Gone Phishing

Computer scams

Fortunately for me, the latest computer catastrophe-in-the-making wasn't at all discreet but right in my face. Doom and gloom signs popped up on my computer screen: You are under attack. You are infiltrated. There are 3,682 viruses on your computer. Click here and .... For $89.99 we will fix you up.'

Of course, the pop-ups didn't broadcast that there was a fee attached to the rescue mission, until you ventured in further.  However, since I've wised up some - or ‘been burnt before' - I didn't click at all. No venturing for me this time. Once fooled, blame it on you; twice fooled, blame it on me.

You see, a few months ago, some company conned me, scaring me senseless, convincing me that my computer was about to crash and burn - ‘Red Alert! Under Attack!' - and, in a panic, I foolishly purchased their anti-virus product. The company that I made the purchase from was so obscure and dubious that my online acquisition apparently set off alarms at my credit card company headquarters. A representative called me and questioned my purchase. Actually, he was probably questioning my sanity but he was quite tactful about it. His mother would be proud.

I tried to un-do the purchase but there was no way to get back to the company's site. That part wasn't quite so easy. Once they've stuck you, the company's contact information conveniently vanishes into the bowels of cyber space.

I had to suck it up and learn my lesson the hard way. I had been duped. And, no, my computer isn't getting any anti-virus protection as a result of my $89.99.

My son informed me that I had been phished. When you are ‘phished,' or allow yourself to be, it means that someone, or some company, is fraudulently trying to get information out of you, such as credit card information or your bank account number. Phishing is an attempt to fool you into clicking on a site or product. If they're good phishers, they make life so miserable for you on this end, and bog down your computer so badly that it's impossible to work, it is easy to be convinced that the only way out is by buying their product. That's the hook: Your computer won't work right until you click PURCHASE.

During the most recent computer debacle, the pop-ups were bombarding my screen. It got to the point where the pop-ups wouldn't go away unless I hit CTRL ALT DELETE, which shut down whatever I was working on at the time. My daughter, who is a lot more technologically savvy than I, assured me that the pop-ups weren't coming from my computer and were not a legitimate warning that I was under attack. The warnings were originating externally, from the internet. Finally, when I could no longer access Word or any online sites, I bit the bullet and headed to the computer shop.

The computer guru explained that there was mal-ware in my computer, courtesy of some disreputable company that was trying to terrorize me into buying its product. It was not a virus, per se. These sleazy companies somehow or other (and don't ask me how) manage to get into your computer and then proceed to scare the Bejesus out of you so that you will purchase their product. In the process, the mal-ware itself mangles the operation of your computer and essentially shuts you down. 

Malware stands for ‘malicious software.' This piece of (crap) software has been created for the purpose of penetrating computers without the owner's permission. The term ‘malware' is synonymous with intrusive (oh, is it ever!), annoying (you can say that again) and hostile (I'll drink to that). When the phrase ‘computer virus' is used, it is something of a catch-all term for various types of malware, including the real McCoy viruses. Malware is a contaminant. It can include Trojan horses, worms, disreputable adware and other things that you do not want on your computer. The malware, essentially, hijacks your system.

Some $160 later, the computer is fixed and some handy-dandy FREE anti-virus program is installed. At least now I know about being phished (hate it) and about mal-ware (doubly hate it) and how pricey it can be to un-do what some *#$%*#%$! SOB has intentionally done to my computer.