New Malware Doesn’t Require Download

You have probably heard the same thing over and over again from computer support specialists: if you don’t download anything, your computer won’t be in danger of viruses. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. According to an article by Lee Bell, published on August 4 of this year, a new malware program can imbed itself in your computer registry without you downloading anything.

How It Works

The malware was not even known of until recently when a security and computer support company by the name of Gdata located it. This is a very different problem than anything you may have dealt with in the past, and it can be much more malicious since you don’t have to do a thing for your system to be infected. This infection will give full control of the computer to a hacker. According to the findings by Gdata, the malware doesn’t create a file of any type (which is the norm for other known viruses) and it actually takes root within the computer registry itself.

This is a big problem for antivirus scanners, which actually scan thecomputer files looking for malware. Since there is no file to be scanned, the malware will not be caught. The worst part is, even though the virus lives in the registry of the computer, a system reboot, which usually cleanses the registry, will not erase it.

In order for hackers to make use of this virus, they take several steps that allow them to navigate around most antivirus programs. Essentially, a Microsoft Word document can be spread through email that includes specific instructions encoded within it for the receiving computer to recognize. This creates a registry key within your system that will cause an autostart. Some very detailed coding is used to make all of this happen, but what you need to keep in mind is that you don’t have to download a file for your system to be infected. This malware has already been spread through fake United States Postal Service and UPS emails.

So, What Can You Do?

To protect your system, the first thing you need is good antivirus software. Not just any programs will do because most will not be able to catch the malware at all. In fact, the only real way that the problem can be caught is if the antivirus program is able to stop the encoded document before it even arrives in your email inbox. You will need to contact a computer support professional if you want to ensure that you choose the right antivirus program.

There are also registry surveillance programs that essentially scan your computer’s registry to look for strange things or issues that may indicate a virus. Again, if you want to use such a program, you will need to contact computer support to ensure you find one that will work for your system. If you use your computers for business in any manner, it is a very good idea to take this extra step to protect the machine. That’s because once the hackers have executed the malware, they can take control of the deepest workings of your computer. They can cause a variety of different problems and create security risks for your financial information as well as any details you have about customers.

In any case, if you have reason to believe that you may have a computer virus or malware like this, then it is best to contact a computer repair professional. You cannot perform a simple antivirus scan and expect to catch this malware once it has taken root in your registry. You will need computer help, and you can get it by contacting us at computer-help.com.

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