On Thursday, my meanderings through cyberspace were interrupted by a couple of electronic gong sounds. I was immediately presented – on screen – by a notice apparently from Microsoft together with a feminine voice, with an American accent, both giving me warning messages.
The notice was well presented, it contained no spelling or grammatical errors and looked ... err ... professional.
The pop-up visual and verbal messages both told me that my computer had been infected with a malicious agent and instructed me to telephone Microsoft at a London (020) telephone number. The message stated that my computer had been locked so that no further access was possible. It also warned me not to switch my computer off since doing so would result in permanent damage to my computer but to telephone Microsoft for assistance.
My immediate reaction was to consider that my computer would be protected from attack by the McAfee total protection package which I had installed in October and I therefore switched the computer off by pressing the power switch for five seconds. I waited a few minutes, switched the computer on and it booted booted normally. I used my McAfee program to do a security and safety check and it found nothing of any consequence.
I did an internet search based on the messages that I had received and learned that this was indeed a malicious message and that Microsoft will not ask people to telephone them. Any telephone conversation would be an opportunity for the harvesting of information from my computer – I would be given instructions on how to eradicate the “malicious software” but this “eradication” would actually be installing malware which would be used, presumably, to investigate my bank accounts.
Something to be concerned about. I did wonder whether it was the use of this forum which permitted this notice to appear. I am constantly warned that access to the Religion and Ethics Forum is not secure.
