As a matter of fact, this situation is created particularly by computers that have Windows XP operating system.  If system settings are accidentally modified, Windows XP offers their users the possibility of restoring the system automatically or recovering eliminated files.  It is for this same reason that Windows XP keeps all the eliminated or modified elements inside its hidden directory, called _restore.  This folder is protected so that content within it cannot be manipulated by anybody or anything.

The only problem with this feature is that even though it may prove beneficial at times, when the antivirus performs a new scan, it will continue to detect these threats and/or viruses again, as they have been stored in the _restore folder.  The scan is not able to eliminate these from detection as they are in the _restore folder which is protected by the operating system, thus out of reach.

What can be done to eliminate these viruses and threats from the restore folder?

Lastly, if you want to reactivate the System Restore option, perform the following:

Once you have completed these steps, please carry out a full scan of your computer using your antivirus to ensure that it has been correctly disinfected.

What is Phishing?

 

The person who is initiating the scam sends an e-mail to millions of people.  The message is designed to appear to come from a bank, Internet Service Provider, online business company or any other organization or person that you might have regular business dealings with.  The From header on the message is spoofed, and the message is designed to look as official as possible in attempt to gather as much as information as possible from the receiver.

The vast majority of people ignore these messages because sometimes the people who read these emails may not even have any business dealings with the phony sender.  However, sometimes it is coincidental and it happens to be a company you generally deal with and catches your attention.

What happens now, such a message typically tries to lure you into giving up information by deceiving you with its proposed solution for you.  It might even provide the company’s actual address, phone number and URL appearing to be a legitimate email.  They will attempt to make the message look as authentic as possible; consequently, they will ask you for an account number, PIN number, social security number, birth date or any information that might be useful.  Legitimate companies will not ask for this type of information via e-mail.  Once you have given them your information, most of these thieves are very capable of cleaning out your bank account with the information you have provided or launching other identity theft scams.

How can you avoid being a victim?  There are several steps you can take in deciding whether this is a phishing attack or not.  Always read e-mail messages that are looking to gather information several times.  Odds are that the message will appear legitimate and might even have the correct information of the company it is claiming to be from. However, ask yourself some questions.  Are there any misspellings or bad grammar within the message?  Does the company even have your e-mail address on file?  Is this the first message that they have sent you via email?  If you have any suspicions about the email, then chances are it probably it is legitimate.

The best thing to do is to call the company that the e-mail is claiming it’s from.  However, make sure that you do not use any of the information that is provided within that email.  If you are going to call, look the number up in the phone book.  It is a lot safer this way.  If you want to check out the company’s website, make sure you do so manually.  Do not click on a link within the e-mail.  Another precautionary measure to take is to review your bank statements and credit card statements regularly to make sure no one is stealing money from you or making purchases in your name.

Lastly, if you do receive spam that is phishing for information forward it to spam@uce.gov  and report it to the bank, company or organization that was impersonated in the e-mail.  Also, if you believe you have been scammed, file a complaint with ftc.gov -
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01 and then visit the following website - http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

What is Google Base? 

Do you have information that you would like to have hosted for free on the internet?  Google has created a site where you can have your information hosted and made searchable online - Google Base.  If Google finds the items to be of value they may place them in their other sites.  Please click on the following links for more information: