Don't click!

In the past 3 days, I've had two people tell me they clicked on a pop-up on their computer and are now suffering the consequences.

I've said it before but I feel this needs to be repeated:

Never click on a pop-up that warns your computer has been infected and don't call the number provided in that pop-up!  NEVER.  

Don't call, don't give your credit card, don't believe what you are told IF you do call that number.  It is a scam!  If you (or someone you know) falls prey to this scam:

1) Immediately shut down the computer (don't just close the top of your laptop).  If you can't do a normal shutdown, press and hold on the start button until the computer shuts down.

2) Then call the number on the back of your credit card immediately to tell the company what you have done.They will then either close the credit card or put a note on your account to prevent further fraudulent use.

3) When you start the computer back up, it should be fine, but you might want to run your anti-virus software.

Likewise, if you see a pop-up ad offering you "cheaper insurance in the Emporia area" or something similar, do not click on it, unless you want to be barraged with all sorts of junk mail (some of which you may not want anyone else to view!) It is usually just an attempt at collecting some of your personal information.

We can't live without the internet, so we have to stay vigilant in our use of it.

Those pesky pop-ups!

"The Russians have taken over my computer. I can't get them to stop."  Well, that is what I was told by someone this morning in all seriousness (not one of you reading this email).  
The person did not click on the pop-up displaying the message about the Russians, BUT she did call the number on the pop-up.  No, No, No, Never, Never, Never.  When they began asking her for her contact information and telling her they could "fix" this problem for $200, she hung up.....thankfully.

So, what SHOULD you do if this happens to you?

1) Don't click.

2) Don't call.

3) Shut down your computer.  If it won't let you shut it down, press on the Power key/button for 2-3 seconds and that should shut it down.

4)  After a couple of minutes, restart your computer.  If the pop-up appears again, shut the computer down again.  This time, I'd let it stay shut down for a couple of hours before restarting.

5) If the issue persists and you know how to run a scan of your computer, do so.  If not, then I'd recommend calling a tech or taking in your laptop to have it looked out.

Pop-ups are not usually a serious problem; they are a nuisance.  Just remember to never, never, never click on them or call any number on them.

That pesky spam/phish!

During this past week, I've noticed an increase in the amount of "legitimate-looking" pop-ups.  John had one on his iPhone that would not let him "x" out of it; he had to shut down his phone then restart it to get rid of the popup.

I received a very "authentic-looking" text message from Verizon on my phone asking to verify some information, but the text message wasn't actually from Verizon.

The rule of thumb is ---NEVER click on links in pop-ups nor give requested information via a text message or pop-up on your phone or computer.  Never.never.ever!  If there is not a way to "x" out of a pop-up, just shut down your phone or computer by pressing and holding the power button.  Then when you restart, the pop-up should no longer appear.

When in doubt if the request is legitimate, always access the website of the company requesting the information by entering its URL in your web browser (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, etc.) That is the ONLY way you can be sure that you are dealing with the "real" company.  If they have truly requested that you update your information, that request will be on their website once you have logged in.