COMPUTER MALWARE

[George Page]

Wikipedia says “Malware, short for malicious (or malevolent) software, is software used or created by attackers to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems. It can appear in the form of code, scripts, active content, and other software.^[1] 'Malware' is a general term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software.^[2]

Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software, and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses.^[3] In law, malware is sometimes known as a computer contaminant, as in the legal codes of several U.S. states.^[4][5] Malware is not the same as defective software, which is software that has a legitimate purpose but contains harmful bugs that were not corrected before release. However, some malware is disguised as genuine software, and may come from an official company website. An example of this is software used for harmless purposes that is packed with additional tracking software that gathers marketing statistics.

Malware has caused the rise in use of protective software types such as anti virus, anti-malware, and firewalls. Each of these are commonly used by personal users and corporate networks in order to stop the unauthorized access by other computer users, as well as the automated spread of malicious scripts and software.” See link below for full article by Wikipedia,

In the article above it shows the many forms of malware to include viruses, ransomware or to hold hostage, worms (many they maneuver around in your computer without your knowledge, Trojan horses sneak into your system with one or more purposes, etc.  Again you have read this above. 

I want to discuss one of my repeat clients Derrick Burse. Find Derrick on http://www.myvideowebshow.com/video/59049 and https://www.facebook.com/derrick.burse.

I originally removed malware from his system back in May 2012. Remember, new malware to the tune of (at minimum) of 7,000 come out each day.  These people write malware for the fun of it.  I will not nor will I say for sure that the creators of ant-Malware products are behind the creation of Malware. 

I believe it was in November he began reporting he could not get on his home Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi). That he could still connect to every other Wireless Internet connection respectively around Central Florida.  Also that he had no problem connecting his Tablet and his wife could connect to their home’s Wireless Internet. That using the tablet and his wife’s PC, they could stay get connected and stay connected as long as they want. But his Laptop manufactured by Acer http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/home could no longer connect to his home Wireless Internet connection. 

Then in Mid-December, I believe, Derrick began telling me that his Acer laptop would not even come up to his desktop environment.  The desktop is where you see icons or shortcuts to programs on your PC, whether it is a physical Desktop/Tower PC or a Laptop PC. See picture for a PC Desktop. I finally received the Laptop from Derrick on 02/14/13. The Laptop does not even get past the BIOS Black screen. The BIOS is where the PC saves settings for what type Hard Drive, CD/DVD drive and other Hardware parts are in the computer.  On 02/14/13, I attempted to boot up the laptop first on the Hard Drive.  When that did not work, I attempted to boot using a bootable CD/DVD to no avail.  Last night 02/15/13, I removed the Hard Drive from the Laptop and connected it to a second laptop in my possession.  I then discovered that Derrick’s Hard Drive has been completely wiped.  The report states that “280 GB free of 286 GB”.  That means that not only are his files, pictures, etc gone. The Operating System was also wiped.  Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 are some operating systems created and distributed by the Microsoft Corporation, http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx. You know the Operating System is working properly when you see the Icons on the desktop. That does not mean your PC is Malware free!!

This is not the first time I have seen malware cripple a computer.  In Derrick’s case, the malware not only crippled his computer; different forms attacked at different times and completely wiped the hard drive. I am also going to have to determine why his DVD Drive is not reading CD’s or DVD’s.  In case some of you are wondering, yes there is malware that will attack and cripple your BIOS. Remember the BIOS is what tells the PC what Hard Drive, CD Drive, etc is installed in the system.

Before you think Derrick is a lazy, good for nothing person that “deserved this type of attack”, think again.  Derrick works hard for his money.  I often talk to Derrick and he tells me he is over in Cocoa, etc. The man is a hard working business owner. If you just knew the little I know of Derrick, you would agree that he does not deserve this! And as a computer tech, I do not deliberately sabotage my client’s computers. If I did that I would not be in debt to several companies including the IRS to the tune of $2,000.00 just for last year alone.  I would have a bank account overflowing with money. Instead, because I want God to grow this computer business that he chooses to prosper me, I must be sincere all the time!! 

To those of you that 1) do not have updated Internet Security (anti-Virus, anti-Spyware, Firewall and anti-Spam) Software on your computer and 2) have updated Internet Security Software on your computer and do not run it at least twice a month on your system; yet have not encountered what Derrick encountered, you need to re-dedicate your life to God and thank him profusely, continuously and sincerely everyday your system works without issues.  I would say 85% of all computer issues are caused by malware. That 10% are user deliberate caused out of ignorance and only 5% are actual hardware (hard drive, CD Drive, etc,) issues.

 

To read Wikipedia’s complete article on Malware visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware.

 

 PC Aid of FL is available to help you setup and/or maintain your system on a regular basis.