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OfflineCLIT
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Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me?
    #23458287 - 07/20/16 01:58 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

So I was hacked. A fake support number popped on my screen claiming it's Microsoft and I must call the number so I did. The guy sounded realistic since he sounded Indian and all tech support people are. lol. When he started asking for payment of $179 to remove the virus is when it hit me that he is a scam. I told him no thanks when I can buy a new laptop for same price since my laptop cost the same. He had remote access of my laptop as far as I know because he was able to show my laptop serial number. He showed I had about over 2000 viruses by way of him running an antivirus software for my laptop all via remote access. Not sure if he damaged my laptop but I am rebooting to factory settings to see if it's still OK. WiFi is turned off. My brother told me hackers can only hack if online and if WiFi is on.

The virus that popped up stated to not reboot or it will damage my laptop and I must call the number claiming to be Microsoft and the support tech is from supportbuddy.com.


Edited by CLIT (07/20/16 02:04 AM)


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OfflineKryptos
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23458311 - 07/20/16 02:21 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Without an internet connection, it is impossible to get a virus. Much like without a pipe leading to your house, running water becomes difficult. This is why all of the computers that are running sensitive analytical equipment in my lab are not connected to any networks. Of course, since you already have the virus, getting rid of internet will not fix it, just stop it from trying to communicate with Mr. Data Ransomer (from the phone!).

Seems like you have access to a second computer. If you're willing to just buy a new laptop, then the data on the computer is probably not critical. I would just go nuclear. Download a new copy of your OS (windows boot disks are free from the microsoft website) and just format the computer with a fresh OS install.

You might even be able to do this with the infected computer. Look up how to make a boot disk and how to format your hard drive. A clean format from BIOS and OS reinstall will fix pretty much anything software related.


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OfflineCLIT
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: Kryptos]
    #23458338 - 07/20/16 02:40 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I'm using my smart phone as my other computer lol. So would rebooting my laptop to factory settings delete all viruses? Would the hacker knowing my laptop serial number allow him to creep on me again?

My laptop is asos. It is basic no CD ROM drive. Do I just follow instructions on the manual and go back to factory settings?


Edited by CLIT (07/20/16 02:45 AM)


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Invisibletdubz
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23458344 - 07/20/16 02:43 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

It's a scam call a friend to help you that knows what's up on removing viruses or reinstall windows fresh an save whatever you can.

Recommend doing a factory reset and first thing you do is download all the windows updates which could take awhile next get a anti virus plenty of free one avast!, AVG, ect an then get a malware scanner such as malwarebytes or spy bot search an destroy all of which are free and very good.

Yeah use the recovery CD that came with the computer should be pretty straightforward. You got scammed do this asap and don't fall for that phone call crap microsoft is not gonna call you telling you that you got viruses.


Edited by tdubz (07/20/16 02:48 AM)


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OfflineCLIT
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: tdubz]
    #23458349 - 07/20/16 02:48 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I have nothing important on the computer so I could just do a factory reset. Good idea?


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Invisibletdubz
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23458350 - 07/20/16 02:48 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

yes.


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Invisiblehowsyournaggerdoin
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: Kryptos]
    #23458360 - 07/20/16 02:59 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Kryptos said:
Without an internet connection, it is impossible to get a virus. Much like without a pipe leading to your house, running water becomes difficult. This is why all of the computers that are running sensitive analytical equipment in my lab are not connected to any networks. Of course, since you already have the virus, getting rid of internet will not fix it, just stop it from trying to communicate with Mr. Data Ransomer (from the phone!).

Seems like you have access to a second computer. If you're willing to just buy a new laptop, then the data on the computer is probably not critical. I would just go nuclear. Download a new copy of your OS (windows boot disks are free from the microsoft website) and just format the computer with a fresh OS install.

You might even be able to do this with the infected computer. Look up how to make a boot disk and how to format your hard drive. A clean format from BIOS and OS reinstall will fix pretty much anything software related.




Actually most viruses are spread to important networks by infected USB devices(keyboards, usb sticks, mouses, ...) or DVDs. Thats also the reason why my place of work deactivated all USB ports and DVD drives.


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OfflineKryptos
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: howsyournaggerdoin]
    #23460028 - 07/20/16 04:13 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I stand corrected. Yes, infected data storage devices are usually the reason you got a virus. We do actually have a standing rule in my lab that basically boils down to "very few USB drives are allowed to be used, and only a select few people are even allowed to use them"

My only experience with such a hijack virus was when I picked one up off a false cell tower (stingray-type setup) that locked and encrypted my phone and demanded 500$ to unlock. I just did a full reset to factory conditions cause screw paying 500$ when a facebook post of "lost yer number" will replace anything important that you lost for free.

These are becoming more and more common, nowadays. It's the internet equivalent of paying protection money to the mob to avoid any "accidents". Sadly, hospitals are commonly targeted, and many have paid out 7 or 8 figure ransoms because people's lives were literally on the line.

I'm a pacifist with virtually no exception, I believe that it is immoral to use lethal force to protect the lives of yourself and others. However, if I ever met someone who actually ransomed a hospital like this, I think I might have to go medieval on their ass until they drink the rest of their meals in this lifetime through a straw. That goes directly to their stomach, because their esophagus ain't gonna be tube shaped no more.


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OfflineCLIT
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: Kryptos]
    #23461556 - 07/21/16 03:31 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Great. Now the problem is since my laptop came with no CD ROM drive or any recovery discs as I tried to reboot my laptop using restart then f9 it's telling me to "insert your windows installation or recovery media to continue". Why?

Should I have someone download me the recovery file on USB and can I go from there?


Edited by CLIT (07/21/16 03:39 AM)


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Invisibletdubz
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23461591 - 07/21/16 04:05 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Yeah a windows recovery cd might help or just get a bootleg win 10 off the torrent bay, delete all partitions n start from scratch. You can do this from USB but what kinda cheapo computer you got with no cd rom drive?? Anyway you can put the win 10 recovery on a USB or just a bootleg win10 on USB to start from scratch.


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OfflineCLIT
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: tdubz]
    #23461643 - 07/21/16 04:52 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Asus.


Edited by CLIT (07/21/16 04:52 AM)


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OfflineCLIT
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23464806 - 07/22/16 02:38 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Anyway I just bought the reboot USB. I hope this clears all problems. The laptop is capable of rebooting without a CD ROM drive or recovery disc but the hacker corrupted the system so that way I couldn't reboot.


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Invisiblenooneman
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23464813 - 07/22/16 02:47 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

You're fine. This is a classic virus removal scam. I'd be surprised if he put even one virus on your computer. The scan is fake, they show it to you to try to extort cash out of you. Normally they're about as good as your average tech support hotline guy (which is not very good by the way).

Just reformat your hard drive and reinstall, problem solved.


Edited by nooneman (07/22/16 02:47 AM)


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OfflineCLIT
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23464820 - 07/22/16 03:01 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Is it a bad idea to use the internet right now while my laptop isn't fixed yet or has the hacker moved on from me?

I used the internet to order the reboot USB but the order process didn't go through saying that my card couldn't get through so I ordered using my phone internet. Did the merchant recognize that my laptop is hacked which is why the order process could not go through ?


Edited by CLIT (07/22/16 03:04 AM)


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Invisiblenooneman
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: CLIT]
    #23464825 - 07/22/16 03:10 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Your computer is probably fine to use and if it's not then you'll probably know quickly, and even then the worst it's probably going to do is either send people spam or encrypt itself, but frankly I doubt that will happen.

You can always just download a new copy of windows, format your hard drive, and reinstall. You'll need to either buy or pirate windows of course. Or you can always switch to linux/unix.

Just don't use it for anything involving a credit card. And you should probably change your passwords when you get your computer up and running again, just in case. Probably not necessary, but you can never be too careful.


Edited by nooneman (07/22/16 03:13 AM)


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OfflineKryptos
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: nooneman]
    #23470745 - 07/23/16 09:52 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

If you still have your windows serial (usually on a colorful sticker on the bottom) then you can just download the same copy of windows direct from microsoft. Just use your product key when installing and it should work.

Caveat here is that windows installed through a third-party manufacturer usually requires the original disk used because something something legal value property bureaucracy. If this happens, there is a free tool (I forget the name at the moment) that you can download and run, and it will "unlock" the windows you download from microsoft to work with the product key you have.


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Offlinejasen
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: Kryptos]
    #23494433 - 07/31/16 02:38 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Not to throw more shite on this fire, but you very likely haven't even been "hacked."  I had a friend recently who also fell for this scam.  She also called a number for supportbuddy and talked to an Indian dude.  The popup messages she was getting ended up being related to webpages she had visited, there was no malware installed on the PC, no virus, nothing like that.  It was popup ads trying to scare her into paying someone to fix non-existent problems.  I went over it myself looking for it.  I booted off of an external disk and ran multiple antivirus looking for something, but her HD was clean.  She just fell for believing some random popups while browsing the internet with IE.
I think you're safe.


Edited by jasen (07/31/16 02:39 AM)


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InvisibleLe_Canard
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Re: Would turning WiFi off prevent a hacker from hacking me? [Re: tdubz]
    #23495042 - 07/31/16 09:44 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

tdubz said:
It's a scam call a friend to help you that knows what's up on removing viruses or reinstall windows fresh an save whatever you can.

Recommend doing a factory reset and first thing you do is download all the windows updates which could take awhile next get a anti virus plenty of free one avast!, AVG, ect an then get a malware scanner such as malwarebytes or spy bot search an destroy all of which are free and very good.

Yeah use the recovery CD that came with the computer should be pretty straightforward. You got scammed do this asap and don't fall for that phone call crap Microsoft is not gonna call you telling you that you got viruses.





Yep. And for fuck's sake, turn off the remote procedure call. It allows for someone to be readily available to crawl into your computer.


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