There is a Windows 10 scam that will come through your email and attack your computer
The Windows 10 scam is a small trick that can do some big damage to your computer. This ransomware comes in the form of an email that seems to be from Windows. The email claims that you can update to Windows 10 for free. Once the virus has infected your computer and the hacker has control, you will be asked to pay a fee to get control back of your computer. This scam came at the perfect time, as the Windows 10 update just dropped. Here are some details about this scam, what you can do to protect yourself, and tips for getting control if your computer has been taken over by a hacker.
The first thing to keep in mind is that for the time being, Microsoft is NOT sending out upgrades by email. This Window’s 10 scam just makes it seem like Microsoft is allowing to upgrade your computer for free. Microsoft is currently only updating customers with Windows 7 and 8 by sending a notification directly to the user’s desktop. Another thing to keep in mind is the pitfalls of ransomware. Just because the hacker says they will turn your computer back over to you after paying the fee, does not mean it is true. Never pay the fee that hackers are requesting – contact and IT professional immediately.
If you haven’t gotten this email yet, but want to keep your computer safe, here are a few tips we read in an article by Clark Howard about the Windows 10 scam, that we agree with.
- When you’re on public Wi-Fi, don’t access any of your financial institutions or do any kind of bank transaction
- When you’re using Wi-Fi at a hotel, make sure you are using the real connection, not a fake one created by hackers to steal your information
- Keep browsers, applications, and plugins up to date with the latest security patches and updates
- For basic protection use anti-virus and anti-malware software – and keep it up to date.
These are just some basic ways to keep your computer safe from viruses, and the Windows 10 scam. To read the article the trueITpros team took a look at this morning, check it out here. For questions about keeping your computer safe, contact the professionals at trueITpros at 678-534-8776 today.