Malware: UPS Packet Service
Posted by Aaron on Jul 28, 2008
Welcome everyone to the new PCS website. I know the site has been up for a little while now but since this is my first addition to the blog I wanted to welcome everyone anyway.
I got an email this morning from “UPS” saying this:
From: UPS Packet Service
Subject: UPS Paket N0143034179
Unfortunately we were not able to deliver postal package you sent on July the 1st in time because the recipient’s address is not correct.
Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office
Your UPS
The email was a little bit different than this but the same idea. The email came with an attachment that I was supposed to download and run in order to get my package. This email is actually a virus and spyware installing email. I wanted to pass this along because the email almost fooled me. I am actually expecting a package and when I saw this I wanted to make sure that I was going to receive it. I did not open the attachment and just deleted the email. UPS has released a statement about this here:
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/about/news/service_updates/virus_us.html
This is also a good time to remind everyone about safe email practices. DO NOT open any attachments from anyone unless you know what the attachment is and are expecting an attachment from that person. It is also good practice to confirm with a contact that they indeed sent you an attachment and that it is safe. The best way to spread a virus is for the virus to send to people in your contact list. So if a friend gets infected it will try and infect you also. If you have further question please contact any one of us here at PCS for further help.
Untangle your Network
Posted by Brian Gallutia on Apr 22, 2008
Tired of Spam?
Worried about spyware, viruses, and botnets on your network?
Employees visiting inappropriate web sites?
Do you wish you had more control?
Now there is a better way to manage your network.
Untangle delivers an on-demand suite of applications that run on a single server and will change the way you think about network software. Untangle lets you:
- control network activities that reduce productivity such as spam and inappropriate web surfing, which cuts into your company’s bottom line
- enable anytime, anywhere access for remote employees, and
- protects your computers and data from outside threats such as viruses, spyware, botnets and phishing.
PCS has recently secured a reseller agreement with the good people at Untangle after successfully testing and implementing this unique solution for a few of our most valuable customers.
Is your company in need of a good firewall that won’t nickle-and-dime you with expensive subscriptions and upgrades? Do you need to insure that your users are protected against virus and spyware attacks from the Internet? Is MySpace, Facebook and Instant Messaging eating into your company’s bottom line?
If so, let PCS outfit your business with a Untangle demo unit today!
Am I sending spam?
Posted by Brian Gallutia on Apr 22, 2008
The tech support staff at PCS has been receiving a few e-mails from our customers not relating to spam per se, but to emails labeled as “UNKOWN RECIPIENT” and “DELIVERY FAILURE” flooding their inboxes. When the customer looks closer, they see that the e-mail appears to have originated from their e-mail account, touting the wonders of Cialis or informing the public on how to obtain a slimmer, younger you.
The first thing that comes to our customer’s minds is that they have somehow been infected with spyware or a virus that is sending out e-mails from their accounts. Even though this is a legitimate concern and we always recommend doing full anti-virus scans regularly, what is actually happening is outside of your immediate control.
Spammers have taken on the practice of using legitimate e-mail addresses to send spam from foreign mail servers, which increases the likelihood that the spam will be able to penetrate anti-spam measures. When the spam is sent and it fails to be delivered to the recipient, an e-mail server will return the e-mail to who it thinks sent the e-mail. If the mail server sees that your address is the address that sent the e-mail, then you receive the bounce-back.
Instances like this one usually happen in spurts with only a few customers, and the amount of returned e-mails diminishes after a day. To keep these bounce-backs from cluttering your inbox, PCS recommends either creating a filter in your e-mail program that either automatically deletes these messages or moves them to a designated folder. This is by no means a fix in preventing spamming events like these from occurring, but until a solution to this type of spamming is developed, it is the best way to keep your inbox clean.
Welcome to PCSDesk!
Posted by Brian Gallutia on Mar 13, 2008
Thank you for visiting the newly-redesigned PCSDesk web site, a service of Phoenix Computer Services! Over the next few days, we will be refining the services that we offer through this site, but in the meantime, please feel free to take a look around, drop us a line, or strike up a chat with any of our technicians who happen to be online.
Thanks again for visiting!
