7 tips to stay cyber safe this summer
7 tips to stay cyber safe this summer
Thanks for these posts. I'm saving several of them, and creating
ZIP files for download, in the Computer Virus Protection Area on my
BBS.
On another note, I had a virus scare last week, but I recognized
it as a scam.
The deal locked up Google Chrome, displaying a message that "my
system was infected, and I needed to call Microsoft at this toll
free number".
Suspecting it was a ruse (it was, confirmed by 2 fellow ham radio operators...one who had worked in IT for years), I just closed the
browser with the Windows Task Manager. I then rebooted the system
into safe mode, and ran a full virus scan (which took all
night)...but, the system was clean. When I restarted Chrome, it
asked if I wanted to "restore" it. Realizing that would activate
that crap again, I told it to instead "open a new window". I then
went in, and flushed the cache (I normally have it set to do that
when I exit Chrome). The former IT guy (he has retired, due to
health issues) notes that he usually sees this twice a week.
Basically, if you call that number (it is NOT Microsoft, and
Microsoft does NOT offer "a virus help line"), these thugs (for
lack of a better word), convince people to download this "virus
cleaner", but it's malware designed to scan your system looking for important data. Then, they cause panic in saying you need to pay
them large amounts of money to get things fixed...which you have no guarantee of them doing...never mind you may have just become a
victim of identity theft.
Everytime I get one from Wendy Zamora at Malwarebytes, I post it. If you RN>aren't running Malwarebytes, I highly recommend it. I use it and MSE to kee RN>my system safe. Even the free version of Malwarebytes will save you a lot o RN>heartache.
I don't get those as often as I used to, but I did the same thing you did RN>except I didn't reboot.
I dumped Google Chrome last month. Caused me some problems and I only use RN>Firefox now. If I want to use Chrome, it's on my Android. (-:
Microsoft has spent hours on the phone with me trying to straighten out a RN>problem I had with a system I bought for my son-in-law back in January. The RN>key lasted for 6 months -- something I never heard of before and so last nig
they put a new install of W7 64-bit on the machine and everything is fine n
Everytime I get one from Wendy Zamora at Malwarebytes, I post it. If you RN>aren't running Malwarebytes, I highly recommend it. I use it and
MSE to kee
my system safe. Even the free version of Malwarebytes will save
you a lot o
heartache.
I'm using the IObit Malware Fighter (PRO Version) which has its
own anti-malware/anti-spyware engine, the BitDefender anti-malware
engine, and an anti-ransomware engine. The license I purchased
allows me to run it on 3 computers for 1 year...and I have similar licenses with their Driver Booster, Smart Defrag, and Advanced
System Care programs...and the rates are very reasonable, when you
average them out. I just have the main BBS desktop computer, and a
laptop right now...so, that means I have "one spot left", should I
acquire another system...which at present, isn't necessary.
I don't get those as often as I used to, but I did the same thing you did RN>except I didn't reboot.
Next time that comes up, I'll just END TASK. But, I haven't seen
that deal again since the "full scan".
I dumped Google Chrome last month. Caused me some problems and I only use RN>Firefox now. If I want to use Chrome, it's on my Android. (-:
I use Chrome on the Android, and have used Chrome on the main
computers for awhile, because I also have Google Plus and GMail
(the Google Plus, and Skype accounts are rarely used). I also have
the Dashlane Password Manager (as a paid subscription), but I'm not
sure if I could get Firefox to import all my bookmarks and
passwords. I keep seeing a lot of security news on Firefox from the
Naked Security Blog from Sophos. It's almost like they have as many
issues as Internut Exploder (mis-words intended). :P
Microsoft has spent hours on the phone with me trying to straighten out a RN>problem I had with a system I bought for my son-in-law back in
January. The
key lasted for 6 months -- something I never heard of before and so
last nig
they put a new install of W7 64-bit on the machine and everything
is fine n
I've got Windows 7 32-bit, and have no intentions of
upgrading...never mind that I can't afford it.
Sysop: | Nelgin |
---|---|
Location: | Plano, TX |
Users: | 509 |
Nodes: | 10 (1 / 9) |
Uptime: | 107:55:56 |
Calls: | 8,193 |
Files: | 15,442 |
Messages: | 913,146 |