a word to the wise ...

I've re-learned some lessons the expensive way recently... and thought if my experiences were shared it may help some of you too.

Not a riding lesson but a "not clicking" lesson. I clicked an attachment supposedly from a friend and gained ransom-ware which cost me $$$ though computer repair. Didn't pay the ransom to get the code to give back my files, which the criminals demanded; but bought a new hard drive which now requires re-setting everything I had on the computer over the last 8 years .... bookmarks, pictures, emails, documents, spread sheets, music, and I'm sure many things I will realize are missing in the days ahead. Starting all over is a real drag. So be careful out there -- whether on the roads or at your computers.

Mike

Mike......Same thing happened to me last week.  I've got every antivrus and malware software known to man and it still got through.  Luckily all of my important stuff I keep on a separate drive.  I have the original Windows 8.1 installation disc so I just wiped everything and reinstalled windows.  It's still a lengthy process getting everything back to normal though.  Having said that, the pc is running a bit faster now so something good came out of it.  Just sitting on the fence at the moment deciding whether to upgrade to Windows 10. I've got until July 29th to decide.

Den  

Windows 10, as bad as 8 could be 10 isn't a friend of mine, much rather have the Vista 7 with upgrades.

I'm not a computer expert(or any other kind of expert)but,it happened to me a couple of years back,i don't know if it was the same kind of scam,but after hours of desperation,i managed to restart in "safe" mode,& then did a 24 hr back date,which got my computer back up & running,with only a couple of days of info lost.
I'm not saying it's the same issue,but for anyone reading this it may just be worth a shot.

I keep all my files in one folder and back it up once every three months to a new thumb drive. That way all I have to do is re-install Windows and reload my folder. The most I would loose would be three months worth of data. You thumb drive has to be large enough to backup your folder. After a year, you can start reusing your oldest thumb drive.

To me Windows 8 vs. 10 is no contest. 10 wins hands down. I'm running it on the two computers here at home and have installed it on four of my friends machines now. Smooth install, no problems. It will take over an hour to install unless you have much faster internet service than I do. The only part I don't like is the new browser, "Edge". I still run IE11 or Firfox, depending on what I need to do. If you're not going to Apple or Linux it's worth going ahead and installing W10.

My concern is that Windows-10 records all your keystrokes. They say it is only for diagnostic purposes only. My eye... Big Brother is watching you.

Don't be concerned, that's Internet B.S. There are many articles available stating it's not true. Here's one from ZD net which is a reliable website:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/does-windows-10-really-include-a-keylogger-spoiler-no/

I'm a computer expert, in the industry for 34 years. The general rule is when you receive an email from someone you don't know, do not click on any links in it. If you're curious, hover your mouse over the link and look in the status bar to see where the link would take you. If you don't recognize the address, don't click the link. In general, when I receive an email from someone I don't know or a business with whom I've never done business, I delete the email immediately. If it is really important, the sender will get in touch with me in other ways.

Typical scams are emails that tell you your account has been compromised and maybe locked, and please click a link to restore your account. Retailers would NEVER do that! What they will do is ask you to login to your account but will never provide you a link with which to login.

And lately people have been getting scary phone calls from people telling you that if you don't pay money for back taxes or some legal action, you will be brought up on charges. Just hang up the phone. That is not a legal method for notifying someone of legal actions. You would be served in person if there were a legal matter against you. It is NEVER done via phone.

I also get some indian outfit calling me every few months claiming to be Microsoft support and telling me there is a virus or other problem with my computer.
The scam is they tell you that you need to download a program update or fix, or they use the software that lets them take over your computer if  you let them.  Then they put the problem on your computer, and offer to solve it for a fee.  Or they hang up leaving you with a faulty computer and then you have to pay to get it working again (Ransomware).  

Sometimes I will see an email supposedly from a friend of mine that has vague info telling me to click the link.  Don't do it! Like Thorney said, hold your cursor over the link.  You can also write click with your cursor over the link and click "properties".  If you can't understand where the link is taking you don't click it.  You can always call the friend who supposedly sent it  and ask if they did.

Dan

I either string them along a bit then tell them I have a Mac or, when they ask what's now showing on my screen, think up something suitably rude, suggesting they should 'go away'.
I'm tired of it.

I also get some indian outfit calling me every few months claiming to be Microsoft support and telling me there is a virus or other problem with my computer.


BTDT with them, want to hear silence and a click? I just say funny you should say that, I don't own a computer--------------click.

For the last couple of months I've had numerous scam phone calls from ladies and gentlemen on the Indian subcontinent claiming they're tech support from the Internet service provider TalkTalk and they've detected serious malware problems on our home router that they'd like to correct. so if I turn on my computer and follow their detailed instructions, they'll fix the problem.

It's all lies because TalkTalk isn't our ISP and hasn't been for a long time, but TalkTalk was targeted by hackers last year and personal details of millions of customers were stolen, including it now seems ours

The calls are very convincing, the callers are always Indian and there's the normal background chatter you'd hear from a call centre. Telling them you're no longer a TalkTalk customer doesn't phase them as they'll say they're TalkTalk tech support and also provide service for your new ISP whatever it is.

What they're sneakily try to do is gain access to your computer by asking you very nicely to turn on your computer and install remote control software called TeamViewer which can allow them to infect your computer with malware or to delete or copy personal files, or more likely plunder your bank accounts.

I used to get a few of these.
Top fun messing with their minds I find, but if feeling lazy I just tell them I don't have a computer.
Generally I find denying all terms and conditions work. "Hello, is that mr h?" "No", "who is your current electricity supplier?", "I don't have one, I live off-grid".
My all time favourite though was someone trying to get me to change my phone provider, after playing along for about 20 minutes and getting the guy and more confused I explained I didn't even have a phone.

All incoming phone calls go to my voicemail, I never answer the phone. If it is someone I know I call them back. My family and friends know the procedure. Scammers generally do not leave messages. I use all Mac products pc, iPad iPhone iPod and have not had any email or text problems to date after many years of use. I never open emails and messages without checking the source.

The only telemarketing calls I like are the ones that try to sell burial plots.

I tell them that my species will have taken over the earth long before I die and even we do we leave nothing behind.

Dan