IS THIS A SCAM

[Kiya]

I received this notice this morning and an automated voice, I haven't dared phoned the number but, instead I have been changing my passwords with banking details/credit card etc

Hopefully everything is ok





Forgot to add this notice is supposed to be from Microsoft

[Horus]

Kiya, just delete the message it is a scam, do not phone the number and do not do anything else. Do you remember a bit of software I told you about called 'Malawarebytes' ? if you still have it on your PC let it run a full scan. I do not think you have any viruses or trojans, but to be safe do the following:
Delete all of your History & Cookies, then shut down.
Re-boot, do not log onto the internet and delete History & Cookies again.
Now run any Virus checking software you may have on your PC such as 'Microsoft Seurity Essentials' and let it do a full scan.
If it finds anything let it either delete it or quarantine it (if you get the option), but if anything is persistant, make a precise note of what the infection is called and post it on here.
On a more reasuring note the fact that you can still use your PC probably means all is OK, but this link will try to extort money from you if it suceeds in locking your PC.
DELETE,DELETE, DELETE

[Kiya]

Thanks Horus, I've done everything you said & Malware finished with this

got rid of them as Malware showed.....I hope

I went to try & update with Malware Bytes & MSE but, it goes straight to the buy option.

Can you give me links for them & how to..............please

[Horus]

Try this link and choose the free download
https://www.malwarebytes.com/

[Ruby Slippers]

This happened to my son last week, Kiya. Unfortunately, it totally locked the PC! we had to take it to the local PC shop to get it fixed.

[Kiya]

OH RS bad luck, hope everything is ok with mine now.......keeping fingers crossed

[Horus]

They are just predator scumbags, never open or reply to anything you get in an email, always remember that Microsoft or your bank will NEVER contact you for information and never ask you to input any data or go to websites to login.
@ Kiya, if you have followed my advice then it looks like everything will be OK, but for the next week or so keep deleting Cookies and History and run the Malaware bytes a coiuple of more times along with Microsoft Security Essentials

[Ruby Slippers]

My son's trouble was caused when his 8 year old daughter was downloading a game from the supposed Microsoft site.

[Kiya]

Thanks Horus for the link, it looks like the free version of Malwarebytes is for 14 days only.

I have run it & it quarantined some more, I'll keep doing for a while as long as I have it for free.

As for deleting history & cookies it seems to go on forever

I'm going out this morning so I will leave it deleting history & cookies & see what happens when I'm home again.

Forgot to add RS I don't trust downloading them games, my grandson caught trouble with his computer with games too.

[Grandad]

If I get an email that looks genuine, they are very clever at making things look real, I go to my account on the genuine site and check for any messages. I never open the email, I just read the senders address then go to my genuine account. If there is a message that's fine but I still just DELETE the email without opening.

It is worth looking carefully at the senders address of any suspicious mail, for instance, I have a Paypal account and get quite regular emails. When I check the address I invariably find some added character ie customer.service@pay.pal.com some are far more discreet than this example.

Sadly we all have to be on our guard and scams don't all come as a result of downloading. A couple of years ago Talktalk was 'invaded' and I still get fake emails and telephone calls from these unscrupulous b**tards.

[Horus]

Kiya, they have probably changed their terms for free usage, so as you are doing, keep using it until the free trial runs out. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and you should make sure that it is 'Updated' by clicking on the update tab when you open it up and use the 'quick' scan each day and leave it doing a 'Full' scan overnight as it will take a while to do a full scan. I am a little concerned about deleting your Cookies & History? it usually only takes a minute or so to do.
I take it you are clicking onto the 'Start' button (bottom left)
Then choosing 'Control Panel'
Then selecting 'Internet Options'
Then on the 'General Tab' on the pop up menu choosing the 'Delete' option but first make sure there is a tick in the box alongside where it says "Delete Browsing History on Exit"
At the next menu 'Delete Browsing History' there should be a tick in the following 4 boxes
'Preserve Favourite and website data'
'Tempory Internet Files and website files'
'Cookies and website data'
'History'
The last 4 boxes have no ticks in them and are blank.
Now click 'Delete' at the bottom on the menu.
You should see a small box with a progress line that sweeps across, this usually only takes a few seconds to do and it disapears once it has completed the deletion. It may take a little longer if you have never done it before, but it should not take hours.

[Kiya]

Yes Horus I've done exactly as you have shown, it seems to have settled now & only taking seconds to delete.

Grandad I'm not sure where the virus? came from, but, I'm like you don't open emails I don't know.

The notice I got just popped up on the screen & with a automated voice, never ever had this before.

Thank god I knew not to phone the number they gave...... cheeky sods!!!

Horus can you give me a link for free MSE please, just when you have time ....thanks

[Horus]

Here you go Kiya, just click the download link and follow the instructions:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/downloa ... px?id=5201

[Kiya]

Ok doing it now thanks

[Kiya]

After 3hrs 30mins full scan finished & nothing found with MSE

I'll do it everyday for the next few days & hopefully all will be well.

Thanks again Horus for the links etc

[Horus]

No problems Kiya, no need to do it everyday, just keep the thing updated each time you use it and then run a full scan every two weeks or so, but maybe every couple of days run the 'Quick' scan option as that only takes afew minutes, it does not check everything, but it does check the most vulnerable items. Although I would run the Malaware Bytes software every couple of days for another week or so until the free edition expires.

[Kiya]

OK Thanks again