Although there are various methods for Yontoo to entrap users, it primarily  lures its victims in to watch movie trailers requiring a download of a plug-in to view the full trailer.  Of course, if users are really interested in the movie, most will attempt to install the plug-in which in turn actually installs Yontoo onto their computers.  Once installed, Yontoo begins tracking the information from the websites that are visited to a remote server and information from the server is then returned that embeds the adware into the pages that the user has browsed to.

Those affected should install the latest OS X updates as Apple has included the latest definitions for XProtect to remove Yontoo.

See Yontoo in actions in the screenshots below.

You can get started with these general secure password tips from 24HourSupport because your accounts are only as safe as your passwords.

1. Your password should contain between 6 and 16 characters.
2. Passwords should begin with a letter or number and should contain at least one letter and a number or one of the following special characters: _ – . @ %.
3. Common sequences such as “abcd” or “1234″ should be avoided.
4. Passwords are case sensitive, so mixing upper and lower case letters will make your password more secure.
5. Your username and password should never be the same.
6. When using a single device (ex: computer, tablet, smart phone) to access multiple accounts that require logging in, it is best to use a different username/password combinations for each account.
7. Check your password with an online secure password checker such as Microsoft password Checker to get an idea of how weak or strong the password may be.

Of course you can always call technical support and get the information, or you can connect instantly with one of our technical support representatives on our 24HourSupport Live Chat.

How does this work, you say?

If you’re on your broadband provider’s website, you can click the Live Chat button to be connected, or you can click the Live Chat button on the Contact Us page that is available on 24HourSupport.com.  You’ll need to enter your name and email address to get started.  Once your request is sent, you will be connected with the first available technical support representative and be on your way to getting your problem solved.

Live Chat

Trend Micro Mobile Security: Named as one of PC World’s Best Products in 2011, Trend Micro’s personal edition of its mobile security software is exclusive to Android devices.  The malware and virus scanner are helpful in identifying attachments in emails that may compromise your data as well as nasty viruses that may be lurking in apps that you download.  Privacy is essential on smartphones and Trend Micro has beefed up its privacy protection to keep your your personal information in a safe place – on your phone.

Lookout Mobile Security: This is probably one of the most popular mobile security suites and can be found in Android and iOS app stores in the free and premium versions.  You can expect to have regular scans for malware and viruses, protection when clicking malicious URLs, find my phone features, and more.

Avast Free Mobile Security:  Another Android exclusive app, Avast packs a powerful punch with the features contained in this freebie.  With malware/virus scanning to phone locator features, SMS blocking, and even a network meter that lets you know when you’re reaching monthly data limits, you can have peace of mind knowing that your smartphone is in good hands.  Literally.

Kapersky Mobile Security:  Scaling down it’s protection capabilities to the mobile form, Kapersky Mobile Security can be downloaded to your Android phone to ward of malware, trojans, and viruses.  It can also be used to erase date from your phone in the event that you are unable to locate it with it’s phone location features.  Another of its popular features is the ability to ward off unwanted phone calls and SMS text messages.  Who wouldn’t want that?

]]> http://www.24hoursupport.com/the-forgotten-one-smartphone-mobile-security/feed/ 0 http://www.24hoursupport.com/getting-started-windows-8-quick-tips/ http://www.24hoursupport.com/getting-started-windows-8-quick-tips/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:00:42 +0000 admin http://www.24hoursupport.com/?p=8082 How many of you opened a shiny, new Windows 8 laptop this past Christmas?  Was it what you were expecting or were you totally shocked?  Microsoft did a vast makeover on its Windows operating system with the inception of Windows 8, and you may not have known where to begin or even if you wanted to begin!  If you’re here, we’re assuming that you decided to take a plunge into the unknown and get to know your Windows 8 computer.  Since we thought you could use a helping hand to get you through the new year, here are a few quick tips to help you get started:

1. How do I use the Charms in Windows 8?
2. There’s no start button.  How do I use the Start Screen?
3. How can I get back to my desktop?
4. How do I access the Control Panel in Windows 8?
5. How do I search for files in Windows 8?
6. How can I access  Help and Support in Windows 8?
7. How do I shut down my Windows 8 computer?

Amazon is the latest online retailer to feel the burn of phishing scams as users are beginning to receive emails similar to the one below that appear to be from Amazon but are in fact phishing scams.  As with most other fraudulent emails, it may be difficult to tell that the email isn’t real at first glance because scammers are getting better at making their emails look more like the actual emails that are sent from Amazon.  Spotting the fakes can be a bit tricky, but  you can use these helpful tips to keep up with the latest string of Amazon phishing emails:

1. If the email contains an unsolicited attachment, it did not come from Amazon.

2. Avoid clicking on links in a suspicious email.  In the below example, the “Learn More” link redirects to a website that is not affiliated with Amazon, which is a clear indication of a scam.

3. Amazon will never request personal information such as passwords or bank information via email.  This type of information is only collected on the Amazon website.

4. Look for grammatical errors and typos in the email.  Legitimate Amazon emails are not likely to contain these types of errors.

If you need to report a fraudulent email to Amazon, you may use the contact form that is available here to alert them.

Remember to always keep updated anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer and scan it regularly to protect yourself.

Of course, before you begin shopping, you want to ensure that your computer is protected with updated security software including anti-virus and anti-malware protection.   Your operating system and web browsers should also include the latest updates as well.

1. Shop Trusted Websites

Many fake websites spring up during the holidays just to dupe unsuspecting shoppers into thinking they are getting deals when in fact, the website owners are making off with personal information looking for a pay day.  Even though online retailers tend to slash prices for holiday shopping, the old saying “if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is” will certainly continue to ring true.  Bottom line – stick with who you know.

2. Safeguard Your Passwords

When shopping online, many websites allow you to register and provide a password so that you may store your personal information for convenience.  If you opt to do this, ensure that you create secure passwords, and if you must store them, store them in a secure place away from prying eyes as it can become difficult to remember various passwords.

3.  Make Sure Your Purchase is Secure

Most online retailers have implemented secure transactions to provide shoppers with peace of mind in knowing that their purchases are protected.  When making a secure purchase online, always look in your web browser’s address bar for “https://” to indicate that you are using a secure transaction.

4. Use Credit Cards If Possible

While debit cards have provided many shoppers the convenience of not racking up credit card debt while shopping, these types of cards are most often linked to a bank account that can be drained if intercepted into the wrong hands.  Credit card companies have policies in place for fraud prevention, so although you may not want to use credit, think about the cash you could stand to lose if using debit.

Take to Social Media

When something happens in the world, Twitter and Facebook are often the first to know before any news outlet. You can often find real-time updates, pictures, and other commentary from those being affected by whatever event is occurring. Several hashtags have surfaced relating to Sandy, so you may want to follow information from #Sandy, #HurricaneSandy, #njsandy, #nysandy, #nhsandy, etc.

Store, store, and store.

Because you’re likely to be confined to mobile technology, make sure that emergency numbers such as law enforcement, medical facilities, insurance companies, and family members are stored in your phone. You’ll be able to easily contact them if the need arises, but limit the use of the mobile phone if possible because you want to ensure that your battery remains viable.

Text It.

During storms such as Sandy, you never know when you’re going to be without power, and there’s no guarantee if your cell service will remain active if towers are taken out. Because so many people risk losing power, everyone is grabbing their mobile devices and trying to stock up on battery power so that they can stay in touch. Think about millions of people frantically trying to dial on their cell phones in an already chaotic state. The wireless lines are going to be overloaded. So, if you must use your cell phone, text to prevent this overload and to save on battery life.

If you’re not sure whether you want to pay the extra money for the iPad mini or are just undecided on which of the “little” tablets you want to purchase, here’s a breakdown of the features for each.  You be the judge.  After all, it’s your money!

 When you’re on the go and need to check your email fast, why not log into your Webmail account to quickly view and respond to your email messages?  Webmail can be your home away from home when it comes to your email, so here are a few quick tips that you can take with you.

Checking for New Messages

New messages that arrive to your email address will be displayed in the Inbox. You can access the Inbox by clicking on the Inbox link in the folder list on the left of the page or by clicking on the Inbox icon at the top of the page.  Please note that if you use an email client that is set to download your mail without saving your messages to the server, your new email messages may not appear in Webmail.

Composing a Message

Using Webmail to compose a message is not that different from any of the other web-based email applications that you may have used.  The premise is the same – to send messages!  To compose a message, you will simply need to click on the Compose icon that is displayed at the top of the page.  Enter the sender’s email address, the subject of the email, and compose the message that you would like to send.  Once you have completed your message, click the Send

Deleting Messages from Trash

Because you may not use Webmail on a regular basis, you may not empty the trash as often as you should.  To do so, just click the purge option next to the Trash folder and all messages in the folder will be permanently deleted.  It’s that simple!  If you normally use an email client and have your messages set to be remove from the server after a specified amount of  time, then you may not need to check your trash folder as often as those who use Webmail regularly.

For more tips on using Webmail, get started here.