Hi, I am a total non-understander when it comes to computers.
recently I was caught out by the ransom scam - the computer froze, audible and on-screen alerts with a message to contact technical support at the above number with a code to give to the engineer. Fell for it, rang and started the process but got alarmed when he wouldn’t do anything until I’d set up a visa withdrawal…but by then he already had access to my comp. As I didn’t respond any more & he wouldn’t give any on screen answers to my questions a time out box started ticking and after 2 mins it cut me off. The only way I could shut down was with the mains switch! I left it until next morning & tentatively switched it back on (despite the warnings last nite not to switch it on again) and hey presto it came back to life. I then started looking up the phone number & found several new sites expressly warning about this number/scam. Next move was to download the free avast package, as it seemed to have about the best overall results for the free antivirus’ available. BUT I am still worried that something nasty is lurking in the depths of my system, undetected by the avast scan -am I right to be worried or should I have faith in avast? I tried to send a message on their help line but it kept freezing up - had 3 or 4 goes but the only response from avast is that i am not registered, despite the new avast saying registration is not neccessary. Looking on here their appears to be several offers of help, but not connected with avast. How do I know who to trust? what do I do now?any help welcome!!!
Attach your basic diagnostic logs. (MBAM and FRST)
Instructions: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=194892
It seems you found a HTML:FakeAlert (scareware) > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scareware
Videos > https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scareware
ESET warns of global wave of HTML/FakeAlert malware
https://www.eset.com/me/about/press/articles/article/eset-warns-of-global-wave-of-htmlfakealert-malware/
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2014/11/psa-tech-support-scams-pop-ups-on-the-rise/
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2015/07/techsupportscams-and-the-blue-screen-of-death/
thanks for the replies. if I start the MBAM? diagnostic thing, will the instructions still be visible? or do I need to write it all down first? Thanks,Olly