maulanariezky.nfo

Identifying a Zombie PC

Zombie infections are good at hiding so they are not noticed—and escape removal. They often have file and process names similar, or even identical, to normal system file names and processes so users won’t think twice if they do see them.

Fortinet, a network security company, recently issued a Zombie Awareness Month Computer Survival Guide to help users defend against a zombie invasion. According to the guide, “the most likely way a computer becomes infected is by [its user] landing on a malicious link.”

Short, cryptic messages telling users to watch a video clip (or asking “Is this you in this video?“) and containing a shortened or obfuscated link that hides the true destination URL have plagued Facebook and other social networks.

Even after clicking on the malicious link, you may be unaware that your PC has been compromised or infected. The invader will try to send the same message with the same cryptic video link to your contacts, but your friends may think that the message is suspicious and wonder why you would send a video link.

As the Fortinet guide explains: “A smart friend will ping you and ask, ‘Why did you send this video to me?’ If you know you didn’t send a video link to your friend, you can pretty much bet you’ve become infected or that your account is compromised.“