Threat pop-ups

Question

Threat pop-ups

John Smith 0

Late last night I received pop-ups regarding a threat. As an 80 year old " non tech" I foolishly rang the phone number displayed, i.e. 01313927809, and spoke to "Lisa" who did a lot of stuff to remove the pop-ups. She then wanted me to sign up for a Firewall. At this point I made an excuse and ended the call. No personal info was given during the call but how can I ensure that my laptop was not compromised?

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Answer 1

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

You did the right thing by hanging up when something felt wrong. Ending that call was a smart move.

Even though you didn't share personal details, letting someone remotely access your computer means they could have installed background software or remote control tools. To make sure your laptop is clean and secure, follow these steps:

1 = Turn off your Wi-Fi or unplug your network cable right away. This cuts off any remote connection to your laptop while you work on it.

2 = Remote access software was likely installed; removing this software is important.

Press "Windows + I" to open Settings and select "Apps > Installed apps/Apps & features";
Sort the list by "Date installed" so the newest items are at the top;
Look for programs installed during or right before the call, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ConnectWise, LogMeIn, or UltraViewer, and uninstall them. These are the most commonly used ones, but if you come across anything suspicious, don't hesitate to ask. Take a screenshot and share it with me. Use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

3 = Check your system with Microsoft Defender to ensure there are no threats.

Open Windows Security from your Start menu;
Go to "Virus & threat protection > Scan options";
Select "Microsoft Defender Offline scan" and click "Scan now". Your computer will restart and run a deep scan before Windows loads to clean any hidden threats.

4 = Use a different device, like your mobile phone, to change passwords for your primary email, banking, and Microsoft account.

Since you didn't give out bank or personal details, you already avoided the worst part of the scam. Following these steps will give you peace of mind that your laptop is completely safe again. If these steps seem too complicated, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I can help you every step of the way.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.