| T O P I C R E V I E W |
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Posted - October 08 2009 : 17:13:43
Listen now. or Download the archive.
Question: Vicki asks, "How do I recognize a rogue antivirus program?"
Answer: Vicki, this is a great question because according to the AntiPhishing Working Group, in the first half of 2009, the number of rogue anti-malware programs grew by 585%! A rogue anti-malware program will generally masquerade as one of these: Antivirus, Registry Cleaner/Optimizer, or Antispyware. Now, to answer your question, the very best way to know is by whether or not you installed it. If you didn't install it; if it wasn't installed by a computer professional, then chances are good... it's bad; in other words, if it just showed up one day out of the blue. Another tell-tale sign is an inability to get to anti-malware websites like Symantec.com. These programs don't want competition because they'll be exposed for what they are. If the program will "find" bad software, but not clean it up without paying first, it's bad. If you can't run the Windows Task Manager - it might be a bad guy. If you can't find the program listed in Control Panel under Add/Remove Programs (Programs and Features in Vista) it's probably malware. Now, all these are just indications. To be more certain, you can go to Google and search the text of the messages you are seeing, or the name of the program. Read some of the results to find whether or not the programs are bad. But probably they are. To get rid of them, check out the forums for my AntiMalware Toolkit. If it will let you get there, you can find a free program or two to help you get it removed.
Cool Site: The AntiPhishing Working Group: Last week, we introduced listeners to the Antiphishing Working Group, and this week it makes our cool site of the week. By the way, I noticed the FBI had a big sting, dubbed "Operation Phish Phry" going on that I hope will bring a bunch of this to a halt. But this website is dedicated to getting rid of Internet scams and phishing. On this website, you can report phishing scams you receive. You can also find resources to help you if you've become a victim of one of them. There's a Crimeware Map, showing the percentage by country of Crimeware and Phishing attacks. The US is the most often targeted, even in this recession. Just last week, over 90% of the phishing attacks were here. Crimeware was over 39%. There are links to protective resources for both businesses and individuals. One of the questions I get a lot is, "Why do people do these things?" The simple answer is always money. The site has an education area where you can find out a ton of stuff about electronic crime or e-crime; how to protect yourself, and what you can do about it. So, great site for online safety.
Cool Gadget: Intelligent Forms Log Pillow: This week's gadget is not much of a gadget. It's an accessory for one of your gadgets, your laptop. Using your laptop on your lap makes your legs hot, and using it on a pillow makes the laptop hot. Enter the Log Pillow from Intelligent Forms. It consists of six fabric tube-shaped pillows that snap together. When assembled, they look a bit like a log cabin. It disassembles for storage and travel, or there's a hook that you can grab to carry the thing. But it provides good ventilation and levels your laptop because it's actually slanted toward the back. The logs are filled with buckwheat hulls and are made of natural fiber fabrics. If you want one, they're about $70, and we'll have links in the show notes. Of course, if they stuffed it with something cheap and sold for $10, I'd be right there. Oh well.
It's All "Geek" To Me: Technophobe: This week we're looking at Technophobe. The word refers to someone who is afraid of and doesn't like technological things, primarily computers. We all probably know someone like that.
Links
Anti-Malware Toolkit:
http://www.daconsult.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=76
Antiphishing Working Group:
http://www.antiphishing.org
Intelligent Forms Log Pillow:
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/09/work_in_your_jammies_with_the.php
Intelligent Forms:
http://intelligentforms.net/products/laptop-pillows/log/
Technophobe on Webster.com:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technophobe
And if anybody cares... I didn't get the LifeCam we talked about last week! Boo Hoo! |
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