Viruses in emails, as attachments, are on the rise. Thankfully, here at Psinergy we utilize Google Apps for Work, and Gmail has been fairly good lately with catching these spam emails that have document attachments containing viruses.
As you can see in the image above, this was automatically moved into the Spam folder (as it did not pass the SPF or DKIM settings we have set for our email). Next, it is clearly marked that it has a virus, though this email appears to have come from myself and from my email address, so it’s tempting to want to open it, especially if you regularly send yourself stuff from work.
Now, because this email appeared to be sent from myself, a few thoughts might pass through a persons mind:
To dismiss these concerns, we can look at the email header information. In Gmail, you can do this by clicking the downward facing arrow button located in the upper right of your email and select “Show Original”.
Once we open the header information, we can see that it was sent by a user/customer on the Airtel Broadband networks in India. Additionally, we can see that it did not pass the SPF rules (and hence why it was marked as spam). Additionally, we can see that this person “spoofed” my email address while using Squirrel Mail version 1.4.5.
So, what does all of this tell me? First, it tells me that I didn’t send the email. Next it tells me that my email wasn’t hacked and instead they are trying to spoof my email address in attempt to make me think I sent this to myself.
First, if you have a decent virus scanner / anti-virus software like avast! installed and running on your computer, it should have caught this and either blocked it or gave you some sort of warning. Next, if it didn’t, don’t open it. If you did however manage to download it, and open it and it got past your virus scanner, you will want to scan your entire computer with stronger virus scanning and repair tools.
Keep in mind, some anti-virus scanners will just clean out the malicious code, and still allow you to open the offending document without harm, though in this day of identity theft, stolen credit card information and other malicious activities, you can’t be too safe. Additionally, in this event it is always smart to have a trained professional who specializes in virus detection and removal to ensure that your computer is clean and safe.
Virus scanners are like condoms or birth control. They’re only so effective as there is still a chance that something might get through, and only effective if you actually are using it and it is up-to-date.
We first opened our computer repair services branch back in 2008, this was when the economy crashed and there were a lot of people who opened up shops offering to fix computers. Today, there is considerably less people offering these services, though you still have to be mindful who you give your computer to as you have a lot of personal information in it.
Each company has their own way of removing the virus. Some only “turn-off” the virus – though it is still there, others just reinstall your operating system – sometimes backing up your files, sometimes not. Other companies, like ours, turn-off the viruses, then remove them, then repair the damage that was caused, and then after all of that re-optimize the entire computer so it will probably run better than the day you got it.
Things to ask:
At Psinergy we guarantee our work. This means that when after you get your computer back and if it’s still acting “funky” from the original issue, we will fix it. Some viruses and malware today are tricky, and every once and awhile, though rare, things are missed.
Next, while we have been in business since 2008, André has been doing computer repair for about 27 years or so. SchaOn, while he doesn’t do the computer work any longer, was actively working with computer networking, repair, databases and coding from 1994 to about 2010.
Also, we have honest client reviews on Google, Angie’s List, Yelp, and even some on Facebook (though, many of them on Facebook are from people who have never used our services). While yes, you can find a list of many of the reviews for our computer services right here on our site, we also link back to each of the original reviews so you can see it for yourself. We’ve also been recognized by Angie’s List multiple years in a row for our superior service and have also been recognized by other organizations as well.
Normally when we try to fix the sick computer, we will attempt to fully remove the viruses through multiple scans, including for rootkits, and fix the problems that they caused. Occasionally this is not possible as the virus(es) caused too much damage. In those cases we either need to do a Corruption Repair (or) complete OS Reinstall with File Backup. Those are done as a last resort. Also, if you need a different more in-depth service, you’re not paying for the virus removal and the other service, we just charge you for the service that correctly fits what you need.
Our normal turn around for most Virus Repairs is between 1 to 2 days, generally. If we have a few computers ahead of you, or your computer is being a little problematic, it can take longer though. Additionally, no matter how long it takes to complete, it’s a flat-fee service (except for our Onsite Commercial Business Services). Our Bring-to-Us Computer Virus Removal for Windows PC’s is a flat-fee and you can clearly find the exact pricing for it on the page for that service.
If you’re concerned because you have emails similar to the ones above, we can check the email headings for you to help provide some peace of mind, and just charge you for a Phone/Remote Quick-Fix service.
Lastly, if you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call or just stop on in. No appointment is necessary. We look forward to working with you.
The post Tricky Viruses in Spoofed Emails are on the Rise! Be Aware. appeared first on Psinergy Tech.