'Your PC may be infected!'

[baldrick]

I am sure this scam is not just in America - people need to grasp that the first step if they have a computer problem is to do what the experts normally do

google it - and read until it makes some sort of sense

'Your PC may be infected!' Inside the shady world of antivirus telemarketing

By Jeremy Kirk
IDG News Service | June 10, 2015


Scotty Zifka was looking for a sales job. He started one in late May at a company called EZ Tech Support, a small inbound call center in an older building in northeast Portland, Oregon.
The first day of Zifka’s unpaid training involved listening in on sales calls. But within three hours, Zifka felt something wasn’t quite right.
“Everything about it was so weird,” he recalled.


he company’s 15 agents answer calls from people who’ve seen a pop-up message saying their computer may be having problems, and advising them to call a number, which rings at the offices of EZ Tech Support.
The agents are instructed to stick to a 13-page script. They ask callers whether they have an antivirus program installed. If they do, Zifka said, callers are usually told that whatever they’re using isn’t a “full-time real spectrum virus protection program.”
But the agents have a solution: callers can purchase an antivirus program called Defender Pro Antivirus, from Bling Software.
EZ Tech Support sells a perpetual license for the program for $300. Agents also tell callers they can perform a one-time fix on their computers for them, which starts at $250. Callers can haggle for lower prices.
Those dialling in are typically in their late 30s or older. “A lot of mothers would call in and say, ‘I’m sure it’s something my son did on my computer. This has happened before’,” Zifka said. “Older gentlemen—seniors specifically—that was the most unfortunate part.”
Within 20 minutes, some callers spent up to $600 to “fix” their computers. “I was blown away by this,” he said.
EZ Tech Support’s general manager, Gavynn Wells, said the company abides by U.S. Federal Trade Commission regulations.
“We don’t tell customers that they have issues they don’t have,” Wells said in phone interview. “We are not pushing them into a corner and telling them if they don’t do business with us, their computer is going to blow up.”

continued - 'Your PC may be infected!' Inside the shady world of antivirus telemarketing | ITworld

[billy the kid]

stone the feckers.

[stroller]

I thought the first step is to download the FREE advertised program to scan the com, and then buy the upgrade which fixes the problems found?

[thaimeme]

Throw all that shit in the klong.

Problem solved.

[boloa]

Throw all that shit in the klong.

Problem solved.

Correct.

If you have a problem ask on TD.....someone on here normally knows how to fix it....and its free

[jamescollister]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

[harrybarracuda]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

You *must* apply Windows Updates and keep everything else updated too, especially Flash and Java.

[jamescollister]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

You *must* apply Windows Updates and keep everything else updated too, especially Flash and Java.

I'm a dinosaur, still on windows XP, don't think they do updates anymore.
If/when I get a new computer different story, but with the on/off or dead slow internet I only go to a few sites, e mails, CNN, BBC, here and eztv.
So have not got any bad things that I know of, could have, but not effecting the computer, don't do internet banking or things like that.

[harrybarracuda]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

You *must* apply Windows Updates and keep everything else updated too, especially Flash and Java.

I'm a dinosaur, still on windows XP, don't think they do updates anymore.
If/when I get a new computer different story, but with the on/off or dead slow internet I only go to a few sites, e mails, CNN, BBC, here and eztv.
So have not got any bad things that I know of, could have, but not effecting the computer, don't do internet banking or things like that.

Caveat Emptor.

[VocalNeal]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

You *must* apply Windows Updates and keep everything else updated too, especially Flash and Java.

I'm a dinosaur, still on windows XP, don't think they do updates anymore.
If/when I get a new computer different story, but with the on/off or dead slow internet I only go to a few sites, e mails, CNN, BBC, here and eztv.
So have not got any bad things that I know of, could have, but not effecting the computer, don't do internet banking or things like that.

Caveat Emptor.

He hasn't bought anything recently. Has he?

[harrybarracuda]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

You *must* apply Windows Updates and keep everything else updated too, especially Flash and Java.

I'm a dinosaur, still on windows XP, don't think they do updates anymore.
If/when I get a new computer different story, but with the on/off or dead slow internet I only go to a few sites, e mails, CNN, BBC, here and eztv.
So have not got any bad things that I know of, could have, but not effecting the computer, don't do internet banking or things like that.

Caveat Emptor.

He hasn't bought anything recently. Has he?

Exactly.

[bowie]

I figure about 97% of the viruses are created by the companies that sell anti-virus software. By definition - "Extortion".


use these as protection and cleanups.
malwarebytes
hitmanpro
avg


The problem with the antivirus programs is they can only find viruses that have already been discovered and cataloged.

You, as a consumer really are a sitting duck. Of course, you computer will remain safe and unaffected provided you do not connect to the internet. once you connect, all bets are off.

[harrybarracuda]

I figure about 97% of the viruses are created by the companies that sell anti-virus software. By definition - "Extortion".

I figure that most of them these days are created by organised crime or state sponsored security agencies.

[boloa]

I figure about 97% of the viruses are created by the companies that sell anti-virus software. By definition - "Extortion".

This is just a myth, urban legend and one for conspiracy theorist.

[harrybarracuda]

I figure about 97% of the viruses are created by the companies that sell anti-virus software. By definition - "Extortion".

This is just a myth, urban legend and one for conspiracy theorist.

Frankly most antivirus software is so useless these days, if they are doing it they're doing a crap job.

[Stinky]

I figure about 97% of the viruses are created by the companies that sell anti-virus software. By definition - "Extortion".

This is just a myth, urban legend and one for conspiracy theorist.

Frankly most antivirus software is so useless these days, if they are doing it they're doing a crap job.

I used Kaspersky for about ten years with very few problems I thought it was the mutz nuts, then earlier this year I logged onto a fake Kickass Torrents site and it fooled Kaspersky to the extent that it totally overwhelmed my pc, Kaspersky wasn't even able to update it was basically shut down. It made me wonder if Kaspersky has gotten slack or the hacksters had gotten smarter?

[Boon Mee]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

Not all of us cruse those dodgy porn sites, hairy...

[harrybarracuda]

I have the free AVG thing, never a problem, but don't visit dodgy sites or open e mail attachments.

Not enough these days.

Too many non-dodgy sites being hijacked by hackers.

Not all of us cruse those dodgy porn sites, hairy...

Booners are you so retarded that you can't read?

Let me put it in big letters for you:

NON-DODGY SITES.

Jaysus if brains were dynamite you'd struggle to blow your own nose.

[ltnt]

My access to hotmail is being blocked the past two days...by Mozilla it seems as their message appears and states this site is not to be trusted, "Get me out of here!" Not a decipherable message as to cause in plane English...unable to find support from Mozilla or MS as I'm using the out of date XP same as Jim.

I figure MS is trying to wheedle the rejectors of upgraded OS into a corner or else Mozilla is in cahoots with Google trying to siphon off customers to hotmail?

Either way I'm locked out of hotmail for now...don't think a virus detector would do me any good...in this case?

Anyone else having or had this problem? Any suggestions on how to clear this problem?

[boloa]

My access to hotmail is being blocked the past two days...by Mozilla

Have you tried clearing out your Cache !


1# Go to Firefox > History > Clear recent history or (if no Firefox button is shown) go to Tools > Clear recent history.
2# Under "Time range to clear", select "Everything".
3# Now, click the arrow next to Details to toggle the Details list active.
4#From the details list, check Cache and Cookies and uncheck everything else you don't want deleted ( ie saved passwords)

I tick everything apart from Active Logins

[ltnt]

^Tried it already Boloa...nothing. Thanks.

[Stinky]

I figure MS is trying to wheedle the rejectors of upgraded OS into a corner or else Mozilla is in cahoots with Google trying to siphon off customers to hotmai

Have you received mails telling you to merge your hotmail account with Outlook, hotmail is being phased out.

[boloa]

^Tried it already Boloa...nothing. Thanks.

I hardly use Firefox......change over to Opera or Google Chrome .....problem solved

[ltnt]

Have you received mails telling you to merge your hotmail account with Outlook, hotmail is being phased out.

Yes.

Whats Opera?

[harrybarracuda]

I figure MS is trying to wheedle the rejectors of upgraded OS into a corner or else Mozilla is in cahoots with Google trying to siphon off customers to hotmai

Have you received mails telling you to merge your hotmail account with Outlook, hotmail is being phased out.

Still the same account name though, so what's the difference?