Monday, December 19, 2016

The Windows Tech Support Scam: A Recurring Nightmare

(Click on the image for the article)
“I am calling you from Windows…”
We’ve all had the calls, but what can we really do about the Windows Tech Support scam? Should you hang up, or lead the callers on? Is there anyone you can report them to, and if so, should you even bother?
The aim of the scammers is to talk you into installing remote software on your computer, so that they might then take control. Once done, this will either allow them to steal data, introduce a Trojan horse or other malware (the remote software itself may be a malicious tool) or just perform a bit of “tech support theater” to make it seem as though they know what they’re doing.
Once the “virus” is discovered, of course, the scammers will demand money for their services of “removing” it. This can go a number of ways, but if you refuse, there is the possibility that the scammers have remotely changed your password or encrypted your files, transforming this into a one-on-one ransomware scam.
So, how should you deal with a scam call? Well, the answer is simple: hang up.
What If You Already Gave the Scammer Access to Your Computer? [Read the Article]