Greetings!

In all the time that I've been working with Tailored Technologies, I've often mused starting a blog or newsletter, but I've never found a compelling enough of a reason.

Now, I have one.

In the last two months, we've dealt with a new threat at a rate that is boggling to me.  This new threat is being called "scareware".  We've certainly dealt with our share of viruses in the past, but this new threat has infected computers at a rate that is truly astonishing.  We estimate that we've had a 300% increase in troubles caused by viruses, and most of it is due to scareware.

Scareware, briefly, is malicious software intended to make you think that you have a virus, and that the only way to remove the virus is to buy a certain "anti-virus" program.  The problem, however, is that you're often buying that "anti-virus" program from the same people who gave you the virus!

What you can do:

• Keep your computer up to date. Run your OS and software updates regularly.
• Run your computer from a "limited user" account.
• Run legitimate anti-virus software, and keep it up to date.
• Back up your data regurlarly.
• Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox whenever possible
• Be aware of where you surf.  Be suspicious of sites that look "wrong", or that don't seem right.  Trust your gut.
• Call Us.  We can help ensure your computers are configured properly.

What if it's too late:

• Don't buy the software.  You'd just be encoraging them to do more of this!
• If you're unsure about the virus, disconnect your computer from the internet.
• Call Us.  We have experience with these viruses, and we can take care of them for you.

You are definitely capable of handling many of these steps yourselves, but, please know that we're here for you.  Getting a virus is never fun and is in many ways emotionally impactful.  We can help you set up preventative maintenance programs to keep you from getting viruses, and we can help you if you ever do get a virus.

What questions would you like answered?  Let me know and I'll do my best to answer it for you.