Video – How Hackers Infect Your PC
Ever wonder how they do it? This video from Panda Security shows one current method — search results.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Please note: I have one, MAJOR, complaint about this video: it pretty much says that if you have an up-to-date anti-malware (such as an antivirus) on board, you’ll be protected from these things. WRONG! Once you click the links, ignore the the warnings, and click “Run”.. you’re hosed. Telling your machine to ‘run it’ bypasses all your protections.. even Vista’s annoying UAC.
Today’s free link: ErrorRepairTOOL Computer Infection? – Blame Your Search Engine!
Today’s free download(s): The best defense is to NOT click “Run” when you’re not sure.
But there are tools you can add to your web browser to help you detect and avoid these poisoned websites in the first place — known as “anti-phishing”. I suggest installing both:
WOT: (Web Of Trust) is a free Internet security add-on for your browser. It will help keep you safer from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you interact with a risky Website. It’s easy and it’s free.
Link Scanner Lite: Automatically inspect search results for exploits, hacked sites, fraud/crimeware, and other online threats. Includes right-click, on-demand scanning of any URL you choose.
Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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Tech - for Everyone 
i could make a condom analogy here…
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g–
Hmmm… {thinking} …
I did once see a neat trick: a lady had wrapped the bottom half of her notebook in SaranWrap. Made her keyboard waterproof and kept her keys pristine.
She told me she thought of it after ruining a very expensive computer with a coffee oopsie.
(I didn’t get her name; or I’d give her the credit..)
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Hi Paul,
Error Repair Tool is doing great damage these days to the computers round the world. And I agree with you when you express reservations with the video when it says “if you have an up-to-date anti-malware (such as an antivirus) on board, you’ll be protected from these things.”
I must say that precaution is the best way to protect yourself, and no security software, howsoever strong, can protect you if you are rash on Internet.
Silki
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Silki–
Thank you for your comment, and yes, Error Repair Tool is no joke.
Most malware attacks require some user action (a single click, usually) but not all. Frequently that ‘single click’ is “Run” — because telling your machine to ‘install this program’ does just that, installs the program. When it turns out that the program was actually an infection..
Also, the cybercriminals are getting better at poisoning legitimate (aka Safe & Sane) websites.. so even those who avoid risky sites are exposed.
A good deal of paranoid common sense is required, as is up-to-date anti-malware programs. It is my hope that people will learn about these threats, and tell their friends.
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Good info. Once in awhile something like that happens I normally have to reset my computer as some of them will not let you exit once the fake scan is done. Clicking exit doesn’t work.
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James–
I’m glad you found the information interesting and thank you for leaving a comment.
Sometimes the red “X” we associate with “exit” is rigged to really be Run. Remember, they’re trying to get you to click. The proper method is to open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del), select the process [sometimes it’s only iexplore.exe] and then click “End Process”.
But holding in the machine’s power button till it shuts down works too.
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