Commentary by Feras Mash
How many times have you heard of people getting calls from tech companies like Microsoft and Apple, telling them they have a virus or security issue with their computers, and they need to gain access remotely in order to “fix it?”
Ten times out of 10, those calls are nothing but good, old telemarketing spam and scams that either want to sell you services or products you don’t need, or they’re actual malicious hackers and thieves that want access to your information.
When a customer calls me or comes to my service center about this, I always remind him or her that no company out there knows anything about your computer state and never will call you about it.
If you are one of the unlucky that answers such a call, never respond or give the caller any level of access to your computer or personal information. If someone actually did gain access, then shut everything off and take your computer to an expert for a full scan and removal of any spyware or malicious-installed software, such as remote controls.
Always be mindful of who’s calling and why, and then simultaneously ask yourself: Why would Apple or Microsoft call me about my computer when I don’t have any problems and I did not contact them?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Feras Mash is the owner of Computer Troubleshooters of Carmel and a contributing columnist to Current Publishing. For more, write him at [email protected].
