Computer Virus Removal and Protection
NetProAZ specializes in the removal of and protection against all
variations / types of viruses and virus infections. Virus applications
are becoming more and more advanced, destructive, hard to detect and
a general pain, in short. If you are not protected from viruses with the proper tools to offset these constant attacks, your computer security and integrity
is often compromised. Virus infections vary in nature from relatively
harmless to extremely destructive. Regardless of the type of infections
you incur, they all have one thing in common .. damage. Often people
have hundreds of Virus infections on their systems and never even
realize it until a program of theirs won't open at all or a popup /
error occurs from their desktop or while surfing.
Want to learn more about Virus Infections?
Virus Infection Cause and Prevention Overview
The most common cause of Virus infections, or any type, is improper
protection. You can update & scan all day long but if your current software is ineffective, it does you no good. PC's do not come factory
equipped with the software you need to protect you from Viruses, period.
The 2nd most frequent problem is lack of proper periodic maintenance.
You must have your system set to download or inform you of security
& software / hardware driver updates, patches, etc. & they should
always be kept current to the best of your ability. Beginner to intermediate
level users should have their system set to automatically complete these
functions for them where advanced users might like to simply be informed
of items that need addressed. Either way, not keeping your software
up to date equals security risks to your system &/or entire network.
Thorough system cleaning, maintenance and proper protection also
doesn't need to be an expensive or timely ordeal. It's quite simply
knowing the proper tools you need and having them work for you. After
all, your computer should save you time and work for you, not be a
full time job to maintain or source of stress and/or money loss.
Virus Protection Methods and Structure
Basic overview of proper protection methods and structure.
Antivirus Software (AV)
“Antivirus software is the most important or key protection item on your system. You should have only one AV software and it must be competent and performing properly at all times. The key to your AV software performing to the best of it's ability is proper settings, scanning and most importantly, updating.”
AV software varies in ability and methods depending on several items, including it's creator, price and specific purpose. Most AV software that must be purchased typically has 'real-time' protection capabilities that will often catch potential threats before or while they are occurring -vs- the free AV software that typically removes a problem that has already occurred or been installed. The type of AV software that you choose obviously depends on several items including, price, purpose and your specific environmental protection needs. Your system capabilities, usage habits and specific structure will all play a part in your best method or means of protection.
Examples:
This is where having a trusted and very experienced professional assist is key to your specific system protection type(s), structure and method. Sure, you can go buy any AV software and install it in any environment and it will work to the best of it's ability, but all of these items are very important in determining the actual level of protection you are receiving and how it is affecting your performance while it's incorporated. Unfortunately, most of the software that comes with your system or is pre-installed doesn't work effectively. The software that you are relying on and trust is, in almost all cases, not determined by it's actual performance ability, but by corporate, monetary and political influence.
All antivirus software works from a local database of current infections or threats so it knows what to look for, remove and protect you from. This database or 'virus definition list' is created and constantly updated by the software company to consistently keep your software up-to-date concerning the latest virus types. This is completely necessary as the constant release of newer, stronger and more adaptive viruses is very frequent and never-ending. Sad and frustrating as this fact is, it's completely true.
Your basic and advanced AV settings are very important to ensure your software knows where, how and when to look for infections. Also, it needs to know how often to update itself to make sure your virus definition database is up-to-date.
Additional Protection Software Types
Anti-Spyware, Anti-Malware, Anti-Adware, Rootkit Scanners, Etc.
The most common or reoccurring computer problem we see is over-protection. Is this possible? Absolutely. When installing multiple types of protection software or applications, keep in mind they all work from their own specific database or 'definitions' list. It takes a professional to realize which software's databases work together in an acceptable manner without creating resource problems, repetitive patterns, or generating void or null results due to database, registry or shared system file conflicts.
This is another prime example of where experienced, competent professionals are so effective in assisting with proper protection methods, types and structure. We typically install 1-2 other protection applications to accompany your main AV software and provide a wider, more diverse range of protection without resource or system conflicts or errors. This combination is also determined by the wide array of variables previously mentioned that make your system and environment unique.
“As a tip or general 'rule of thumb' we do not recommend ever installing more that 3 protection applications at any given time.”
For the intermediate to advanced users; This does not mean you can't disable one or more of your applications and install, update and run another application to double-check your current protection choices. We highly recommend this concept as software has it's ups and downs, performance wise. If you feel your current set-up is not working effectively, there is never any harm in scanning with another piece of software that you have read really good reviews about, etc.
Virus Infection Types
The most common types of virus infections and a little about them..
Adware
This is a type of software or application that typically plays, displays, monitors or pops-up items that would be ethically defined as “above and beyond acceptable advertising or monitoring methods or practices.”
Malware
Is basically short for malicious software and includes all categories or sub-categories of software or applications that quite simply have a negative intention or deceptive/destructive outcome.
Spyware
This software or application obtains information from a user's system or network without that user's knowledge or consent.
Rogue
This application type typically poses as a valid piece of protection software that generates pop-ups and fake errors / scans / reports that are designed to fool and scare the end user into downloading a desired piece of software. These are the most common any annoying of the bunch and probably have the highest rate of success, monetarily speaking.
Worm
This variant is a self-replicating and expanding application. Very well known for their ability to spread via nodes or weak network security structures. Typically worms do not alter or disrupt as they pass, but the more recent, re-written versions do just this.
Trojan
This term is derived from the trojan horse story in Greek mythology and it's purpose and intention is just that. Not only does a trojan install itself in an isolated location, but it typically generates multiple, executable locations and registry entries as well. These trojans are typically referred to as hoppers or downloaders. Either way, a trojan's goal is always the same, with some coded variation and technique differences only. That goal is to allow access to your system or network so that a user or other malicious software/application(s) may now enter at will.
Replicant
This is one of the hardest variations or infection strains to remove and requires the exact steps be taken, in order, and the correct tools be utilized to even have a chance at removal. These variants typically begin with the prefix win32* and replicate at an uncontrollable rate by infecting all .exe and system files as they are utilized by any user or system privilege level.
Root Kit
These applications are also extremely hard to remove in most cases and typically require advanced knowledge of system structure and usage as manual steps are often required to remove specific elements of the architecture. Root kits are most commonly bundled with another application that requires your 'approval' to install. By utilizing this methodology, they are much harder to detect and have a much more diverse range of control and damage potentials. They are also self concealing, or completely stealth in nature, often utilizing multiple points of control, entry or user and privilege manipulation.
Hijacker
This software application typically takes control of your primary browsing interface, system desktop or both. This a a very noticeable and bothersome infection type that involves popups, redirects and similar or structural and esthetic changes to your desktop layout that cater to the infection's intentions.
Pop-Up
I think everyone has experience a pop-up at one time or another. This is one of the oldest, and yet still utilized, application types. Pop-ups are often released while you are browsing and typically timed or have a release methodology. The more recent versions of this infection type involve connection and disturbances even while you are not actively using a browser and have basically evolved into the rogue classification due to it's continued rate of success.
Riskware
Riskware is a broad category that most potential or would-be threats are thrown into, to put it quite simply. This also parallels or includes popular industry acronyms such as; PUA, PUP, etc. Sometimes this reference or database category is utilized when a protection software locates a coding pattern that seems malicious or follows another variation's structure but it hasn't been assigned as a threat just yet.
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