HandyBoys Computer Service Virus Alert.. 2011

Please be aware of all emails sent from unknown addresses, be careful for URL that ask to change your password for a online account or don’t click on those emails that have hidden show pictures and links, if is not your birthday don’t open E-Cards,

Unless you ask for a password change from an online site,  do not fall for online scams / emails that ask to change your ID or password, We have to be careful of sites we visit on a daily basics.

.   Make sure you back up your Computer daily or weekly
.   Make sure your antivirus definition is up to date
.   Make sure popup blocker is on
.   Make sure you tweak your privacy settings to medium under internet options
.   Make sure you have some sort of Malware potection
.   Turn on your computer Firewall
.   Run weekly and Monthly Cleaning scan Software
.   Defrag your hard drive monthly will not hurt
.   Stay Clear of those Banner that offer dating in your area and click to see more…

Please call Handyboys Computer – if you need help 860-318-5557

Analysis: With so many real viruses in circulation bearing names almost identical to the bogus threats you may read about in hoax messages like the ones above, it’s crucial to know how to distinguish between the real virus threats and the fake ones.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

1. It’s true that there are real viruses, Trojans, and other malicious programs currently being distributed by means of fake e-card notices.

These malware-containing emails may arrive under any of dozens of possible headers, for example:

• You’ve received a Hallmark E-Card!
• You’ve received a postcard from a family member!
• Colleague sent you a postcard from egreetings.com!
• Birthday e-card
• You’ve recieved a Hallmark E-Card!
• You’ve received a greeting card from a school-mate!
• You’ve received a greeting ecard from a class mate!
• You’ve received a greeting ecard from a neighbour!
• You’ve received a greeting postcard from a partner!
• You’ve received a greeting postcard from a worshipper!
• You’ve received a postcard from a family member!
• You’ve received a postcard from a neighbour!
• You’ve received a postcard from a worshipper!
• You’ve received an ecard from a colleague!
• Class-mate sent you an ecard from vintagepostcards.com!
• Colleague sent you a greeting ecard from postcardsfrom.com!
• School mate sent you a greeting ecard from greetingcard.org!
• Family member sent you a postcard from dgreetings.com!
• Neighbour sent you a greeting ecard from NetFunCards.com!
• School-mate sent you an ecard from mypostcards.com!
• Worshipper sent you an ecard from greetingcard.org!
•  Colleague sent you a postcard from egreetings.com!
• Neighbour sent you a greeting ecard from all-yours.net!
• School friend sent you an ecard from postcards.org!
• Holiday e-card
• Movie-quality e-card
• Love postcard
• Birthday e-card
• Thank you card
• Musical postcard
• Funny postcard

Unfortunately, these do resemble legitimate notices from e-card providers. This means every user needs to be very careful when dealing with such emails, no matter what the apparent source. Before clicking on any links or attachments in the body of such a message, check to see if you can verify that it came from a legitimate source — and that isn’t always easy. If you can’t verify, don’t click!

Don’t click on links or attachments in e-card notices that arrive anonymously, or from senders whose names you don’t recognize.

Don’t click on attachments or links that seem suspicious in any other way.

2. Generally speaking, forwarded email warnings such as the ‘POSTCARD’ alerts above cannot be trusted to provide accurate information.

Read carefully! Try not to confuse hoax warnings with the real thing. Bogus virus alerts often contain links to websites which, at first glance, may seem to confirm the authenticity of the message, but which in fact discuss a completely different matter.

The very message we’re discussing happens to be a case in point. Despite the fact that there are real e-card viruses out there, the “POSTCARD” warning above is, in fact, a hoax. It is simply the newest of many variants of a false alert that began circulating several years ago (compare the texts and you’ll see what I mean).

Therefore, don’t depend on this type of alert for protection, and avoid forwarding such messages to others unless you can confirm with some certainty that the threat they describe is real.

3. Protecting yourself from real virus and trojan threats entails a few simple but critical measures. Follow them religiously:

1.Always be very careful concerning which attachments you open and which files you download. If you can’t be reasonably sure they are safe, don’t open or download them.

2.Maintain up-to-date antivirus software on your computer, configure it to detect trojan horses and other malware automatically, and scan for viruses and other threats regularly.
3.Always be careful concerning which links you choose to click, especially in messages from anonymous or unfamiliar sources. Clicking on these links can instantly download malicious software onto your computer. Again, if you can’t be reasonably sure a link is safe, don’t click on it.