Internet Security
Virus Fake Alert
by atomike on Mar.01, 2011, under Computer Software, Internet Security
Removal of this virus is fairly easy if you take some preemptive actions.
If you have not gotten infected, make sure Windows Restore is running
Update your antivirus definitions. Most antivirus programs do this automatically and will display an alert if the definitions are not up to date. Your virus definitions may be out of date because of loss of internet connection, or the computer has not been on for a while.
You may still get infected if the virus definitions do not contain instructions to detect the new virus. In that case, system restore becomes very handy. Simply reboot your computer and press F8 key repeatedly (this is one of the keys on the top of the keyboard that are labeled F1, F2, F3, … F12). In some keyboards with extra fucntions, the labeling may not be obvious, but their location is the same on all keyboards).
When you get to a black screen with white letters. Select the following depending on your operating system
- Windows XP – Select “Safe Mode”
- Windows Vista and 7 – Select “Repair your computer”
Since the virus runs as soon as we get into Windows in normal mode, we need to run the operating system in safe mode, which basically means the operating system would only load the bare essentials and hence the virus wont be able to run.
This allows us to access the system restore and revert the settings on your computer to a date before the virus infected you . Follow these steps to complete the restore process.
As soon as you get back to normal Windows, you will notice the virus is not running anymore. We have won the battle but not the war…yet.
Download and run ComboFix by doing a quick google search. This will get rid of the files that belong to the virus. (Opening these files will get your computer reinfected)
After this, run your antivirus program to get rid of other traces.
Finally, follow the preemptive actions described above so you can be ready if the virus attacks again.
How do cookies work?
by atomike on Oct.27, 2009, under Internet Security
I want to make an analogy about the current use of cookies on websites.
Imagine you enter an office store. You pick a couple of items and head to the cashier. The cashier asks you if you would like to become a Rewards Member. You accept. The cashier hands you a form asking for your contact information. Now the cashier saves you information in digital form in a Rewards Member card and gives you the card so that next time you visit the store you don’t have to fill a form again.
In this analogy the store is a website and the cookie is the Rewards Member card.
