Pc viruses and other varieties of malware can be a severe ache in the rear end. The minor infections are truly simple to get rid of for even the most novice of pc users. A typical update and scan with the latest virus removal software package typically does the trick. In spite of this, every now and then, a programmer crafts up a virus that even the most "anti hacker" infected user feels the need to take off his or her hat, out of respect for the creator of such a nastily coded masterpiece. We of course wish to throttle the jerk as well... but wow! We really didn't see that one coming!
This exotic virus enters into your cyber system with out setting off a single alarm, and then like a serpent in the grass, it calmly lies there... and waits. This particular virus doesn't want to be detected and knows precisely what not to do. It has a plan and no matter what you do, it's got you by the bits.
So, like many a poor Schmo, you go about your every day computing rituals without even the slightest hint that your very sanity is about to be put to the ultimate test. There is a question that we all have to ask ourselves at least once in our computing lifetime; Will the computer stay perched upon our desktop, or will it have to find a new home someplace out on the front lawn?
Most of the time these viruses result in you losing every thing that you had saved on your hard drive. You are forced to reformat and begin all over again with your default manufacturing settings, losing everything that you didn't have backed up. The upside to this ill fated scenario (as many of us know all too well),
is that your pc will now run a lot faster with your little over 300 gigabytes of liberated space :)
Believe it or not, 99.9% of viruses can be avoided no matter how proficient the virus programmer. Pc viruses, worms, spyware, trojan horses, most rootkits, crappy adware, scareware, crimeware, and other software programs or malicious code can all be blocked long before they ever begin to take hold and take over your cherished pc. The trick to never getting infected is pre-emptive protection..
In order for a virus to settle down and call your hard drive its new home, you have to actually give it access. Giving access does not necessarily imply that youre going to do it knowingly. A lot of times access is granted thru a poorly written program that has what's known as a vulnerability or "security hole." I won't go into the details but picture if you will a home that's been perfectly built. It has the doors, windows, walls, floors and a roof. The residence represents your application. Now picture that the building contractor forgot to put a security device on just one of the many doors. You're open to anyone that thinks to try the knob, right? The same goes for your programs. If the virus programmer is aware of the security hole riddled within your software program, then he readily writes some sort of malicious code that is designed to compromise that softwares vulnerability. Voila! They're in, and you are so mad you could spit.
In order to keep your computer from ever being compromised by one of these foul little bugs, you're going to need a range of software programs that will work together "synergistically" as both your pcs foremost line of protection AND as your computers pro active real-time line of protection. If at some instant you have heard that there is a powerful software that can do it all, oh ye be careful! Do not believe the hype. There is no such application and if there was, every hacker would be up till the wee hours of the morning working meticulously day and night to find the computer programs weakness... and believe me; every single software program that has ever been produced has a weakness SOMEWHERE! Because just as sure as a program can be coded, it can also be decoded and reverse engineered. It's only a matter of time before the security blip is found and then exploited. So just keep in mind, any software program can be hacked, even your antivirus software program... wait, let me rephrase that, ESPECIALLY your antivirus software program.
It's really just a matter of having the stronger Virus Kung Fu.
As I said, there are a variety of programs and firmware needed to ensure your pc's ultimate safety. Below I have created a short list. I will go over every item and then clarify why it is considered necessary.
1. A Non-Routable IP Address - Contrary to belief, your firewall is not necessarily your primary line of security. If you have a Non-Routable IP Address then you block any person from the outside world from ever getting access to your pc. In order for me to give an explanation for what this is and how it works we would have to go into some intense detail, so as a substitute, just do a search on Google for "Non-Routable IP Address so that you can familiarize yourself with the idea. This is the Most advantageous first line of security!
2. A Firewall - Your firewall is your computers "2d" line of protection if you have set up a Non-Routable IP Address. Your firewall is basically a communications screener. It's similar to the concept of a bar bouncer. The bouncer (firewall) asks for an ID at the front door (your router). He then lets the individuals (network communications) that are in compliance with the guidelines in, and keeps those that are in conflict with the guidelines, out.
3. Virus Protection - Virus protection is your "third" line of protection. If come what may all else has failed then you need a good SET of virus protection computer programs operating so that it can hopefully stop whatever has smashed through your barriers. Notice that I said SET. The reason that you want more than one virus protection program is because there IS NOT one "single" virus protection software program thats designed to "get'em all". You would not depend on your front airbag in a rear end collision would you? No, and the same goes for virus protection programs. Some are better at detecting certain viruses and malware then others however NONE of them are able to do a terrific job of detecting them completely. And let's not ignore updating your virus protection DAILY. I have all of mine set to routinely update and scan in the early morning hours while I'm sleeping. This way I am routinely up to date with the newest virus definitions and I'm always scanned to ensure that something hasn't gotten through my first 2 lines of security.
4. Anti Adware - Adware is relatively no better than a virus and is quite often quite often the mechanism for being infected BY a virus. Most of the time adware is introduced in the manner of a software package add-on as a freebie. As an example; let's say that you've bought a program for creating greeting cards. In the middle of the greeting card install you may be asked if you would also like to install a valuable software program that is intended to assist you find your preferred online video clips with the click of your mouse! Add-on computer programs like these are commonly nothing more than adware that's been designed to open a security hole for something more sinister to come through your Internet connection. Before you know it you've got pop up after pop up telling you that your computer is infected and you need to use a free virus scan to see what the trouble is so that you can buy a software program to get rid of the virus. It's viral promoting at its finest, and believe it or not, you informed your pc that it was ok to invite it in because you gave the adware authorization to install itself onto your hard drive... sneaky little buggers.
5. The Community - In many instances there just is not any hope left. Your firewall has failed. You forgot to update your virus protection and anti adware and now you are infected with a virus that has learned some powerful Kung Fu so your pc keeps crashing and the BSD (Blue Screen of Death) has now become your new favorite desktop background. In times like these you have 4 possible choices. You can either select:
A. Throw it off your balcony.
B. Bring it to a techy solution similar to Geek Squad. (Which will charge you a little $mulah and then there is no certainty that you'll even get your files back)
c. You reformat and wipe everything on your hard drive.
And then there is D. For the most part individuals never get to D for the reason that they've already done either A, B or C. D ought to in reality be A. It ought to be the first thing you do when all else has failed because occasionally there is still hope. There are a number of techy sites with contributors that are more than prepared to assist you with your crazy, virus infected pc problems... and they are free. The site that I suggest above ALL OTHERS, is absolutely bleepingcomputers.com. These folks will walk you thru, step by step until your pc has either been brought back from the dead, or thrown out the window. If at all possible they are going to make certain that every thing is cleaned and in virus free, working order. Your sanity will be restored and you'll be able to take some free time to go dye those grey hairs back to their natural color.
You could say that I am a "pc virus removal specialist" of some sort. Ive been working with computers since back in the early days of DOS when every thing was done one line at a time and Load Runner was all the rage. This present day I run a publication called The VirusKungfu Gazette where I keep my small but healthy following of a little over 2,000 subscribers informed about everything viral that are worth mentioning. Recently I started a fun little endeavor where I eagerly seek some type of (new or old) malicious code that has been wreaking havoc on pc users. I do this twice a month for the sole purpose of installing the viral load onto one of my testing machines so that I can establish which Virus Kung Fu needs to be used to get rid of that exact type of malware. After Ive shown that my Virus Kung Fu is stronger... I mail out the viral report to all of my subscribers that includes symptoms, names, viral locations and most significantly, step by step techniques on how to get rid of it once a persons' been infected.
If you would like to be kept up to date with all the current studies regarding; the most useful virus protection software to use (defense that even the most widely recognized Hackers use for themselves); tips and tricks used to get rid of even the nastiest infections; protecting yourself from even the craftiest online threats and securing your machine to make certain that the good stays in - and the bad stays out, then visit our site at
http://viruskungfu.com for more information.
