OSG provides Virus/Malware/Spyware detection and removal services in Aurora, Naperville and throughout the Chicago Suburban area

PC and Mac Virus, Malware and Spyware Detection and Removal Services

No matter how careful you are the chances are pretty good that you are going to wind up with a virus at some point in time.  No matter how careful or technically proficient you are, all it takes is one click.  What do you do when you get a pop up that says that your computer is infected with a Virus?  What do you do when you can’t get to your virus software vendor’s site?

Call OSGUSA and we can help get you out of your jam. We’ve helped hundreds of customers get rid of viruses and spyware that were rendering their computers inoperable.

The two most common applications attacked, PDF's and IE

Surprisingly, PDF-based download exploits rose to account for 49 percent of online attacks. Internet Explorer was the second most attacked application, accounting for 18 percent of web-based attacks. Incredibly, the Internet Explorer vulnerability in question is the Microsoft Internet Explorer ADODB.Stream Object File Installation Weakness that first came to the world's attention in August 2003, and was patched the following July – and that means that a whole lot of people AREN’T patching their computer regularly.

When you get a Pop-Up that says your computer is infected with a Virus, be very careful, call us at 1-888-236-6625

Is it a Virus, is it a Worm, is it Spyware, is it Adware, is it Malware?  You don’t care, you just want it fixed. Give OSGUSA a call and we’ll get you back up and running.

 

How to Protect Yourself from Getting Infected

Since new threats are developed daily, it’s important to stay vigilant about keeping your computer or network’s security current. The most obvious line of defense is up-to-date virus protection that has the ability to scan and clean inbound and outbound e-mail messages. Next, make sure you have the latest security patches and updates installed for your operating system, especially if you are running Microsoft Windows. You should also have a software or hardware firewall installed. Finally, modify your browsing habits. Do not click on pop up ads, download “cute” screen saver programs or emoticons, and never participate in peer-to-peer network download sites.

Common anti-virus/spyware/malware software products/vendors:

  • Bitdefender

  • Kaspersky

  • Trend Micro

  • McAfee

  • Norton

  • Webroot

  • AVG

  • ESET nod32

  • F-secure

  • G data

  • Avira

  • Malwarebytes

  • Spy Sweeper

  • Counterspy

  • Combo Fix

  • STOPzilla

  • Spyware doctor

  • Ad-aware Pro

  • Anti-spy

  • Spyware BeGone,

  • Maxion Spykiller

 

Malware and the Human Factor: The Role of User Education

Securing your business data is twofold. The first part entails having the right security software and security policies. The second is providing the right user training to your employees, making them more aware of the different scams and ploys used in socially engineered cyber-attacks.

One of the things many people fail to realize is that securing business data from malware and other sorts of cyber-attacks doesn't stop with implementing the right security software. These days, cyber-criminals also use all sorts of tricks to bait unsuspecting employees into being catalysts for malware entering your system.

Reports cite that as much as 60 percent of cyber and malware attacks on businesses are done through social engineering - meaning that instead of a direct attack on your system, hackers are using ploys found on email and social networks to get people in your organization to unwittingly introduce malware into your IT infrastructure.

This is why it's equally important to put emphasis on training your employees to recognize common cyber-attack strategies such as phishing, or how to use proper virus scanning software so any external or thumb drives they plug into their computers are malware-free. Remember, it only takes one mistake from a gullible employee to open the gates of your system to keyloggers and other sorts of malware and viruses.

Keeping your company's IT system safe is an investment. Getting the right security protocols and then training your employees to not only use and respect these protocols but also be more aware about security risks goes a long way in keeping your data safe and your operations stable.

 

Who said a Mac couldn't get a Virus?

MacDefender is the name of a newly discovered malware program that targets Mac OS X users. Disguised as an anti-virus program for Macs, it dupes - and if that fails, bullies - users into entering credit card information to pay for fake anti-virus software.

It is a widely held belief that one of the reasons Macs are superior to other systems is because of their 'invulnerability' to viruses, malware, and similar threats. All well and good, except for the fact that a recent rogue anti-virus malware that specifically attack Mac OS X systems has been discovered.

So much for the 'Mac = no virus' myth. Called the 'MacDefender' and also known as Mac Security and Mac Protector, this malware tricks users by having them think that their system is under attack.

It begins when users visit a malicious website where the program automatically downloads itself to the computer. If you have the "Open safe files after downloading" option selected, it automatically installs itself onto the system. The original installation package is then also automatically deleted.

Next, a new menu item appears on the Mac OS X menubar. You'll see a small orange shield that becomes red, which supposedly means that there are viruses in your system. You'll then be prompted to "register" - which involves giving out your credit card information - to a website to clean the virus. If you don't, the malware will then direct your browser to porn sites to 'encourage' you to register and pay up.

While Macs are certainly targeted lessthan Windows systems, the threat of getting infected by viruses and malware is very real, especially if myths like Macs being impervious to viruses persist. To know more about protecting yourself from threats like these, please contact us so we can draw up a plan to keep your system safe and secure, 630-236-6625.