what to do if you a victim of windows technical support scam
ten-point activeness program for resolving fake tech support admission to your PC: Internet Scambusters #710
Tech support scams affect 3.iii million people and price $1.five billion every twelvemonth.
So what exercise you lot do if you lot're ane of those unfortunate victims?
Nosotros'll give you a 10-point activity programme in this week's result, answering the question, "what should I exercise if I gave a scammer remote access to my figurer?", give yous Microsoft's tech support number and information on how to get tech back up from Microsoft, and give you lot information virtually a new variation in the tax bill scam.
And, we'll point you to the legitimate tech back up service nosotros use to gear up problems and help protect all our computers.
Let's become started...
What to Practice if Y'all Fell for a Tech Support Scam
Much every bit most of us like to think we're smart enough not fall for a scam, millions of people are conned every yr into giving access to their PCs to tech support imposters.
These are the people who claim to be from Microsoft or some other computer business firm. They tell you lot they've detected a virus on your PC and need to exist given remote admission to put it right.
You probably know what "remote access" is, simply for those who don't, it's a characteristic of Windows that enables someone in some other location to access your PC via the Cyberspace.
But you have to requite them permission via your PC first, which is why these scammers make their spoof calls.
Once they get admission, they can digitally crawl all over your PC, looking for confidential data like passwords and business relationship numbers.
And later on they're done, they may go out a piece of malware on your PC that enables them to access information technology at any time or plug it into a botnet -- a network of compromised computers that are forced to transport out spam.
We've reported on the tech support scam before in our commodity, Latest Car Parts, Tech Support and Domain Name Scams, and promise yous've managed to evade these crooks.
But what if yous -- or someone you know -- gets caught out and gives PC access to these crooks?
According to Microsoft's Digital Crime Unit of measurement, some 3.3 one thousand thousand people fall victim to the tech back up scam every year, costing victims effectually $1.5 billion.
How will you lot know you're ane of those victims? Information technology'south simple. If someone phoned you challenge to exist from Tech Support or claiming they've detected a virus on your PC and they need access, it was a scam.
Tech companies just don't operate that way. But tech support scammers exercise.
Put it this way: If they knew what was happening on your PC, that would mean they must already take remote access, so why would they need to request it?
So if you gave the caller access, you lot've exposed your PC security to them.
A more clever way the scammers may attempt to accomplish you is by tricking you into downloading malware onto your PC, which then flashes a warning that you have a virus and need to contact "tech support" to accept information technology removed.
Again, that'south not the way legitimate security software works. If it identifies a virus, it will tell yous and give you lot the option of deleting it but 18-carat security software doesn't ask y'all to brand a telephone phone call.
Once y'all realize what's happened, you need to accept immediate action to minimize the potential damage.
Or in other words, "what should I exercise if I gave a scammer remote access to my reckoner?"
How To Trounce A Tech Back up Scammer - A x-Point Plan
Some of the things you should do are similar to those for identity theft. After all, that'south most likely what volition have happened later a scammer gets access to your computer.
Here's our x-point programme to deal with information technology:
1. Shut down and disconnect your device from the Internet. That puts an absolute stop on any external meddling. It likewise oftentimes automatically revokes remote access for when y'all restart.
2. Ideally, yous would take a full system backup that would enable you to restore your computer to its previous land, ensuring the scammers no longer have access to your machine.
If you don't know how to dorsum up your system, yous might visit the site of our friend Leo Notenboom and search on "backup." Or simply do a Google search on your Internet browser - but be careful that y'all visit a legitimate site.
3. If you lot don't have a fill-in, run the Windows "Organisation Restore" feature. Visit microsoft.com to learn how to do this.
4. Whether you lot restored your system or not, ensure your Net security software is up to engagement and run a FULL virus scan to remove any lingering malware.
5. If yous know how to do information technology, check your web browser's settings for any newly installed extensions or add together-ons y'all don't recognize and delete them.
6. If you lot don't know how to do this or you're still not certain your auto is "make clean," have it professionally checked. We recommend (and have used them for years, ATT Tech Support 360, a service that we trust to admission our computers remotely, fix our problems and help keep us safe from tech support scams.)
vii. Just when you've done all this should you lot alter all passwords. Yes, all passwords on every account you lot access via your PC.
8. Alert your bank and credit card companies and monitor all statements online every day, looking for suspicious items.
nine. Put a freeze on credit applications via the three credit monitoring agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This volition cost a few dollars but is worth it. Each of the bureaus has its own "credit lock" service simply you might observe the following article useful: Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide.
x. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Whether y'all're a victim of a tech back up scam or not, make a point of educating yourself nearly these tricks and how to avoid them.
How? Subscribe to Scambusters, of course. Simply also cheque out this guide on tech support scams from the FTC.
Frequently Asked Tech Back up Scam Questions
What is the Microsoft Tech Support number?
Currently, it is 1 (800) 642-7676. Y'all tin can find it any fourth dimension past going to https://www.google.com/search?q=microsoft+tech+support+number - the correct, verified number volition be shown at the top of that folio.
Still, you are more than likely to become the support you want by going through Microsoft'south Become Assistance app.
Does Microsoft Accept Tech Support?
Microsoft tech support is generally non available for free. The best manner to go paid tech back up assistance on Microsoft products is to get to Microsoft'south Get Aid app.
How do I know whether a number I see is a fake Microsoft tech support number?
1 of the favorite scam techniques is for tech support scammers to give y'all simulated telephone numbers they claim are a right Microsoft tech support number. Don't fall for that scam. Meet above for the all-time fashion to find the correct Microsoft tech back up number.
How exercise I stop someone from accessing my computer remotely?
Once you've given a tech support scammer access to your figurer, they can access your computer over and over again, scanning it for passwords, banking company accounts and lots of other sensitive data.
Click here to access a step-by-step program to remove scammers ability to access your reckoner remotely.
Is in that location anyone you lot recommend to assistance me make clean viruses and other problems off my PC who'south not a tech support scammer?
We recommend (and take used them for years, ATT Tech Back up 360, a service that nosotros trust to access our computers remotely, set our bug and help keep us rubber from tech support scams.) They've bailed us our many times, cleaning off viruses, fixing other issues similar computer driver issues and other computer problems. They're inexpensive, reliable, and offer other plans similar remote computer backups.
Alert of the Calendar week
Await out for this nasty variation of the IRS unpaid taxation scam, which is now in full swing.
If you lot receive what is obviously a scam call (the IRS doesn't actually phone people to tell them they owe taxes) and hang up, the telephone may ring again.
This fourth dimension, the caller claims to be from the police (consummate with spoofed caller ID that seems to ostend information technology) and demands to know why y'all hung upwardly.
This is followed past a warning that you lot must pay immediately. But here's what yous exercise: Hang up once again!
Time to conclude for today -- accept a great calendar week!
Source: https://scambusters.org/techsupport.html
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