SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Computer and Laptop Repairs, IT, Maidstone 01622 677677

Computerman is based in Maidstone, Kent. We provide IT Support for domestic and business customers in the South East of England.

T 01622 677 677
Email: support@computermanuk.com

COMPUTERMAN UK LTD
Unit 9, Spectrum Business Estate, Bircholt Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9YP

Open in Google Maps
NEED HELP? CALL: 01622 677 677
  • For Business
  • For Home
    • Onsite
      • Broadband Setup
      • Internet Broadband Problems
      • Wi-Fi and Wired Home Network
      • Email Setup and Support
      • New Computer or Mac Setup
      • Printer and Peripherals Setup
    • Computer Repairs
      • Computer PC Doesn’t Boot
      • Blue Screen of Death
      • PC Doesn’t Turn On – No Power
      • Computer is Very Slow
      • Computer Restarts
      • Computer Freezes
    • Laptop Repairs
      • Laptop Screen Repair / Replacement
      • Laptop DC Power Jack Repair / Replacement
      • Laptop Fan Repair / Replacement
      • Laptop / Notebook Cleaning Service
      • Laptop Water Damage Repair
    • Apple MacBook & iMac Repairs
      • MacBook Screen Replacement
      • MacBook Water Damage Repair
      • Mac HDD / SSD Replacement
      • MacBook Battery Replacement
    • Virus, Spyware and Security
      • Laptop and PC Virus and Spyware removal
      • Antivirus Installation and Setup
      • Firewall and Parental Control
      • Spam Blocker
    • Hardware and Upgrades
      • Laptop and PC Memory Upgrades
      • Laptop and PC HDD and SSD Upgrades
      • Graphics Card Upgrades
      • Motherboard Upgrades
    • Data Services
      • Data Recovery
      • Data Backup
      • Data Transfer
  • Remote Support
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • Contact Us
Remote
  • Home
  • Tech News
  • Archive from category "Tech News"
05/02/2023

Category: Tech News

Ransomware virus – A potential business killer

Friday, 02 September 2016 by

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

BusinessComputerHomeRansomwarevirusWindows
Read more
  • Published in Software, Tech News, Technology
No Comments

Windows 10: Updating your computer may reinstall unwanted Microsoft apps

Thursday, 01 September 2016 by

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?

home userMicrosoftWindowsWindows 10
Read more
  • Published in Software, Tech News, Technology
No Comments

“Button of Death” will save billions dollars a year

Friday, 01 August 2014 by virtuoso
smarthphone theft

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.



smartphone
Read more
  • Published in All News, Software, Tech News
No Comments

Warning!Gameover Zeus Trojan began to grow strong

Friday, 18 July 2014 by virtuoso

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 .

computer virusGameover Zeus Trojan
Read more
  • Published in All News, Software, Tech News
No Comments

How to protect yourself against GameOver Zeus & CryptoLocker Viruses

Tuesday, 03 June 2014 by virtuoso

Lucas Zaichkowsky, an enterprise defense architect with CrowdStrike, pointed out that most antimalware tools do a poor job of identifying and blocking botnet threats and offered this advice to help individuals avoid becoming victims:

 

  • Block email attachments containing executable files or ZIP files with executable files like EXE and SCR.
  • Install antivirus software. Although not perfect, antivirus software can still catch a large percentage of malware and reduce noise. Free antivirus software such as AVAST!, Microsoft Security Essentials or AVG Free are just as good as commercial offerings, so don’t feel like you have to pay money to get a good product.

Advice from Get Safe Online

  • Install internet security software from companies listed on Get Safe Online’s Facebook and Google+ profiles to download a free tool to scan for Gameover Zeus and CryptoLocker, and remove them from your computer
  • Do not open attachments in emails unless you are 100% certain that they are authentic
  • Make sure your internet security software is up-to-date and switched on at all times
  • Make sure your Windows operating system has the latest Microsoft updates applied
  • Make sure your software programs have the latest manufacturers’ updates applied
  • Make sure all of your files including documents, photos, music and bookmarks are backed up and readily available in case you are no longer able to access them on your computer
  • Never store passwords on your computer in case they are accessed by Gameover Zeus or another aggressive malware program

The action related to a strain of malware – meaning malicious software – known as Gameover Zeus.

Malware is typically downloaded by unsuspecting users via what is known as a phishing attack, usually in the form of an email that looks like it comes from somewhere legitimate – such as a bank – when it fact it is designed to trick a person into downloading malicious software.

Once installed on a victim’s machine, Gameover Zeus will search specifically for files containing financial information.

If it cannot find anything it deems of worth, some strains of Gameover Zeus will then install Cryptolocker – a ransomware program that locks a person’s machine until a fee is paid.

 

The FBI said Gameover Zeus could be responsible for “financial losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars”.

AntivirusProtectionSecurity
Read more
  • Published in All News, Tech News
No Comments

New Virus Threat: Computer users given two-week warning

Tuesday, 03 June 2014 by virtuoso

GameOver Zeus

 

Thousands of computer users in Britain were warned today that they have two weeks to take action to protect their machines against a powerful computer virus used to extort millions of pounds from victims worldwide.

 

 

The National Crime Agency said the two-week window had been opened after an operation led by the FBI managed to take control of servers used to control the “highly sophisticated” malicious software which has been stealing personal and financial data worldwide.

More than 15,000 machines in the United Kingdom are believed to have been infected with the virus, known as GameOver Zeus, which has been tailored by a criminal gang based in Russia and the Ukraine to search for files that will allow access to banking or financial information. The FBI believes that GameOver Zeus has been responsible for $100m (£60m) in losses.

The virus also distributes another particularly aggressive “malware” programme, called CryptoLocker, which encrypts all files on a target’s computer, including personal photographs, and then demands a “ransom” of about £300 within a specified time limit to unlock the file.

According to FBI estimates, nearly 250,000 computers worldwide have been infected with CryptoLocker since it emerged in April and it has so far been used to extort payments of more than $27m (£16m). Up to a million machines worldwide are thought to have been infected with GameOver Zeus.

Internet service providers will now contact thousands of customers believed to have been affected by Gameover Zeus, which is distributed via links or attachments in unsolicited emails, offering advice on how to update anti-virus software to disable the virus. A website set up to provide this information appeared to be offline last night.

Andy Archibald, deputy head of the NCA’s cyber-crime unit, said: “Nobody wants their personal financial details, business information or photographs of loved ones to be stolen or held to ransom by criminals. By making use of this two-week window, huge numbers of people in the UK can stop that from happening.”

The warning comes after the FBI and agencies in 10 other countries claimed success in their efforts to crack down on the criminal gang behind the viruses by launching a simultaneous attack on servers used by the gang to control their operation.

The GameOver Zeus malware creates a “botnet”, a network of computers that spread the viruses and transfer banking information back to the gang. Information received by the criminals is then used to initiate or hijack electronic money transfers and direct money into bank accounts overseas.

The FBI said on Monday that it believed it had identified a ringleader of the gang, a Syrian-born Russian called Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev, who remains at large but is now facing 14 criminal charges alleging that he is the “administrator” of GameOver Zeus. He is also accused of being a leader of the “tightly knit gang” behind CyberLocker. There were unconfirmed reports last night that one of the suspects is British.

James Cole, the US Deputy Attorney General, said: “These schemes were highly sophisticated and immensely lucrative, and the cyber criminals did not make them easy to reach or disrupt.”

From a charity worker in London to a plastics manufacturer in Pennsylvania, the victims of Gameover Zeus and CyberLocker viruses are spread across the world and from all walks of life.

The FBI said last night that it had charged a suspected ringleader of the gang behind the malware with involvement in wire fraud after $824,000 (£491,000) was taken from the bank account of Haysite Reinforced Plastics in northwestern Pennsylvania in a single day in 2011.

Going viral: malware victims across the globe

A separate civil complaint names alleged victims including a native American tribe, a police department in Massachusetts and a pest control company in North Carolina.

Neither “botnets” nor “ransomware” are new. But investigators have been taken aback by the sophistication of these particular viruses. According to research by the University of Kent, up to 40 per cent of victims of CyberLocker have decided to pay the ransom, potentially raising million of pounds for the gang.

In one case, a 35-year-old charity worker had her laptop infected with CyberLocker and received a message on her machine giving her 95 hours to pay a $300 (£179) fee to unlock files including photographs and work documents.

The victim said she was refusing to make the payment.

Be secure: protective software

Anti-cybercrime experts today advised computer users to update their internet security software and download a free tool to thwart the powerful viruses.

The not-for-profit organisation set up to provide advice to companies and domestic users said it had put in place measures which would help to defeat GameOver Zeus and CryptoLocker.

The National Crime Agency advised users to consult the Government-backed getsafeonline.org website to download the tailored anti-virus software provided by eight companies.

But Get Safe Online apologised on Monday after its website crashed under the number of requests to view its content.

In a statement, chief executive Tony Neate said: “We have been overwhelmed by the interest of those trying to take action to protect themselves by visiting our page.”

computer virus
Read more
  • Published in All News, Tech News
No Comments

Beware of CryptoLocker malware

Friday, 30 May 2014 by virtuoso

PC users are being warned to be on their guard against emails purporting to be from the Royal Mail and containing CryptoLocker, a malicious piece of software that locks computers with an unbreakable encryption.

The email states that a lost or missing package is waiting for you at your local sorting office and asks recipients to download an attachment to find out more. Those who do immediately start to install the CryptoLocker malware on to their computer, without realising what they have done.

CryptoLocker will encrypt all the data on the computer, including photos, music and personal documents, using a public key.

A message will then appear on the screen stating that all of the data is locked and can only be unlocked with a private key, which the scammers promise to hand over once the computer owner has sent them a payment.

The fraudulent Royal Mail email was discovered when a victim contacted the Action Fraud call centre. It is the second piece of malware hidden in a fake Royal Mail email that has come to light in recent months.

As a result of the scams, Royal Mail has issued advice warning members of the public that it will never include attachments in an unsolicited email, and stating that it does not email its customers asking for any personal information. It has also notified the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

“We encourage any customer who receives a suspicious email claiming to be from Royal Mail to contact our customer services department on 08457 740 740,” a spokesperson said, adding that the company follows “robust security procedures” to protect its customers.

Anyone wishing to book a redelivery of a Royal Mail parcel can do so online at the Royal Mail website.

Scammers using CryptoLocker typically ask for ransoms of either $300 or €300, which must be sent through an anonymous pre-paid cash voucher such as MoneyPak or Ukash or the equivalent amount in Bitcoins.

If the extortionists do not receive the payment within 72 to 100 hours, victims are warned the private key will be destroyed and nobody will ever be able to recover their data.

The encryption uses publicly available, well-established algorithms developed by governments and other legitimate bodies that means it is widely seen as unbreakable. When Guardian Money warned readers about CryptoLocker ransomware in October, a spokesperson for security firm Sophos told us that “if you haven’t got back up and you get hit by CryptoLocker, you may as well have dropped your PC over the side of the bridge”.

Since then, it is estimated that more than 250,000 PCs have been infected and the UK’s National Crime Agency has warned 10 million UK-based email users are being targeted.

Only PCs running Windows can be infected but the CryptoLocker malware can be hidden in any executable attachment or sneak on to your computer via a driveby download from a disreputable or infected website.

computer virusmalwaretrojan
Read more
  • Published in All News, Tech News
No Comments

Recent Posts

  • Email Scam – Cybercriminals Imitate Intuit QuickBooks Invoice

    Beware of a scam email going around imitating a...
  • Malware Alert

    We have had many customers this week contact us...
  • Windows 10 Creators Update Problems

    Recently, Microsoft released a major update for...

Categories

  • All News
  • BEWARE
  • Computerman News
  • Software
  • Tech News
  • Technology

Recent Posts

  • Email Scam – Cybercriminals Imitate Intuit QuickBooks Invoice

    Beware of a scam email going around imitating a...
  • Malware Alert

    We have had many customers this week contact us...
  • Windows 10 Creators Update Problems

    Recently, Microsoft released a major update for...
  • BEWARE: Business Scam Email for £9,945

    Yesterday alone (24.01.18) we had 4 cases repor...
  • BEWARE – Fake DVLA Email!

    Beware everyone of a new crafty email scam goin...

Tag Cloud

Antivirus Business business/home visits Company car Computer computer virus Gameover Zeus Trojan Home home user malware Microsoft Protection Ransomware Security smartphone testimonial trojan virus Windows Windows 10

Recent News

  • Email Scam – Cybercriminals Imitate Intuit QuickBooks Invoice

    Beware of a scam email going around imitating a...
  • Malware Alert

    We have had many customers this week contact us...
  • Windows 10 Creators Update Problems

    Recently, Microsoft released a major update for...

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

By subscribing to our mailing list you will always be update with the latest news from us.

We never spam!

Chat

[3cx-clicktotalk id=”2814″ title=”Live Chat & Talk item 1″]

GET IN TOUCH

AVAIO
Union Park
Bircholt Road
Maidstone, Kent, UK
ME15 9YP

Telephone: 01622 677 677

Email: support@computermanuk.com

over a year agoBEWARE – Fake DVLA Email! https://t.co/9I8UvR1xmW https://t.co/NWZWnwhbIv
Follow @compmanukltd
  • Tweet
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2016 All rights reserved.

TOP