Windows put a loud message on computer that I had been hacked.
 

I am back up but have no idea what actually happened with that. I was looking at a quote by a writer and then my computer starts blaring that I should not shut it down as it noted suspicious activity.

The guy I called said I had been hacked by someone in Beijing. To my knowledge I know no one there.

It happened while I could not get on Talk of the Villages today.

Wanted to make a note of it. I have no knowledge about what they were doing other than what the guy on the phone said they had been doing. Which I will keep to myself.

I hope you didn't dial any number that popped up on the screen. I REALLY hope you didn't type any commands that the guy at that number asked you to type.

The more attention-getting the message was (pop ups, flashing, large letters, blaring sound) the more likely it was an attempt to get you to dial a number and give up personal information.

If I saw something like that I would:
- Disconnect from the internet (disable wifi or unplug the network cable)
- Close all applications, particularly my web browser
- Run anti-virus and anti-malware packages
- Open the web browser again and probably clear recent history and cache
- Reconnect to the internet
- Avoid that particular web page

The loud message was most likely not from Windows or Microsoft.

Calling back the number is risky because you could be making an expensive international call without knowing it. If so, you will be charged for the call, and your phone provider cannot remove the charge because of international agreements. The best thing to do is to turn off the computer immediately and reboot.

I did not give them much information. Just name.

I was very suspicious. I just wanted the loud stuff to shut off.

And I did not type anything. Just let it make noise.

I agree, but I have never had an issue if I just rebooted the computer.

I did turn it off. But it was still doing it.

I will check the number I called to see if it was legit.

You may need to hold down the power button for about 15 seconds to totally power off, or unplug it.

The beginning of a hack attempt
 

That flashy message was the beginning of a hack attempt.

BBB Scam Alert: Need tech support? Be careful which number you call

Does seem that was what it was.

Looks like my Windows blocked whatever was going on.

You need to disconnect from the network and run a Malware and Advanced scan with the antivirus software.

Stay protected with Windows Security - Microsoft Support


This may take overnight to complete depending on your system.

One thing you can do to greatly limit your exposure to hacks is to quit using Chrome and switch to Firefox, with the "Noscript" add-in.

The only way a hacker can do anything on your computer is when procedural code like Javascript is running. HTML is merely a markup language, it does not execute. Even if you click a hacked link, it's the javascript on that hacker's page that gets you, not the link itself.

The "Noscript" add-in selectively prevents Javascript from running. It's possible to turn off Javascript in Chrome, but it's practically a hidden feature, and it's a sledgehammer compared to the fine control you get with NoScript. With NoScript, you can turn off Javascript entirely (and be amazed at how many sites don't need it at all to be functional). But you can also set it up to only allow scripts that originate from the trusted page you are viewing, while turning off 3rd-party javascripts. 3rd-party scripts are the source of most hacks, and incidentally also the source of nearly all advertising and popups. Turning off 3rd party scripts does often prevent forms from working, but if you are on a site that you trust enough to fill out a form, you can enable all scripts for just that one tab, though a simple selection on the Noscript menu at the top of the page.

Chrome is a proprietary browser owned by Google. Google can and does anything they want with it. Their entire business model is collecting and selling their user's privacy. Firefox, on the other hand, is "Open Source". That means that programmers all over the world can see the code and sound the alarm if they see it's been hacked or if the company is doing something with it they shouldn't.

Controlling who can execute code on your computer is a nuisance. It seems outrageous that we even have to go to such lengths to prevent it. But at least it's still possible, for as long as Firefox still exists.

I use the Microsoft Edge browser with Windows 11. I have received a few of these loud hacking messages. I turned off the computer, rebooted, and everything was fine.

You can use NoScript on Chrome too, it's available on GooglePlay for download and installation to the browser.

Just keep in mind, if you use websites that require javascript to function, those websites will cease to work if you have NoScript running.

Most of the sites I use, use javascript.

I ran some kind of advanced scan that took 15 minutes to do.

I hope you didn't run a scan that the guy on the phone told you to run. If so, you might have just installed ransomware, and they'll be able to control your computer and shut it down any time they want until you pay them. And then they can do it again. And again. And again.

No. I had no idea whom I was talking to so I just acted really stupid which is for me sometimes rather easy.

I spend a lot of time visiting sites but haven't seen a hacking popup in several years, either:
1. You all are visiting some really sketchy sites;
2. I've been extremely lucky and should probably by more lottery tickets; or
3. An adblocker (I use ABP) might help block hacking popups too

Stay away from the porn

I was looking at the Will Rogers' quote about some animal eating a bull. Or something like that. It was in a frame of some kind. I mean the quote.

It’s a very common reaction to something startling and unexpected. I am not sure what to suggest for you but I wish you the best and I’m learning too from the many suggestions here.

That was my reasoning. And this person might be targeting others in the Villages and elsewhere. He had an Indian accent.

It's someone working in what's known as a "boiler room operation." They probably are in India, or Pakistan. They're not targeting locations. They have no idea who you are, or where you are. And they don't care. You clicked on something that sent a bit of data into your hard drive, and at some point, a series of commands (or another click) triggered the ransomware notice. Calling the number validates you as a willing victim. Now they know your phone number (caller ID), and they know you click on things you probably shouldn't click on.

If it happens again, shut your computer off without clicking on anything, or calling anyone. Then unplug your computer and your printer (data can store in your smart printer too). Then call a computer repair company nearby (there are a few around) and have them deal with it. Make sure they create a full backup and boot drive of your computer on a thumb drive AFTER they've cleaned it up. It'll probably cost you a couple hundred bucks - which is what it'd cost the first time you call the number on the pop-up warning. If you pay the pop-up people, they'll do it again, but next time it'll cost double. And they'll keep doing it, until you realize that whatever was on your hard drive, wasn't worth paying more for. And you throw the computer away and buy a new one.

Absolutely

Or, just buy an Apple computer.

Never respond to those types of scare notices. all are hackers

Based on what you described, I believe the webpage that you visited was a fraudster’s website. The visual and audio warnings you observed are part of the features of the webpage similar to a pop-up advertisement on a legitimate website.

Fraudster’s like this typically are an organized crime organization in a foreign country, not someone sitting in mom’s basement.

The FBI classifies this kind of internet crime as call center fraud. The link below is to the latest annual FBI report on internet crime. Call center fraud is covered on page 16. Your scam was the tech support call center kind. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year to this kind of fraud according to the report.

https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/Annual..._IC3Report.pdf

OP’s issue was not an actual computer virus. Apple owners can still be victims of call center fraud.

These kinds of frauds by organized crime groups have shotgun strategies, not targeted to smaller geographic areas. It’s a numbers game for internet OCG’s.

You went to a criminal’s webpage; they did not come to you. (In case you are interested, those kinds of webpages are likely constructed by some skilled website programmer who is crowdsourcing open information from across the internet.)

Recognizing how these kinds of criminals commit their frauds is the best defense from becoming a victim.

That happened to me when I accidentally miss-keyed Ninite, the safe site for downloading programs. Bells went off. The screen was flashing and blaring. I knew immediately why it happened. I instantly shut down the computer. That's all I did and I have had no problems with the computer since.

Who did you call, the number on the screen? If you did, you never ever do that. Did the guy on the call tell you to run a scan? If so, you just ran a program that went out and scanned your computer for info that they can use for future transactions. Windows is the worst computer to use to get hacked, 99% of every computer hack is done on windows.
You need to get a total security package for your computer to help protect you from future hacks.
The most important thing to do now, using a different computer or iPhone (because you could be running a Pam that captures all keystrokes) is to change every password to every bank account, brokerage, financial institution, then to every company you have an account for.

My buddy just had this happen to him but luckily he called me before he called the number on the screen. He didn’t have any security program on his computer, but he does now. Since I’m not a windows guy (never was, never will be), I told him to call Microsoft support to get help and use the support number you find on Microsoft.com.

In the future, if you get any screen that tells you ‘you’ve been compromised’, never call the number on the screen. If the screen shows it came from Microsoft, on another computer or phone, go to Microsoft.com and use the number you find there. I get some phishing emails sometimes from PayPal, Best Buy, whoever, indicating thanks for this large purchase. I just go out to PayPal to look at my activity. I also subscribe to lifelock which alerts me on every transaction in my name or my wife’s.

Another thing you can do is to use the Webroot virus scanner. It has an add-in for your browser that scans every page before it opens for known hacks. It probably would have detected that page the moment you attempted to open it and prevented it from opening.

NoScript is not going to help if you click a link to an unknown site and wind up on a page built by a hacker, unless you use it to turn Javascript completely off.

If you insist on clicking every interesting link you see on the internet, at least turn off Javascript first, and run a page scanner like Webroot.

Same thing happens to me occasionally. I immediately shut everything down and don't turn it back on for several hours. Yes, it is an attempt to get information from you, for their nefarious purposes.

I stopped using Windows with Version 7. I had used a Chromebook for many years, but when I saw Linux Mint I converted my laptop to Linux Mint and never looked back. I still use the Chromebook 99% of the time, but every now and then I find something the Chromebook can't do (like reading strange extensions). I will NEVER use Windows again.

It’s a scam. I got caught up in that one. Close down.

[QUOTE=Taltarzac725;2295483]I am back up but have no idea what actually happened with that. I was looking at a quote by a writer and then my computer starts blaring that I should not shut it down as it noted suspicious activity.

The guy I called said I had been hacked by someone in Beijing. To my knowledge I know no one there.
/QUOTE]

The very first thing you should do, if it ever happens again, is to disbelieve what the hackers are telling you. Meaning: SHUT IT DOWN immediately. Do not make note of the number they want you to call, do not call the number. Do not do anything they want you to do. Since you said it continued to blare after you shut it down, then power all of your computer equipment down. Some of the hackers are getting sophisticated, they are con men. If you feel guilty doing the exact opposite of what they instruct, then feel free to blame me.
Good luck battling them.

I didn't scroll through all the responses so this might be a repeat of someone else. I've had that happen too. What we do is close the computer, unplug it then take the battery out briefly and put it back in. There might be a screen that will say "computer shut down improperly" but that's o.k. I was also told to simutantiously hold down the CTRL button with #4. I haven't tried that one----yet. These things pop up to steal your information so do NOT call or click on anything else "they" provide. Years ago---I did dial up the #800 and talked with a foreign guy. Somehow I had the for-sight to tell him I'd call him back (I didn't) and I hung up. A bit later I was told what these are. I just had a pop-up a week or so ago when I'd clicked on, what I thought was, an article of----I can't recall it now---what may have been a current event. These guys are getting savvy with their phishing!! So, watch out with clicking links!!!

I just watched a new movie called the beekeeper and the theme is exactly what you described happened to you. The victim managed millions in others accounts that were all compromised. Good movie

You called?? uggggh Cyber Security Software and Anti-Malware | Malwarebytes

Hack Attempt
 

I have gotten this before and it is a little scary. Just turn off and reboot, all will be ok.