Windows Microsoft Scam

Discussion in 'Tech Support' started by freeclout, 24 Dec 2012.

  1. yougotkicked

    yougotkicked A.K.A. YGKtech

    Joined:
    3 Jan 2010
    Posts:
    251
    Likes Received:
    9
    O.K. Bank dealings aside, I don't think the PC side of things is being properly handled.

    Odds are her PC just got slapped with a full rootkit suite, if you aren't familiar a rootkit is a virus that gets installed in your hard drives master boot record. No amount of anti-virus software is going to do the job as well as a complete re-format and re-install will.

    You won't need to buy a new HDD, but you will need to nuke all the data on it. To get rid of the rootkit you need to wipe the MBR, which a normal windows install won't do: you need to manually delete every partition on the drive, then re-install windows.

    have her bring the computer to a local tech shop, possibly phone you while talking to them, and they should be able to handle it, if they don't know what a rootkit is, take it to a different shop.

    and in case it hasn't been made clear to her yet, take the damn computer off the internet, physically remove the ethernet cable. They were able to install and run software remotely on the computer, they can basically do anything they want to it now.

    also be sure she changes any passwords (and usernames if possible) used on that computer since it happened, not just email.

    Hope this all gets sorted.
     

Share This Page