True Story: Don’t Let This Happen To Your Company!

Here’s a true story with the names changed to protect the innocent…

During Friday’s lunch break, Susan ate lunch at her desk so she could surf the Internet for discount coupons at a local general dealer to use over the weekend. She discovered that she needed to temporarily disable her anti-virus software so a coupon printer could be installed. She felt it was innocent enough because the web site explained this was a common step in the process of accessing the discount coupons. Besides, she really wanted the 25% savings!

The next day at the general dealer's store, Susan discovers her discount coupons are worthless counterfeits. That’s because they were printed from a coupon web site designed to fool the end user into downloading a program that would connect her computer to a network of bots (also called a botnet). This network of illegally hacked computers is used to flood the Internet (and your inbox) with spam.

When Susan got in Monday morning, she discovered the company’s entire e-mail server was blacklisted as a spam source stopping ALL e-mail communications internally, as well as to clients and vendors. It took two full days to discover the source of the spam, clean up the mail server, and begin the process of removing Susan’s company from the blacklist at clients, vendors and various anti-spam monitoring services. It took another two weeks before everything was back to normal.

Don’t let this happen to you! This episode could have been prevented with properly installed and monitored anti-malware software, an anti-malware network appliance and an acceptable use policy in place for all employees to follow. There are more than 12 million zombie computers in the United States alone. If your network hasn’t been attacked yet, it will. Though this numbers game is rigged in favor of the bad guys, you don’t have to let it destroy your company’s productivity and good reputation!

If you are unsure if you have the proper software and procedures in place to prevent these problems from happening, please give us a call on 087 806 1330.

Happy Networking!

7 Warning Signs That Your Computer Is Infected With Spyware

Spyware is NOT harmless; it can be responsible for delivering a mountain of annoying spam, taking over your web browser, slowing down your PC, and serving up “sticky” pop-up ads. In some of the more extreme cases, spyware can actually steal your passwords, financial information, e-mail address book, and even use your PC for illegal activities.

Most spyware programs are designed to run undetected by the user, but there are warning signs like…

#1. Your browser has been hijacked. If you open your Internet browser and a strange-looking homepage pops up and won’t go away, chances are you have a spyware program installed on your computer. You may also discover that you cannot modify your browser settings and that your favorites folder has been modified.

#2. You conduct a search, but another (unauthorized) browser completes it for you. For example, you type a search term into Microsoft IE, but another browser pops up and lists various web sites tied to your search term. This is a surefire sign of a spyware infection. You’ll also notice that if you try to remove this program, it comes right back.

#3. Your computer is unstable, sluggish, locks up, or crashes frequently. Spyware programs run in the background taking up disk space and processor speed which will cause serious performance problems.

#4. You constantly get pop-up ads displayed on your screen, even if you aren’t browsing the Internet. Some of the ads may even be personalized with your name.

#5. The send and receive lights on your modem blink actively as though you are surfing the Internet or downloading files online, even though you aren’t. More than likely this is due to spyware programs sending and receiving information via your computer without your permission or knowledge.

#6. Mysterious files suddenly start appearing on your computer, your files are moved or deleted, or the icons on your desktop and toolbars are blank or missing.

#7. You find e-mails in your “Sent Items” folder that you didn't send.

If you are experiencing one or more of these warning signs, chances are your computer is infected so you’ll want to call us immediately to clean it up. We're only a phone call away on 087 806 1330.

The #1 Question I get from my Customers:

How Can I Get A Virus If I Have Anti-Virus?

There is a myth out there among small business owners that if they have antivirus software installed, then their computers and network are safe from getting viruses. UNTRUE. This has been my experience when performing our FREE Problem Prevention Network Audit.

Usually the business owner calls in a panic because one of the employees has unknowingly released a virus throughout the network and the computers are now operating at a snail’s pace!

And, inevitably, I am confronted with The Big Question: “How can I get a virus if I have antivirus software?”

In one particular occasion, the small business owner had AVG free software installed on all desktops and no antivirus software on the server.

AVG is a reputable company and they do sell a small business version of their software. However, the FREE version is not intended for business use and provides only the bare minimum of protection. Furthermore, many of the workstations at the client site had not been upgraded with the latest FREE antivirus.

The situation was so critical that I informed the owner immediately of this vulnerability and the need to correct it ASAP. The next day, Omniholdings was in their office implementing the 3-Part Approach outlined below. This approach targets different vulnerabilities of a network environment.

♦ Firewall (hardware) – Its purpose is to provide protections against outside intrusions – Hackers

♦ Antivirus – Its purpose is to scan incoming email for Viruses, Trojans, Robkits, and Keyloggers.

♦ Spyware – Its purpose is to scan websites for malware, spyware, and tracking cookies.

Without all three of these configured or up-to-date databases, the bad guys have different ways to circumvent your antivirus software. For more detailed information, visit our website at http://www.clevercare.co.za.

Stay safe and remember we're only a phone call away on 087 806 1330.