Bogus Virus Warning!

I spent at least an hour this morning on the phone

with Apple Support.

The week of Christmas, who has time for that?

So...I'm going to tell you about my experience and

hope it might help you avoid a similar fate.

I was browsing Facebook as I remember.

I clicked on something unusual but interesting.

My screen started flashing and telling me that I had

fallen prey to a virus and must call an 800 number

to free my computer.

The message took over the whole screen, and

there was no getting rid of it.

I even forced the computer to quit, but when I

started it again, it was still flashing and warning!

This is a very helpless feeling.

But, if it happens to you, don't panic.

It is a scam about which you can see many videos

on YouTube.

(After, of course, you get your computer unlocked!)

 First and foremost, by all means, 

DO NOT CALL THE 800 number on the screen!!!

That will give the scammers access to all

your information!

Because I have a relatively new Mac, I called

Apple Care.

The consultant knew my problem immediately.

He was able to legally get on my screen with me and 

walk me through the fix.

This message allegedly came from Microsoft.

But no one will ever legally invade your computer

 in this way.

If you go to YouTube and enter something like

my title, you will see many videos about the problem.

I "took a bullet" for y'all and watched one for

34 tedious minutes! 

Want to know why the scammers do this?

To "fix" the problem and protect you from future

problems, they charge

 $299 for 2 years or $499 for 5 years.

My Apple consultant said he had heard of

charges as high as $700!

And this for a problem which does not exist.

I feel like I'm not being much help here.

I don't even remember how "we" fixed my problem.

It was just a few clicks.

I sure don't have any advice about a PC.

Oh, yes I do!

DON'T CALL THE 800 number!

Now that I've done my best to protect my little

chickadees, I've just got to get to wrapping some

packages!

Y'all be careful out there in cyberspace, hear?