Archive for the ‘Virus Alerts’ Category

Traffic Exchange and Safelist Marketers, protect yourself from viruses!

January 26th, 2010 admin

As many of you know, we have had our struggles with viruses and Windows XP over the last couple of weeks. As we continue to learn more about these fake security software viruses, and how to protect yourself, we will continue to publish it.

At the recommendation of my computer repair guy I purchased a different anti-virus software called Avira. So far, the combination of Avira, Malwarebytes and the Windows 7 is doing the job very well. I’m especially impressed with Avira and (as much as it pains me to admit it) Windows 7 isn’t half bad either. In fact, I kind of like it… I know, I know… ;) !

Avira, for $19, is well worth the money spent. I’ve used BitDefender, AVG, Norton, McAfee… all of which were giant resource hogs. Avira is not only lite on your system but it’s tough as nails. It’s a sharp piece of software and, so far, it hasn’t missed a beat. In fact, just this morning it found a bug trying to access my system through a banner ad…

As an Internet marketer using safe lists and traffic exchanges you are vulnerable to these attacks… most of the time you will never know it’s even happening. If you are using Windows XP, you are especially vulnerable right now, even if you are completely updated. I highly recommend that anyone using XP count their losses with your current AV protection and switch to Avira. It offer e-mail and web browsing protection that is working flawlessly right now. I also like the fact that it updates itself every two hours. You’d be amazed at how many new threats are pointed at the Internet on a daily basis.

There is an option to obtain Avira, free of charge, through the acceptance of special offers, but for $19, it’s worth every penny.

Those who aren’t using Malwarebytes, go get it and scan your system. It’s free and it seems to do the anti-spy job better than anything out there.

Click here to get Avira – Click here to get Malwarebytes

Posted in Virus Alerts Tags: , , , No Comments »

New fake security virus exposes loopholes in Adobe flash and more

January 22nd, 2010 admin

Well, talk about a topic I was hoping I wouldn’t have to blog about twice in one week… good grief. Last night, while working on a client website, I was infected, yet again, with another one of these fake security viruses. This one, again, blew through the anti-virus and anti-spyware like it wasn’t even there.

After chatting with the security department at HostGator, there are a couple of loopholes these viruses are sneaking through that I want to keep people aware of.

First, make sure that your version of Adobe Flash Player is updated and current. There is a loop hole in the older software that is allowing these bugs to infiltrate systems, which can, also impact web hosts.

Second, after speaking with a computer tech this morning, I learned that Windows XP is especially vulnerable, right now, to these attacks.

Third, if you are behind on your Windows security updates, get up to date a.s.a.p. If you aren’t updated then these bugs can get into your system with relative ease, even if you think you are protected.

Files you should be watching your system for… siszyd32.exe, wwwpos32.exe, and there are others. If you find a file in your system control that looks suspicious then Google it to find out for sure.

There is also talk of these files coming through Facebook. Anyone asking you to click a link concerning pictures they have found of you online are probably dangerous, do not click on them. Walk on the side of caution whatever you do online, right now.

Any e-mails from people you don’t know asking you to click blind links are also dangerous. DELETE THEM! Better safe than sorry. These e-mails can even appear to have come from family. Many are based around a request to view pictures, participate in offers or respond to a bank issue. Even if they look legit there’s a good chance they are not. If you receive something that looks like it’s from your bank, PayPal or any other service you are using online, before you click anything in those messages, call the institution in question first.

The wwwpos32.exe file did so much damage to my main machine this morning that it wouldn’t even reboot in safe mode. Thus, it’s in the shop being recovered.

Malware Bytes (see previous blog post on virus threats) seems to be the best for removing these files. As far as anti-virus goes, I’m not sure what to recommend right now because this bug is easily bypassing, BitDefender, McAfee and Norton. The tech and the computer shop recommended Avast this morning as the top AV software right now. You can download it free through www.avast.com.

As I know more about these bugs and how to fix them, I’ll keep you posted. Tread lightly wherever you go right now, these viruses seem to be everywhere and many don’t even realize their computers and web hosts are infected.

Have a great weekend!

Rex

Posted in Virus Alerts Tags: 6 Comments »

Thanks for NOTHING GoDaddy, See Ya!

January 12th, 2010 admin

After years of spending my money on, what I thought was, the top hosting and domain provider online, I learned today that my affections for GoDaddy are completely unwarranted.

If you read the blog post directly beneath this one, it will bring you up to speed on the adventures of myself and Mr. Bill (Bill Rowe) doing battle with the Sissy Virus (siszyd32.exe) over the weekend.

Upon learning that this virus had infected our web hosting accounts as well as our computers, I got right on the phone with both GoDaddy and HostGator.

Contacting GoDaddy first, I explained the situation to the first support rep (yesterday) and asked if they could run a diagnostic on the server to locate the virus for removal.  I also asked for assistance in fixing the damage the virus had done.

After five minutes on hold, the GoDaddy support rep came back to inform me that the web host checked out fine.  And with a couple of slight changes, I could easily restore the site back to normal working order.

Once that call had ended I immediately contacted HostGator who jumped right on the problem as well.  I followed their instructions, contacted security, and within a half an hour… problem solved!

Today I created the blog post (see below) concerning this virus and how people can combat it (if needed) and protect their computer.  A friend of mine visited my blog just minutes after posting.  She then contacted me via Facebook to let me know that her security software was triggered by the visit to my blog and that I should probably have it checked again.

So, I got back on the phone with GoDaddy.  After explaining the situation to todays support rep, I was put on hold while the issue was explored.  What happened next floored me…

Upon returning to our conversation, the GoDaddy rep informed me that there was nothing they could do to fix the problem.  He went on to tell me that I needed to wipe the host clean and reinstall all of my files previous to the infection and that SHOULD do the trick.  He also suggested that I could back load the files onto my computer and then scan them for malware and virus infection.

As I picked my jaw up off the desk (realizing that yesterdays rep LIED to me about scanning the host account) I said, “You’ve got to be kidding me!  You mean to tell me that I spend all of this money with GoDaddy, every month, and the one time I call and need help you’re telling me, ’sorry dude, you’ll have to fend for yourself?’”

I then explained to the rep how HostGator helped me out and solved the problem in no time and I didn’t understand why a company as big as GoDaddy wasn’t set up to do the same.  He didn’t have an answer but went on to tell me that this was “no big deal, it should only take about a half an hour of my time to correct.”  With that, I told him that (based on what he had just told me) that I would be leaving GoDaddy effective immediately.  He told me he was sorry to hear that and ended the call.

After talking to Mr. Bill (Bill Rowe) and sharing the aforementioned conversation with him, he suggested that I call back and speak with a supervisor… so I did.  When I was finally connected with the supervisor, I explained the situation to him.  Of course, I was then placed on hold to wait for an answer.

When the supervisor returned to our conversation he told me the same thing the support rep had told me earlier… nothing they could do, sorry.

At this point my patience had run out.  I asked the supervisor to help me understand how a customer could call their company, report a known, dangerous virus on THEIR SERVER and they DO NOTHING about it.  His reply was priceless…

“Oh, we’ll do something about it” he assured me. I then asked, “What are you going to do?  You won’t help me fix it so how are you going to handle it?”  He quickly replied “Well, if you don’t deal with it soon then we’ll just delete all of your files and close your account.”

I was stunned.  I’ve spent THOUSANDS of dollars with GoDaddy over the years, THOUSANDS!  From monthly hosting, to services, to domains, to reseller site… and this is the thanks I get as a valued customer?  Thanks for NOTHING GoneDaddy!

My next call was to HostGator in preparation to move all of my services there…

Think twice before trusting your website or blog with GoDaddy!

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in Rants & Raves, Virus Alerts Tags: 3 Comments »

Wicked, Nasty Virus Targeting Internet Marketing Resources

January 12th, 2010 admin

For those who have not heard, or have been fortunate enough not to have been effected by it, there’s a nasty, mean virus circulating around several of the web based marketing resources that is causing a lot of problems.

Just this passed Saturday night, Bill Rowe and I were working into the midnight hour when we were simultaneously slammed with a file, which we have now nicknamed, The Sissy Virus (siszyd32.exe).  Don’t let the name deceive you, this virus is no sissy.

This virus crashed through our anti-virus (both BitDefender and McAfee) like they weren’t even there.  It then hijacked the anti-virus software rendering it completely useless.   If it couldn’t get any worse, it then hacked it’s way through my ftp software, planted itself on one web host and nearly wiped out both of my blogs.  Like I said, this virus is no sissy.

Bill and I spent the better part of two days working to clean this monster from our computers.  With the help of GoDaddy and HostGator support, we were able to clean the web hosting accounts as well.

It took three different anti-spyware applications to clean off the 300 plus files this virus planted on our systems.  We used Malware Bytes, SUPER Anti-Spyware and a third application before we were clean enough to repair our anti virus applications and finish the job.

Last night, at midnight, we finally put the finishing touches on the clean up of the mess this virus made.

Those of you clicking for credits on the safe lists and traffic exchanges need to be EXTREMELY cautious right now.  Bill and I were not the only people affected by this bug.  A friend of mine from back east was hit so hard that his computer wouldn’t even reboot.

Make sure that your anti-virus and anti-spyware applications are updated and engaged before entering any traffic generation resources, regardless of what it is.  I’m quite certain there are several web hosts out there that are infected with this bug and don’t even know it.

If  you are a safe list, ad exchange or traffic exchange owner, call your hosting provider and have them scan your account.  It’s easy to remove from the web host and it will save your clients days of heartache and frustration.  In many cases, this virus is destroying computer completely.

Bill and I ask that you share this blog post with as many people as you can.  We have provided links to the anti-spyware resources we are now using below.  Super Anti-Spyware has a real time protection feature.  If you are a click surfer, I highly recommend running this along side your security suite.  I’m running it side by side with BitDefender and it’s working great… no conflicts.

Click here to download Malware Bytes.

Click here to download Super Anti Spyware – I recommend you spend the 30 bux and upgrade this.  It will do the job for free, removal wise, but the real time protection requires an upgrade.

Surf carefully for the next several days, and check your web hosts.  This file may already be on your computer without your knowledge so run these two applications and get rid of it!

If you have any questions, you can contact Bill or myself on Facebook, Twitter or Skype.

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in Virus Alerts Tags: No Comments »

Beware of Phishing Scams On Twitter And Facebook

January 6th, 2009 admin

I wrote about this briefly last week, but want to touch on it again because it seems to be a problem. For those who aren’t aware, there is a new way of attack on your PC known as phishing. If spy files and viruses enough, there are some delinquent minded individuals out there in cyber space who have create a new way to try and fool people into letting them into their PC where personal information can be accessed.

Most recently, Twitter was the victim a phishing scam through its’ direct messaging system.

If you know what to look for, it’s not to hard to protect yourself. A good rule of them on any Java window that opens… if you don’t know the resource or trust it, don’t click it. In the even you have a browser open, for example, and a box asking you to click pops up… instead of clicking it, do a ctrl-alt-del on your PC and just shut down the browser application.

A good way to protect yourself from phishing scams is a piece of software known as Bit Defender. I like it because it protects both IE 7 and FireFox for phishing. I recently switched to this because AVG (as much as I like AVG) was just requiring to much of my system for my liking. I find Bit Defender to by much lighter on the PC and it has been spot on since I installed it. No phishing bugs or viruses with it and it runs like clockwork.

Price wise, Bit Defender is the best for it’s money and consumer reports online have it rated as one of the top security programs available right now.

Bitdefender Total Security 2009 2Yr/3Pc

Posted in Virus Alerts Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment »
RSS FeedSubscribe to our RSS feed!
Follow me on Twitter!Follow me on Twitter!


  • Tired Of Gimmicks? Get This!