>> I gave access to it but disconnected after seven minutes <<
Seven minutes is an eternity in computer attack time!
Since the scammers accessed the computer, they probably did AT LEAST one or more of the following:
• Disabled the anti-virus software
• Added nasty malware to the computer
• Copied the Contact List (so they can spam/email your soon-to-be ex-friends)
• Copied any financial data or passwords they could find
• Compromised your ID
• "Zombied" the computer, so it would respond to THEIR commands sent via internet
• Deleted some important files
• Asked for money to repair the damage they caused
What can you do immediately after such an attack?
1. Pull the cables on the computer, or otherwise disable it, so it cannot access the internet.
2. Change ALL passwords stored on the computer.
3. Run FULL malware scans on the computer, in "SAFE" mode!
4. Change the passwords again, particularly if the malware scans showed anything.
5. Inform your bank and credit card companies.
6. Sign up for credit monitoring, and check the status frequently
7. You may have to bring the computer to a local repair shop, and tell them the story.
8. Tell friends what happened, so they can be aware of strange emails from you.
9. Connect to the internet only AFTER all the above have been done.
10. Change the passwords on all online accounts. Even better - access a "safe", uninfected computer, and change your online account passwords RIGHT NOW.
NOTE:
If your computer set a "Restore Point" while it was infected, any "System Restore" you make will re-infect your computer. Suggest you delete any potentially infected restore points and avoid setting such restore points until after your computer has been thoroughly cleaned!
You fell for one scam, and might be susceptible to others mentioned on this site:
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/facts.html
Read that info to educate and help protect yourself!
Honest computer companies do NOT cold-call people, or cause popups from websites to tell them their computers need fixing!
Some scammers even have websites, and falsely advertise they are associated with popular software packages or computer companies; so do NOT believe a "we will fix your computer remotely" site, and allow them access to your computer!
Read the info at these links.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cold-Call-Tech ... on-150170.shtml
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams
Lesson:
If your computer needs fixing, bring it to a local repair shop
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Please reply to this post, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable actions to protect yourself.
You need to delete anything and everything that these people may have installed on your computer. They are going to try to extort money from you and they will access all your personal information for the purpose of scamming you out of money. Have a local tech person look at your computer to determine if ant spyware or other softer was installed on your computer. These people just called me and I knew what they were up to. I told them that I never did business with them and they said that they still what access to my computer to "do me a favor" and check it.
This number has called me several times, and I tried to talk to the person today. He said I had some computer issues fixed by their company about 6-7 months ago. I told him no, I bought a new computer about then and wouldn't have had any issues. He had my name, the name of my business and my street address. I couldn't understand much of what he was saying. Toward the end, though, he tried to get me to give him access to my computer. I hung up.