Updated: May 24/2011
HOME  >>>  SECURITY INFORMATION
CYBERCRIME OUT OF CONTROL - Average of new threats in 2009 was 55,000/day, in 2010 it was 63,000/day!

For the last few years, almost every computer we come across is infected. Nowadays we have to run at least 10 anti-malware scans to try and ensure a computer is clean. Guess how many our scans our competition does. North America consistantly has the highest amount of online incidents and malicious code activities by far, usually over one hundred million and growing, and home users are consistantly the number one target. In such a dangerous environment, fraud, identity theft, and the theft of personal information is common. If you run a business, you are also responsible for protecting your staff and your customer's private information. As a parent, you should monitor your children's behavoir online, or you could turn a blind eye and let preditors do it. It's not hard for a bad person or organization to develop a profile of your family's behavoir and activities. By helping you stop malware, we help you protect you and your family's safety, identities, finances, home and business. More than ever, you need to regularily clean and maintain your computer, and bring it in for a tune-up at least once a year.

May 2007 - Microsoft reports a new virus detected every 18 seconds.

December 2007 - F-Secure Reports Amount of Malware Grew by 100% during 2007 (F-Secure) As much malware produced in 2007 as in the previous 20 years altogether

2008 Q4 - Another record breaking year in the growth of malicious software (F-Secure)

Every hour 1 million new spam pages are created - Total spam pages created since January 1, 2011

Symantec Threat Monitor screensaver - ThreatCon rating shows danger level of the Internet, based on network incidents and malicious code activities

The Do's and Don'ts of Downloading

The Do's and Don'ts of Online Shopping

The Do's and Don'ts of IM and Chat

The Do's and Don'ts of Social Networking


MALWARE TYPES, TERMS and WHY - These are used for crime, espionage, extortion, industrial/competative sabotage, political activism, revenge, terrorism, theft (children, identity, money), vandalism, war, etc.
  • 0-days
  • adware - delivers unwanted advertising to the user, may also contain spyware or trackware
  • adbots
  • Backdoors - Programs that secretly get past security and allow remote control of your computer. In most cases, additional software can be installed and the system is integrated into a bot net along with other Zombie PCs. These Zombies are then used for sending spam, stealing data or executing distributed denial of service attacks.
  • Bad Protocols
  • bombs - similar to packed, a program that downloads multiple malwares into your computer
  • botnets
  • Browser Malware
  • Clickjacking attack - A fake link lures users to click on it with the hopes of seeing who visited their profile, or promised gifts, pictures, videos, etc. It redirects through one or more web pages and you think maybe a few more clicks will get to there. These worms might even spoof a statistic out of random contacts just to fool you, but it's really a Facebook scam or worm. After clicking the link it accesses your friends list and virally spreads the infectious link. Facebook does not provide the ability to track who views any part of your profile, and outside developers cannot create applications with this functionality.
  • Connection Floods
  • crimeware
  • data stealers
  • data usage collectors (Alexa toolbar, Google toolbar, Eclipse, PDFCreator)
  • DDoS tools
  • dialers
  • dll injection
  • DNS Spoofing
  • Downloaders - A downloader is a piece of malicious software which –as the name implicates- downloads additional files from the Internet. Beforehand, they are often trying to lower the system’s security settings.
  • drive-by download
  • exploits - programs or proceedures that take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities in legitimate programs to access or attack a computer
  • fake security alerts
  • grayware
  • hacked sites
  • hijackers
  • info stealers
  • joke programs
  • keystroke loggers
  • malicious sites
  • malwares
  • over-privileged code
  • packed - similar to a bomb, a program that packs multiple malwares into a program
  • password sniffers
  • password stealers
  • pharming & phishing emails & sites
  • pop-up adverts
  • porno servers
  • remote access tools
  • rogue device drivers - a fake driver that tricks users into installing or buying infections
  • rogue executables - a fake security program that tricks users into installing or buying infections
  • rogue infections - a fake security program that tricks users into installing or buying infections
  • rogue services - a fake security program that tricks users into installing or buying infections
  • rootkits
  • scareware
  • spam
  • spamers
  • spoofing
  • Spyware - Malicious software that steals personal information from the victim’s system. This includes any kind of personal data, including passwords, banking information, or even login credentials for online games.
  • tracking cookies
  • trackware
  • Trojan Horse - Like the historical Trojan Horse, it's a program that looks desireable. Instead of or in addition to the desireable part, Trojan Horses contain a hidden program part, which executes unwanted and/or malicious actions on the system without the user noticing this. Trojan horses have no propagation routine of their own (as opposed to Viruses or Worms). They are sent by e-Mail or lurking within websites or P2P networks.
  • trojans - programs that appear legitimate, but secretly do other malicious things as well
  • trojan downloaders - secretly download, install, and run malicious programs
  • trojan droppers - malicious programs that secretly install and run one or more malicious programs
  • uploaders
  • User Mode hooking
  • viruses
  • Worms - Programs that use computers or network resources to reproduce, may also include additional malwares that can damage computers and networks. As opposed to a virus, a worm does not append itself to executable files. It propagates by transferring onto other machines through networks or system-to-system connections. There are different sub-types of worms which can be classified by their propagation mechanism, such as mail-, network-, or P2P-worms.
  • variants of everything above and other malicious and unwanted software




MALWARE SOURCES: - The chart shows which countries have the most web attacks (drive-bys)



May 2007 - Google reports 1 in 10 web pages contained malicious code (BBC News)

November 2008 - Where do most infections come from? (TrendLabs)

Malware proliferation is way out of control, and the companies that make security software, admit they cannot detect every infection. To make matters worse, most computer users are contributing to spreading these epidemics. Here's a big problem:

Most users...
  • have never even taken a basic computer class
  • let their family use their work computers
  • let their security programs expire
  • fail to keep programs and Windows updated
  • fail to use quality security programs
  • don't know how to safely close pop-ups
  • click on web page links without checking the address
  • click on links in emails, chat rooms, and other social forums
  • preview emails
  • open email attachments without first scanning them
  • open email and attachments from trusted friends that also do everything listed here
  • compromise family and friend's security by forwarding chain email to 10 people
  • download free cursors, screensavers, wallpapers, and other parasitic software
  • download game demos, shareware, freeware, media players, toolbars, download managers, and other junkware
  • use computers to steal and distribute music and movies
  • let their kids use computers to steal and distribute music and movies
  • risk a criminal record, and financial ruin
  • download and run programs and music without first scanning them
  • have open ports that share files with the world
  • share USB flash drives and homemade disks amoung multiple computers without scanning them
  • think they can do anything because they have a good AntiVirus program
There is no 100% protection, but if you follow our advice, become proactive, and regularily use the security programs we set up for you, you will greatly reduce your vulnerability. An anti-virus will only protect you from some infections, but it won't protect you from the vast amount of other types of infections. If you do things like previewing emails, opening attachments and downloads without scanning them, you might as well infect your computer on purpose, because that's what your doing.

MANY SECURITY PROGRAMS ARE DANGEROUS:
PRODUCTS:
We only sell security software with the highest detection rates. Established customers can simply call us for a product key, download the latest version here and install it. We'll send you a bill in the mail.

DETECTION RATES PRODUCT DOWNLOAD
CONSISTENTLY HIGHEST OVERALL GDATA AntiVirus - Remember, our price is lower
Internet Security - Remember, our price is lower
CONSISTENTLY HIGHEST OVERALL Avira AntiVirus
HIGHEST for last quarter 2008 ESET AntiVirus

MORE SECURITY PRODUCTS:
SECURITY PROGRAMS (Look on your desktop)
If we've done a full Tune-up on your computer, you probably have a folder on your desktop called "SECURITY PROGRAMS" or "SECURITY KIT". These are useful programs that are easy to use. Most of them have their own help file and more help online, and here's some more information to help you these programs.

Some of these programs are available in 2 versions; free for home use, and a paid version for businesses. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the right version.

ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS - If you try to install more than one anti-virus, you will have serious problems. Use it regularily. Yes most update automatically, allow you to schedule a scan, and automatically protect your computer. But if your computer was off, you probably missed the last update, and the last scheduled scan. Run it when you don't need your computer for a few hours, but check on it once in a while to see if you need to click on something to quaranteen or delete an infection. It's simple, just click on the "update" link to ensure you are up to date, then run a full scan at least once a week.

ANTI-MALWARE PROGRAMS - Sometimes called antispyware. You should have 3 good ones, more may slow your computer too much or cause other problems. Most Internet Security Suites come bundled with an antivirus and antimalware programs. Vista also comes with Windows Defender, which is also a free download for XP users. Addaware, SuperAntispyware and MalwareBytes are good too. Again it's simple, just click on the "update" link to ensure you are up to date, then run a full scan at least once a week.

START-UP UTILITIES - These are used to contol what programs load when you start the computer. Some may be parasites, and too many will cause your computer to run slow, so keep it clean and don't be a download freak.

TUNE-UP UTILITIES - These are used to fix things like system files, file systems, registry problems, etc.

CLEAN-UP UTILITIES - These are used to clean system and browser caches, and to remove orphaned entries from the registry.

UNINSTALLER PROGRAMS - These are used to do a better job than Windows Add/Remove programs. Revo is able to first run the program's uninstaller (don't reboot yet), and then it lists (in bold) leftover registry entries that you check and delete, and then it lists leftover files and folders that you delete, if they are related.

UNLOCKING PROGRAMS - Sometimes when you try to rename, move or delete a file, Windows says you can't because some other process is using it. Right click the file and select Unlocker to stop the offending program.

BACK-UP and SYNCHRONIZATION PROGRAMS - SyncBack is not for burning backup disks, it is for backing up to another internal or external hard drive, memory stick, computer or server, and for syncing files on 2 computers. SyncBack is great because it does not compress, alter, change or rename your files. It does not squish them into one giant file, and it doesn't use any proprietary format. It is way better than Windows Explorer because it doesn't tank half way through a 2 hour copy job just because it came across a bad file name. Use it to schedule automated backups. It's simple, just tell it what you want to copy, and where you want to put it. You can then run it right away, or schedule the job (profile) for later. You can create multiple profiles and have different backups scheduled to be sent all over at different times if you want.
FAQs:
How can I tell if I have a virus?
I have a virus and no backup, can you restore my current Windows installation?
I have an anti-virus program on my system, so I'm protected - right?
I keep my anti-virus updated, so I won't get a virus - right?
If that's the case, why bother with anti-virus software?
Where can I get cheap anti-virus software?
Can you help me backup my data?
What do you recommend for security?
What kind of backup services do you offer?
What is a RAID system?
Do you offer offsite data storage services?
Can you help me with security issues?

How can I tell if I have a virus?
Viruses can go undetected for ages. You may not know you have a virus until it delivers it's payload, so backup your data regularly. Common symptoms include excessive hard drive activity, excessive internet activity, returned e-mails, anti-virus stops working, CD drive stops working, random reboots, popups, hijacked home page, random errors, slow response and lock ups.

I have a virus and no backup, can you restore my current Windows installation?
Not always, systems that are really messed up require a fresh install. That is the best way to restore functionality, stability and performance. We may need product keys and original installation discs. If you don't have these you can usually purchase them from us. If you need your data you will also have to pay for data retrieval, cleaning and restoration services, assuming your data is intact and accessible.

I have an anti-virus program on my system, so I'm protected, right?
Wrong. Unfortunately none of the antivirus programs offer 100% protection, and you can only have one installed. If your anti-virus program is old, it's practically useless. If you don't update it and run full scans on a regular basis, the potential for being infected is extremely high, so back up your data and keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.

I keep my anti-virus updated, so I won't get a virus, right?
Wrong. Even the best anti-virus program can't protect you from a brand new virus it knows nothing about. Updates are available every week, but these updates are often developed after the virus has already spread to systems all around the world. The best you can do is use a good antivirus program, keep it updated, and back up your data regularly.

If that's the case, why bother with anti-virus software?
Anti-virus software protects your system from thousands of common viruses. If you connect to the Internet without any virus protection, you will probably get a virus within 15 minutes. We can help protect your systems by installing a decent anti-virus program and provide you with many other security enhancements as well.

Where can I get cheap anti-virus software?
From us. We can install free anti-virus software, or you can buy a cost-effective all-in-one security appliance that provides all kinds of protection for multiple systems. We also offer security solutions for servers and networked environments.

Can you help me backup my data?
Yes. There are many options available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. We can install and configure a back-up system tailored to suit your needs and show you how it all works.

What do you recommend for security?
Back up your data regularly, use a hardware and software firewall, current anti-virus protection, and spyware removal software. We also recommend that you test your backups and consider using an offsite data storage service as well.

What kind of backup services do you offer?
We can perform onsite and remote backups. We can record data to internal and external hard drives, flash memory, CDs, DVDs, Zip discs, or any other available network resource such as another computer or remote backup storage. We can also install and configure RAID systems and automated backups.

What is a RAID system?
RAID systems automatically copy the entire contents of your hard drive to a second or third hard drive. RAID systems are commonly used in servers and business systems where uptime is important. It protects you by keeping your system up and running when a hard drive fails, and it helps to protect you from data loss at the same time.

Do you offer offsite data storage services?
Yes, please call 604-590-6098 for details.

Can you help me with security issues?
Absolutely. We can install and configure hardware and software solutions tailored to your requirements and walk you through it all.