How to remove a Virus / .exe file Easey guide

"New Folder.Exe" Virus

Regarding on the topic related to computer virus, I have one experience want to share with you. Few months ago, i copied documents into my pendrive while using computers in PSZ. Then after i went back to hostel, i opened the pendrive in my laptop. Oh my gosh, i realized that my pendrive get infected by virus. The virus then spread all over in my laptop. This virus hurt badly on my laptop. All the documents and files that i have saved in folder could not open. So i scanned my computers, but the virus is not detected.

All folders appeared as 'new folder.exe'. Other than that, it disabled the task manager. The worst is that it copies itself to all exe files and when the file is deleted another new folder.exe files are created. Not only that, i also realized that my system was running slow, this is because it had occupied my hard drive in terms of exe files. At first, i was not sure what virus it is. But, i tried to types all its criteria and search on Internet.

Finally, I found out it is a virus named 'new folder.exe'. I was so worry that all my files, documents, folders, photos and musics will be gone. The next day, i go to CICT, hope that they could help me to scan my computer and remove the virus. But the staff told me that,they only provide this service to UTM staff. I was helpless. So, i immediately seek help from some of my friends who are expert in computer. Finally, thanks god. One of my friend manage to help me to get rid of it. After this experience, i have learn a lesson that everyone should have an original antivirus tools in computers. Before this, i was using the AVG free antivirus. After this incident, I had bought myself Norton Internet Security 2011. It support three users, so me and my friend share together. It sold at RM150.

Now, i would like to share some information on the 'new folder.exe' virus. Lastly, i advise everyone should get an original antivirus programme, do not let your computer be naked and exposed to harms. :)

These are the virus removal tools and solutions:
http://www.prevx.com/filenames/X2444923814383592792-X1/NEW+FOLDER.EXE.html
http://amiworks.co.in/talk/how-to-remove-new-folderexe-or-regsvrexr-or-autoruninf-virus/
http://www.technize.com/newfolderexe-removal-tool-25/

This site contained forum or discussion on this virus.
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091105215219AAkvojS

This is the antivirus that i am using now. You may review its specification and functionality.
http://us.norton.com/internet-security/

What do you know about Virus?

What do you understand about virus? Just a dangerous element in the computer? Element that will cost you lost your information or finance problems only? Let me share some information about virus with you today^^

Computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect your computer automatically. Virus can come from every way. It does not mean if you are not connecting to internet your computer will not affected by virus. For examples, when you are using your pendrive, mp3 or anything that enable you to copy something from one computer to your computer, that mean your computer have a probability to be affected by virus. However, in my opinion, email is a medium that is more easily make your computer affected by virus.

As stated above, the term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, even those that do not have the reproductive ability. Malware includes computer viruses, computer worms, Trojan horses, spyware, other malicious and unwanted software, including true viruses.

Viruses are sometimes confused with worms and Trojan horses, which are technically different. Let me tell you what is the different between them^^

Worms it can exploit security exposures to spread itself automatically to other computers through networks.

Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but hides malicious functions.

Worms and Trojan horses, like viruses, may harm a computer system's data or performance. Some viruses and other malware have symptoms noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious or simply do nothing to call attention to them. Some viruses do nothing beyond reproducing themselves.

I believe that everyone hate with the existing of virus in your computer. In here I recommend some of the antivirus programs that I think it’s very good to preventing the virus come to find you~~

Norton Anti-Virus (i am currently using NAV and i think this is the most user friendliness and able to help me to fight with virus that is trying to visit to my computer. Most satisfied anti-virus program^^)

AVG

Kaspersky

Attention: all of you must beware of the attachments that come together with your email. Don’t try to open the attachments that you are not expecting because virus will come with some very nasty messages to trick you to open the attachment.

For example, “your Google account is going to expire, please see the attachment for details.”

Even worse, the virus looks like it comes from an email address you recognise e.g. from admin@yourDomain.com (where 'your domain' is the domain name that you use). Virus attachments can have the following 'file extension': .exe, .pif. If you receive a .zip attachment and open it - make sure it doesn't contain a file with one of those extensions. Do not open attachments you haven't requested, even if they appear to be from people you know.

Now, you may ask, “How the viruses spoof the from-address in my email?” after you read this situation, it will help you to understand how the viruses spoof the from-address your email.

• You have effective anti-virus software, so your computer is clean,
• You send an email to Fred,
• Now your email address is in Freds address book in his email software,
• Fred does not have effective anti-virus software, and his computer has a virus,
• The virus on Freds computer scans his address book for all of the email addresses on it,
• The virus sends email to every address on Freds address book,
• The virus emails do not say they are from Fred!, The virus pic another addresses from Fred's address book and puts it in the 'From field' in the outgoing email. The virus may combine the name from one address and the domain from another, creating a 'from address' that does not exist.
• These emails are received by other computers, which detect the virus (because they have good anti-virus software) and reject the email,
• When the receiving computer rejects the viruses email it sends an 'Undeliverable' to the sender e.g. something like 'Subject: /Delivery Notification: Delivery has failed'.
• But! The 'Undeliverable' note goes to the spoofed from address (not to Fred) e.g. the 'Undeliverable' note could be sent to you.
• Often there is no trace of Freds real address in the virus email or the 'Undeliverable' note, so you cannot tell whose infected computer is sending these emails.

As a conclusion, if you don’t want the virus give any trouble for you, please purchase and use the ORIGINAL anti-virus software. However, with original anti-virus it’s still not enough for you to fight with virus but you need to update your antivirus frequently^^

Thanks You~~

Information retrieved from:

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Virus.aspx

http://wordsandpeople.com/security/tips-to-prevent-computer-viruses.htm

Firewall and The Choices

Firewalls make it possible to filter incoming and outgoing traffic that flows through your system. A firewall can use one or more sets of “rules” to inspect the network packets as they come in or go out of your network connections and either allows the traffic through or blocks it. The rules of a firewall can inspect one or more characteristics of the packets, including but not limited to the protocol type, the source or destination host address, and the source or destination port.

Firewalls can greatly enhance the security of a host or a network. They can be used to do one or more of the following things:
• To protect and insulate the applications, services and machines of your internal network from unwanted traffic coming in from the public Internet.
• To limit or disable access from hosts of the internal network to services of the public Internet.
• To support network address translation (NAT), which allows your internal network to use private IP addresses and share a single connection to the public Internet (either with a single IP address or by a shared pool of automatically assigned public addresses).

A personal computer connected to the Internet without a firewall can be hijacked and added to an Internet outlaw's botnet in just a few minutes. A personal firewall can block malware that could otherwise scan your computer for vulnerabilities and then try to break in at a weak point.

The only way to make a home computer 100% secure is to turn it off or disconnect it from the Internet. The real issue is how to make one 99.9% secure when it is connected. At a minimum, home computers need to have personal firewall and anti-malware software installed and kept up-to-date to find and remove viruses, spyware, Trojans and other malware. A home network that uses a wired or wireless router with firewall features provides additional protection.

Home PC Firewall Choices

Choices -- Your choices include using the firewall built into Windows, using a third party product, choosing an Internet security suite that includes a firewall, and/or using a hardware firewall router or gateway.

Microsoft Windows Firewall -- The Windows 7, Vista and XP Service Pack 2/3 operating systems have firewalls built in that are turned on by default to block threats from the Internet. You should leave this feature turned on until you replace it with third-party software and/or hardware.

Two-Way Third-Party Personal Firewall Software -- These firewalls block both incoming and outgoing threats. A computer may have outgoing threats when it becomes infected with a virus, Trojan horse or spyware. A challenge for this type of firewall is to distinguish between threats and legitimate software. Three common ways to address this are by vendors including a list of safe software for the firewall to check [white list], malware to block [black list] and/or by issuing a pop up alert to the user asking for advice on what to do [better for experts].

Hardware Firewalls -- A hardware firewall is usually a small box that sits between a modem and a computer or network. The firewall is either based on "network address translation" (NAT) which hides your computer from the Internet or NAT plus "stateful packet inspection" (SPI) for more protection. There are three basic types of hardware devices that include firewalls for home users, Wired Routers, Wireless Routers, and Broadband Gateways. They are inexpensive enough to be used with one computer and can also be used to create a home computer network. They can be used in addition to a software firewall on each computer because they run on a separate box preventing most compatibility problems.

Software firewalls

Does not require additional hardware.	Additional cost: Most software firewalls cost money.
Does not require additional computer wiring.	Installation and configuration might be required to get started.
A good option for single computers.	One copy is typically required for each computer.

Hardware routers

Hardware routers usually have at least four network ports to connect multiple computers together.

Require wiring, which can clutter your desktop area.

Provide firewall protection for multiple computers. Wireless routers Wireless routers allow you to connect computers, portable computers, personal desk assistants, and printers without wiring. Wireless devices broadcast information using radio signals that can be intercepted by someone outside of your home (if they have the right equipment). Wireless routers are excellent for connecting notebook computers to the Internet and networks. You might have to pay for extra equipment. Not all wireless routers come equipped with a built-in firewall, so you might have to purchase one separately.

Reference:
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/firewalls.html
http://www.firewallguide.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/firewalls-choosing.aspx

How to Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft, also known as ID theft is a crime in which a criminal obtains key pieces of personal information, such as Social Security or driver's license numbers, in order to pose as someone else. The information can be used to obtain credit, merchandise, and services using the victims’ name. Identity theft can also provide a thief with false credentials for immigration or other applications. One of the biggest problems with identity theft is that very often the crimes committed by the identity theft expert are often attributed to the victim.

The best way to prevent identity theft is to protect your identification and financial information from prying eyes. Don’t keep all of your identification and financial information in one place and never write down your PIN (personal identification numbers) anywhere. The same thing goes for Internet passwords and member ID information, especially if the password and ID leads a person to a financial site.

When dealing with payment on the Internet you should never do business with a site unless it has “secure socket layer” protection. The letters in your URL in your browser window that begin htpps:// indicates this. Web sites that do not have this protection are called htpp://

You should also never respond to emails or snail mail that requests personal information such as passwords or PIN numbers. You should also avoid requests for your social security number or employee identification number as bogus credit cards and access to your personal information can also be obtained through those numbers. Other information you should avoid giving out is your mother’s maiden name, your pet’s name or any other details that could be used as part of a security verification question on your account.

You should know where your credit cards, bank statements and other important documents are at all times and keep them either with you or under lock and key. The same thing goes for your birth certificate and social insurance card.

Another security measure would be to put your mailbox under lock and key. This prevents thieves from rummaging through it and stealing documents such as pre-approved credit card offers which can make it very easy to steal your identification from you.

To prevent identity theft you should never carry your wallet in your back pocket if you are a man and if you are a woman you should always remember to zip your purse up tight as a wallet that is exposed is a temptation for identity thieves.

Reference:

http://www.identitytheftcreditfraud.com/preventidentitytheft.htm

http://money.howstuffworks.com/identity-theft.htm

http://www.identitytheftresponse.com/categories.htm