Microsoft Rep trying to sell anti-hacker !! (bit of a con?)

AgedIdiot

AgedIdiot

AgedIdiot

Soldato
Joined
31 Oct 2007
Posts
2,558
Location
Gods County(Allegedly)
Decided to build a new system - basics of 3900x + 2800 + 16gb of 3600 ram etc (custom loop).

Already had a new copy of windows 10 pro (installed without a hitch) and an existing copy of Microsoft Office(Home and Student 2016)AND it was this that proved problematical!

I took office off the the old computer and then tried to install on the new but got a message to say that there was a problem and I needed to ring them (free uk number).

(I found out a bit later that all that was actually required was to log into my windows/microsoft account and then download it ! which is what I did- but not knowing this at the time I rang the number)

Spoke to Nikoli who advised , after taking over via remote access (now disabled fully I believe !) that the reason that it would not download was due to unspecified corruptions which possibly included Trojans which could enable someone to obtain my bank details etc
I was taken aback by this given that I run Kaspersky Internet security however he said that such was not a recomended program , would not stop Trojans and did not run a firewall (it has one) !!

He then showed me a summary of a test program detailing that my computerr was no more than 80% as efficient as it could be and then proceeded to run Microsoft Malicious software Tool.

Whilst waiting for this he explained that I needed their recomended anti- hacker /anti virus etc program 'Microsoft Security Essentials' - much better he said than either Norton or Kaspersky!!

I had my doubts already as I understood that the program being mentioned to me was not as good as Kaspersky or Norton AND nowhere in his talk to me did he explain how he would deal with the fact that I had not been able to download office BUT NOW he explained that if I paid £190 I could download the recommended program and run it for life with no further fee - I declined - so he began offering alternative offers to download the program!!

I had by now lost all interest and explained that I would not in any circumstances be paying anything today after which he said that if I wanted to take the risk it was up to me and he terminated the call!

As mentioned above did manage to download Office which is now working!

Did run Malicious Software Removal Tool - NOTHING at all came up (also did a Eset online scan - Nothing)

Only thing he showed me was a small program titled something like CRSS which he said was a possible Trojan (and a search on line did say that this is not unusual and caused by Microsoft itself and not to be worried about) BUT later scans using removal tool + eset found nothing!!

After thought did feel that rather than trying to help me (download fice to my pc) he was trying to flog me a product that is not as good as the one I am already running.
If anyone believes that he was trying to help me I would appreciate your advice - if I am however, correct be careful it is a CON!!
BTW I have also posted in the software section - plse would a moderator delete the software section one - my apologies!!
 
That's 10000000% a con, a very common one. I'd be backing up whatever important files you might have on there to an external source, nuking the drive and reinstalling windows.

Microsoft security essentials is what Windows built in anti-malware used to be called, there's no way someone should be charging for that product. Unfortunately this is almost certainly simply a case of a web popup that looked enough like a system box to convince you.
 
Last edited:
Zefan said:
That's 10000000% a con, a very common one. I'd be backing up whatever important files you might have on there to an external source, nuking the drive and reinstalling windows.

Microsoft security essentials is what Windows built in anti-malware used to be called, there's no way someone should be charging for that product. Unfortunately this is almost certainly simply a case of a web popup that looked enough like a system box to convince you, as it does many others.
Click to expand...
Lol how did that happen?
 
I would be seriously worried after letting someone remote control your pc. Did the screen go black at any time?

As Zefan suggested. A Windows install is highly recommended.
 
I hate to say this, but yep you were hacked but the way it has been done may not be illegal. Did you give permission to access your pc remotely? As Rannoch has asked, did the screen go black at any point? Finally did you give any bank details or have any details stored on your pc that during a black screen he could have took without you realising?
 
Hate to think that this might have been a hack!!

Did I give permission - Yes ( I assumed it was a valid request as it came up as a number after office would not install) the number I rang was I believe 02038077271.(they rang me on , according to my mobile records, on a Private Number)

Bank details - Did not provide any details at all.and no black screens

It has taken me very nearly a week to install windows and all my games so do not relish having to statr from scratch - could I do a repair and would it work.

As said immediately after I altered settings so that no remote access is allowed.

Thanks for the help :)
 
Have decided to re - install windows and everything else .
First job will be to format the 2 drives that do not have windows upon them then pre-installed upon drive c (which will auto be formatted)
Then re-install all programs and games . BUT should I also change my passwords?
Replies appreciated as I will have to spend tomorrow (at least) dealing with this. - Although if anyone believes one or more of the steps listed is not needed please advise.

Do feel such a bit of a prat I!!
 
Last edited:
Rule number 1
Never ever allow remote access to your pc
Guess you know that now
And +1 for macrium backup for disaster recovery takes me literally 3 minutes or less to restore a 40gb image
Though that's from/to fast M2 drives
 
Do not have internet internet banking ( And have spoken to bank who have flagged my account and no problems yet)

As far as I know I do not have a mobile phone online account although I probably do. I have a zero spend cap on it though..

Fingers crossed I can get it sorted over next day or so.
 
AgedIdiot said:
Do not have internet internet banking ( And have spoken to bank who have flagged my account and no problems yet)

As far as I know I do not have a mobile phone online account although I probably do. I have a zero spend cap on it though..

Fingers crossed I can get it sorted over next day or so.
Click to expand...

In that case you probably have nothing to worry about. As long as you format your system you should be fine.
 
Began rebuilding earlier.
Seemed all 0k but when it came to sorting the hard drive to install windows found to my surprise that it was now split into 4/5 partitions - I did not do this when windows was installed the first time (brand new drive then and I did not partition at any time!! be it when installing windows or later.)
Ttried to delete/format all the partitions but a small one of about 600mb (TItled something like system info) refused to be either deleted or formatted.Summary question is - is this aproblem or should I simply leave such alone and install windows upon the 475 (approx) remainder of the drive ?
Sorry if a dumb question am tired!!
 
As mentioned I did reinstall windows and found that a small partition could not be deleted - which is worrying me.
Looking at disk management the 'problem' (if it is ??) drive has 3 partitions :-
1)Recovery (|529 mb)
2) 100 mb Healthy Efi system
3) 476.31 gb Healthy (Boot,Page File,Crash Dump,Primary Partition

Cannot make any changes to either 1) or 2)

is this normal?
Is it anything to be worried about given possible hack?

Advice appreciated :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom