Avoiding Computer Attacks

Several residents have been plagued recently by malware that attacked their computers.  They received messages on their computer, allegedly from Apple or Microsoft or their email service complete with their logos, that their computer was infected with malware but that Apple (or Microsoft) would help them fix the problems.  They were told to call a number. 

When they responded, they were asked for a credit card number.  Feeling panic and thinking this was a bona fide message from a reputable company, they provided one.  Only later did they get suspicious and call their credit card companies to cancel their account and set up a new one.  One had already been charged $249.99 but was able to close the account.

Their suspicions were correct.  These are NOT bona fide messages from Apple, Microsoft, or any other company.  They are a SCAM!  Do not fall for them.

What can you do to avoid such problems? 

Nine Steps For Avoiding Computer Attacks

1. If you buy a new computer, consider buying their personal support or care package which allows you to call a professional computer helper whenever you have a problem with it, including a virus or malware.
2. Do NOT contact or call ANYONE who puts messages on your computer saying you have malware or other problems and can help you solve them.  Do not talk to anyone calling on the phone saying something similar, even if they say they are from Microsoft, Apple, or whoever.   They are not.  NEVER give them your credit card number.

3. When you get an email from an unknown person, do NOT open any attachments or click on any links in it.  Consider not opening it.

4.  Even if you get an email from someone you know with a link      or attachment, be careful. 

• IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT REPLY TO THAT MESSAGE.               
• Call or email your friend directly to ask if he or she sent you an email recently with an attachment.                               
• If not, delete the message.  It is quite possible that your friend has been hacked, his/her contacts list has been taken over and is being used nefariously by the hacker to infect other computers including yours, if you click on such a link or attachment.                                                             
• Suspicious clues:                                                                                                                                                                                                    o   the message doesn’t sound like your friend,

                 o   it doesn’t say what they’re sending or anything else,

                 o   or you haven’t heard from them in a long time.

5.  Use different passwords to lock your computer, your email and other accounts.  Change those passwords regularly.

6.  Use strong passwords, i.e., longer ones with a mixture of lower case and CAPS letters, numbers, symbols, that aren’t words or names found in dictionaries. 

7.  Record your passwords in a safe place where you can find them but isn’t obvious to someone else.  

8.  Get up-to-date antivirus software on your computer and scan your computer with it regularly. 

• Click here to see PC Magazine’s Review of the best commercial anti-virus programs for PCs.                                      
• Click here for reviews of the top 10 anti-virus programs for Macs.

9.  Get anti-malware software on your computer.

Useful anti-malware links for Macs:

o   Click here for free Anti-malware software you can download for the Mac.

o   Click here for a helpful website that explains what to do if you get pop ups on your computer saying you have malware or a virus.

o   Click here for more recent (and more technical) information on computer malware. 

Anti-malware For PCs:

o   Glary Utilities is a powerful and easy to use set of system tools to fix, speed up, maintain, and protect your PC.  Click here to download it.   

You may want to ask a knowledgeable family member, friend, professional, or member of the computer committee to help, especially with steps 8 and 9.