A Claim That Your Computer
is Infected Could Be a Lie

       “You get a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft or another company warning you that your computer is facing a security risk or might already be infected with a virus. The caller then instructs you to go to a certain website to download a program or give him remote access to your computer to fix the problem. In some cases, the caller might also offer a preventive service for a fee.
       “But the caller could end up stealing passwords and other sensitive information from your computer. Or he or she could be trying to obtain your credit-card information to rack up unauthorized charges,” says Noreen Perrotta, editor, Consumer Reports Money Adviser.
       She cautions that the scam is widespread in English-speaking countries. Last April a Microsoft survey found that, on average, thieves stole $875 from victims or caused $1,730 in damage to their computers.
       The experts at Consumer Reports Money Adviser have advice on how not to get taken in by these scams. “Ignore calls, e-mail messages, website ads, pop-up windows, television commercials, and any other messages saying your computer is – or might be – infected with a virus, unless they’re from your computer’s security software. Never click on a link that leads to a website or that downloads a program you’re promised will do a free computer scan. Instead, install a free virus-protection program, such as Avira Free AntiVirus (free.avira.com/free), and make sure it’s set to update and scan automatically.
       Even if your computer runs slowly or crashes occasionally, that doesn’t mean it’s infected with a virus or other malware. Try searching the Web with a description of your problem and look for responses from other users on message forums. Or contact the tech support for your computer.”