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Post by bargemast on Sept 13, 2018 15:24:17 GMT
While busy preparing a posting about tugs, I heard and saw a message on my screen to say that my computer was blocked, and that supposedly all my mails, banking details etc would be visible to anyone. To cure this, I would have to call a phone number. I haven't done that, as it looks to me like a hacker has used my laptop as an easy means to release me of my last few euros. What I've done is switching the bloody thing off, and even removed it's battery. When I tried an hour later I received the messages again, my sledge hammer is looking at me, ready to jump into a final action to teach this laptop a lesson it will never forget, but that'll open a new problem, I can't afford to replace this nerve wracking machine. If anyone has a good tip, I would be very happy if that would make the machine work again for a bit longer. Thanks in advance for reading this message, and hopefully coming up with a solution.
Peter.
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Post by naughtyfox on Sept 13, 2018 15:29:50 GMT
How about stopping the connection to the Internet, cleaning your computer with an anti-virus programme whilst it's off-line? Anti-virus programme can be handed to your computer via a memory stick.
Messages like this can come from using an unsecure/public WiFi such as the WiFi Marston pubs (in the UK) offer to their customers for free.
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Post by naughtyfox on Sept 13, 2018 15:33:08 GMT
Also, in future, as I have said here on TB before, it's not a bad idea to wipe your browsing history / cookies frequently. Especially if you have been doing on-line banking / Ebay / using your credit card, etc. Clear it all in case your computers does get hacked, then there's less for the hijackers to grab.
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Post by bargemast on Sept 13, 2018 16:07:17 GMT
Thanks for your reaction Ross, I'm absutely useless with these gadgets, all I can tell you is that my laptop only works because of the signal it receives from my phone. I don't have anything on a memory stick to use off-line. If I don't find an easy (for me) solution to cure this, which probably doesn't exist, I will try to find a repair place not too far away, that doesn't rip me off.
Peter.
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Post by quaysider on Sept 13, 2018 16:20:39 GMT
As foxy has already said, you can load it up Offline (ie don't let your phone connect to it and run a virus scan. ideally, ask someone WITH a USB stick to download something like MALWAREBYTES ( go to www.malwarebytes.com and select the free download option). it's about a 78mb file. If you can't get someone else to go online and use a usb stick, you might have to let the laptop connect to the internet and do it yourself - When downloaded, run the mb3-setup.exe file and then follow the instructions.... removing anything it flags up. Depending on what antivirus software you have on it, you could also install the free avast program from www.avast.com - same again... do the free version and scan it. Good luck. avoid the sledge hammer just yet!
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Post by naughtyfox on Sept 13, 2018 16:36:08 GMT
I don't have anything on a memory stick to use off-line. Some kind soul on TB could do this for you? Load an anti-virus programme onto a memory stick, and pop it in the post to you. Post takes a few days, of course. Do you not have any friends nearby who could do this, and just walk round with the memory stick plus anti-virus programme? I don't know if programmes still come on CDs any more - or by DVD disk. I don't know anything about computers.
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Post by bargemast on Sept 13, 2018 16:39:50 GMT
Thanks for your helpful comment quaysider, I'll will try not to handle the sledge hammer as of yet, although the thought is tempting. I have the free version of avast on my laptop, and do their regular scanning cycle, but that hasn't been enough to save me from this problem. I'm afraid that I can't get online to cure this, as the laptop is blocked with the message that it's blocked until I phone the listed number, of which I'm pretty sure that that's another scam. The only people I'm having regular contact with here in town, are retired bargees like me, and it may be hard to believe, but they are even worse with computers than I am.
Peter.
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Post by naughtyfox on Sept 13, 2018 16:48:53 GMT
Quick think from me: 1. If nothing else, we could get a USB/memory stick to you by post with an anti-virus programme on it, Pirkko's son and my son know about computers - of course, that'll take a week. 2. You could post your laptop to us and either of those two kids could run through it - but then, there could be an awful lot of personal info on it. And postage expensive. And it will arrive broken. 3. TB members to chip in and buy you a new computer 4. Take it to a local computer shop... and... actually, I now have an idea. Hold on whilst I go to look....
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 16:51:32 GMT
I would do everything quaysider says π
Still getting things after a couple of runs of malware bytes then itβs time to format
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Post by bargemast on Sept 13, 2018 17:28:47 GMT
I would do everything quaysider says π Still getting things after a couple of runs of malware bytes then itβs time to format I followed up his advise, didn't use the sledge hammer Managed to do an Avast smart scan off-line, and that seems to have cured the problem for the time being. Avast is probably not to keen on me only using their free service, but as that is (for the time being) as much as I can afford, that will have to do. Hope that this cure will be efficient for a while. Thanks to all for the helpful comments. Peter.
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Post by thebfg on Sept 13, 2018 23:10:47 GMT
I'm too late I sèe but if you turn it back on the page with the virus on will probaly not be there.
if check your program files and see if anything has been installed recently.
my boy has a habit of downloading stuff which puts load so viruses on, I have to routinely remove programs.
saying that he is more tech savvy tham I am.
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Post by rockdodger on Sept 14, 2018 1:10:21 GMT
I would do everything quaysider says π Still getting things after a couple of runs of malware bytes then itβs time to format Avast is probably not to keen on me only using their free service, but as that is (for the time being) as much as I can afford, that will have to do. I would'nt worry too much about that, I suspect quite a lot of people throughout the world do the same.ππ
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Post by naughtyfox on Sept 14, 2018 4:14:50 GMT
if check your program files and see if anything has been installed recently. Yep. Always good to have a run through and a clean-up.
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Post by patty on Sept 14, 2018 12:48:17 GMT
Ah so this is the thread I didn't see..all read now
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Post by twbm2 on Sept 14, 2018 15:37:23 GMT
Forgive me if I'm insulting your intelligence but ....
Don't ever ever click on any links on emails to you from sources you don't recognise, and for any that purport to be from a bank or similar, read the email address very carefully to see if it looks genuine. Watch out for things like 'replies@natwest.zt.com' (I've made this up, but my point is natwest.com would be more likely and can be verified on their contacts page). There's a scam based on a tax rebate email from HMRC doing the rounds at the moment that's a good example. As a rule of thumb, anything that asks for passwords or similar secret details or just says 'click here' is probably bent.
A cautious approach to such matters will help stop you inadvertently downloading the malicious software.
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