too little, too late. As for Yahoo… words fail me! Cold calling and telephone scams
This is a type of telephone fraud, where scammers will call you claiming to be from the help desk of a well-known IT firm, such as Microsoft or Windows, a well-known bank or even BT. They’ll tell you that your computer has a virus and will try to charge you to upload ‘anti-virus software’. This turns out to be spyware, which is used to get hold of your personal details. Never respond to an unsolicited phone call from someone claiming that your computer has a virus. If you receive a call like this, hang up straight away. Never give them remote access to your computer, don’t give them any passwords and never pay them any money! Website pop-up of doom!
So there you are, browsing away, looking for some winter sun or a cheap electricity deal, and up comes a window (in red!) saying words to the effect that your computer is badly infected and will blow up if you don’t call the number on the screen. Don’t call the number! Don’t click anything else – just shut your computer down and restart it. With
any luck, it’ll be fine afterwards. The malicious messages are embedded into on-screen adverts and are completely random – you were just unlucky to catch one. Email fraud (phishing)
Yes, they are still about, from any number of ‘genuine’ sources such as banks, building societies, couriers and large online retailers including Amazon and John Lewis. You get an email with an attachment that you were not expecting, but that is perfectly plausible. Always be suspicious! Similarly, an email with a link to ‘view’ a document or invoice? Just don’t. This is just spam email and you should delete it. It doesn’t mean that your email has been hacked, simply that your email address has been harvested by some virus on somebody else’s computer and you can expect to get more in the future. Exercise caution! As always, if in doubt, DON’T – but you know where to come if you need help. Coming up next month… Microsoft Office, Open Office, WPS Office, LibreOffice and Google Apps computing-mp.co.uk
Gas and oil appliance servicing, repair and installation plus all aspects of general plumbing Local, friendly, qualified and accredited professional
Please call Patrick O’Loughlin on
07590 121599 or 01935 815613 Phelps Heating Solutions Ltd, 57 Granville Way, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4AT
phelpsgas@yahoo.com
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