Internet Security Warning

[wayupnorth]

For the past couple of weeks a red screen takes over my computer with this warning wanting me to call Microsoft Support at a number different from Microsoft's. Microsoft confirmed it was a scam and wanted me to buy a yearly subscription for them to come into my computer remotely and fix it, but I felt the price was ridiculous. I can close the screen by Ctl-Alt-Del, sign out and sign back in fine. But then a few days to a week later, it comes back, Anyone else have this happen? I just dont have a clue how to fix this.

 

[DADoES]

 
You have a malware infection.  Sounds like you're not knowing about how to run malware and antivirus scans so you probably should take the computer to a repair service or get a knowledgeable friend involved.

Microsoft wants a year subscription for remote repair??  Never heard of that.

 

[wayupnorth]

I have Malware bytes and McAfee and they are set to run automatically.

 

[rp2813]

I got rid of McAfee a long time ago as it was causing too many problems (that was back in the XP days).  I've been using Sophos for a while now and so far so good.

 

Either the bug your system has caught knows how to hide from your virus scans, or you may need to run an update on your anti-virus software. 

 

[washman]

Or system restore if you have restore points created.

 

[launderess]

Your computer is infected with malware.

You've either downloaded something or went someplace that was infected and now your computer must be "scrubbed".

Malware is getting very good at avoiding the most common antivirus and other protections. But if you haven't run a security scan recently, it is now time you should.

Microsoft Defender also has a decent enough malware detector you download and execute.

In any event your system is compromised and I'd make sure no personal information has been gathered and sent or at least just sniffed out.

Malware often disables certain programs and or corrupts files. So you may have to resort to using a backed up previous version of system or individual files to restore.

It is strongly recommended that if you do any sort of online banking or bill pay that all passwords be changed at once. Indeed you should change any passwords used just to be on safe side.
[this post was last edited: 11/30/2017-18:22]

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[wayupnorth]

I did a manual full scan with Malwarebytes and another thru McAfee and one was found since the last auto scan they do automatically last week and quarantined it. Funny, it has happened a few times just reading Yahoo news. Hopefully, I got it.

 

[rp2813]

Google's news isn't saturated with sponsored material like Yahoo's.  I stopped reading Yahoo's news long ago.  It was too annoying, as is pretty much anything Yahoo offers anymore.  Maybe you got hit by one of Yahoo's numerous hack attacks.  They've been a sloppy bunch over there for quite some time now.

 

[launderess]

Malwarebytes and or McAfee Aren't Perfect

Indeed no anti virus/malware software catches everything. Have MB along with two other antivirus/malware and still things are picked up by Windows Defender and Microsoft's downloadable malware detector.

The people who make up these things know very well what the popular software is to detect, and create bugs that can either avoid detection and or once in a system shut down certain software to prevent it from noticing.

That huge Equifax hack occurred because among other things the bug wasn't detected and or responded to promptly.

The MS malware detector listed above is free and works rather well, so there isn't any reason not to at least run it as part of routine system check.

System restore:

That may or may not solve a problem depending upon the nature of "bug". If the thing is not removed it simply will reinstall itself when/each time system is rebooted.

 

[vacerator]

true, virus software

can only clean known about viruses.
I use Norton, and it blocked a dangerous high level attack on Yahoo news yesterday or Wednesday. Then a Microsoft auto update that evening.
I do a periodic disc cleaning to remove temporary unneeded files. Some of these pop ups are scams.

 

[wayupnorth]

When I contacted Microsoft, they sent me the malicious software removal tool. I ran the scan and it found nothing on my computer. So far, no red screen popped up.

 

[DADoES]

 
A Malicious Software Removal tool is almost always included in the monthly batch of MS Win updates.  It presumably does a scan upon installation, but I've also read that it runs at the first reboot after an update installation so it's a good idea to reboot even if not prompted to do so.

 

[vacerator]

Yes Glenn,

I've noticed it run at random, or the site I am on triggers it to. A box appears saying it is safe.

 

[pumper]

The scam is they say they're Microsoft and you need to buy this product to fix it. They are actually geeks in the basement of the Kremlin looking for gullible Americans. It's a multi-million dollar business for them as we have so many gullible people in this country.