Ransomware – Don’t be fooled by cyber criminals
"Do not, under any circumstances, allow anyone other than a trusted source to work on your computer, especially not over the phone. Keep your personal information safe and do not fall victim to these scams..." warns Keith Sparrow.
RANSOMWARE…
If you are unfamiliar with this term, but you own a computer, be it for personal or business use, you need to read this.
Recent ransomware attacks have left unsuspecting victims of this nasty ‘cybercrime’ red in the face after at least ten people in Vryheid were conned out of their cash by convincing crooks on the other end of the telephone line.
So, what is ransomware?
As the name implies, the victim is basically held to ransom by the hacker, who gains access to personal information through their computer by claiming to be from Microsoft or an antivirus company.
Once they have gained access to your details, they proceed to encrypt your accounts, demanding large sums of money, R25 000 in some cases, in return for the encryption key, holding your personal data to ransom until you have paid them the hefty release fee.
According to local businessman and owner of Sparrow Computers, Keith Sparrow, the culprits tend to prey on the elderly or victims who can easily be misled into believing that the person on the other end of the line, claiming to be from Microsoft or an antivirus company, is genuinely calling to assist.
“Do not, under any circumstances, allow anyone other than a trusted source to work on your computer, especially not over the phone. Keep your personal information safe and do not fall victim to these scams…” warns Keith.
Should you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft or any other company requesting access to your personal information and details over the phone, consider this an immediate red flag and hang up.
Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.
“In this scam, cybercriminals call you and claim to be from Microsoft Tech Support. They offer to help solve your computer problems. Once the crooks have gained your trust, they attempt to steal from you and damage your computer with malicious software including viruses and spyware.
“Although law enforcement can trace phone numbers, perpetrators often use pay phones, disposable cellular phones, or stolen cellular phone numbers. It’s better to avoid being conned rather than try to repair the damage afterwards.
“Treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism. Do not provide any personal information.
“If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support, hang up. We do not make these kinds of calls.” – www.microsoft.com
