones, even smart thermostats
Phone Scams – the solicitor says you have an issue with your computer that has come to their attention. NOTE: GOOGLE will never call you on the phone. MICROSOFT will never call you on the phone.
What is the Risk?
- Identity Theft – There is a market for your information.
- Data Loss – Files could be deleted or encrypted.
- Slow to Not Working Hard drive – Someone else might be using your computer for malicious purposes.
- Financial loss – Recovering from any of the above and/or direct theft of money.
Don’t click – these are software scams
Symptoms of an infected system:
- Incessant Pop ups
- Performance problems – slow to crashing
- Unusual or Unexpected hard drive activity
- Unexpected hard drive usage
- High network activity
- Unexpected browser pages
- Unusual messages
- Antivirus software disabled
- Friends report strange email
8 Ways to Make your Computer Safe
Firstly, understand that there is no such thing as 100% protection.
- Avoid risky browsing topics such as free software, music, games, adult content.
- Avoid P2P (peer to peer) programs like Bittorrent, Limewire…
- Only open attachments from an email if expected. Use a secondary email for random website registrations.
- Use an anti-virus software package and keep it updated.
- Keep your operating system up to date.
Know how to handle a suspect web page. One tip: hover over links but don’t click to see what is revealed.- Become familiar with what various program updates look like. Tip: Go to application source to download.
- Secure your own website with added security: SiteLock, SSL certificates and Security plugins if you are using WordPress.
Computer Virus Facts:
- First virus was called Creeper, developed in 1971 and was an experiment in self replicating programs
- In the early 90s there were about 50 known viruses, by the late 90s there were closer to 50,000
- Today, 6,000 new viruses a month
- 90 percent of email contains malware
- 70% of virus writers do so on behalf of organized crime
- Viruses affect 40% of household computers
- In 2004 MyDoom caused 38.5 Billion in damage
For Hardware issues contact Dharam Khalsa can help.
For Website issues our team can run a security scan, install security plugins and work with your hosting company to clear issues. We can run reports on searchable terms to help you get found for the right reasons.
– Go West Design, 619-800-1063.
Author: Stephanie West
Imagination is a wonderful part of the journey in our service to our clients. It starts with our client’s passion for what they do. Creativity is sparked and ideas float in the air waiting to land. Can you tell we enjoy what we do?