Ransomware virus – A potential business killer
Ransomware has become even more common throughout the past two years. It is a demanding virus that is caught through emails, downloaded files or hidden in apps on your phone or PC. The virus then encrypts all major files e.g. Word documents, PDF files and demands you to pay a fee to get them back. Normally the fee is demanded in bitcoins, a virtual currency to make it less traceable. “When I found out that our files had been encrypted with ransomware it was like our business had shutdown, our files had gone and we couldn’t work on anything”- says Glenn Thompson, director of Advance FM.
Computerman reacted when Glenn noticed that his files were beginning to turn into ZEPTO files, the popular format to encrypt the files. Ransomware is becoming increasingly popular as a lot of people are being blackmailed into paying over the ransom in a desperate bid to get their files back.
When Computerman arrived at Advance, half of their files were already encrypted, but we found the computer that was infected with the virus, disconnected it from the network and shut down the server to stop more infection.
Computerman worked from a backup to salvage as many files as possible, luckily the backup was from the day before so no data was lost. “You would never believe the amount of trouble this causes for a business” – says Nigel Bawden, director of T-Mex LTD. “We couldn’t work on our computers until the virus was removed from the server and it is surprising how businesses rely heavily on computers”. “Computerman ensured that all my files were back as quickly as possible with minimal disruption”.
“We had to go through and check every single folder, to make sure there wasn’t a ZEPTO file in sight”, said Harry Simpson, IT Engineer at Computerman. “It was a very long process, but it had to be done to save T-Mex’s files”, he added.
If you ever get caught out in ransomware or find your files have been encrypted call Computerman on 01622 677677 or visit our website www.computermanuk.co.uk
- Published in Software, Tech News, Technology
Windows 10: Updating your computer may reinstall unwanted Microsoft apps
MICROSOFT appears to reinstall a slew of bundled Windows 10 apps alongside its latest update – regardless of whether or not you’ve previously deleted the software.
Windows 10 Anniversary Update is quite a hefty upgrade.
It includes a number of new features, including Windows Ink, which lets users screenshot at the touch of a button.
Cortana also gets some new capabilities, and Microsoft has allowed third-party web apps and services to tap into its ‘Windows Hello’ functionality.
However users have criticised that Microsoft is reinstalling a number of its bundled apps – after users had purposely removed them.
It is unclear whether this is an intentional decision to override user’s preferences, or whether it is a glitch in the upgrade process.
Windows 10 users will now have to remove their installed apps again, eliminating any unwanted software in an effort to free-up some additional space.
Windows 10 sends allot of usage data back to Microsoft, from what apps users are accessing to how often they are using them.
Allowing virtual assistant Cortana – who can set reminders, launch web searches, order a taxi, track flight information and more – surges the amount of data sent to Microsoft in a bid to make their services better and more streamlined. But how long are Microsoft going to do this before they lose customers?
- Published in Software, Tech News, Technology
“Button of Death” will save billions dollars a year
Deploying of Kill Switch button would make pointless the theft of smartphones .
U.S. consumers spend a year at $ 1.1 billion for purchase of new smartphones caused by theft or loss
The implementation of the so-called. “Click of death” (Kill Switch) in smartphones will save the holders of smart devices billions of dollars a year, estimated experts from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
At the insistence of the trade organization CTIA, as of July 2015, all smartphones have to have this software by which the owners of lost or stolen devices can remotely delete personal information and make the device inoperable.
Creighton researchers have calculated that in the United States annually consumers spend about $ 1.1 billion for the purchase of new smartphones caused by theft or loss. These costs can be avoided after the implementation of the function Kill Switch which will make the phone unusable for other persons.
Moreover, Americans annually spend huge amounts for insurance on their mobile devices. According to the study, the total insurance amount is $ 5.5 billion. The Expectations are that the “button of death” will reduce this cost to $ 2.3 billion annually.
Warning!Gameover Zeus Trojan began to grow strong
The IT company Malcovery Security announced that has revealed criminal cyber group that attempts to recreate a new botnet based on a modified version of the virus Gameover Zeus.
Gameover Zeus Trojan is designed mainly to steal personal financial information. According to recently published material of FBI ,the botnet has caused damage estimated at over 100 million U.S. dollars worldwide.
Experts note that the blocking of this trojan requires special equipment and united efforts of multiple antivirus labs. In contrast to former Trojans that running through networks of servers and registered domains , Gameover uses peering architecture. Decommissioning or interruptions of one infected computer system does not affect the entire botnet.
Malcovery claim to has detected a spam-emails that sending out the malicious code. The new modification of the Gameover Zeus doesn`t use the P2P structure already ,instead passed to the DGA (domain name generation algorithm) system that allows a hybrid operation of this Trojan – both through peering networks and through a system of random chosen servers .