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Alert

Blue screen of death with a support number? ...

by Carol~ Oct 27, 2016 5:57PM PDT

.. Beware the malware scam

"Tech support scam tricks users into installing malware with fake blue screen of death."

A new tech support scam displays a fake blue screen of death (BSoD) in an effort to trick users into installing malware on their Windows computers.

The threat, which Microsoft calls SupportScam:MSIL/Hicurdismos.A, builds off a long lineage of tech support scams. Some of those ruses have even mimicked other Windows features, including the update process, to try to trick users into purchasing unnecessary software.

Continued: https://www.grahamcluley.com/blue-screen-death-malware/

Discussion is locked

2 Posts

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happened to me and hubby

by jbstrmd Oct 28, 2016 6:19PM PDT

This happened once to me on Windows 10 and my husband on a MacBook Pro. (believe it or not). It looked very suspicious, so I did not call the provided number, but called Microsoft and AppleCare respectively when it happened. They were both very helpful. In the case of the PC, Malwarebytes took care of it. For Apple, I don't remember what we did, but it has not recurred on either computer.
What I took away from these experiences is not so much how to fix it, but not to panic and don't fall for it. If the number on the screen is not a number you already have in your contacts, don't call it!!

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Here is what to do

by Aseriesguy Oct 29, 2016 10:01AM PDT

When this happens, and it will, if you have access to the mouse and the TASK BAR: right click the TASK BAR and select TASK MANAGER. In the Task List select the Task that is displaying the phony error. Click End Task. Eventually the browser pages will close. If you can't get to the TASK BAR then hold CTRL, ALT and press DEL. This will open a control screen menu. Select the Task Manager. In the case of CHROME when you restart the browser it may show a dialog asking to RESTORE pages. DO NOT! If you want to get a page back use HISTORY.

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