Win update

Harold Dye · Post by **Harold Dye** » 21 Sep 2018 5:26 am

I received an email telling me that I had been filmed visiting some unacceptable websites and I had to pay $3000 dollars or everyone on my email list would be sent a copy of the email with the ability to see me doing it. This was a scam. I started having problems with my computers speed in booting up and shutting down. It got to the point I would have to force a shutdown and when I would run a scan it might or might not shut down and I would have to force it and then reboot in safe mode. I carried it to a tech shop to find the problem and the tech said he could not find a problem and all he did was clean the computer. I have received 3 win updates and have tried to install them. One is a important update and two are optional. I tried several times to download them but the computer would stall and I would force a shutdown. After several attempts it shows they were installed but I have gotten a notice of new updates and they are the same ones. Should I try to delete the ones shown as installed and try to download them again? The tech I carried the computer to said just delete the email I had received because he could not find any problems caused by it.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 21 Sep 2018 7:43 am

The email scam was just that and nothing more. I get them also and delete after reporting them to SpamCop. The only way it could damage your computer would be if it had an attachment, or a link which you opened and allowed it to launch an exploit attack. If you simply read the email and deleted it, there shouldn't be any effect on the computer itself.

So, was there an attachment or link and did you open it?

Harold Dye · Post by **Harold Dye** » 21 Sep 2018 9:08 am

No Wiz there was no attachment or any links. I deleted it but since the computer started acting a little different after I received it I was concerned. My computer has been slowing down and not shutting down when I tried and when I tried to update Win sometimes it would not shut down and restart as directed. I have run a complete virus scan and it seems to be working better now, still a little slow. I checked the Win updates and one of the important updates has been installed 3 times and it is in Win update again along with 2 optional updates that have been installed. Should I try to install them again? BTW, the scam email had my login password in it and I changed that.

Ken Boi · Post by **Ken Boi** » 22 Sep 2018 4:01 am

I have received this same email scam also. As suggested, just delete it.

Something you might consider if you are not a frequent user of the camera on your computer or tablet, then block the camera lens (e.g., tape something over the camera lens). There are actual ways that your camera can be accessed unknowingly by unscrupulous persons.

Harold Dye · Post by **Harold Dye** » 22 Sep 2018 4:55 am

Ken due to info I started hearing a few years ago I covered both the camera and the mike. It has been that way for a few years. last week when I carried my computer to a tech I asked him to remove both the camera and the mike. I don't or have ever visited any porn sites or any questionable sites but I don't want to have someone spy on me so I covered them. Now all that is taken care of.