Terry Keep - Computer Solutions

14/05/2023

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a warning about a scam that's been going around lately. It involves a company (or several companies) selling USB 16TB "Portable SSD Mobile storage" disks for a really cheap price, around 70€ on sites like Amazon and other online stores.

But here's the catch: inside the box, there is only a 64GB SdCard and a hacked controller. This hacked controller is programmed to display the storage capacity as 16TB, even though it's really just 64GB.

This is a huge scam that preys on unsuspecting buyers who are looking for a good deal on storage. It's important to be aware of this so you don't waste your money on a fake product. If you see a deal that seems too good to be true, be cautious and do your research before making a purchase.

I have a client who recently fell victim to this scam. They purchased one of these fake USB 16TB disks and unfortunately, they lost all their important files and data because the actual storage capacity was only 64GB.

Now, I am working with my client to try and recover their lost files, but it's proving to be a difficult and time-consuming process. So not only is this scam a waste of money, but it can also result in the loss of valuable data.

Please share this warning with your friends and family so they don't fall victim to this scam either. It's important to spread the word and protect ourselves and our data.

Stay safe, and don't fall victim to this scam!

11/02/2018

A new scam targeting Google Chrome users.

Yet another scam is in motion but this is only if you use Google Chrome ( build 64.0.3282.140 ) on a Windows system (currently).
According to security company Malwarebytes, attackers are abusing code within the web browser to create windows that users are unable to close.
Scammers are exploiting this feature to freeze Google Chrome while simultaneously surfacing a bogus security warning.

“Your PC has alerted us that it has been infected with a virus and spyware,” the fraudulent warning tells users.

The dialogue box also contains a fake Microsoft support line number and makes the problem more believable as users are unable to close the window, attackers hope they’re more likely to be convinced by the security alert and call the hotline.

What to do...

1. Firstly... DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER !!!!!
2. You can close the bogus window by bringing up 'Task Manager' ( by pressing CTRL, ALT and DEL simultaneously) and forcing Chrome to close all windows
3. If you are unable to do that, then restart your computer and when it reboots do a full virus scan.

07/11/2017

There is a massive scam campaign going on, this time a very well executed Netflix phishing attack.

The scam targets subscribers telling them that their account is about to be canceled. The well-designed, personalized fake email convinces customers to update their account information to avoid suspension. This results in stolen personal and credit card information.

The email has the subject line “Your suspension notification” and includes a link where the subscriber is taken to a fake Netflix page which requires their log-in information as well as credit card number.

The scam was detected Sunday and it targets nearly 110 million Netflix subscribers. As mentioned, the fake site includes Netflix’s logo as well as popular Netflix shows like “The Crown” and “House of Cards” to make it seem legitimate.

Whatever email about Netflix you see in the coming weeks... THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK.

07/11/2017

Microsoft have recently announced that they will be closing the access to the free Windows 10 upgrade portal by the end of this year, so if you still have a Windows 7 or Windows 8 machine then I strongly suggest that you get it upgraded asap to get the licence onto the machine. However, I also strongly recommend that you backup your system onto an external device before hand as your data is more important than your computer !

03/10/2017

This week's favourite app for your smartphone is "C'est la grêve". Available for Android or Apple phones. It is free to download and then you can get updates on the upcoming strikes in France, either throughout France as a whole or by region. You can see when ongoing strikes started, what disturbances are likely and when they are planned to end and upcoming strikes. There is also an associated webpage :

Retrouvez tous les préavis de grèves en France, avec les dates, les perturbations et les solutions.

21/09/2017

Yet another attack by the wonderful ransomware crowd has recently been discovered. (Ransomware is malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or encrypt data files until a sum of money is paid.)

This particular one has Herbalife ( a popular nutritional supplement and personal care product provider ) in the subject/body of the email and comes with a nice little attachment which will NOT be nutritional to your own files and pictures ! If you download the attachment - it is disguised as an invoice - and open the attachment, you will install the ransomware and you can safely say goodbye to your files and money if you get conned into paying the perpetrators.

So, the message is NEVER open an attachment from anyone that you do not know. If you are not sure, still DO NOT open it.
Delete it as you can always request the sender to send it again if you later find out that it was actually a genuine attachment that you needed to open.

If you like this post, please like my page !

29/08/2017

Amazon Two-Step Verification

You can now protect your amazon account with an additional layer of security. If you choose to do this, then in addition to entering your email address and password, you'll have to enter a six-digit code that will be sent to you by SMS. This prevents people from accessing your Amazon account without your phone etc.

Turning on Two-Step Verification

Go to Your Account
Select "Login & security"
Select "Advanced Security Settings"
Edit
Click on the "Get Started" button
Set up the mobile number that you want to receive codes.
You will be sent an SMS with a code, enter the code and select "Verify code and continue"

You will be asked to set up a back-up method to receive the codes - this could be another mobile phone or a fixed number or the authenticator app.
If you choose to use a fixed line, make sure you change the "Format" box to "Voice Call"
Type in the number and select "Send code" or "Call me now" as appropriate
Fill in the number you receive and click "Verify code and continue"

You are then shown a screen that explains how the system works. You have an option "Don't require codes on this device". This will mean that you will not need to enter any codes in the future on this particular device e.g. the computer / smartphone your currently using. If you share your device with other people then do not select this option. Be aware that a "device" is not just a computer but is also identified to the specific browser on that computer - so if you use different browsers, e.g. internet explorer, chrome, firefox, you'll need to trust each one separately.

Select "Got It, Turn on Two-Step Verification".

You will then be shown a summary screen of your settings. Ensure it is correct and change anything that you aren't happy with.

NOTE: If you change your phone number in the future, you should turn off two-step verification temporarily or ensure that your backup verification method is working, so that you can add your new phone number.

All Amazon accounts using the same email address, irrespective of which country they are in will have the two-step verification settings applied to them.

03/08/2017

Update your recovery details !

If you have a gmail / hotmail, outlook mail or yahoo email account, you should review your recovery details and ensure they are still valid - these are the associated phone numbers, secondary email addresses etc.

I have had a number of clients recently who have forgotten their password to their email account and due to their recovery details being out of date e.g. they no longer have the phone with the listed number etc., they have had a very challenging time trying to recover their account. In some instances, when they could not access any of the recovery accounts (phone or alternative email address) they have lost the use of their email account altogether and so have lost all their historic emails and address book information.

The problem is that you do not need your recovery information until something has gone drastically wrong with your email account and then it's too late ! Please login to your email accounts through the web browser and make sure your details and recovery questions / phone numbers are correct or if you do not know them, reset the questions... please do not be another client that loses their access to their email account !

10/07/2017

This week's favourite app for your smartphone is Stocard. Available for Android or Apple phones. It is free to download and then you can register all of your store loyalty cards to it quickly and easily. At the checkout you can present your phone and they can scan the appropriate bar code rather than having to search through numerous cards. In addition, depending on the store, you'll have access to your loyalty points, discounts and/or current special offers.