Concerned Over Gameover Zeus Virus Warnings?
asks Peter Clarke of PC PAL
It seems we can’t turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper without a new computer scare being announced. One of the latest headlines, “Is the Gameover Zeus virus about to empty your bank account?” has, understandably, got many of you more than a little concerned. The FBI has estimated that it has hit between 500,000 and one million computers worldwide and has resulted in users losing tens of millions of dollars.
What is it?
The Gameover Zeus virus is malware software which has been estimated to have already infected more than 15,000 people in Britain.
It can lie dormant on your computer until it spots an opportunity to steal personal details relating to your bank account or payment details for any online shopping which it then relays back to the criminal network.
What should you do?
The good news is that some of the paid for antivirus software, such as BullGuard, can detect and remove the virus. It is advisable to run regular antivirus checks and also keep your operating system security updates up to date to keep you protected.
Experts in the field have also suggested that you back up all valuable data such as irreplaceable photos and any important documents. This is because if the criminals don’t think you are an appropriate target for the Gameover Virus they hold your files to ransom using the Cryptolocker virus. As reported in last November’s article this can be nullified by making a regular back up of your data, so if you are affected you can get rid of the virus and restore your files from a backup.
If you need some help with this or want to discuss it further don’t hesitate to call me – I’ll be happy to help and put your mind at rest.
