Hackers never seem to run out of ideas on how to infect computers.

It has been a huge buzz about Apple’s big iPhone 5 reveal this month 3and this is the virus’ ticket to the computer.

Reports of an email of what seemed to be coming from the official Apple camp shows a preview of the much awaited iPhone 5 apparently are infected with malware.

The email will try to attract the reader to click on a button to pre-order iPhone 5. For those who can’t resist clicking on the button, they will be exposed to Mal/Zapchas-A virus.

Mal/Zapchas-A is a virus whose purpose is to allow hackers to have an access to your computer thus stealing personal information.

This only affects windows PC’s so lucky Mac users are ignored by this virus.

Think before you click. I don’t think we’re ready for a see though phone just yet.

How can TechieNow help?

Its always nice to cope up with the latest changes in technology. Although the same interest is normally used by hackers to corrupt your system. Let TechieNow’s expertise protect yourself from harmful technology. Not only we remove the infection; but we give you tips as well to prevent future virus intrusion.

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Virus Removal Service

Internet security is very important when it comes to the computers and network in your home or office. Most of the time, viruses spread easily over a network connection. As soon as one computer in your office gets infected with a virus, it can spread to the other computers. This may result in data and time loss.

You must take it seriously when choosing and installing antivirus software in the office for your computer and company’s protection. Antivirus software provides numerous benefits. As soon as you install and use it, you will get immediate protection. It will prevent the infection going into your network. It is also capable of quarantining virus of an infected computer preventing it to sneak and spread to other computers.

Antivirus software not only prevents virus infection to computers but also protects the company from compliance violations, data loss, identity theft, lost productivity and network downtime. It should give a wide-ranging security in protecting all types of endpoints in your system. If it fails to do that, your entire network is in danger.

In addition, your antivirus should be updated constantly to protect your office network from new viruses that will arrive in the future. You are now living in a modern world where virus writers grows as fast as they could bring harm to everyone personal and business life. Remember that a weak Internet security is dangerous. It just proves one thing, that the antivirus that you are using provides ineffective and weak protection. You wouldn’t want to risk your company because it could bring down your entire system and left you with nothing.

How Can Techie Now Help?

If you need assistance with virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, software installation and configuration, and other PC general services, contact us. Techie Now is one PC support provider that you can trust with your computer. With Techie Now, you can be sure that your PC is protected.

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If you are looking for an online computer repair guide so you can get rid of viruses in your computer, then this article will surely be able to help you. But before we go ahead and get rid of that virus, let us first determine what they are.

Viruses are destructive executable programs which can infect your computer’s other programs. It spreads by simply replicating itself. The reason why it is harmful to your computer is because they have been created with a sole intention to damage your computer files. It may have gotten into your system through when you have downloaded a program which contains the virus which have been coded by the malicious programmers.

There are two aspects to every virus. The first is the finder. This virus looks for new uninfected files in your computer. The other aspect is a replicator virus which normally will target your new files and infect them by multiplying itself. Once a virus has attacked your files it will slow down your computer’s speed, cause it to frequently hang, and worse, will delete your files.

Even though the process of removing viruses is technical, there is a simple alternative you can do. This option will only require you to either buy or download a software called antivirus. Once you have the software, you will need to install it into your computer and frequently update the software with the recent virus definitions. This is because there are new viruses being created everyday. When you have done these, you can already do a complete scan on your system so that you can detect viruses.

But if you do not have access to download or buy an antivirus software, you can still install the free antivirus programs into your computer. Once you have installed it, you can start scanning your system so that any virus can be located. When you have located a virus, you can eliminate them by removing the virus or putting it into quarantine.

Always remember though, even if you have removed the virus from your system, you must still do a complete computer scan. By following this online computer repair tip, you can make sure that your computer is free from any virus which will harm your system.

How Can Techie Now Help?

Viruses is one of the enemies of the computers. People should be careful with it because it can be downloaded easily into the computer, infect and totally damage files and the machine itself. If you think your PC is infected with virus, contact Techie Now. You can trust us with any PC support problems like virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration, and general repair. With Techie Now, your computer will be fixed right away.

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Most people who say “I’ve got a slow computer” can get really frustrated with it. Well, who could blame them? With the fast paced world of today, everything needs to be done fast. There are now fast foods, fast ways to get money (ATM machines), and now, fast access to information: the internet. But eventually, after several years of frequently using your computer, it will slow down.

Saving documents, accessing your files and running programs will become a painful time consuming experience. And soon, if you do not do any precautions, your computer will stop operating. Aside from frustrating you, these problems will also need you to spend money in order to fix them. But fortunately, there are some things you can do on your own so that the computer’s performance can be sped up.

1. Remove Viruses and Spyware. Computers which are running slow can sometimes be because of a spyware or virus. Because of this, it is important to have a reliable anti virus software program. In addition, you must make sure that such programs are regularly updated so that your PC is protected from the new versions of these troublemakers.
2. Clean your Registry. If your registry files get corrupted, you will experience a slow start up and shutdown of your computer. In order to fix this problem, you will need to use a registry cleaner.
3. Defragment the PC. From time to time, make sure that you have defragmented your hard drive. This will repair malfunctions to the performance of your computer.
4. Free the Space of Your Main Drive. Remove the files and programs which you do not need on your C drive. This is because this drive stores every program which is important to the operation of your computer. You can choose to transfer games and the other software programs into the other drive.
5. Remove the Computer’s Temporary Files. Every time the computer is being used, it keeps storing temporary files in the hard drive. And once the hard drive gets too crowded, the quickness of your computer will be affected. This action can be done using the program called Disk Cleanup which you can quickly access in your Start menu.

By following the above mentioned tips, you will no longer cry out “I’ve got a slow computer.”

How Can Techie Now Help?

Many people enjoy using their computers but after using them for several years, they slow down for some reasons. Of course, we prefer using a fast computer. If you want your slow computer to be fixed, contact Techie Now. Techie Now provides PC support services at your convenience: virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration, and general repair. Techie Now will do it quick and safe, and your PC will work like it’s brand new.

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Most people that have a computer will certainly encounter a time when they will say “I’ve got a virus problem.” So what will happen if you experience this problem? Will you simply take your computer to a repair shop and let them handle the problem?

Nowadays, there are several tips which you can get from the internet so that you can easily fix computer problems with regards to getting a virus. In addition, this article will teach you some steps which you can do on your own to get rid of the problem.

Step #1: Open Internet Explorer or the other browser you are using. Click on the “Tools” button on the toolbar and choose “Internet Options.” Once here, make sure that you are on the tab called “General” and choose the delete button in the section called “Browsing.” You will then receive a pop up menu. Choose the options “Delete Files,” “Delete History,” “Delete Cookies” and “Delete Forms.” Doing this will get rid of every temporary internet files which may contain some viruses.

Step #2: Click on the right button of your mouse on “My Computer” and choose Properties. Choose the tab “System Restore” and click on the check box of “Turn Off System Restore.” Once you have done this, click on Apply then choose OK. There are many viruses which copy files into your folder for System Restore. By turning this option off, it will stop viruses from reinstalling once you have restarted your computer.

Step #3: Go to your Start button on the toolbar and choose Run. Type in the command: ‘winmsd’ and hit the enter key. Once this opens, expand the “Software Environment” simply by clicking the sign beside it which looks like a plus. Then click on “Startup Programs.”

Step #4: Once you are on Startup Programs, you must check the reputable software, malware or the viruses and see if you can find them online. If there are viruses on your Startup Programs, you will need to run some online virus scanners which you can easily get from the internet.

Step #5: Lastly, remove viruses manually if virus scan will not work. Normally, viruses begin with the keywords “HKLM” in the Startup Programs. This can easily be done by choosing Start on your toolbar and then choosing Run. Type in the command ‘regedit.’ You should then look for the virus in your Windows Registry, choose it and then finally delete it. This will then stop you from saying “I’ve got a virus!”

How Can Techie Now Help?

Having a virus is one of the biggest problems that computer users encounter. If you experience this problem, Techie Now can give you a hand. Techie Now can help you with any PC support services: virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration, and general repair. Worry no more now, contact us and get better services at a better price.

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Don’t think that a Mac operating system is safe from malware. According Kaspersky Lab – Southeast Asia, there was increase in the number of vulnerabilities in the Mac OS since 2005. It can also be used to carry out an attack through the Internet.

Kaspersky Lab, a secure content management solutions developer, announced its latest product which is the Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac. It protects the Mac OS against viruses, worms and Trojans and other problems on other operating systems like Windows and Linux. With the usefulness of multi-platform computers, it created a room for Mac to be known in corporate and home networks. Unfortunately, Mac is like any other computers in a network which is also prone to malware attack. Although Mac has not been infected in the past then that does not mean that they are safe now. It can be infected by Trojans or key loggers with the user unaware of the presence of the threat. Kaspersky Anti-Virus is compatible with versions of OS from 10.4.11. A Macintosh with the Intel processor, 512 MB available RAM and 80 MB available hard drive space are the other technical requirements.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus has a global anti-virus database of more than 20 million malicious programs for range of platforms to protect the Mac against viruses. It updates every hour to ensure the users their protection from the latest malicious programs that come out daily. It also allows better use of system resources by increasing the performance of user applications when the priority of the anti-virus scanner decreases, especially during intense user activity. It increases system scanning speed particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms. One of the features of Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac is the protective response which is added for shared folders on virtual machines. It prevents the transfer of malware from Windows and Unix virtual systems to the work environment. It has animated user-friendly interface for both novices and experienced users. It also offers information about the protection status. Any necessary user actions are presented in a graphic format, which are all easy to understand. If you hate being bothered with unnecessary requests, you will like the Kaspersky Anti-Virus because it carries an automated mode which enables the program to take decision automatically.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus was developed to meet the security requirements of Mac users who definitely give importance to the data stored on their computers and want to keep them running smoothly. It has the latest anti-virus technologies that will keep your Mac protected.

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The British police arrested a couple from Manchester, aged 20, for purportedly using a sophisticated and malicious virus to infect thousands of computers and steal millions of pounds worth of personal information.

The said virus is known to be the notorious ZeuS or Zbot Trojan which bypasses security safeguards to record online bank account details, passwords and credit card numbers. It also copies passwords for social networking sites and let the hackers control the computer by forwarding the data to the servers. The said virus appears in different guises, which includes false Facebook page encouraging users to download a software update. It can steal passwords or sends your personal information hackers. It also hijacks computers pressing them into the services of botnets which can be used to send spam e-mails, distribute more malware and do other malicious things. All the taken information is worth millions of pounds making the criminals sell or use it themselves.

According to Detective Superintendent Charlie McMurdie, the couple was the first in Europe to be arrested in connection with the scam. Zeus or Zbot Trojan is a known malware which can be used for infecting or accessing personal information. It has affected 10,000 computers worldwide. The couple gathered millions of lines of data from infected computers. The scam uses the taken data of users and quickly harms them financially. Cyber criminals use Zeus because it threatens the people from using the Internet globally.

Zeus viruses is the biggest and most sophisticated “banking trojan” in the world. It targets the online banking accounts of millions of people. As it first came out in 2007, Zeus had grown more flexible and complicated after a few months that it was able to adjust and look for more ways to prevent from being detected by anti-virus software. Symantec’s analyst, Orla Cox said that ZeuS spreads fast because there’s an available toolkit online which allowed the cybercriminals to customize and create their own versions. The toolkit makes it easy for people to steal from online accounts. Since it’s easy to find on the web, it’s a useful kit for those who wants to be an Internet crime lord. Ghost is one of the best know open source toolkit. In the past year, more than 90,000 variations of Zeus virus have infected computers.

The couple was suspected of offenses against the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the 2006 Fraud Act on November 3. Unfortunately, they have been released on bail. Reports showed that many businesses and individuals have experienced the online attack worldwide where money are stolen from their accounts and transferred to the criminals through complex banking networks. The accounts of willing “money mules” receive the money and withdraw it.

How Can Techie Now Help?

With the virus like Zeus, online bank accounts are not safe from the cyber criminals. It can steal your passwords or send your personal information, only to find out that your all your money is being stolen under your nose. It’s good to know that cyber criminals like this couple from Manchester was arrested for committing the crime. To protect your money from being stolen in your bank account online, always use updated anti-virus software. If you need assistance with this and other PC support services (virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration, and general repair), contact Techie Now. Techie Now will keep your computer running and protected all the time!

Security researchers stated that attackers have hacked the computer network of the Swiss foreign ministry which led to the network’s shutdown for many days. A professional virus attack was launched enabling the attackers to hijack network and collect unspecified data. The scope of the attack is still unknown and the officials have not revealed what data did the hackers targeted.

According to reports, the attack was really planned enough that the attackers involved were able to get away with it without being detected. Microsoft and specialists from the ministry discovered the attack on October 22, 2009. Allvoices reported that the network was shut down after the hack has been discovered last October 27, 2009. The specialists tried to find where and how the attack started, and if there are any data that has been stolen. The staff have been prohibited to use the Internet for security purpose.

Unfortunately, the Swiss Interior Ministry and Finance Ministry also experienced some problems on their systems on the same month. It is not clear if the same incidences are related to the latest attack. Reports imply that maybe a spyware from a foreign country was spying the Swiss systems. Security specialists warn that the virus authors are starting a secret rebel technique to make a massive virus outbreaks happen hoping to be successful in compromising a significant network prior to any response from the anti-virus agencies.

On the contrary, the Swiss external affairs ministry isn’t the only entity that has been victimized by a virus attack. In 2007, hackers has successfully attracted employees at the foreign ministry and at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to be part of a phishing scheme where there are around 500 workers who received e-mails that contains a link on a photo contest. Employees who clicked the link to vote for the said photo contest have been infected with a Trojan virus. Too bad, the government’s security software was not able to recognize the threat. The said attack was traced to come from Africa. United States had also accused China for using secretly-copied data to hack into the Commerce Department computers. Chinese were also accused for hacking computers that belongs to the computers of the Dalai Lama. In February 2009, a computer virus struck UK and French defense computers. A virus was also discovered hitting German military networks. To prevent the virus from spreading, several websites of German armed forces were disconnected from the country’s military network.

How Can Techie Now Help?

Hackers have been increasing nowadays attacking many organization and government websites in various nations. Anyone can be a victim of these online attacks especially if your computer is not protected. Contact Techie Now for your computer’s protection. Techie Now offers PC support services: virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration, and general repair. With Techie Now, your PC is safe and protected.

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Worm attack

The Internet is very useful to our everyday lives. However, we must know how to protect our PC from any online attacks. Viruses are one of the threats for PC users nowadays. Some send worms in chat message displaying a link to a web site which is also infected with a Trojan horse. Worms spread through programs exposing new vulnerabilities, then report them back to the hackers. The hackers will create the malware that will exploit the vulnerability before the people can download a fix.

Do you know what malware can do to your PC? Malware exposes your PC to online attacks. It also gives hackers direct access to your PC. It enables the hacker to get your personal information or control your PC remotely and be used in a criminal activity. Viruses are commonly found through peer-to-peer (P2P) networking. Spyware, Trojan horses, viruses and worms are being integrated into free downloads. Many users don’t know the danger of using the “browse host” feature of the P2P applications. It is very risky to use because it allows others to directly connect to your computer and browse through file shares.

Through using P2P, hackers can access your logins, user IDs and passwords, personal information such as letters, chat logs, cookies, and emails and other private and accessible folders on your PC. When it comes to email and instant messages, viruses in P2P files can steal your information, give it to cybercriminals to forge your identities and commit fraud.

You must protect your PC, follow these rules:

1. Protect your computer with updated security software. You need a security software that will protect your PC from hackers. Your computer should have an anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, anti-spam and firewall to fight online attacks. It should scan any files including disks, email attachments, files downloaded from the web, and documents generated by word processing and spreadsheet programs.
2. Use a secure Internet service provider (ISP). It should have anti-spam and anti-phishing procedures.
3. Always update your Windows automatically or to prevent your PC from any known vulnerabilities. You can install patches from other software manufacturers. A fully patched computer behind a firewall can prevent lessen the risk of being infected with a Trojan and spyware installation.
4. Be careful when opening attachments. Set your anti-virus software to scan all your email and instant message attachments automatically. Don’t open unwanted emails, or attachments even from people you know.
5. Be cautious when using P2P file sharing. Some Trojans are just hiding within the programs and waiting for users to be downloaded. Also be careful in downloading files through email and instant messaging like files with the extensions .bat, .bin, .dll, .cmd, .exe, .lnk, .scr, .com and .vbs.
6. Use security protections for your cell phone, PDA, and Wi-Fi devices. Viruses and Trojans can be attached through email/IM, downloaded from the Internet, or are uploaded along with other data from a desktop. In time, cell phone viruses and mobile phishing attacks will be popular especially now that more people are accessing multimedia services and Internet content using their phones. It is advisable if you always use a PIN code on your cell phone. Don’t ever install or download mobile software from unknown source.
7. Set your instant messaging application correctly. Don’t set your instant messaging to open automatically as your computer opens.
8. Watch out for spam-based phishing schemes. Never click on links in emails or IM.
9. Always back up your files. So if ever you become a victim of a virus attack, you can recover all your important files.

How Can Techie Now Help?

Virus and worms are easily spread over the Internet. With all these threats, you have to protect your PC to prevent online attacks. As soon you become their victim, it will risk your personal and business life. If you need help with anti-virus software installation or virus removal, Techie Now is the best PC support provider that can help you. We do it fast, safe, better and with lower prices than others do. Contact Techie Now and get your PC protected.

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Face Book email with worms

Help Net Security reported that Facebook users should be careful with Facebook spam e-mails claiming to be from Facebook administrators. Aside from being part of a phishing campaign, the said e-mail also transmit a nasty Trojan responsible for stealing the user’s banking information. Incidentally, Red Condor, a Web security company, was able to notice the new phishing e-mail attack.

The spam e-mail contains a web-link that redirects recipients to a hoax login page of Facebook getting account information from them. As soon as all the credentials are typed in, a page will then ask the user to download “updatetool.exe”, which is a kind of Trojan Zbot. Once the virus is installed, it will go through the hard drive of the user and gather stored personal banking information and other login information. It also does key logging and other malicious activities to obtain your information. According to Red Condor, phishers have made the fake Facebook login page for users to log on to Facebook in a refined manner. As a result, some users might believe that the login page is real.

Since million of Internet users are enjoying Facebook every day, users should be aware of these various hoax Facebook e-mails that were arriving in their mailboxes. Additionally, Jamie Tomasello, Cloudmark’s Abuse Operations Manager, stated that the Facebook scam is a result of a social engineering technique. Facebook is very popular in these days making it to be a prime target of cybercriminals and spammers. Malware authors are repeating their techniques to exploit Facebook’s popularity and control e-mail users to open their malicious e-mails. A Trojan malware Bredolab was also discovered disguising as a Facebook Password Reset. Internet security specialists noted that social networks still doesn’t impose using of HTTPS in place of HTTP in the URL because phishing pages imitating Facebook tends to succeed more.

How Can Techie Now Help?

Facebook is widely known for social networking, also being used by malware authors and spammers to victimize other people. If you feel that your PC is infected with malware, don’t worry. Techie Now can give you a hand with your PC needs – be it virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration, and general repair. Contact Techie Now and we will protect your PC before these malware get a chance to infect your system.

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