I Got a Call from Microsoft and Allowed Them Access to My Computer. What Do I Do Now?

☎️ A very common scam is to get a call supposedly from Microsoft, your ISP, or other authorities calling to help you with computer problems. Don't fall for it.

☎️ The remote access trap
Legitimate companies don’t request remote access via cold calls. Period. If you’ve fallen for it, take these steps.

Alert your credit card issuer about potential fraud.
Restore your machine from a recent image backup.
Alternatively, back up data, reformat your hard disk, and reinstall your operating system to ensure the removal of any hidden malware.

Chapters
0:00 Call from Microsoft
1:00 Microsoft does not call
3:00 Could they still have access?
4:00 EventViewer is a mess.
5:40 Avoiding the scam
6:40 Recovering from the scam

More Ask Leo!

#askleo #scam #event-viewer

[robertradke]

Norton, what a massive waste of resources. It’s a scam in itself

[eugeneomalley]

I fell for this one a few years back. The guy had started to fiddle with my computer but I began to think and then smelt the rat. Before he had stopped fiddling. I turned off my internet and shut down the computer. Turning off the internet for me also killed the landline that he had called me on. This spared me any follow up sob stories via telephne. I ended up reinstalling Windows 10 from scratch and reloading my data from backup. Fortunately I suffered no other damage but a most valuable lesson was learnt.

[johnopalko]

I got one of those calls once. I acted completely clueless while he talked me through what to do. Nothing worked. He described which icons to click and I kept telling him I couldn't find them. Finally, after more than 30 minutes, he asked me what version of Windows I was running. I said, "Linux, " whereupon he swore at me and hung up.

Pro tip: Don't try to pull a computer scam on someone who's worked in IT for 40 years.

[SuperChicken]

It's hard enough to get in touch with a human being at Microsoft much less expect them to ever call you.😊

[taradnbrn]

"Microsoft" called me and said they detected problems with my Windows. I told them my windows are fine because I can open and close them. They hung up 😂

[wesadrian]

I tell them to come on over and work on the computer so I can watch.😂

[Mesa_Mike]

"Don't accept friend requests from me. I've been hacked" is a good way to bring the scammers out of the woodwork.

[SuperFredAZ]

Great video, Microsoft NEVER calls consumers, as you said. Just hand up.

[johnburgess]

I wouldn't give access to Microsoft, Google, or anyone, even if I knew for 100% certain the call was from one of those companies! They get enough of your personal information already, without you giving them access to more.

[davidhitchen]

"I got a call from Microsoft."
Microsoft doesn't call consumers to warn them about security problems. If anybody calls you and tells you they are from Microsoft, they are lying.

[cinemaipswich]

About 18 years ago, my friend got a call from MS, and they told her to download a "help desk" program and it showed her all those warnings in a MS log files. She was duped into paying $20. I ask here "did you see that person controlling the cursor arrow on your computer'? I told her never do that again. My warnings were "they could blank your screen, find your logins to your online banking and raid your bank account". It still happens 18 years later.

[lerssilarsson]

Same happened here too (MS helpdesk from India ;-). Strange 'cause my computers are running only Linux distros. "Only the Paranoid Survive" -- Andrew S. Grove

[jerryfacts]

This is a terrific and very clear explanation about how to take care against Scammers.

[MeMakeSparks]

They got my MIL (84 years old) about 6 months ago. Soulless bastards 🤬 Preying on the elderly 🤬

[Klausm]

If you need to make a backup after the fact, do not boot into Windows but run an OS off of a bootable CD or USB-stick. Even better if you can, take out the HDD or SSD with your data and save the backup on another PC. There is lots of adapters available to do just that.

[PaulG.x]

I have had these calls . Sometimes I play stupid and do what they ask . It never works on my systems that are all Linux OSs . So far none have even realised I am not using windows even though I describe what I am doing in detail.

[SuprousOxide]

Also have to worry about other machines on your network. If they get their foot into one machine on the network they maybe be able to access other machines, depending on security settings. This includes routers

[fabianmckenna]

A few years back, my wife had a call from a "Microsoft support centre " to check on our computer

She was surprised but chatted as the "expert" explained that he could fix it but only after she had allowed him to install some software.
Agreeing to this, he told my wife to switch on the computer after which he would use the software to sort out our problem.

"But our computer is broken"

"Yes madam, but i will fix it, please be switching it on."

"But you already have our computer as my husband dropped it off at your shop this morning. "

[batman]

I always thank them first for helping me out of the millions of MS users; and then I tell them to eff off.

[mikepanchaud]

All agreed. You say don't trust anyone that calls you. But apparently if you seach google for Microsofts support number, it could lead to a scam call centre. There are numerous examples of scam baiters on YouTube that have got the 'support ' number from Google. Sad but true.