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Virus-Spyware:

A Report from The Trenches

With viruses jumping into the news from time to time how can we not be aware of them and not worry about them infesting our PCs? More importantly it seems that they have become more resistant and resilient lately.

Viruses and spyware are all malicious software that installs themselves into your PC with out your permission or knowledge. Spyware either watches your activity and reports to a third party or directs annoying ads to your PC. Viruses replicate them selves and act as a Trojan horse to gather information on passwords and the like and send it to someone on the Internet. Some viruses provide a back door so that someone can control your PC and use it to send spam to other PCs.

Virus scanning software identifies and removes viruses but does not remove spyware. Spyware removal programs like AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy remove spyware but do not remove viruses. Spyware has become so bad that now AOL offers an on-line scanning function to remove the spyware.

The most common impact on your PC from both spyware and viruses is that your PC runs slow. Over time the buildup of these programs running in the background on our PC just soaks up the CPUs power and slows the PC down. Often Windows reports software errors when the virus or spyware conflicts with other programs.

New viruses have become much more difficult to detect and remove. I have had virus scanning software scan a PC for viruses and find none, only to have a virus try to pop into memory after the scan. In this case the virus scanning software sounded an alarm and tried to delete the virus but was unable to delete it because the virus found its way into an area on the disk drive where Windows prevents files from being deleted. The solution is to remove these viruses manually. Manual removal is almost impossible unless you use a second PC. When I remove viruses from client PCs, I place their disk drive in a specially designed PC and use it to scan for viruses. In this manner the viruses cannot take over the PC and hide from the virus scanning software.

What can you do to protect your self?

Check your virus scanning software to make sure the virus identification signature files are current. If they are more than a month old, you are at risk. Actually, I begin to fidget if they are a week old. I like AVG antivirus from www.grisoft.com which is free for personal use.

Do not get free software off the net unless you email me first to check it out. Never purchase software from a popup ad that says “You are at risk …”. This software is blackmailing you and threatening you. Most free software includes some type of spyware. Further, a PC that has spyware is weakened from preventing other spyware and viruses from coming into the PC. It is like viruses and spyware invite all their buddies to come have a party as well.

Install all Windows critical updates. They are free and prevent bad software from getting into your PC.

Run spyware removal programs weekly. Run virus removal programs daily. Pray. Devine protection always helps.


Link to "How does a computer get infected with a virus or spyware?"

P. D. Moulton and Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server computer support, and virus & spyware removal. Dial-A-Nerd repairs PC (s), computers, networks, removes viruses & spyware and upgrades slow computers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DialANerd provides immediate remote access as well as fixed price computer repair, network repair, virus & spyware removal services at its local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair shop. Repair completion is typically 24-hours to 48-hours. Dial A Nerd recovers hard disk data and saves your data. Each hard disk is tested for errors for free. Dial A Nerd makes a fixed disk image, recovers and saves your data for about a 90% of the desktop computer, laptop computer, and netbook PC (s) serviced. Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair business provides fast PC repair, computer repair, desktop computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, and virus & spyware removal services with a warranty. Dial A Nerd works on many PCs including Sony computers, Gateway computers, Hewlett Packard computers, Compaq computers, Toshiba computers, Emachines computers, Clone PCs, and Dell computers in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD). The Dial A Nerd mission is delivering the best quality, affordable cost effective PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, desktop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, virus & spyware removal, home PC repair, printer configuration, PC - desktop computer - laptop computer - netbook computer performance optimization & speed up service. Homes and small businesses with limited IT service and IT support budgets in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) hire Dial A Nerd.


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DialANerd
7146 Rivers Edge Road Columbia, MD 21044 US
Phone: 410-531-5890 Website: dialanerd.com