DECATUR, GA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/21/09 -- Facebook isn't just a place to hook up with ex-girlfriends from high school anymore. Companies large and small are now using it for networking and legitimate business tasks. Unfortunately, it can also be a place to hook your company's network up with some nasty viruses.

"Koobface, the latest virus, spreads by sending links to your friends with text like 'I can't believe it's you in this video!'" said Chip Reaves, global director of Computer Troubleshooters (www.comptroub.com), the largest international network of outsourced IT providers that offers onsite computer services to small businesses. "Koobface infects your computer in multiple ways with these creative lures that encourage people to click on the infected links. It's pretty insidious."

According to research firm Trend Micro, Koobface is designed to use you and your computer in different malicious ways. Reaves suggests these tips to protect your office network:

--  Anti-virus, Anti-spyware
    Every computer user on the Internet needs professional, up-to-date
    protection software.  This should at a minimum include both anti-virus and
    anti-spyware support (some free packages do not include anti-spyware), and
    ideally should also include a link scanner component to minimize the risk
    of visiting websites which are known to be infected.

--  Claim your name, Check your fame
    If you are using social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook, do
    periodic searches for yourself.  This is especially helpful with small
    businesses to see what people are saying about you, but if you're infected
    you may find updates from yourself -- which you never sent.

--  Use a 3rd party Twitter application or your phone
    Third party applications such as Tweekdeck or Twhirl can help block certain
    exploits that would otherwise infect you from the Twitter website.

--  Ask to Include Social Media protection in your IT Management Plan
    Many small businesses and home users today are outsourcing all their
    computer management to a local computer service provider through what's
    called a Managed Services plan.  Ask your local Computer Troubleshooter or
    other service provider to include social media protection in your computer
    management plan.
    

About Computer Troubleshooters

Computer Troubleshooters is the largest international network of franchise owners providing onsite computer services to small businesses. Computer Troubleshooters now has more than 475 franchises worldwide in more than 20 countries.

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