By: Jerdon Kiesman

5-15-2021

This week at Computer Doctor, we’ve noticed yet another uptick in scams to our customers. As usual, these scams are very deceptive and it’s difficult to determine whether it’s real or a scam until it’s far too late. Despite the hundreds of times we’ve resolved these kinds of infections, we continue to see new variations every time. The new go-to tactic for scammers seems to be fraud (ironically). Several folks last week had received calls or emails that there was an unauthorized transaction on their credit card or Amazon account and before long, they’re remotely connected to Timbuktu watching their passwords, banking info and personal info dart around the screen. The scariest detail yet is that hackers are now able to modify the HTML content of your online banking and change the names of transactions. This means that an innocent $20 withdrawal you’ve long since forgotten about now appears to be a $750 purchase from Amazon that gets your attention fast.

While this all sounds scary- there are a few very methods of protection you can incorporate today.

Antivirus

All of our antivirus options include HIPS (Host intrusion prevention systems) that detect suspicious and unusual activity- even from humans- and notify you immediately. Of course no anti virus is perfect, but these are the best in the industry.

Secure Your Accounts

After a hack, your accounts are practically wide open. Your computer stores dozens, even hundreds of online account passwords. After a hack, those passwords are most likely stolen and floating around the web. The chances of an individual hacker wanting your account passwords are slim, but they will sell them to the highest bidder in no time. Before long, your password can appear in data leaks universally. After thoroughly cleaning your computer, Computer Doctor will provide you with a paper copy of all of the passwords involved in the hack, so you can change them to new and secure passwords at home.

Be Safe Online

This last one goes beyond the cold call scams and is a tip to protect you from background hacking you may not even know has occurred. One of the most overlooked points of a data leak is the data you put out yourself. How often have you seen the seemingly innocent posts that say things like “who still remembers their first car?”, “Who remembers the street they grew up on?” “Who still remembers the name of their childhood best friend?”. Though these seem innocent, some readers may now have noticed that these are the answers to some of the most common security questions. With these answers, hackers can reset your password and access anything in your online accounts. Steer clear of these posts to be safe online.

If you have been the victim of a scam recently, or even in the past- threats may still be lingering. Call us today to set up a thorough cleaning and virus protection installation.

Computer Doctor of Maine (207) 826-7019