Recent Comments
Comment by Al on Wolfram Alpha: The Answer Calculator (September 21, 2017 06:34 AM)
Hey Bob, It's "its", not "it's" in second to last sentence. (...ITS specialized capabilities...) Just saying. I've learned ALOT from your newsletter....
Comment by David Baker on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 21, 2017 06:15 AM)
Hi Bob, Thank you for all your wonderful info over the years! I use CCleaner Free on all my devices. I just got a auto-update tonight for my desktop...
Comment by Bob on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 21, 2017 05:59 AM)
They found the hack, shut down the server and then went public... I can understand this... nothing like the EquiFax debacle :O I'm not going to throw ...
Comment by Diann on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 21, 2017 04:39 AM)
Correct me if I am wrong, but Ccleaner was never meant to block malware but to rid the system of junk. I use another software to protect my computers ...
Comment by MmeMoxie on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 21, 2017 03:06 AM)
@Denis - You need to re-install the CCleaner version 5.34 or higher. Anything earlier will be contaminated with the malware. I found out about all of...
Comment by RandiO on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 21, 2017 01:05 AM)
I am to the point that I use two different types of 'firewalls'. I don't do automatic updates to any of the software packages installed in my systems ...
Comment by fred on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 20, 2017 11:50 PM)
According to Malwarebytes, Ccleaner was sold to Avast. Unfortunately, before the program was transferred to Avast, someone (maybe a disgruntled employ...
Comment by Denis on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 20, 2017 10:27 PM)
My 64bit W8.1 laptop wouldn't allow CC ver.5.33 to install. Would go part way then crap out with a write error. I tried a number of times with downloa...
Comment by Darcetha Manning on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 20, 2017 10:22 PM)
So what are the chances that other popular freeware used by millions of people are also similarly affected? After learning about this hack, I'm forced...
Comment by Osborne on [HACKED] A Reminder To Be Vigilant (September 20, 2017 10:16 PM)
I read where Piriform delayed the announcement while they put the police tracking down the rouge server. Supposedly it was captured as well as the pe...
Viruses Articles
Is Your Flash Drive Infected?
Security research firm Sophos found malware on two-thirds of fifty USB flash drives that had been lost aboard Australian trains. That might suggest that you should avoid computing on Australian trains, but the broader lesson is that USB flash drives are highly vulnerable to malware infections. Here's what you need to know, and how to protect your computer from viruses that may lurk on flash drives...
...Where Do Viruses And Spyware Come From?
Several thousand new viruses and spyware programs are detected every day by security analysts. Have you ever wondered who creates these plagues, and why?
...Virus Alert - XP Total Security 2011
Somehow I got a virus called XP Total Security, and I can't get rid of it. It blocks my security software, and it won't let me download any new anti-virus tools. It's even asking me for money... how do I get rid of this thing?
...Should You Call The Geek Squad?
My computer is running really slow, and I think it might have a virus. There's also a ticking sound inside the computer. I'm not very technical, so I'm thinking about calling the Geek Squad. Do you think that's a good idea?
...How Does a Virus Spread?
I love your site and your Tourbus Newsletter! I would like to know how a virus propagates over a network? If you get a virus on one computer - do other users on the network have to do anything to get infected? Is there a good way to protect against this?
...Free Virus Scan
My computer has been acting strangely... at times it's very slow and I'm getting lots of popups. I'm afraid I have a virus, and the anti-virus software that came with my computer has expired. Can you recommend a good (and preferably free) virus scanner?
...How can I avoid computer viruses?
When I wrote in a previous article that You CANNOT get a virus just by opening or reading your email I fully expected it would unleash a torrent of emails in response. I knew this would happen, because Ask Bob Rankin readers are generally smarter and better-looking than the rest of the online population. Read on for Virus Prevention 102 -- even more information on virus prevention and the merits of anti-virus software.
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