Thursday 3 November 2016

A Warning and a Valuable Lesson

I thought I would post this in the hope that it doesn't happen to any of you. I use my iPad for commenting and have noticed an increase in the number of ads popping up when I am commenting, mainly when commenting on challenge entries. On my iPad the ad pops up in a separate tab and I immediately close the tab without even looking at it.

On Wednesday afternoon I was scheduling some posts on my blog using my laptop as I can't add photos to blog posts on my iPad. It is also much easier to add html code on my laptop plus the screen is of course much bigger.

It was my turn to choose the top three at Crafty Ribbons and I clicked on an entry in order to copy the  photo to add to my DT blog. Oh dear, I had a pop up saying there was a virus and an American voice saying I had to call a number to get it sorted. I couldn't close it, my antivirus started scanning, reported no problems and I was in a panic. I called hubby who crashed it. When he opened it up again it was still there with a message that the hard drive would delete! 

He rang a friend who repairs computers and he said to crash it immediately. The number quoted is a scam which I suspected but I can imagine some people would ring it in a panic. Hubby took the laptop to his friend and he has sorted it out for me. Thankfully no harm done except to my purse as it cost me to have it fixed of course.

So, had I backed up my recent work, financial spreadsheets, my craft accounts? Not for a couple of weeks and I had recently completed a 10 card magazine commission and had typed all the instructions, shopping list etc. I would have been very annoyed if I had to type all that again. So lesson learnt, I shall be backing up my laptop after every use in future, and won't be clicking on challenge entries on my laptop again.

15 comments:

Glennis F said...

This popped up on my PC yesterday morning, While it was flashing at me, I turned on my tablet, and found it was a scam, so I just closed my browser (chrome) and when I re opened it , the message had gone. I have run my anti-virus program but nothing has showed up. I would be interested to know how yours was fixed.

Janette said...

That's just awful, I do know exactly what you mean, it can be scary on the web, I will be extra vigilant now, thanks so much for sharing.x

Dawn said...

Thanks for the heads up! It always pays to be a step ahead of the game!
Glad you're sorted out now too!
Hugs
Dawn xx

rachel said...

my mum has had this Marianne - I didn't realise you could get it from clicking on a link to a challenge - this is very scary. hugs Rachel x

Crafty Mamma Mia said...

Thanks for the warning Marianne - I've had some pop-ups when I've been using our main computer but, like you, close them immediately without looking at them! I shall certainly up my vigilance and ensure our hard drive is backing up regularly.
Hope you're OK otherwise.
Helen x

cuilliesocks said...

Thank you for sharing this mMarianne, I can understand why you would panic, pleased you got it sorted, Kate x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Oh my! Bad story! You have been so lucky to can repair it! Thanks for the warning!!!

Wendy Nicola Jackson said...

That's awful Marianne! Glad you were able to get it sorted, but man what a pain! Thanks for clueing the rest of us in. Hugs, Wends xoxo

Dr Sonia S V said...

Oooh sounds so scary

aussie aNNie said...

I hope it's all sorted out now, what these idiots get out of damaging our goods is beyond me. I often would get a similar message when downloading a kit file which is always a free one, but immediately close down my pc, do a scan to make sure no virus has entered and leave it for a while then re-start...it has gone...
I always back onto an external drive...good idea.
take care.xx

misteejay said...

Frightening that you could have lost so much work.
Thanks for the 'heads up'.
Toni xx

Debra K. said...

Thanks for the warning Marianne. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Good thing you recognised it as a scam and have got it sorted. I'll definitely watch out for any suspicious on my tablet. Debra x

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Oh my goodness. What a nightmare. I will be backing up later today.

xxx

Allicat said...

Scarey stuff Marianne, I hate it when you have up to date anti virus protection and yet these things slip through the net. I had one a few years ago and it wouldn't let me navigate away from a certain web page, quite disturbing. I learned the hard way but it's quite a few years ago now and I bet I have slipped back into my bad habits. I'm so glad you got it sorted.
Love Alli Xx

Erika said...

I'm sure commenting on posts from my phone lead to me getting lots of phishing issues on my blog too. Nightmare isn't it?
Hope you haven't lost anything.

Hugs Erika. x