Malicious software

A recent study found that the majority of home PCs are infected with one or more of the following types of malicious software:

• Viruses and trojans use your computer to attack web sites for extortion purposes, or send junk email
• Diallers call up premium-rate telephone numbers
• Keyloggers try to capture your pass codes for online banking, so that criminals can steal from your account
• Adware monitors your browsing and subjects you to pop-up advertising
• Fake anti-virus software reports that your computer is infected with viruses and offers to remove them - if you hand over your credit card details!

If you connect a Windows computer to the Internet in an unprotected state, there is a better than even chance that it will be invaded by viruses within 30 minutes. Don't assume your computer is protected just because you have anti-virus software installed! Unless you have been regularly updating both your anti-virus software and Windows itself, the chances are that a virus has invaded your computer and disabled the anti-virus software.

How do you know if your computer has been invaded by malicious software? It might show any of these symptoms:

• Running more slowly than usual (especially when connected to the Internet)
• Trying to connect to the Internet when you didn't ask it too
• Pop-up advertising windows appearing frequently when you are browsing
• Unexpected error messages (perhaps from programs you didn't know were running)
• Browser home page has been hijacked and you can't change it back
• Or you might have very high telephone bills (because your computer is dialling premium-rate numbers)

If you recognise any of these symptoms - or if you haven't been using Windows Update (aka Automatic Updating) to keep up with Microsoft critical updates - why not give us a call? We don't just remove malicious software from your computer, we help to protect it from further attack. We will:

• Check your computer for viruses, trojans, diallers, adware and spyware
• Remove any that we find
• If you do not have up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software, we install these (both with FREE online updates)
• Update your computer with the latest patches for Windows and other at-risk software

Call us on 01252 333823 for assistance! If your computer doesn't need anything done, we make no charge.