If you’ve recently been scammed or are the victim of a cyber security attack, you should:
- Immediately disconnect your computer from the Internet – i.e. turn off or unplug immediately, this prevents a malicious person from accessing your computer. Use a phone or tablet to research your situation.
- Shut down the computer if you see any files getting encrypted.
Call a technician for assistance before turning on your computer again. - Change any passwords that may have been compromised. You can see a list of password by looking at the settings in your web browser.
- Refresh your PC to reinstall Windows. This will clear any hidden malware that the scammer has left behind.
- If you’re a victim of crime, report to
the Australian Cyber Security Centre - Report scams to ACCC through Scamwatch
- If you’re ID has been stolen contact IDCare
To prevent falling victim to online scams review the items below:
- Check for software updates
– all desktops, laptops, tablets, phones - Check devices for firmware updates
– routers, printers, webcams, etc. - Check for and remove unusual software:
- Task Manager -> Startup -> disable any remote access tools
- Settings -> Apps -> uninstall unrequired apps
- Uninstall expired anti-virus as this often give a false sense of security, Windows Defender will activate automatically when no other anti-virus is found.
- Web protections
- Update your browser
- Update any browser plugins
- Antivirus (Is it running? Is it up-to-date?)
- Verify your backups
- What is my critical data? (email, photos, documents, etc.)
- Where is it backed up to? (USB drive?)
- When was the last time I backed up?
- Extra protections:
- Install a browser security extension plugin, such as:
- uBlock Origin
- Malwarebytes
- Use a safe DNS provider:
- Turn on 2 Factor Authentication for your important accounts:
- Turn on Windows Controlled Folder Access
- Install a browser security extension plugin, such as:
Ensure everyone in your household is aware of basic security practices:
- Don’t click on suspicious links, even from people you know
- Don’t give your password to anyone over the phone
- Email names can be forged – click the name to see the senders email address
- Don’t click “unsubscribe” on emails except if you can see the link domain name properly matches the company
Investing some effort ahead of time may save you a lot of money and drama down the track. Contact us if you would like assistance with this.