thanks El Loro

you are a great help

Hi El Loro, someone from windows phoned me the other day and said I should do something about my pc (xp) as there were problems.I didnt have the time right then and I was a little suspicious so I didnt do anything.I tried clicking on your link but I got a pop up about malicious software and my computer wouldnt allow it.I tried looking at ways round it but got confused and gave up.

Amythist, it is very unusual to receive an unsolicited call from Microsoft about problems with your computer and XP. Given this and the fact that you have been unable to click on my link makes me think that you should get your pc checked over by a computer shop which knows what they are doing. Tell them about the phone call and get them to check to see if your computer has been compromised. Have you been getting odd emails in the last few days or noticed that the computer is behaving oddly or slowly - these would also be warning signs of a problem. Also if you do online banking or purchasing - just check that nothing odd has happened with your bank account or credit card.

I hope that this will turn out to be harmless, but given the phone call I think that you do need to get this checked out.

Eek youve scared me now.I havent had any odd emails recently...but I will check my bank stuff.I told him I didnt know who he was and wasnt prepared to do as he asked.

I could click on your link but I dont think Firefox allowed me to download the adobe thing.

Amythist, I assumed that you were referring to my link I made on 1 July about the Windows XP security problem, but in your second post you say that you couldn't download the adobe thing, where I had previously made various links.

So I'm a bit confused as to which link you were trying out. Was it:
the first or second post on 14 June
the post on 15 June (unlikely)
the post on 17 June (unlikely)
the first or second post on 29 June
all of these being to do with adobe

or the post on 1 July which was the Windows XP security problem.

Also when you clicked on the link did you get to the linked page but were unable to access the download there, or did you just stay here in the forum?

Also did you make a note of the phone number of the person who rang you and if so what is it?

By the way, I also use Firefox.

It was the first one 14th June   

Im on my daughters laptop at the moment, I was trying to do the download this morning on my pc.

My pc is slow to get started so I dont use that often.

I will have a look at it later....again but Ive got to go out now for a bit.

I didnt note the number down...he rang when Id just got in from the school run with kids clamouring for food and wasnt really listening to him properly he said his name(jack I think) and he was calling from windows, mentioned something about error reports and some word for virus' and told me hed clear things up for me and to go to my computer ,but I got rid of him, he asked when would be a good time to call back and I said I will call you..so thats when I thought Id better do the thing you have posted.He had an Indian accent like from the call centres.

Thanks - so we're talking about the Flash Player patch. The probability is that your player has already been automatically updated in the last month, so that you wouldn't need to bother trying to download the update. To check this follow Yellow Rose's tip posted 3 weeks ago: this is a copy

"Before updating to the current version I checked what version I had by going to Control Panel, then Add or Remove Programmes. When I saw Adobe in the list I clicked on "Click here for support information" that showed me the earlier version I had."

The current version is v 10.1.53.64. You'll also see from the "Click her for support information" that you can access updates by clicking on the link provided there.

However there is still the question as to why someone claiming to be from Microsoft rang you.  I've just done a Google search and think I may be able to put your mind at rest. I have found a post on another forum posted on 17 June - it reads:

"...from a guy with an Indian accent claiming to be from "Windows Tech Support" ("Microsoft being helpful" I thought? Get outta here!) telling me that my laptop was showing signs of infection. "O...k", I said. He told me I needed to go onto a website called logmein123.com, which will allow him remote access to my laptop. Sure buddy, while I'm at it why don't I just give you my bank details and credit card number? I was nowhere near my laptop at this point, but decided to play along with the conman. He asked me to type in a code, which I pretended to do. I then told him "oops, hold on mate, just got a message on my screen which I don't understand." The guy asks "what is the message sir." "It says: This Is A Scam. Do you know anything about that?" Cue the conman promptly hanging up the phone."

This sounds rather like your experience. But if you have any concerns, it's still better to get things checked out. By the way logmein is a legitimate outfit as one of my clients who provides specialist software support uses this to access his clients' computers.

Thanks for your help and advice El Loro, much appreciated.

So if logmein is a proper site how come hes a conman?

I didnt give this guy any info,so I would hope all is well.

The conman wouldn't be connected with logmein. He's just using the logmein website. logmein is a software business which has written a program called logmein which other people can use to access other people's computers. It's generally used by businesses giving computer support to people. It's similar to the Remote Desktop Connection which Microsoft supply as part of their standard Windows XP program.

Right here we go,Im back on pc and have installed adobe 10 with a bit of help from son and may have done it 2 or 3 times just to make sure, as it said do you want to reload it?

Thanks for your help and explaining the conman situation,I'll know what to do if he rings back!

This applies only to Windows AP and Windows Server 2003. If you use a different version, please ignore this.

Microsoft have now released their patch for the security problem in their Help & Support Centre which I made a post here on 1 July.

It is part of their automatic update which has just been released. Once your Windows update has been done, if you did the "Enable this Fix" from my posting on 1 July, you should now do the "Disable this Fix".

So once your Windows update has been done click on this link., scroll down until you see the "Enable this Fix" and "Disable this Fix", and click on the "Disable this Fix" one.

This is indeed a con. Basically, it's sort of phone version of phishing e-mails: gangs are pretending to be Microsoft engineers (or from another major company) in order to get people to connect to dodgy websites. A friend of mine got a call from these guys recently, but he's in the industry and knew the caller was talking bollox.


Bottom line: It's company policy that Microsoft will never phone you unless you've asked them to and/or they've cleared it with you first (e.g. if Customer Support need to call you back.)