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Tek Tip Topic: Trojan loaded Pop-ups

WARNING! A virus threat that is well disguised. It will look like it's from a legitimate company.

If you get a pop-up that tells you you have viruses or you need to clean your registry and tells you to 'Scan Now', no matter how legitimate it looks, just close the pop-up using the 'x' in the top right-hand corner - do not use 'close now' or 'scan later' or any other buttons or links inside the pop-up.

Open the anti-virus program you have installed on your computer by going through the start menu, make sure it is up to date and then scan your computer using the menus in the program. 

DO NOT click any links or buttons or download anything from these pop-ups.

Please make sure you have an anti-virus program installed on your computer, that you are familiar with how it operates and that you can recognise the icons (little images) it uses. This particular Trojan will put a little icon in the area next to where the time is displayed that looks like the Window Firewall icon - a little red shield with a white cross on it. If you want to check your Firewall, go through your Control Panel and select 'Windows Firewall' and make sure it is 'On'... do not click the little balloon that pops up over the red-shield icon that tells you there is something wrong.

Some people think that because they have an anti-virus toolbar on their web browser that they are safe. This is not so; yes it helps but it is not enough. If your free anti-virus one year or six month subscription that came with your new computer ran out then you are not protected. Either pay for the subscription so you continue to get updates or uninstall it and install AVG Free. AVG's free program is just as good as the bought one, you just don't get the full support or the extra features they offer.

Consider your anti-virus program like road-side assistance: you may never get a virus but if you do you want the problem to be taken care of. The trouble you go to to have it is nothing like the trouble you will have if something goes wrong and you realise that you should have had it.