Meade Computing LLC

Better Business Bureau Warning

Scam Alert: Scammers Use Facebook Tags to Spread Malware

If you use Facebook, watch out for suspicious posts tagged with dozens of names. This new scam is called "malicious tagging," and it's tricking victims into downloading malware.

Read the full story at the link below.

http://www.wincommunications.com/DocLib/BBB/3_15/BBBScamAlertMar15.html

The Nastiest Malware of 2014

Ransomware. Hopefully you haven't run into this or any other malware (malicious software). Ransomware took to new heights (or lows) in 2014 with the mass release of encryption style viruses. Once this virus has taken over your computer, all documents, pictures, music and anything else important to you is converted to undecipherable gibberish. The only recovery is to restore from backup and, to add insult to injury, if your backup drive was plugged in at the time of the infestation, everything on that drive is gibberish also. It will even hit mapped network drives, so be very careful at your place of employment.

But wait, they say I can pay a fee to get my stuff back. Good luck with that. If you get a money card and give it to the culprits, the only thing certain is that your money will be gone. There’s no guarantee they will give you the key to get your stuff back. Or, even if they do, that the key will actually work.

So how do you protect yourself from ransomware?

• Make sure your AntiVirus is up-to-date and working. The first thing a virus will do is target the AnitVirus and attempt to disable it.
• Never click on email links you’re not expecting, even if it came from someone you know. Same thing for attachments. Your friend’s email account may have been hacked.
• Never go beyond page one of a google search. The bad guys know how to get their links up in the rankings as well as the good guys, maybe even better. Be very specific when you search so what you’re looking for comes up in the first group of hits.
• Keep your software up-to-date. Most viruses take advantage of security holes in Java and FlashPlayer. Make sure you get your updates directly from the manufacturer.
• Make a backup and store it in a safe place. Don’t leave it plugged in all the time.
• If you suspect something is wrong, e.g. your computer suddenly becomes slow and unresponsive, pull the plug or hold the power button in until it shuts off. Don’t worry about a normal shutdown. Then take it to someone that knows how to inspect it for malware. Better safe than sorry, especially if you don’t have a good backup of all your precious pictures.

If you follow these steps, you’ll thwart most ransomware attempts.

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