Tech support scammers get even slipperier
If you give control of your computer to a remote online technician, you may be in a fix instead of getting one, reports the Chicago Tribune. The Better Business Bureau is tracking a growing number of tech support scams in which users facing crashed computers give online access for repairs that do nothing more than drain their wallets.The technician typically extracts a $500 fee via credit card, scours the computer for sensitive data and inserts malware to continue snooping. Other shady tactics include placing online ads that generate fake error messages adapted to each victim's computer setup and exploiting workers at fraudulent call centers who may not even realize they are part of a scam, reports Fast Company. To protect your computer and wallet, keep operating systems patched, use security software to filter out malware, avoid browsing dodgy websites and be wary of unsolicited messages from anyone claiming to represent companies like Microsoft or Apple.
I've thought this many times: if the stupid idiots who do stupid things like take advantage of non-technical people would use their knowledge for 'good' instead of evil, it would be a wonderful world.
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