Malware Removal

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Malware Removal

Malware is software that does bad things.

Malware means malicious software. Malware includes viruses, spyware, adware, scareware, trojans, worms, rootkits, key loggers, password stealers and other malicious and unwanted software.

Thousands of new malware variants are released every day.
Antivirus software vendors cannot keep up with the daily flood of new malware and cannot provide 100% protection.
Your computer is at risk and may already be hosting some of these nasties without your knowledge.
The objective of most modern malware is to defraud the victim in some way and possibly in multiple ways.
You should not ignore malware or permit it to exist on your computer.

To have malware cleaned from your Windows computer, call me at (866)664-6178 in the Denver area.

Why We're Better

My objective is to return your computer with the malware totally removed and the computer in excellent working condition and no need for you to reinstall all of your programs. In the vast majority of cases, this outcome is achieved.

Avoid the Dreaded 'Clean' Re-install of Windows

Some other tech support services always suggest a 'clean' re-install of the Windows operating system because that is sometimes easier for them.

The problem with the so-called 'clean' re-install is that your application programs are wiped out in the process and you have to spend time reinstalling all of them or pay the tech support service to reinstall them.

Another big problem with the 'clean' re-install is that if you have lost the install CDs for some programs, you may not be able to reinstall them. Plus, if you can get them re-installed, there may be numerous updates you need to download. And there is also the problem of re-entering all of your program settings. And there may be a lot of catch-up downloads in order to get Windows back to the current security level supported by Microsoft. So the 'clean' re-install should only be used as a last resort in an extreme case.

When an infected computer is referred to The Other Geek for corrective action, I run multiple scans using various AV software products and then follow-up as needed with manual corrections to errant registry entries or other remaining problems. Sometimes it is necessary to boot up your computer using an external operating system rather than the one installed on your hard drive to prevent the virus from being active while I am detecting and removing it.

If you do not have current antivirus software installed, I can also install Microsoft Security Essentials so that you are protected from future malware threats including viruses and spyware.

Since Microsoft Security Essentials is free, you will also avoid expensive annual fees some antivirus products charge.

When the process is complete, your computer will meet the four critical security requirements for safe computing which are:

Your firewall is turned on.
Your operating system up-to-date.
Your antivirus software up-to-date.
Your antispyware technology up-to-date.

The Other Geek Commended by Microsoft Corp

The Other Geek

Microsoft Corp has finally released a new, free antivirus product called Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).

Now Microsoft can say they give away free antivirus software and their competitor Apple Computer does not. This is one way Microsoft can answer charges by Apple that Windows computers need expensive antivirus software and Apple computers do not.

The Other Geek participated in beta testing MSE and providing feedback to Microsoft prior to the public release of Microsoft Security Essentials.

Microsoft has recognized our efforts and wrote us to say "Thank you for participating in the Microsoft® Security Essentials Beta.

Your participation has been instrumental to ensuring the best possible product release quality."

This new Microsoft antivirus product is now available to the public for free. Click to download Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) for free from Microsoft.

You can read a CNET review of MSE here.

How Did My PC Get a Virus?

by The Other Geek

Malware, including computer viruses, spyware, adware, and trojans, can invade your computer through various routes including visiting a malicious or infected website, downloading a fake software update, opening a malicious email or attachment or inserting a flash drive or other storage device that is already infected.

Simply by visiting a legitimate website, your computer may become infected without you downloading or even clicking anything. This can happen by advertising that many sites allow for extra revenue.

This type of exploitation is called 'malvertising'. Even the New York Times and the Drudge Report have have been unwitting accomplices to malvertising. (More info)

The way this works is that an unethical advertiser publishes an ad that uses Java script to infect your computer simply by being displayed on the screen. In the background, the Java script infects your machine. Of course, if you don't allow Java script in your web browser, you can prevent this type of attack. But Java script is used so pervasively on the web that if you disable it, many websites will lose their features and visual qualities. So 95% of people leave Java script enabled. But unfortunately, technically sophisticated criminals sometimes try to publish these rogue ads that secretly infect your PC using Java script exploits.

TIP: Firefox users can run the free Adblock Plus extension which blocks most ads thereby reducing your exposure to malvertising.

If your PC does not have current antivirus/antimalware software, it is just a matter of time before malware infects it. And even if your PC does have current AV (antivirus/antimalware) software, it is still possible for it to become infected because no antivirus product is 100% effective at preventing malicious software from gaining a hold on your computer.

Virus creation and distribution is now a worldwide criminal enterprise and virus authors are constantly working to invent new ways to avoid detection and infect more computers. Advanced software toolkits such as the Zeus Toolkit are even available for sale to criminals to help them easily create malware.

AV software vendors are always improving their detection schemes, but cannot keep up with the daily influx of new malware churned out by professional criminals.

Once malware gets into your computer, it is also a less than perfect world as far as removal because AV software is not 100% effective at removing malware. Plus, once malware itself is removed, negative effects on your computer may remain due to incorrect registry entries or other configuration problems intentionally left behind by the malware. Some malware is even designed so that if it is removed, your computer will no longer boot-up or other even worse consequences. AV software does not always correct these after effects of malware removal.

Click here to visit the Microsoft Malware Protection Center and learn more about malware and how you can protect against it.

Excellent Resources for Protecting Your Computer and for Removing Malware

Trend Micro Housecall

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

Microsoft Consumer Security Support Center

Microsoft Security Essentials

Malwarebytes Website

Avira AntiVir Download

SuperAntiSpyware Website

ThreatFire from PCTools - use in addition to your current antimalware product for better protection. ThreatFire adds behavior-based threat detection to your malware defense.

Can you believe it?

Here is the 'secret' Microsoft phone number for no-charge malware support:

For no-charge Microsoft support: If you continue to experience problems after you scan your computer, you can call 1-866-PCSafety or 1-866-727-2338. This phone number is for virus and other security-related support. It is available 24 hours a day for the U.S. and Canada. See details at: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/support/default.mspx