So your browsing the internet, surfing along and then all of a sudden you come to a page and it start beeping at your or lights start flashing or windows start popping up like crazy.  Then, out of the blue the phone rings and it’s a think accent on the other end of the line claiming to be from Microsoft and they want to fix your problem.

Does that really sound right?  A ‘tech’ night in shining armor??  really???

So I hate to say it, but this story gets worse before it gets better.  The tech someone convinces you he can take care of this and so he takes control of your PC.  At some point they will tell you you have an infected computer and they can fix it for about $200.  Or they might offer you a service plan for $35/month.  Naturally you say NO, but they say OK, I will fix it anyway this one time.  At this point you think to yourself, “Cool…they fixed it at no charge and I am OK again!”   Then you restart your pc and guess what happens?  You are prompted for a “Startup Password”.  This turns out to be a different password that you don’t know, only they know it!

They have used a little known Microsoft Utility that secures access to the computer, SysKey.  This is a very tricky way of locking out a user and infecting their PC.  If this happens to you, there are fixes available, although they are not pleasant or for the faint of heart. See these links to fix the issue and good luck!

SOLUTION: “This is Microsoft Support” telephone scam – Computer ransom lockout

Also, check this one out…

https://fixedit.itxpress.biz/2015/01/16/unlocking-after-the-microsoft-support-phone-scam/