I fell for a rip-off and my laptop or computer could have a virus, what really should I do?

Q: I clicked on a backlink in what appeared to be a legit internet site and immediately a Trojan horse pop-up arrived up on the display. I tried out to near down and again out, which it would not allow me do so. There was a pop-up from Microsoft, with a phone range to connect with, advising that I wanted to get in touch with them to deal with the challenge.

I produced the get in touch with and got someone to respond to. I asked them how I knew he was with Microsoft and he advised me his organization was contracted by Microsoft and he was a customer service agent. He then took handle of my display screen and went by way of various steps to supposedly remove the virus. He stated he now experienced to send out me to one more company to install application at a price tag of $244 to acquire care of the issue and make certain that hackers could not get into the computer in the potential.

I watched the full two hours what they ended up executing with my monitor even though installing. Once concluded, they mentioned the virus was taken care of and the software was installed, together with other computer software ABD to consider care of unwelcome pop-up advertisements.

The much more I imagined of this, I experience it was a fraud, and I must not have known as the amount provided for Microsoft. My question for you is how must I have proceeded to get rid of the virus?

— Barry Kaltenbaugh

A: Yes, I strongly suspect you ended up the sufferer of a rip-off. The excellent information is that in most cases like this the personal computer is under no circumstances in fact contaminated. But I even now endorse that you immediately operate a full scan on the computer working with an antivirus plan. If your antivirus application doesn’t involve anti-malware tools you’ll want to install an anti-malware software and operate a scan with that, too. The supply of that pop-up warning of a virus is probably malware residing on that web site.

If this really should materialize all over again, the first detail to do is the operate a deep scan with your antivirus/anti-malware program.

Under no circumstances simply call a quantity or simply click on a link offered in a pop-up. If you want to reach Microsoft, for instance, get to out independently. Seem up the company’s selection or go to their internet site immediately.

And except you’ve attained guidance this way, never permit everyone to consider distant command of your laptop.

Q: Lately I was asked by the College of Washington to attest for my vaccination standing and was not able to do so simply because at the vital issue the site did not answer to my attempts to enter the dates of my vaccinations. I notified the UW tech individuals and their reaction was that I should upgrade my running program and/or upgrade some other application on my iMac.  

I have upgraded to Catalina. It solved my speedy difficulty but now I have another one which looks to me to be considerably even worse. All my Microsoft apps now include things like the message: “Subscription Needed to Edit and Preserve. Start your free of charge one-thirty day period trial of Microsoft 365 or sign in to activate an existing membership.”

I pressed the “activate” button soon after this information and seemed to be making some progress, but that turned out to be an illusion. I look to be in a non-productive loop. The plan requested me to download some documents and I (probably mistakenly) did so, then gave up.

What is likely on below? Have I stumbled into a scam? In any circumstance, how can I restore my former Microsoft company?

— Hugh Fowler

A: Initial, if you’re possessing trouble entering details on a web-site the offender is almost never the functioning program. It is commonly the website browser, so my initially recommendation is usually to just consider a unique browser. 

It appears like you did a “clean” set up of Catalina. The good detail about that is that you have gotten rid of all the clutter still left behind from your previous computing. The bad thing about it is that your packages and information are also wiped out by a clear set up.

If you have a subscription to Microsoft 365 you can regain accessibility to all those applications by heading to www.workplace.com and signing in. I’m concerned, although, that your information is absent. I hope you had it backed up.