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The Unstoppable 'Tech Support' Scam
Barence writes "A pernicious new type of scam is targeting British computer owners, reports PC Pro. The con is both fiendishly clever and ridiculously simple. The fraudster cold-calls the customer and tells them that Microsoft has detected a virus on their PC, then invites them to download a piece of remote-assistance software. No doubt reassured by the lines of indecipherable code flitting across their screen, the caller assures the customer they can make the virus vanish – but first, of course, they want payment. £185 to be precise. The spoof site behind the scam is approved by McAfee's Site Advisor and bears Microsoft logos, something which both companies have failed to act upon. Meanwhile, an assortment of British regulators have said there is nothing they can do to stop it."
...and your refrigerator is running down the street to catch him. For help, please punch the monkey.
P.S. Turn in your brain for a better model.
It's like the one where some dubious company persuades you to install some new version of their operating system claiming that it's super fast and totally secure, etc. etc. and then after six months your machine crawls to a halt unless you give them more money for the next version which is faster, more secure, etc. etc.
Oh wait...
Once I was a four stone apology. Now I am two separate gorillas.
Yeah. What morally responsible individual would ruin the good name of Microsoft?
Well, I've been doing the more brains than money thing for quite a while and I'd like to try it the other way around just to see what all the hype is about. There are so many of those people out there I figure they must be on to something.
I'm not sure, but I think you just called Microsoft's development staff "morally irresponsible." That's not very nice. ;)
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The message I get from all this is that computers really aren't ready for prime time. They're more like automobiles from the first decade of the 1900s.
The message I get is that users really aren't ready for prime time. They're more like prehistoric monkeys.
You actually get to talk to a person on the phone?
Sacamer: Hi this is M$, we have detected a virus on your PC.
Callie: Really? What version of winblows am I using right now?
Scamer: Windows XP.
Callie: Try again there buddy, I use Linux. (click)
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" --Benjamin Franklin
So, what you're saying is that we need scammers to scam people to protect them scammers?
I gotta better idea. Why don't we just start telling everyone that they can rid their PCs of viruses and malware if they scrub it in the bathtub with the power on?
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Whilst I am going to have to flog myself for XKCD linking...
WE RUN LINUX!
Lots and lots of people. People shop at Walmart, for crying out loud.
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
The government-run schools in the USA are designed to be indoctrination stations and they function brilliantly. They produce a steady stream of soldiers and criminals in addition to undesirables like journalists and human rights lawyers. Meanwhile, those who know utilize private tutors, home schooling, and/or private schooling so that their children receive an education in using their minds.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
If you have never heard of Tom Mabe and his response to telemarketers, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdoogjic4I
Rejoice in your insanity, there really is no other way
Scammer: Microsoft detected a virus on your PC.
Callie: OMG, Microsoft ssh'd to my box, guessed a login name and password, and then escalated from that user's privileges to the point where they had read access to everything, thereby allowing them to scan my whole filesystem hierarchy for viruses?
Scammer: Yep.
Callie: Holy crap, that means I'm compromised! How do I close the hole that Microsoft used?
Scammer: Download this program, chmod +x it, and sudo run it.
Callie: Ok!
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
would be better understood by the minions using PCs if the message said. "Oops, I just pooped in my hard drive".