[Donna May]

My Scam​

There was an attempted Scam, came through Facebook last week. Fortunately I recognised what it was and was able to run Trend Security and then cleared the Computer by Resetting the Computer. I still contacted ScamWatch and the next day IDCare phoned and came into my computer and found minor problems. I had to have this check for my Building Society. IDCare is a Government run programme and free to all. I found them very helpful for the second time. Beware, they be out there!!

 

[Tygie]

Free and helpful sounds good but letting any agency access your computer (whether to help or not) via remote access (which it sounds like this was) is a serious security breach for a computer. The agency more or less takes over your computer and can literally do anything - from change settings you don't want changed; add a back door so they can repeatedly obtain access to the computer; access your personal files - ANYTHING while 'fixing' a problem.
Having been caught out by a remote access problem fix before where a company that i trusted hacked the computer repeatedly from a remote access app they got me to install while on the phone to them, I now refuse to allow anyone outside the house to access the computer via remote access. Also i have a emergency BLOCK ALL traffic for the internet that is in the Internet security suite to use if i need which saved me during that attack. This was a tech at an ISP at the time that did this. As a result they lost me as a customer and i reported the incident to the higher ups in the company and the ombudsman.
I did a full system restore to a earlier date which wiped out the traces of the app i had downloaded and ran the internet security suite scan then downloaded any updates the computer needed and re-ran the scan again - both times a FULL SCAN.
I did this with 2 different security suites one free and one paid - both caught nothing the second time and the paid one quarrantined the app and a backdoor (rootkit) it found from the time of the incident.

While the qovt. might have well meanings - it is only as good as whoever programmed it and there is no way to know who sits at the end of it to access the computer and what they will do.

It is better to be safe than sorry and refuse the remote access and ask them to politely respect your decision and that you are not stupid and if they could guide you through fixing an issue yourself - if they genuinely want to help you they will guide you. If they object threaten them with the ombudsman - this will mostly get them to back down and co-operate but sometimes you have to stress it to get them too as some will try to call your bluff.

 

[Frigate]

This is nice to know but who is watching the watchers. I would not trust our government to give a backdoor access to my personal data.

 

[Donna May]

Free and helpful sounds good but letting any agency access your computer (whether to help or not) via remote access (which it sounds like this was) is a serious security breach for a computer. The agency more or less takes over your computer and can literally do anything - from change settings you don't want changed; add a back door so they can repeatedly obtain access to the computer; access your personal files - ANYTHING while 'fixing' a problem.
Having been caught out by a remote access problem fix before where a company that i trusted hacked the computer repeatedly from a remote access app they got me to install while on the phone to them, I now refuse to allow anyone outside the house to access the computer via remote access. Also i have a emergency BLOCK ALL traffic for the internet that is in the Internet security suite to use if i need which saved me during that attack. This was a tech at an ISP at the time that did this. As a result they lost me as a customer and i reported the incident to the higher ups in the company and the ombudsman.
I did a full system restore to a earlier date which wiped out the traces of the app i had downloaded and ran the internet security suite scan then downloaded any updates the computer needed and re-ran the scan again - both times a FULL SCAN.
I did this with 2 different security suites one free and one paid - both caught nothing the second time and the paid one quarrantined the app and a backdoor (rootkit) it found from the time of the incident.

While the qovt. might have well meanings - it is only as good as whoever programmed it and there is no way to know who sits at the end of it to access the computer and what they will do.

It is better to be safe than sorry and refuse the remote access and ask them to politely respect your decision and that you are not stupid and if they could guide you through fixing an issue yourself - if they genuinely want to help you they will guide you. If they object threaten them with the ombudsman - this will mostly get them to back down and co-operate but sometimes you have to stress it to get them too as some will try to call your bluff.

Hi Tigee, Just a reply to your statement. With respect I have used this Government SCAMWATCH and IDCare, both free to all Australians. I have no problem using them, recommended to me by G & C Credit Union, my bank. The service is quick and efficient, the same Gentleman who worked on my computer last year was the same person this time. I personally do not allow random strangers into my computer. Every Scam tried on me has been outside my control. I have no hesitation in recommending anyone to use www.scamwatch.com.au. I hope this clarifies your views and I mean no disrespect. Donna May