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Koobface – Wikipedia Update

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:17:36 +0000

Koobface

Koobface ultimately attempts, upon successful infection, to gather sensitive information from the victims such as credit card numbers. It was first detected in December 2008 and a more potent version appeared in March 2009.[3]

Koobface spreads by delivering Facebook messages to people who are ‘friends’ of a Facebook user whose computer has already been infected. Upon receipt, the message directs the recipients to a third-party website, where they are prompted to download what is purported to be an update of the Adobe Flash player. If they download and execute the file, Koobface is able to infect their system. It can then commandeer the computer’s search engine use and direct it to contaminated websites.

Among the components downloaded by Koobface are a DNS filter program that blocks access to well known security websites and a proxy tool that enables the attackers to abuse the infected PC.

Several variants of the worm have been identified:

* Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.a, which attacks MySpace
* Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b, which attacks Facebook.[4]
* WORM_KOOBFACE.DC, which attacks Twitter.[5]
* W32/Koobfa-Gen, which attacks Facebook, MySpace, hi5, Bebo, Friendster, myYearbook, Tagged, Netlog, Badoo and fubar.[6]

Windows 7

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:23:53 +0000

Microsoft is releasing Windows 7 this week. If you upgrade from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 7 drop by and give us a comment on your experience.

Or if you purchase a new computer with Windows 7 already pre-installed let us know what you think of the new operating system.

Virus Hoaxes

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:27:45 +0000

There are a lot of viruses out there. But some aren’t really out there at all. Virus hoaxes are more than mere annoyances, as they may lead some users to routinely ignore all virus warning messages, leaving them vulnerable to a genuine, destructive virus.

Next time you receive an urgent virus warning message, be sure to check the list of known virus hoaxes.

Remember that virus writers can use known hoaxes to their advantage. For example, AOL4FREE began as a hoax virus warning. Then somebody distributed a destructive trojan attached to the original hoax virus warning!

Speed Up Your Computer

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:12:22 +0000

One of the most cost effective ways to speed up your slow computer is to add additional RAM – or memory – to your computer. The actual process is fairly simple.

Check the documentation that came with your computer or go to the manufacturers website for the type of memory that is compatible to your computer and instructions on how to install the sticks of RAM.

Happy Computing!

What Browser to Use?

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:19:20 +0000

We get this question often. While all browsers; Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Netscape, Google’s Chrome and Opera all have pluses and minuses.

We usually recommend Mozilla’s Firefox as the best browser all around.

Do some research and see what you think.

Alt F4

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:01:12 +0000

If you fall prey to one of the popup windows that tells you to click here to remove spyware found on your computer if you click anywhere on the window it can trigger the installation of spyware.

The safe thing to do is immediately hit the Alt key along with the F4 key. This will safely close the window. The combination of the Alt F4 keys is a long ago keyboard command to close the existing active window.

Safe computing!

Is It Safe To Do Online Banking With A Hotel Wireless Router?

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:16:40 +0000

Answer: No

Most hotel wireless routers are not encrypted nor do they have mac address restrictions. This is not by oversight, it is to make getting online convenient for hotel guest. This leaves you vulnerable in two ways. When your computer sends the information from your computer to the wireless router it travels in text packets that could be pulled from the air into another computer. At that point the packets can be opened and they can “see” what you sent from your computer. The other – often overlooked – peril is who can access the hotel’s router.

I have stayed at hotels where I was able to walk right into their router. They had left the ip address, id and password on the router to the default from the factory. I meant no harm. For me it is a matter of security to test their setup before I go online.

So, if the hotel has not secured their router and just anybody can access it you now have a second issue. Having said all that the real question is, “What is the probability that someone here is sniffing packets from the air on this wireless connection?” Or, “What is the probability that someone has compromised the router at this hotel?” Or “Who manages the router at this hotel?”

If you absolutely, positively have to access your bank account while traveling and using an unsecured network log on, do what you have to do quickly and then get out. The first time you can get on a secure network go in and change your banking password.

Enjoy!

Laptop Hardware Repair

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:02:54 +0000

Just like a desk computer a laptop can have all the major and minor hardware parts changed, repaired or upgraded. Here is a list of laptop repair parts that typically falls into these categories:

Hard Drive Laptop

DVD R/W or CD-ROM Player

LCD Screen

Inverterboard

Backlight

Motherboard

Motherboard Fans

Wireless Network Adapter

Memory or RAM

Some items are soldered onto the motherboard or “integrated” as we usually say. Some items that you might find in this category are:

Graphics Card

Power Jack

Card Reader

USB Ports

These laptop parts can be replaced, but you will need a computer technician that is also a pro a soldering.

So the next time your laptop breaks or you accidentally step on the lcd monitor screen call us at 770-674-4644 and see what is the cost of repairing verses replacing.

Fix or Repair Your iPod

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:29:32 +0000

Yes, Virginia, your iPod can be fixed or repaired in some cases. If it is something simple like you accidentally formated (sync-ed after a installing iTunes on a new computer and forgot to put your music in you “My Music” folder first) the iPod, the music can easily be recovered. A little more on the difficult level is replacing the battery or hard drive, but this is still fairly easy. The smaller the unit the more level of difficulty that is involved.

The first step is identifying the problem. Call us if you are having iPod problems and see if there is something we can do to fix or repair your iPod.

Should You Repair Your Old Computer or Buy a New One?

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:04:47 +0000

Most of you have probably been in the situation of deciding to repair or replace your existing computer. There are no hard rules on making the decision but you will need to consider the age of your computer, cost of repair vs. cost of replacement and what is your budget.

If your computer is 5 years old or older definitely look at the cost of replacement. Say a new computer will cost you $700.00 and the repair is going to be $350.00. This is where your budget will determine what you do. If the repair is over half the cost, and your budget allows, go ahead and get a new computer. If your computer is less than 5 years old your are safe to put money into repairing the computer.

Some other factors to consider are the specifications of your existing computer (processor speed, RAM, etc.) – in other words, was it top-of-the-line when you bought it or just a cheap get-by-for-now computer. Has it performed well or was it a lemon from the get go? This is where getting an expert opinion can help you make the choice.

All that being said, your budget will probably be the determining factor.