Malware News

Adobe Acrobat, Reader, and Flash Player are prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this issue by supplying a malicious Flash ('.swf') file or by embedding a malicious Flash application in a PDF file. Successful exploits may allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user running the affected application.

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Data Recovery - EMERGENCY SERVICES AVAILABLE

Online..................$See Below      Our technicians can connect remotely and fix your issues online

In-Store............. ..$See Below      Our technicians run several diagnostics on your computer in Geeks Houston stores

In-home/Office....$See Below      We can come out to your location so you don't have to pack up your hardware

You depend on your computer for a lot of things, from storing pictures and family videos to doing your taxes or managing your business. We know your machine holds a lot of precious and critical information. What happens when one day you find yourself in a technological crisis, with a bright blue screen or a frozen system?

That’s where we come in. Our tech-savvy Agents will do a basic checkup to ensure that your data actually CAN be retrieved (which is the case more than 99% of the time).

Here’s where a city of experts REALLY comes in handy – your machine will be securely handled to dig through every nook and cranny of your hard drive and do whatever it takes to find your irreplaceable data.* Whether you just accidentally renamed or misplaced a document or your hard drive is suffering from a complete and utter failure, our Agents can help.


Some other things to know about Geeks Houston Professional Data Recovery service are:

  • The initial diagnostic fee at the store for hard drives is $59.99. Data recovery for hard drives starts at $259.99 but depends on the difficulty or severity of issues found.
  • The initial diagnostic fee at the store for flash media is $39.99. Data recovery for flash media under 32 GB starts at $129.99** (including diagnostic fee) and $199.99** for over 32 GB.
  • Because we want to be thorough in our recovery, timing may vary, but our Agents will be in contact with you throughout the process to ensure you are well informed.
  • Geeks Houston can generally recover data on PCs, external hard drives, disks, tapes, CDs, or flash media (memory card or USB flash drive) cards.
  • In extreme cases, hard drives that fail mechanically may need to be serviced by a regionally located expert with clean rooms. These services can cost up to and over $2000. If this is the case, we will recommend a local services company to handle your special case.

*There are various instances in which data can be lost or damaged such as accidents, natural disasters, power surges, malfunctioning devices, or viruses. It’s important to remember that laptop hard drives are especially vulnerable if users are always on the move. Avoid losing all of your valuable data by signing up for Online Data Backup through a recommended online service such as Mozy, or Carbonite.

**Please note that additional fees may apply for devices with physical damage or if the recovery needs level 2 support.

Common Threats

iTunes Hacking

Microsoft launches online security patch

Microsoft has released an emergency online security patch following the discovery of a potential glitch in its technology. The software giant announced that the online security update will automatically be installed for Internet Explorer customers. Microsoft released the patch after a vulnerability in the company's Active Template Library was discovered. The software is used to build ActiveX controls and other web application components.

Web users should be cautious of fake anti-virus programs

A new report has highlighted that malware posing as anti-virus software is spreading across tens of millions of computers each month. According to research by PandaLabs, over 1,000 examples of fake anti-virus software were found in the first quarter of 2008 alone. The program works by issuing false warnings of infections, persuading web users to buy software they do not need, and can also download Trojans or malware.

Spammers translating messages cause global security issues

Spam email is becoming a growing threat in non-English speaking nations, according to a new study. Research by MessageLabs highlights that spammers are now using free online translation sites to write messages in a variety of languages and target a greater number of people across the globe. As a result, some nations which previously enjoyed a high level of internet security are now falling victim to rising levels of spam.

Malware 'the greatest threat'

The greatest threat to computer networks is malware, meaning people should be wary of introducing unnecessary software to their machines, an expert has stated. Writing for his risk management blog hosted by online publication ComputerWeekly.com, Stuart King warned that some people are reporting that their new digital picture frames and gadgets such as MP3 players are infected with viruses.

Sun Java Runtime Environment Vulnerabilities

Sun Java Runtime Environment and Java Development Kit are prone to multiple security vulnerabilities. Successful exploits may allow attackers to violate the same-origin policy, obtain sensitive information, bypass security restrictions, run untrusted applets with elevated privileges, and cause denial-of-service conditions. This may result in a compromise of affected computers.

* Geeks Houston ®, Geeks Mobile, and geeksquadonline.com have no affiliation to Geek Squad or Best Buy

Trojans vs. Virus'

Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

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