stevefrommaple ridge

Q: I gave remote access to a scam.  What should I do?

I was on my computer when I got a message saying my computer had a virus.  I couldn't use the mouse, or log out.  My system was frozen.  I was advised to call the number on the screen.  When I did I gave them remote access.  I knew fairly quickly that it was a scam but they did have remote access for a few minutes.  Should I be worried?  The scam was Aspire IT Support.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Mar 9, 2016 12:21 PM

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Q: I gave remote access to a scam.  What should I do?

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  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Mar 9, 2016 1:34 PM in response to stevefrommaple ridge
    Level 10 (271,708 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 9, 2016 1:34 PM in response to stevefrommaple ridge

    Completely erase your disk drive and re-partition it. Reinstall a fresh copy of OS X. Change all your passwords. Report this to your banks and credit card companies. You may just wish to have them re-issue new credit cards.

     

    A good rule to follow: If you don't know what is at the other end of a web link, then don't click on it. There are no true viruses affecting a Mac provided you keep OS X up to date meaning you should upgrade to El Capitan to protect against the latest RansomWare - KeRanger.

     

    Identifying fraudulent "phishing" email

    Beware of Browser Pop-Up Tech Support, Phishing Scams


    Remove Browser Pop-up Problems

     

         Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware Detection & Removal Software for

         Apple Macintosh Computers

         Adblock Plus 1.8.9, GlimmerBlocker, or AdBlock

         Remove adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac

         How to remove the FlashMall adware from OS X

         Stop pop-up ads and adware in Safari - Apple Support

         DetectX 2.11


    Helpful Links Regarding Malware Problems

     

    Open Safari, select Preferences from the Safari menu. Click on Extensions icon in the toolbar. Disable all Extensions. If this stops your problem, then re-enable them one by one until the problem returns. Now remove that extension as it is causing the problem.

     

    The following comes from user stevejobsfan0123. I have made minor changes to adapt to this presentation.

     

    Fix Some Browser Pop-ups That Take Over Safari.

     

    Common pop-ups include a message saying the government has seized your computer and you must pay to have it released (often called "Moneypak"), or a phony message saying that your computer has been infected, and you need to call a tech support number (sometimes claiming to be Apple) to get it resolved. First, understand that these pop-ups are not caused by a virus and your computer has not been affected. This "hijack" is limited to your web browser. Also understand that these messages are scams, so do not pay any money, call the listed number, or provide any personal information. This article will outline the solution to dismiss the pop-up.

     

    Quit Safari

     

    Usually, these pop-ups will not go away by either clicking "OK" or "Cancel." Furthermore, several menus in the menu bar may become disabled and show in gray, including the option to quit Safari. You will likely have to force quit Safari. To do this, press Command + option + esc, select Safari, and press Force Quit.

     

    Relaunch Safari

     

    If you relaunch Safari, the page will reopen. To prevent this from happening, hold down the 'Shift' key while opening Safari. This will prevent windows from the last time Safari was running from reopening.

     

    This will not work in all cases. The shift key must be held at the right time, and in some cases, even if done correctly, the window reappears. In these circumstances, after force quitting Safari, turn off Wi-Fi or disconnect Ethernet, depending on how you connect to the Internet. Then relaunch Safari normally. It will try to reload the malicious webpage, but without a connection, it won't be able to. Navigate away from that page by entering a different URL, i.e. www.apple.com, and trying to load it. Now you can reconnect to the Internet, and the page you entered will appear rather than the malicious one.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Mar 9, 2016 12:59 PM in response to stevefrommaple ridge
    Level 7 (32,244 points)
    iPad
    Mar 9, 2016 12:59 PM in response to stevefrommaple ridge

    And, if you either gave them a credit card number or have such info stored on your machine, call the bank(s) and report possible fraud.

     

    PS - oops - didn't see that first para. from Kappy......

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Mar 9, 2016 1:21 PM in response to stevefrommaple ridge
    Level 7 (21,341 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 9, 2016 1:21 PM in response to stevefrommaple ridge

    Hire John Wick to go pay them a visit.

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Mar 9, 2016 1:27 PM in response to VikingOSX
    Level 6 (8,102 points)
    Notebooks
    Mar 9, 2016 1:27 PM in response to VikingOSX

    I'd send Bryan Mills