It's going to happen. It's happened to thousands and it must be working with someone or they wouldn't keep calling. You're going to get a call in the evening saying:
"Good evening. This is [insert American-sounding name with Indian accent] from Microsoft and I am calling to inform you that your computer has viruses. I can help you fix this. Would you please open Internet Explorer and enter [insert location here] so I can look at your computer and fix things for you."
If you go along with this, the "Microsoft" tech will assume control of your computer and start the shell game. He will show you all the errors in your event log. You may not know you have an event log, but you do. And it will have errors. They all do.
He will "run some diagnostics" and sadly report that your problems are beyond the scope of a free repair. If you just give him your credit card, he'll charge you $129 and fix all your problems.
What he'll really do is set your computer up so he can get into it whenever he wants so he can use it for illegal purposes and leave you holding the bag. He'll also install a bunch of malware that will keep your computer logging into his sites so he knows when your computer is on. And he will probably fix your computer so any Google or Yahoo search will only go to places he wants you to go. Trust me, you don't really want to go there.
The first time I was called, I had company and just hung up. But the second was quite interesting. The conversation went something like this:
"This is Bill from Microsoft and I am calling to inform you that your computer has viruses. I can help you fix this. Would you please open Internet Explorer and enter [insert location here] so I can look at your computer and fix things for you."
Me: "That's strange. I haven't turned my laptop on for months. Mostly I just use the computer at work."
Bill: "No problem. Microsoft can detect problems in computers that aren't on."
Me: "Even when they aren't connected to the Internet and are in a case in my closet?"
Bill: "Absolutely. Microsoft can look inside any computer anywhere."
Unfortunately, at this point I lost it and started laughing. Bill figured out he wasn't getting a sale and hung up.
A friend told "Bill" (or whatever his name was) that he had Ubuntu and wondered how Microsoft could get into a Linux computer. Bill assured him that Microsoft could find problems in any computer and fix them.
Have a good time playing with these clowns if you care to. The longer you can amuse yourself, the less time he has to infect someone else. But for heaven's sake don't open a browser, or let him near your computer. For him it's a numbers game. If he calls 100 people in a night he can find 2-3 saps to infect. Most people are too embarrassed to report this kind of thing. If you do fall for one of these ploys, don't be too embarrassed to report it.
If you've been flummoxed, first call your credit card company and report it. Even if some time has passed, call. You might not get your money back, but if a number of people complain, the bank has tools to prevent the criminal from using the same account to get the next victim's money. Next, file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov/. Incidentally, you can report that a friend, relative or neighbor has been defrauded. It doesn't have to be you. The FBI investigates the issues that get the most complaints, so be sure to complain.
Just in case I haven't been absolutely clear, nowhere above does "Microsoft" refer to the well-known company in Redmond, Washington. Maybe it isn't a crime to impersonate a company if your accent is strong enough and you don't say it quite correctly. Just be aware of three things:
1. The real Microsoft does NOT call people to inform them their computers have any kind of problem. They will help with some issues, but you have to call them. For almost all issues they will direct you to the manufacturer of the computer.
2. The only website that a real Microsoft tech will direct you to for the purpose of taking over your desktop is "support.microsoft.com/easyassist" If the site isn't Microsoft, neither is the tech.
3. The real Microsoft does NOT have monitoring equipment that would allow them to match a computer with your phone number, unless you have had a specific problem and reported it to Microsoft either by phone, email or chat and have specifically given the information to them. Otherwise, they have no idea who you are or how to contact you.
Visit the CIPCUG user group website for the best self-help resource in the county.
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