Day Six of our Christmas Give-Away Competition
A blog about the day to day events within the computer and laptop repair workshop in Perth, Scotland http://www.pcsolutions.co.uk/
Showing posts with label virus removal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label virus removal. Show all posts
Monday, 17 December 2012
Day Six of Christmas Give-Away Competition
Monday, 27 August 2012
A Computer Virus Most Foul
As Perth’s top computer repair shop, we remove a lot of viruses from a lot of computers.
Some computer viruses are straight forward to clean, others are tenacious and then you have the Royal Pain In The Butt computer viruses.
Recently, we have noticed a marked trend towards malicious computer virus infections. Some computer viruses are happy to use your computer or laptop as a host for sending spam, others steal your contacts, others attempt to steal your identity and bank details etc.
Last week we had a battle royal with a previously unseen computer virus that defied all normal attempts to clean and remove.
It’s a variation on what is known as the Encryption Virus but this time it’s a much harder nut to crack. If it is not possible to remove a virus from a computer cleanly (some turn septic during the cleaning process), then a fresh Windows build followed by a data transfer is the ultimate solution.
However the Encryption Virus is a particularly foul in that it encrypts EVERY file on the victim’s hard drive. This means that even when you copy the user’s files to a brand new Window’s installation, the files are locked, encrypted and totally useless.
I believe the asking price from the virus developer for unlocking the data is £150 to £200!!
We bang on about how vital a three generation backup strategy is and this is exactly why. Alas, as is the case with most consumers, they are not backed up.
In one case, we managed to retrieve a picture (file) from a digital camera and use that to decrypt the key by comparing the file from the camera with the encrypted file on the hard drive. That client was very very lucky as the hard drive contained the only digital photographs of their children.
Bullguard the internet security that we use and recommend comes with 5GB of online backup so really there is no excuse for not being protected with a backup.
If you are having computer problems, need some computer help or think that your computer has virus, then pop in for a chat. Our advice is free!
Some computer viruses are straight forward to clean, others are tenacious and then you have the Royal Pain In The Butt computer viruses.
Recently, we have noticed a marked trend towards malicious computer virus infections. Some computer viruses are happy to use your computer or laptop as a host for sending spam, others steal your contacts, others attempt to steal your identity and bank details etc.
Last week we had a battle royal with a previously unseen computer virus that defied all normal attempts to clean and remove.
It’s a variation on what is known as the Encryption Virus but this time it’s a much harder nut to crack. If it is not possible to remove a virus from a computer cleanly (some turn septic during the cleaning process), then a fresh Windows build followed by a data transfer is the ultimate solution.
However the Encryption Virus is a particularly foul in that it encrypts EVERY file on the victim’s hard drive. This means that even when you copy the user’s files to a brand new Window’s installation, the files are locked, encrypted and totally useless.
I believe the asking price from the virus developer for unlocking the data is £150 to £200!!
We bang on about how vital a three generation backup strategy is and this is exactly why. Alas, as is the case with most consumers, they are not backed up.
In one case, we managed to retrieve a picture (file) from a digital camera and use that to decrypt the key by comparing the file from the camera with the encrypted file on the hard drive. That client was very very lucky as the hard drive contained the only digital photographs of their children.
Bullguard the internet security that we use and recommend comes with 5GB of online backup so really there is no excuse for not being protected with a backup.
If you are having computer problems, need some computer help or think that your computer has virus, then pop in for a chat. Our advice is free!
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Fixed Price Computer Repairs in Perth
Since the launch of our fixed price laptop charger port repair, we have been inundated with laptop port repairs.
When we asked customer what they liked about our service, it was the fixed priced element, amongst others, that came out top most times.
So, armed with the information that consumers prefer fixed cost computer repairs, we have decided to extend this to all of our computer repair services in Perth.
Check out the details of our No More Shocks Fixed Price Computer Repairs in Perth on our main web site.
When we asked customer what they liked about our service, it was the fixed priced element, amongst others, that came out top most times.
So, armed with the information that consumers prefer fixed cost computer repairs, we have decided to extend this to all of our computer repair services in Perth.
Check out the details of our No More Shocks Fixed Price Computer Repairs in Perth on our main web site.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
2012 Olympics Virus and Spam
Just been warned that the Olympic E mail virus is doing it's rounds again. If you receive an E mail titled "OLYMPIC TORCH" Do NOT open it.
There will be a whole host of Olympic related scams and viruses so be warned, keep your computer updated and if in doubt, throw any dodgy email out!!
If you have any questions, feel free to call us for free advice.
In the worst case, if your computer does get infected, we provide a very efficient virus removal service
There will be a whole host of Olympic related scams and viruses so be warned, keep your computer updated and if in doubt, throw any dodgy email out!!
If you have any questions, feel free to call us for free advice.
In the worst case, if your computer does get infected, we provide a very efficient virus removal service
Monday, 14 May 2012
Hard Drive Failure Computer Virus
Another busy start to the week in the laptop repairs section of our computer workshop in Perth.
Several cases of an older computer virus that seems to have been updated to get past most main stream internet security solutions have been dropped of this morning.
The infection first makes it's appearance after a seemingly normal Shutdown or Reboot. After starting as normal, a box will suddenly pop up claiming that your hard drive is about to fail as shown in this screen shot:
Several cases of an older computer virus that seems to have been updated to get past most main stream internet security solutions have been dropped of this morning.
The infection first makes it's appearance after a seemingly normal Shutdown or Reboot. After starting as normal, a box will suddenly pop up claiming that your hard drive is about to fail as shown in this screen shot:
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| Hard Drive Failure Virus Screen Shot
This virus also hides all your files and most of your icons which has the effect of inducing panic in most people!
By the time you see this, your computer or laptop is infected and your anti virus / internet security has been compromised .
At this point, we are just starting to determine the best method for removing this virus and will update this entry once the virus removal method has been formalised.
As we take great care with protecting your data during the virus removal process, all your data will be safe.
Virus Removal Update
After a bit of work, and we now have quite a few 'live' subjects to work on,
The virus removal process has been successfully formalised without data loss.
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Wednesday, 9 May 2012
New Computer Virus Police Warning Variant
The workshop has been working hard to cope with the recent influx of virus infected computers.
Most common infection at the moment is the fake Police Warning virus that pretends to be from some of the leading UK police forces such as The Metropolitan, Strathclyde, Yorkshire and others.
The fake police warning virus makes itself evident by displaying this false demand for money:
Most common infection at the moment is the fake Police Warning virus that pretends to be from some of the leading UK police forces such as The Metropolitan, Strathclyde, Yorkshire and others.
The fake police warning virus makes itself evident by displaying this false demand for money:
This pesky virus stops all downloads and also blocks loading anything loading from the CD/DVD drive or USB.
It also stops the computer booting into Safe Mode which is what most folk will try and do as the firt step in the virus removal process
As this virus has bi-passed the anti-virus protection to infect the machine, it's highly unlikely that your current internet security will be able to clean your machine.
Unless you have the specialist knowledge, it's probably best to take it to a virus removal specialist
As an update, over the weekend, a new variant which we have named PC EU has started infecting computers.
The PC EU Virus seems to prefer XP hosts and is a real pain to remove but PC Solutions has developed a method to clean it from XP. Vista and Windows 7 computers.
If you are infected, you might want to consider our Best Value Computer Health Check which includes a year's Bullguard Internet Security for just £59.99.
We give free advice on all aspects of computers and laptops so feel free to call us or pop in
Friday, 20 April 2012
Why Your Anti Virus Software Might Lie
As Perth's top computer repair shop, we deal with a LOT of virus infected computers.
A high percentage of our client's run a good assortmentment of internet security products. From Norton all the way to free ones.
Some even run two or three internet security products simultaneously in the mistaken belief that this strategy will improve their protection.
It is an urban myth that Internet Security products can give you a 100% cast iron guarantee against virus infections. This is because anti virus solutions are always reactionary.
By the time a new virus strain has been identified, a patch or defence developed against it, the patch issued as an update and then all the client machines collect the update (if they can) then the new virus strain has had time to party!!!
Do not underestimate the amount of very clever software and social engineering that goes into making and distributing a virus.
Most viruses are tested against the market leaders of anti-virus solutions BEFORE they are released into the wild. This makes sure the the virus can have the maximum impact
If you have the misfortune to get a virus infection, then the first thing the virus will do is disable your anti-virus software.
Most of the time, your anti-virus solutions is totally unaware that is has been 'doctored' and reports that all is well while in reality the infection is running amok and most likely bring down other infections in the background to from what is known as a 'nested virus infection'.
So if your computer is crashing, running slow or behaving oddly, then there is a high probability that you laptop or computer has been infected despite your AV solution saying all is well.
At this point, because your anti-virus solution has been ham-strung, the best solution is to take the infected computer to a local virus removal expert and get them to remove it
A high percentage of our client's run a good assortmentment of internet security products. From Norton all the way to free ones.
Some even run two or three internet security products simultaneously in the mistaken belief that this strategy will improve their protection.
It is an urban myth that Internet Security products can give you a 100% cast iron guarantee against virus infections. This is because anti virus solutions are always reactionary.
By the time a new virus strain has been identified, a patch or defence developed against it, the patch issued as an update and then all the client machines collect the update (if they can) then the new virus strain has had time to party!!!
Do not underestimate the amount of very clever software and social engineering that goes into making and distributing a virus.
Most viruses are tested against the market leaders of anti-virus solutions BEFORE they are released into the wild. This makes sure the the virus can have the maximum impact
If you have the misfortune to get a virus infection, then the first thing the virus will do is disable your anti-virus software.
Most of the time, your anti-virus solutions is totally unaware that is has been 'doctored' and reports that all is well while in reality the infection is running amok and most likely bring down other infections in the background to from what is known as a 'nested virus infection'.
So if your computer is crashing, running slow or behaving oddly, then there is a high probability that you laptop or computer has been infected despite your AV solution saying all is well.
At this point, because your anti-virus solution has been ham-strung, the best solution is to take the infected computer to a local virus removal expert and get them to remove it
Monday, 16 April 2012
Virus Problems
Working on a system that has a very nasty virus infection.
The virus has disabled the USB ports and deletes any file ie a cleaner that is down loaded onto the infected system.
Have already scanned the hard drive in an external host and removed two infections but the computer is still infected
One last trick up our sleeve :) Even that failed :(
So it's a full rebuild despite all of our efforts and our anti virus partner's efforts.
The virus has disabled the USB ports and deletes any file ie a cleaner that is down loaded onto the infected system.
Have already scanned the hard drive in an external host and removed two infections but the computer is still infected
One last trick up our sleeve :) Even that failed :(
So it's a full rebuild despite all of our efforts and our anti virus partner's efforts.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Viruses Hiding in Plain Sight
A client brought an Acer desktop into our computer repairs facility with the complaint that the system was crashing and blue screening at random.
When diagnosing a computer fault, one of the keys is to identify a pattern. Once we can replicate the issue on a regular basis then we can trouble shot the actual cause and through a process of elimination, we can cure the computer fault much quicker.
This particular desktop would as the user had stated, crash at random. Our computer engineers spent some time checking various items including the Norton Internet Security which reported all was well.
On a hunch, we removed Norton, and ran a virus check. The first pass removed 3 infections. On closer inspection, the viruses were hiding in the Norton installation so hiding in plain sight if you will. A rather clever way to camouflage unauthorised activity.
In all we removed over 200 viruses from this desktop. Once the machine was stable ie all the virus infections were removed, we we able to repair the damage to Windows and the computer is now running perfectly.
Remember:
No internet security product can or will give you 100% protection
Just because you have internet security installed does not mean that your computer does not have a virus infection.
Other users of your computer might not be so selective about their on-line activities.
BTW We use Bullgard Internet Security.
When diagnosing a computer fault, one of the keys is to identify a pattern. Once we can replicate the issue on a regular basis then we can trouble shot the actual cause and through a process of elimination, we can cure the computer fault much quicker.
This particular desktop would as the user had stated, crash at random. Our computer engineers spent some time checking various items including the Norton Internet Security which reported all was well.
On a hunch, we removed Norton, and ran a virus check. The first pass removed 3 infections. On closer inspection, the viruses were hiding in the Norton installation so hiding in plain sight if you will. A rather clever way to camouflage unauthorised activity.
In all we removed over 200 viruses from this desktop. Once the machine was stable ie all the virus infections were removed, we we able to repair the damage to Windows and the computer is now running perfectly.
Remember:
No internet security product can or will give you 100% protection
Just because you have internet security installed does not mean that your computer does not have a virus infection.
Other users of your computer might not be so selective about their on-line activities.
BTW We use Bullgard Internet Security.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Weekend Computer Virus Infections
The computer workshop in Perth, is busy this morning dealing with laptops that have picked up viruses over the weekend.
From what we can see, there seems to be link between an infection picked up from FaceBook and it targeting Norton users.
In one case, I have removed 18 primary infections, and 34 secondary infections and that is just in the first pass!!
No anti virus will nor will it ever be able to give you or promise 100% security. It is vital that you keep your Windows up to date as well as your anti virus software.
If you do suffer a virus infection then we do offer a virus removal service in our computer repair center in Perth.
Please contact us if you have any questions about computer viruses or malware
From what we can see, there seems to be link between an infection picked up from FaceBook and it targeting Norton users.
In one case, I have removed 18 primary infections, and 34 secondary infections and that is just in the first pass!!
No anti virus will nor will it ever be able to give you or promise 100% security. It is vital that you keep your Windows up to date as well as your anti virus software.
If you do suffer a virus infection then we do offer a virus removal service in our computer repair center in Perth.
Please contact us if you have any questions about computer viruses or malware
Friday, 30 December 2011
Hard at Work in Perth Computer Repair Center
Alex our Special Tech Engineer hard at work (a rare sight) today on a busy computer repair bench in Perth.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
New Virus Detection and Removal Equipment
Working on some new techniques to detect some of the deeper planted viruses and root kits particularly those that bring down other payloads and cause nested infections.
Hopefully this will speed up the process and reduce the number of scans required but only extensive testing will tell.
As soon as the testing has been completed we plan to integrate the new items in to our virus removal process
In the process of testing the new virus removal techniques, we became aware of this new trend in virus attacks on computers
Hopefully this will speed up the process and reduce the number of scans required but only extensive testing will tell.
As soon as the testing has been completed we plan to integrate the new items in to our virus removal process
In the process of testing the new virus removal techniques, we became aware of this new trend in virus attacks on computers
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