Holiday Toy Help?

newyearHappy Holidays from ITS Alaska
We hope you all enjoyed your holiday and that you got everything you asked Santa for! If the holiday brought you a new computer that is still sitting in a box under the tree, we can help!

We know how daunting it can be toget that new computer and  have to move everything from old to new . Avoid  pull-your-hair-out-frustration, and let us help you get that new computer up and running.

Holiday Services

  • Backup From Old – Restore to New In -Shop Service $150
  • Backup to external drive, only $75
  • New system setup on-site – internet, email, printer for $95/hr.

Or Speed it Up!

We can also help you get up to speed on your existing laptop or desktop, transfer or backup your files, check for any virus or spyware issues that may be on your machine and even upgrade your old machine to handle another year!

its-map

Or Something New for 2014

Did you forget to treat yourself this holiday?

We can help you upgrade that old machine or build you a custom home, business, or gaming system to suit any need. We can also find you the perfect laptop with Windows 7 to ring in 2014 in style.

Walk-ins always welcome!
Stop by our office or give us a call and we’ll get you what you need to finish the season right.

Techmas Special!

Computer keyboard with Christmas keysThe holidays are here and with that comes needing gift ideas for your loved ones. We build custom Desktop Computers for Home, Gaming, School and for Work, still available with Windows 7! Want a Laptop instead? We sell those too (Windows 7 Operating System is limited). Whatever the need may be, we have the best gift that you can give someone this holiday season.

If you buy one before Christmas Eve and mention this TECHMAS SPECIAL, we’ll throw in a backup of any files (documents, pictures, videos) %20 off!

Give us a call or stop by our office in Wasilla, we’ll get you what you need to surprise that special someone in your life!

 

For home, home-business, school or light gaming.

ITS LightWave 2610 Custom PC starting at $799.

  • Processor:  AMD Zambezi FX-6100 3.3 GHz 6-Core
  • RAM: 4GB DDR3 PC3-10600 RAM
  • Hard Drive: Western Digital 320GB SATA
  • Lite-On RW-CD/DVD
  • USB 2.0 Digital Media Card Reader
  • Microsoft keyboard & Optical Mouse
  • Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit
  • AVG Antivirus – 2 year subscription

 

Reliable power for most business uses.

ITS BluWave 56300 Custom PC starting at $1,099.

The ITS BluWave system can also be configured for heavy processing such as 3D rendering, AutoCAD, etc. Call or drop by the shop to discuss your specific needs with an ITS technician.

  • Processor: AMD Vishera FX-6300 3.6 GHz 6-Core
  • RAM: 8GB DDR3 PC3-10600
  • Hard Drive: Western Digital 500GB SATA
  • Sapphire Radeon 6450 1G Video
  • Microsoft Keyboard & Mouse
  • Lite-On RW-CD/DVD
  • USB 2.0 Digital Media Reader
  • Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit
  • AVG  Antivirus – 2 year subscription

*Add 19″ wide screen LCD monitor for $169.

Hostage Situation! CryptoLocker Ransomware Virus

Ransom Screen

What is CryptoLocker?

We have seen two cases of this new ‘ransomware virus’ in the valley in the last 30 days – please make note!

CryptoLocker is a ransomware program that was released around the beginning of September 2013 that targets all versions of Windows including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. This ransomware will encrypt certain files using a mixture of RSA & AES encryption. When it has finished encrypting your files, it will display a CryptoLocker payment program that prompts you to send a ransom of either $100 or $300 in order to decrypt the files. This screen will also display a timer stating that you have 72 hours, or 4 days, to pay the ransom or it will delete your encryption key and you will not have any way to decrypt your files. This ransom must be paid using MoneyPak vouchers or Bitcoins. Once you send the payment and it is verified, the program will decrypt the files that it encrypted.

What should you do when you discover your computer is infected with CryptoLocker?

When you discover that a computer is infected with CryptoLocker, the first thing you should do is disconnect it from your wireless or wired network and shut it down. This will prevent it from further encrypting any files. Some people have reported that once the network connection is stopped, it will display the CryptoLocker screen (shown above). Then you should get it into the shop ASAP to grab any files that have not already been affected, before they become encrypted and you lose them!

Is it possible to save files encrypted by CryptoLocker?

Unfortunately at this time there is no way to decrypt your files without paying the ransom. Brute forcing the decryption key is not realistic due to the length of time required. Also  decryption tools available do not work with this infection. The only method you have of restoring your files is from a backup or Shadow Volume Copies if you have System Restore enabled. Newer variants of CryptoLocker attempt to delete the Shadow Copies, but it is not always successful.

How do you become infected with CryptoLocker?

This infection is typically spread through emails sent to company email addresses that pretend to be customer support related issues from Fedex, UPS, DHS, etc. These emails would contain a zip attachment that when opened would infect the computer. These zip files contain executables that are disguised as PDF files as they have a PDF icon and are typically named something like FORM_101513.exe or FORM_101513.pdf.exe. Since Microsoft does not show extensions by default, they look like normal PDF files and people open them. There have also been reports of contracting this infection from a webpage.

Known CryptoLocker email subjects include:

USPS – Your package is available for pickup
( Parcel 173145820507 )
USPS – Missed package delivery
(“USPS Express Services” <service-notification@usps.com>)
USPS – Missed package delivery FW: Invoice <random number>
ADP payroll: Account Charge Alert ACH Notification (“ADP Payroll” <*@adp.com>)
ADP Reference #09903824430 Payroll Received by Intuit
Important – attached form FW: Last Month Remit
McAfee Always On Protection Reactivation Scanned Image from a Xerox WorkCentre
Scan from a Xerox WorkCentre scanned from Xerox
Annual Form – Authorization to Use Privately Owned Vehicle on State Business Fwd: IMG01041_6706015_m.zip
My resume New Voicemail Message
Voice Message from Unknown (675-685-3476) Voice Message from Unknown Caller (344-846-4458)
Important – New Outlook Settings Scan Data
FW: Payment Advice – Advice Ref:[GB293037313703] / ACH credits / Customer Ref:[pay run 14/11/13] Payment Advice – Advice Ref:[GB2198767]
New contract agreement. Important Notice – Incoming Money Transfer
Notice of underreported income Notice of unreported income – Last months reports
Payment Overdue – Please respond FW: Check copy
Payroll Invoice USBANK
Corporate eFax message from “random phone #” – 8 pages (random phone # & number of pages) past due invoices
FW: Case FH74D23GST58NQS Symantec Endpoint Protection: Important System Update – requires immediate action

 

How to prevent your computer from becoming infected by CryptoLocker.

As always, don’t open e-mail attachments from anyone you don’t know, or from those you do know who don’t typically send you such things. Don’t visit websites you’re not sure about. Don’t click on pop-ups or ads on websites you know nothing about. Keep your anti-virus up-to-date. Install your Windows Updates, Acrobat Reader Updates, Java Updates, Flash Player Updates, etc. These actually need to be updated because there are security holes in those programs that the updates will block, helping keep you from getting infected.

Most Antivirus Programs cannot stop CryptoLocker – and once you have it the only way to get your files is to pay the ransom.

Prevention is key!

The easiest, most user-friendly way we have found to prevent an encryption attack is CryptoGuard. This software  monitors the file system for suspicious file operations (CryptoGuard is a driver, installed by HitmanPro.Alert). When suspicious behavior is detected, the malicious code is blocked (write, delete, rename is revoked) and an Alert is presented to the user. So even while ransomware is active, it can’t harm your files.

This prevention tool is still in Beta, but can be downloaded from its developer in the Netherlands here. Click the orange ‘Download Beta’ button, save the file, double-click – and follow onscreen instructions.

Gaming for Charity – Nov. 2

extra-life-logo-smallestITS Alaska has donated our offices and internet connection to support ‘The Alaska League of Gamers’ for the 25-hour national gaming fundraiser in conjunction with Extra Life 2013 and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – with all proceeds to benefit the Anchorage Childrens’ Hospital at Providence.

Get the details here!

Email from GoDaddy?

goDaddyDear Website Clients – If ITS Alaska hosts or maintains your website, and you recently received an email from goDaddy about a ‘Domain Contact Update’ relating to your domain name (www.yourbusiness.com) – don’t panic! We are conducting an audit of all domain registrations, ensuring that the contact information for ITS Alaska as your web host or webmaster, and your own contact information as the owner of the domain, are accurate and up to date. Providing complete and accurate contact information to your domain registrar helps us ensure the continued, uninterrupted and trouble-free operation of your website. If you have any questions about this process, as always, give us a call! Thanks! ITS Web Development Team