I was on the net yesterday when my browser was attacked by what I assume was ransomware?? I was able to right click and close Firefox. When I restored the session without the window, it was gone. Ran Full Scan, Boot scan, Malwarebytes - all found nothing. But now I am getting phone calls saying they are from Microsoft tech support and I am in danger of my computer being attacked. I know they are attempting to get money out of me. What is going on and why didn’t Avast catch this?
I got 2 calls today from people who said they were from Microsoft tech support. Each person told me my computer was messed up and even though I wasn’t getting any error messages I should let them fix it. It’s a scam.
So - no ransomware then?
Not on any of my computer’s.
It’s a scam.
Hi requiemdream 
The call(s) from “Microsoft tech support” are indeed a scam.
Microsoft simply doesn’t call you.
But if you would like to have your system checked, please follow this turtorial https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
Attach the requested logs in your next reply, and as soon as an expert is online and available he/she will help you.
Greetz, Red
OK. I’ll relax for now. If I encounter any further problems, I’ll follow the instructions for checking my system. Everything seems OK right now. Thanks, all!
Want to know what you do when these ***holes call? You screw with them. Repeat everything. But don’t follow their instructions. “go to w-x-w.i-n-e-e-d-h-e-l-p.x-y-z”. “That’s i-n-e-d-h-e-l.x-y-z right?”
Better yet: What I LOVE to do, is get a VM, and let them f it up for an hour, syskey it, etc. Wastes their time, and saves someone else from getting a call for an hour or two drives them stir crazy. I love calls from M$ Tech Support. (I have a VM dedicated solely to messing with them.)
Warning: Don’t follow any of my advice. It’s usually batcrap crazy 8) 8)
But yes, if anyone calls you to tell you something is wrong (Unless you know these people in Real Life, like a close friend/SO/family), it’s always a scam.
When they call :“One moment please. I’ll be right back. There is someone at the door and I have to open.” ;D
Or if you have call forwarding, forward the call directly to the police ;D
Microsoft scam call > https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=microsoft+scam+call
Pop up scam > https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pop+up+scam
If you have a old win 3.11 machine, you could let them play with that ;D
I’m not sure if the last one here is legal, but it would certainly crack me up. I think it would be more entertaining to forward them to CSIS, CSE or the RCMP (Rather then our Local Department.) bahah.
CSIS: https://www.csis-scrs.gc.ca/index-en.php
CSE: https://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/en/homepage
RCMP: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en
It depends where you live ofcourse.
Non of those organizations exist here.
But there is ofcourse Interpol 
Also fun is to use a sharp and very loud whistle evilgrin
Make them deaf.
I bet they will not file a complaint ;D
Nah, those are Canadian organizations. For you guys, looks like it’s the GISS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Intelligence_and_Security_Service
As for making them deaf, although I’m sure they wouldn’t file a complaint… I know exactly what it’s like to be deaf. I wear two hearing aids 24/7. I may be maniacal, I’m not that maniacal though.