Start the New Year Right! Think Email Safe!
Recently, emails have been hitting mailboxes that are far from benign. Following are two such emails seemingly, coming from reputable companies…
… BUT ARE THEY????
Menu
What Are The Benefits of Anti-Virus Software?
One of the most important things is to stay ahead of the attacks with updates and real time protection. Without this, there is very little that may be done once the malware assaults, other than rebuilding the machine or hiring an IT company to clean the virus from the machine and THEN install an anti-virus application.
Yet another form of Ransom-ware!
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
Your screen just went to this:
What do you do?
It could be a Ransomware – Just look at that color!!!
Ohh NOOOOO!!!!
Do you call the phone number?
Do you click on the page and find as many links as you can?
NO! STOP! SLOW DOWN! IT’S REALLY A DOOR TO RANSOMWARE
This is the doorway for ransomware that will only bring you sadness and destruction.
There are a couple of tell-tale signs that will only bring you sadness and destruction. There are a couple of tell-tale signs:
The URL. In most cases, it is something that should throw red flags. In THIS case, it is virus.com…
Windows Security Essentials does not send a phone number to their help desk and that hints towards a potential ransomware attack. Many times, ransomware attacks can also come through email viruses too.
You may not even have Windows Defender turned on, but it will never blank out your screen with an error, it might send a “notification”.
What should you do?
- You will want to start the Task Manager. There are two ways to get to it:
<Ctrl><Alt><Del> at the same time - Right click on your taskbar
- Select the browser you are in (Chrome, IE, Firefox)
- Select “End Task”. (this will close out the application
- Download an Anti-Malware app for example:
- Call Sandra Network: 978-535-0202 #3 or email: [email protected]
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Do you wanna cry? Call Sandra Network!
There is a new form of Ransomware out there, once again, Called WannaCry.
“WannaCry“
It encrypts the files on your machine, THEN demands an average of $300 in bitcoin. If payment is not received within three days, the demand doubles. Should, no action be taken after seven days, the affected files will be deleted.
What if I do not want to run my Windows updates, because some software will no longer run properly?
What can you do to prevent the WannaCry ransomware? There are steps that may be taken, should you not want to update Windows presently. The entry of the virus to your device, which is dependent on a gap in the Windows system and the gap is present in all types of Windows is that the feature is open. If you did not update your windows, turn off SMP . following are the steps.
- Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features.
- Select the Turn Windows features on or off option on the left
- Select the Turn Windows features on or off option on the left
- Remove check box SMB1.0/CIF File Sharing Support
- You must restart your computer to complete this change.
- Once this is completed, you are safe from this specific ransomware.
Keeping updates in order is usually the best option to prevent the introduction of WannaCry ransomware, but it is always good to STILL follow these guidelines:
- If you receive a message from your friend with a link, ask him before opening the link to confirm, (infected machines send random messages with links).
- Keep your files backed up regularly and periodically.
- Be aware of fraudulent e-mail messages that use names similar to popular services such as ‘PayePal’ instead of ‘PayPal’ or use popular service names without commas or excessive characters.
- Use anti virus and Always make have the last update.
If you still run into any issues, or it is too late, please contact our Support at Sandra Network
- [email protected]
- (978) 535 – 0202 #3
Avoiding a Virus in the New Year
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]
There are times when even the smartest and most careful people fall into a trap and are duped into pushing that “save” or “open” button, creating a Virus on their machine. The message looks plausible, but before you push the button check a few things out…
- What is the URL? Does it show the page displayed is being sent from Firefox/Mozilla?
- An executable file has the extension .exe. In this example, notice this is .js. This is a (java)script the site is attempting to run on your computer and it may collect personal information, or be a virus ready to spread into your system.
If any of this seems suspicious or you think it’s a scam, the best thing to do for assurance is to actually navigate to the Firefox download site. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/?v=1
If this installer is downloaded it will be called: Firefox Setup Stub (version #).
If you have this version installed, you will be alerted to that.
What is your best course of action if this page comes up?
Close the browser, reopen it and delete all temporary internet files. This will prevent your downloading a virus.
With that, we at Sandra Network hope everyone finds a healthy and successful New Year in 2017!
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
It’s A Trap, A Scam!
Recently, a great many people have asked what to do if they receive calls where someone asks to connect to their computer to resolve some issue. the quick answer is: It is a Scam!
- Did you already sign a contract with this company?
- How do they know you signed onto your computer?
- Have you recently seen any suspicious activity on your computer?
If these questions create a long list of additional questions, please DO NOT allow them access to your computer, it is a scam. Please contact us first!
This is how it tends to happen:
You are sitting around, your computer is on, but not being used and the phone rings.
“Hello this is Peggy from Microsoft, I noticed that your computer has been sending error messages. There are problems with the internet connection or phone line and this has affected your computer’s recent performance. On top of that, the broadband connection has been hacked. May I have remote access to the computer to find out what the problem is?”
Your first thoughts should be… I don’t know anyone named Peggy. WHY are they monitoring my system, I didn’t hire them and if I didn’t, who did?
These are all valid and you are correct in being suspicious of this call. This is not a technical support service, already hired (such as Sandra Network) then the scamming call should be ended immediately.
What is the best way to protect yourself?
- Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer. This is ALWAYS a scam!
- Never give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source; otherwise, this is a scam!
- Receiving a phone call out of the blue about your computer and remote access is requested – hang up – even if they mention a well-known company such as Microsoft.
If you have questions or think you may have been hacked, or have given out pertinent and private information:
- Please call your financial institutions and have your accounts monitored or closed.
- Change your passwords for your email, login.
- Call us at Sandra Network and with your permission, clean out the machine of any suspicious activity.
When is it a Scam?
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px|||||”]
There are all sorts of scams that come through email, but which ones are scams and which ones are legitimate? In most cases the first sign is its being from an anonymous sender, it is unsolicited and it is generally a mass mailing. All of those signals aside, the subject line tends to give away the suspicious email.
Mark Zuckerberg Is Giving Away Money!
YOU are the Lucky Winner! Free iPads from Mark Zuckerberg, Miraculous drug for weight loss or male enhancement, or sometimes both. The Nigerian prince that is a long lost relative has died and you are the last known family member and will be receiving his millions stored in an off shore account.
As much as we would like to believe these stories are truly meant for us and there is a shred of validity to the email, chances are it is a phishing scam, or it is laced with a virus that is just awaiting your double clicking the attachment describing these awaiting riches or physical enhancements.
In some cases, the emails are far more malicious than promising wealth and other unrealistic notions. Imagine being a company working on a project, in the finance department and trying to get the month closed out. You receive an email from the supposed client letting them know the bank account and routing numbers for transfers had changed, and could $30,000 be transferred for payment as soon as possible. The email has the “correct” logo, mailing address and other pertinent information, yet… it was not. Upon further research, after the $30,000 had already been wired, the domain name was spelled incorrectly and originated in Russia, other than that, it seemed credible. The money is lost and a hard lesson is learned. This is an extreme and a very frustrating and hard lesson to learn, yet there are ways to prevent this. Always check with the sender, even if it means picking up the phone and speaking to someone in their accounting department.
Some things to watch out for
- If it is a bank or credit card company, they will NEVER ask you to email your credentials.
- If you are asked to logon to a site and verify your information, do NOT follow the link. Open a new browser window in a different browser and loon to the company site to verify. Be SURE you actually have an account in said business.
- If you do not know the sender, do not open the attachments or send any personal information.
- If there is a phone number to confirm, call it and verify the urgency. Also, find the phone number on another source and verify it.
- If the email is garble, delete it.
Garbled phishing email. Click to view example larger
- If it is a friend who seems to have lost their wallet in another country and are stuck there without a Visa. Advise them to go to the American Embassy, OR call their cell.
- If a window pops up stating what type of damage it will do (steal credit card information, personal information, delete data etc.), it is a scam. Legitimate antivirus programs do not list the destruction they will cause. If that information comes up suggesting you have a virus, then the popup IS a virus.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
