Beware of the Microsoft/Windows Scam

There is a scam going around that some of my friends have fallen for or almost fallen for. Please share this post! A pop up window on your screen that claims to be Microsoft stating your computer has been compromised is a scam. DO NOT call the 800 number (or whatever phone number) that is listed. You will get someone with a foreign accent claiming they are with Windows and for a fee (usually between $50-100) can clean the virus from your computer. If you can, close out of this window, update your antivirus software, then do a complete scan. If you do not have antivirus, your computer has probably been compromised by these scammers and you need to take it to a local computer repair shop or Best Buy Geek Squad to get it fixed ASAP. If you can't close out of the window, then to the repair shop your computer needs to go. They may also call you from a toll-free number claiming they are with Windows or Microsoft and tell you your computer has been compromised. HANG UP ON THEM, block them and do not answer the phone if they call again. I had a friend who paid the $50 and then suddenly they needed more money and the computer was screwed up beyond belief. This is why it is so important to have antivirus on your computer, whether it is a PC or a MAC (Apple). MAC's *do* get viruses these days. Don't be fooled. I used Symantec's Norton Antivirus, which comes with a firewall. I have had this for years and love it. But there is also McAfee, Kaspersky and others. Most have a 30-day free trial - check them all out. There is a free one, AVG, but remember, you get what you don't pay for - you really should shell out money for a good antivirus program. Just saying. Stay safe online. This has been a public service announcement.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Troubling web site - Datingpsychos.com

There is a web site called Dating Psychos that really should be shut down. I have been working with a victim who dated this guy, stopped dating him and he just couldn't deal with it. He's already put up a few, I got them taken down, he called Animal Control where she lives and claimed she abused her dogs - the dogs were taken away and were going to be euthanized, but she convinced Animal Control that this guy was out to ruin her life. This guy has also called the Social Security Administration on her claiming she's a prostitute trying to get them to investigate her and some other things. It got so bad that she tried to commit suicide a week ago. I was finally able to talk to an FBI agent in the state where the victim lives and this agent is appalled by this web site. She is going to find an agent in the bureau closest to the victim, but now the cyberstalker has put up a new profile on the Dating Psychos web site that lists her home address, home phone number, photo and mor...
Read more

True Crime Online Newsletter - November 11, 2013

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Under Armour can't protect against prank 911 call http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/Blog/2013/1 1/11/Under-Armour-cant-protect-against-p rank-911-call/2191384179832/#ixzz2kMXytz BZ Baltimore City Police responded to a 911 call threatening employees at Under Armour’s headquarters on Sunday afternoon, shutting down the building for hours and leaving workers unable to go home. The 911 call came in around 2 p.m. prompting a SWAT team to search the building. After the search was completed, officials ruled that the 911 call was a very unfunny prank. “We took that threat seriously, we came out. Our SWAT teams cleared the facility, we cleared the employees inside,” said Sgt. Eric Kowalczyk of the BPD. “False calls put a lot of people in danger and take resources from the city.” Kowalczyk said the prankster will face justice. “I think it’s great, you know. If a threat is called upon, they know what they’re supposed to do,” said an unidentified Under Armo...
Read more

True Crime Online Newsletter - September 16, 2013

I couldn't make this up if I tried . . . Greek civil servants lose paid leave for computer use http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2013/09/1 3/Greek-civil-servants-lose-paid-leave-f or-computer-use/UPI-22091379107945/#ixzz 2f4GClHqO Greek officials announced civil servants will no longer receive an extra six days of paid leave each year for using computers. Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday that getting rid of the spare paid leave days would be the equivalent of hiring 5,000 more public sector workers, Ekathimerini reported Friday. Mitsotakis told Skai TV he is confident the government will reach its goals for public sector employment to qualify for a bailout payment in October. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS TO USE AND PASS ALONG! (DISCLAIMER: The following news items were found on the...
Read more