To: Undisclosed Recipients, Subject: Ernest Borgnine Goes Wild
*CLICK* – *CLICK* – *INFECTED*
You know you would open that, but all kidding aside this happens more often than it should. And now we have the FBI stepping in to help because too many people fall victim to e-mails, links on web sites, web sites with malicious script, free games with viruses, and yes, those naughty sites with Ernest, too. Here is the skinny: There is a wonderful (*cough* – sarcasm) piece of malware that was running rampant on an estimated four million plus (4,000,000+ <– emphasis) plus PCs called DNSChanger. This estimate is now down to 300,000 or so. What it is: (http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/november/malware_110911), “DNSChanger was used to redirect unsuspecting users to rogue servers controlled by the cyber thieves, allowing them to manipulate users’ web activity.” The basics: You click to go to one web site and end up at another, some software programs cannot access the Internet (antivirus programs cannot update), and wonder why your mouse is fouling up.
Click to Visit
Does your computer have an itch? Time to go to the clinic!
Maybe you’re not infected. Maybe you don’t think you are. Maybe you should put down the [insert habit/vice here] for a moment and just go check by visiting: www.DCWG.org | DNS Changer Working Group. Once there, click on DETECT at the top left or just click here. Voila! That was easy.
If you’re infected, and don’t correct it, you will lose your ability to surf the Internet as of 7/9/2012.
What to do in this Internet-based world to not receive infections and avoid costly computer repair and virus removal fees:
- Learn what to avoid! Free is not ALWAYS free. Those things that are legitimately free (and free of malware) are free for one of two reasons; they are designed to entice you to buy the full product or they are created by an Open Source saint.
- Learn that not every listing that pops up under your favorite search engine is safe. Try installing a great plugin for your web browser called Web of Trust (myWOT.com) that will let you know if a web site rates as Okay, Unsure, or Bad. Granted, some sites are not rated at all, and a few okay sites rate as bad. If you use WOT, try to involve yourself and rate sites that you visit.
- Check links in your e-mail before clicking on them or get a strong SPAM filter (some popular antivirus software solutions have e-mail/SPAM filters in the Internet Security versions of their products: ex. Avira Internet Security, Avast Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security. Gmail and Google Apps also have a strong SPAM and Phishing filter.
Overall, try to surf smart, surf safe, and keep your antivirus programs up to date. We do recommend using a secondary antivirus/anti-malware program such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware or SUPERAntiSpyware with your favorite antivirus software.