"Some pop-ups, says hackers are stealing information, spam, etc." - Win7 64-bit

[VirtualLarry]

I got a client that called me the other day. Well, indirectly. Got reported to me some sort of thing popping up, saying that their information was being stolen, etc. Supposedly, had a number to call, and they called it (Why???), and the party on the other end wanted $200 to "fix" the issue.

Now, ordinarily, I would assume that this is a variant of the "Indian tech-support scam".

But this user also used to have some sort of Verizon 24/7 support program installed on their PC, that got installed when they signed up for FIOS.

So, I'm only 99% sure that this is a scam pop-up, and 1% of me wonders if this is somehow Verizon's dumb software popping up.

I haven't had a chance to physically examine the machine yet. I assume that I'll be able to figure out if it's the Verizon software or not. They're supposed to call me back in the next few days. I told them that I'd reformat their PC for them, for a nominal fee.

Hopefully, they'll be interested in upgrading to Windows 10 + SSD too, if I can talk them into it.

Anyone heard or seen of this? Is the "Indian tech-support scam" morphing from cold-calls, to online malware that tells you to call a number?

 

[cytg111]

A popup that tells me I have a virus or my mothers maiden name has been stolen, call this numer to get it back ASAP? Seen that a million times, is not malware, is HTML , worst case cross site.
Now if you call that number and is tricked into visiting some other site... if your client is gullible this far then trouble will surely ensure.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's a good point. I don't know at this point if it was just a browser pop-up, or a system-level (application window) pop-up.

Now I seem to recall them saying that their system was "locked", so that suggests a system-level pop-up, and malicious ransomware of sorts.

I tend to be the type to say "nuke it from orbit", rather than "surgical strike". (It's not a business computer, just a facebook, etc., box.)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Also, in your opinion, do you think Windows 10's built-in defenses and updates would help prevent this sort of problem in the future, more so than just installing Windows 7 64-bit again, and possibly MSE?

 

[Billb2]

Ignore it, close the tab and move on..........

 

[cytg111]

I think Windows is the, by far, most targetted platform in existence. I dont think any level of software security will secure it for real.
Educate the usergroup and run a 80% security solution as you suggest : would be my reccomendation (yes, go win10, they're problary not privacy nuts as I am...).

 

[PliotronX]

Those Indian Tech Supporth guys are fun to mess with if you ever have time. We almost convinced one to let us remote onto their computer when they called the office.

 

[John Connor]

Also, in your opinion, do you think Windows 10's built-in defenses and updates would help prevent this sort of problem in the future, more so than just installing Windows 7 64-bit again, and possibly MSE?

No. It's more than likely script driven on a website. I would at least use Sandboxie for the browser. They have a forum. Read about it and learn how to use it.