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Android Stagefright Vulnerability :/

Android Stagefright Vulnerability :/

ANDROID USERS, ACT NOW: Fixes are not yet issued for the #Android #Stagefright vulnerability, so protect yourself now by disabling “auto retrieve MMS” from messenger apps that can process MPEG4 video format. Instructions in the #AvastBlog, https://blog.avast.com/2015/07/29/big-brothers-could-be-watching-you-thanks-to-stagefright/

Fobus malware hitting Android devices in U.S., U.K., Germany & Spain

Fobus, a data-stealing piece of Android malware, is now targeting users in the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and other countries around the world. Take a look at the data on Fobus that avast! Anti-Virus gathered over the past six months and find out how to steer clear of this nasty[...]

It’s THAT time of Year again: Holiday Virus Season

The Holiday shopping season has begun, “Early Black Friday Deals”, “Get A $200 Macy’s Store Credit” (a recent scam event on Facebook stating Macy’s was giving away thousands of in-store credits worth thousands of dollars with over 29K people duped), and more. Phishing scams and virus exploits are at their[...]
ALERT: Computer Repair Phone Scams on the Rise!

ALERT: Computer Repair Phone Scams on the Rise!

Beware: Computer Repair Phone Scams Are On The Rise Again!
by André Thomas

We have been receiving calls from many customers about supposed computer repair companies targeting individuals to “help fix their computer”.

They call you, often asking for you by name, then walk you through opening error logs and reports in an attempt to scare you into giving them remote, unfettered access to your system to fix your ‘problems’.

As a rule of thumb, these are scams! Unless you are specifically paying someone to remotely monitor your system, no one should be calling you to let you know about errors or viruses on your computer. The prices for these ‘fixes’ generally range in price from $200 to $500, and instead of fixing your computer, they only damage your computer installing viruses, malware, or worse.

To go into a bit more detail on how they scare consumers, I’ll list out some of their common tricks.

  • They claim to be calling from Microsoft or some highly rated Microsoft Partner. Companies of this size do not have time to randomly call users to fix their computers. The people calling are not whom they claim to be and most of the time you are simply throwing away your money.
  • They will have you open your Event Viewer to show you “all the errors your system has”.
    ALERT: Computer Repair Phone Scams on the Rise!
    (click for larger view)

    It is quite common to have some errors in your event viewer. While some are extremely critical to have repaired, most simply refer to timeouts or minor glitches in programs, and do not justify a major overhaul of your system, especially at the prices you are being quoted. If there are serious errors, you will most likely have noticed them before opening your event viewer.

  • Some of these scam calls have even gone so far as to state that these errors are viruses. They tell you to try and delete one of them and when that fails, claim you have viruses that can not be deleted and that you need their help.
  • All of this leads to the grand finale (and most dangerous portion) of the call. They ask you to open a web browser and go to a specified address. When the site loads, most of them look extremely reputable. Guiding you to a link on one of their pages, they tell you to download and run a remote control utility, giving them full access to your computer so they can “fix it”.Why is the most dangerous portion? Once you have given them access, they are able to do just about anything they want, including installing their own viruses, spyware, trojans, etc. These can be extremely harmful if you ever use your computer to check credit card balances, pay bills, log in to your bank account, etc. If they have installed a keylogger program, they now have your usernames and passwords to all of these sites.

What should you do if you receive one of these calls?

The safest thing is to simply hang up on them. If your are feeling adventurous, try to get as much info from them as you can, including a number where you can call them back. This information could then be given to the proper authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communication Commission, or even your state’s Attorney General or local police.

If you have already received one of these calls and have given them access, shut down your computer and get a reputable, qualified technician to take a look at it. You should also consider changing all your passwords from a secure computer. If you notice any transactions on accounts that you did not make, immediately report them your bank or appropriate financial institution.

Never, I repeat, Never give someone you do not know and trust remote access into your computer.

Security Vulnerabilities and Why Updates Are Important!

Security Vulnerabilities and Why Updates Are Important!

Security Vulnerabilities and Why Updates Are Important! by André Thomas The internet can be a scary place, especially if you have security vulnerabilities in your system. Whether you are on a smartphone, tablet, netbook, laptop, or desktop, you need to protect yourself while browsing. There are a lot of security[...]
Major Microsoft Security Updates being released Feb 12, 2013

Major Microsoft Security Updates being released Feb 12, 2013

Microsoft is releasing 12 security updates to patch 57 vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, Windows, Office, and Exchange Server. This is a near record for Microsoft for vulnerability fixes. Make sure you install these updates as soon as possible. There are updates for Windows XP SP3 all the way through Windows[...]
Oracle Releases Java 7 Update 11 to Address Major Security Vulnerabilities

Oracle Releases Java 7 Update 11 to Address Major Security Vulnerabilities

Oracle has released Java 7 Update 11 to fix major vulnerabilities!   Java SE 7 Update 11 Released By Tori Wieldt on Jan 13, 2013 Oracle has released Java SE 7 Update 11, containing important security fixes. See Oracle Security Alert CVE-2013-0422 to learn more. Oracle strongly recommends that all Java SE 7 users upgrade[...]

Department of Homeland Security advises immediate disabling of Java due to critical security vulnerability!

The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a Security Vulnerability alert in relation to Java 7. This is a confirmed alert and at this time we are recommending that everyone simply uninstall Java from their systems immediately. At this time, there is no known fix, although Java says will[...]
Yahoo Mail finally enables HTTPS

Yahoo Mail finally enables HTTPS

Security is one of a persons top concerns when it comes to surfing the web today. Facebook, Gmail, Hotmail and many other sites offer a HTTPS, SSL/TLS, Secure connections when using their sites. While the HTTPS does not guard against all attacks, it is a huge step forward, especially when you are[...]

The Busy Computer Seasons: a Virus Writer’s dream!

The Busy Computer Seasons: a Virus Writer’s dream! by André Thomas In the world of computers, there are two primary busy seasons – the holiday shopping season of November and December as well as Tax Time, though not in the ways you might expect. Viruses, malware and spyware have an ebb[...]

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