Laptop query

[Tongera]

I have a somewhat serious problem (probably):

I received a phone call yesterday from a man claiming to be from Microsoft, who then proceeded to tell me I had a virus and it shows up on their servers and they would fix it for me. Well, stupidly I followed their instructions mostly. Their instructions consisted of asking me to look at event viewer/cmd etc, then they asked me to download Teamviewer and run it, which I quite idiotically did.

Suffice to say they took control and looked at a few programs, such as Task Manager/cmd etc. They didn't download anything or actually do anything, but I became suspicious and asked what they were trying to do, they explained they were trying to fix it, but it would cost money. When they said that, I said I wasn't paying anything to them, at which point they hung up. I tried checking their number, but the number was withheld.

I am currently running Windows Defender, Avast and McAfee anti-virus to be on the safe side. Is there anything else I should do?

Thanks.

[karamazovmm]

Yes look into several pieces about this very common scam.

also you should just wipe out everything, and ask your internet provider if you have a fixed ip, if you do, ask them to change and explain the situation of you being scammed

[Tongera]

also you should just wipe out everything, and ask your internet provider if you have a fixed ip, if you do, ask them to change and explain the situation of you being scammed

Why wipe everything if all the anti-virus said it is fine? Also, why change the IP?

[karamazovmm]

Why wipe everything if all the anti-virus said it is fine? Also, why change the IP?

because your privacy is gone. s/he was in your pc, you dont know what s/he did

I dont think you realize how serious this is.

procedure:

1) wipe the drive, install everything from scratch
2) call your internet provider, change your ip if its static
3) learn to never do this again, ms or any other software cia will never call about some issue with your pc

[Tongera]

because your privacy is gone. s/he was in your pc, you dont know what s/he did

I dont think you realize how serious this is.

procedure:

1) wipe the drive, install everything from scratch
2) call your internet provider, change your ip if its static
3) learn to never do this again, ms or any other software cia will never call about some issue with your pc

Right, how do I wipe it from the start? Also, how do I know if anything has be done to the laptop?


Also, can I save the documents and doc files?
Also, one more bit of info: They only had control for about a minute, then I closed it myself. In case that helps with your decision.

[irishron]

Hang up on them is the best policy. Microsoft's policy is NOT to make those phone calls.
Anybody that does is scamming you to rob you of your bank account if not your identity.

[irishron]

What exactly was it this person had open on your laptop?

Our buddy here could be more right than me.

[Tongera]

What exactly was it this person had open on your laptop?

Our buddy here could be more right than me.

Just Team Viewer, cmd and event viewer. He didn't download anything himself. I also uninstalled Team Viewer afterwards and immediately performed a virus scan, which came up clean.

[irishron]

One reason why I have declined to use Team Viewer.

Microsoft Windows Tech people have or have had this a feature like this but they have to have you verbally say, "Yes" for them to install and use it and the one time I did this over five years ago, it was deleted when we finished by them.

You may have gotten lucky as long as you don't keep your bank account(s) or credit card(s) info on it. I don't. I don't even have my browser keep my passwords even if it is supposed to be encrypted.

[Tongera]

Microsoft Windows Tech people have or have had this a feature like this but they have to have you verbally say, "Yes" for them to install and use it and the one time I did this over five years ago, it was deleted when we finished by them.

You may have gotten lucky as long as you don't keep your bank account(s) or credit card(s) info on it. I don't. I don't even have my browser keep my passwords even if it is supposed to be encrypted.

1. I ran Teamviewer myself, not saved or installed it.

2. I guess I best reset my computer then.

[irishron]

I would just to be on the safe side.

[Tongera]

I would just to be on the safe side.

How would I do it then?

[karamazovmm]

using cmd you have access to everything your computer has, s/he can leave a door open for further entrance, there are lots of possibilities, and it doesnt take much time.

to be on the safe side, here is a install guide for windows 7

http://forum.notebookreview.com/wind...languages.html

and yes you can actually save your docs and your things, I dont think they will insert a virus on it, its a possibility and may make the process more streamlined, but wiping the drive should solve that.

Im very conscious of what I download or do in my pc, its simple I do like ron, passwords that arent problematic, like for this account I leave them saved, otherwise, like for my amazon account, my bank, or any other things that will have my info, I will not save. Aside that they all have very different passwords with numbers, letters and special characters mixed.

Its simple things, but doing this Im one of the few people on earth that doesnt get spam, and I know I will be safe. Aside that I always have my OS updated, my anti virus as well.

You dont need to freak out, you need to do what you need to do to get this fixed and follow simple rules afterwards, it may seen a lot, but I dont get any virus for at least 10 years, never had my credit card stolen, nor info. My security professor is much tighter than I, but what I do I think its enough, I dont need a super fancy physical firewall or some other things that he has on his personal server, clearly way above beyond duty

[Tongera]

using cmd you have access to everything your computer has, s/he can leave a door open for further entrance, there are lots of possibilities, and it doesnt take much time.

to be on the safe side, here is a install guide for windows 7

http://forum.notebookreview.com/wind...languages.html

and yes you can actually save your docs and your things, I dont think they will insert a virus on it, its a possibility and may make the process more streamlined, but wiping the drive should solve that.

Im very conscious of what I download or do in my pc, its simple I do like ron, passwords that arent problematic, like for this account I leave them saved, otherwise, like for my amazon account, my bank, or any other things that will have my info, I will not save. Aside that they all have very different passwords with numbers, letters and special characters mixed.

Its simple things, but doing this Im one of the few people on earth that doesnt get spam, and I know I will be safe. Aside that I always have my OS updated, my anti virus as well.

You dont need to freak out, you need to do what you need to do to get this fixed and follow simple rules afterwards, it may seen a lot, but I dont get any virus for at least 10 years, never had my credit card stolen, nor info. My security professor is much tighter than I, but what I do I think its enough, I dont need a super fancy physical firewall or some other things that he has on his personal server, clearly way above beyond duty

Thanks, but one last question before I do it: Can I restore the laptop to before the incident? It is a few days before the phone call and is safe.

[karamazovmm]

nope

[Tongera]

nope

More specific info on why I can't?

[karamazovmm]

because those restores arent as through

[Tongera]

because those restores arent as through

I will do it tomorrow, so I can concentrate better when I do it. Failing that, get the nearest computer shop to do it.

Shame really, as I installed a lot of stuff and my computer was running smoothly as well.

I will save my music and docs as well, any objections to that?

[karamazovmm]

none

its a laptop, it usually comes with OS disks or recovery ones, try to go that way, if you dont know how to clean install, although I do prefer the latter, there are some drivers and programs that need to be installed

[Tongera]

none

its a laptop, it usually comes with OS disks or recovery ones, try to go that way, if you dont know how to clean install, although I do prefer the latter, there are some drivers and programs that need to be installed

I will get a disc from PC World ASAP (possibly not tomorrow, depends if I can leave the house or not) with Windows. Then I will download Slim Drivers and get them to automatically install the newest drivers for everything.

Good idea?