There is a new threat to watch out for and this time it is geared toward Skype users. It appears that the software is generating bogus messages that could potentially contain a link that could take you to an infected website.
I have already cleaned up a couple of computers this week that contained ransom ware that appeared to come through the popular software. When removing the virus, the date and time on the virus matched new file activity on the Skype software to almost the same date and time.
This has been the case with at least two computers that I cleaned the past few days. Once you get the Malware, it will often appear to erase many of your files and it will then ask you to pay a price for the fake software in order to get control of your files again.
According to reports, the code is being presented in the form on an instant message and is not coming into the system through traditional voice connections. If you click the link you are redirected to a very real looking malicious site that will infect your system. Once your system is infected, the virus will then attempt to transfer itself to other computers that are listed in your contact list. This is a very effective way to spread the virus rapidly through the Internet.
In addition to the virus that threatens to delete your files, ransom ware similar to the FBI virus is also being generated through rouge links in Skype. Typically, the ransom ware will lock up your computer and the crooks will try to get you to pay $200.00 to unlock the system.
Avoiding these types of threats is quite easy by simply avoiding any links that look suspicious. If you are uncertain of the origin of a link, do not click it. Remember that a link will most likely come from a friend or someone you know because they are already infected with the virus. In most cases, the person sending the virus might not even know that they are infected.
A good rule of thumb is to always be sure you have a good backup of your files at all times. If you should be infected with a bad virus that directly affects your operating system, it always a possibility that your system will have to be wiped reformatted. If you have the proper backups, this process will be much less painful. I know that I probably talk about backing up at the end of quite a few articles that deal with mal ware, but I just cannot stress the importance of doing this too much. If at least one person heeds my advice and gets his stuff backed up, it will make the preaching all worthwhile.
Author: Joe Zelenak, Staff Writer+
http://www.computergeeksonline.net/
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