OFF THE WALL QUESTION for a computer

[MK]

As for the sudden reinstall of Windows 10, are you sure you contacted Microsoft, not some scammer's website?  You didn't get any warnings or hints to back up your personal  data?  What happened sounds fishy to me.

I suspect it wasn't Microsoft.  Windows doesn't all of a sudden reinstall itself.

[wcfn100]

So this machine is connected to the VISIO router with the ethernet cable?


Jason

[woodone]

Peteski- I, will do that ( sketch of equipment hook up).
I am going back your instructions on photos— I got to learn how to do them.
MK, the new download from MS happened while they had remoter control.
So I am petty sure it was MS.
Hook up is like this—-all service for my computer,TV & phone come from one source- Cox.
I have a TV control box which recorded programs Etc. it has a separate line(cable)
The computer has a single line in to a modem ( coax )connection, then to the Visio router via Ethernet cable.
There is also on the modem, a phone jack (RS 11 connector).
Out of the modem there is the phone and the Ethernet cable which goes to the computer.
I also looked at the in box out side of house- there is a single coax cable into a splitter. One TV. One computer?
I think that covers it but a sketch will follow.

[C855B]

...
MK, the new download from MS happened while they had remoter control.
So I am petty sure it was MS.
...

Danger Will Robinson!

I'm not a current MS user, so the others will have to answer - does Microsoft actually do business this way? This is how a lot of scammers work, by posing as Microsoft technicians and gaining remote access to root around in your system, planting malware. I cannot imagine for a second MS would actually be doing personal remote-access given the way MS is deflecting all support away from live humans to online and automated phone response.

[DKS]

Danger Will Robinson!

I'm not a current MS user, so the others will have to answer - does Microsoft actually do business this way? This is how a lot of scammers work, by posing as Microsoft technicians and gaining remote access to root around in your system, planting malware. I cannot imagine for a second MS would actually be doing personal remote-access given the way MS is deflecting all support away from live humans to online and automated phone response.

^^^ This ^^^

The circumstances have to be exceedingly extraordinary (think: pretty much never) before I let anyone remote to my PC.

[C855B]

Seeing that David confirmed my assessment, and the more I dwell on it...

Jerry @woodone , in my professional opinion I believe your system has been hacked.

Several points to this discussion have tipped me off. First, you now mention that "Microsoft" had remote access to your system. Microsoft doesn't do that. Second, you have a fairly old desktop tower system. I have very serious doubts that MS would waste their very valuable time resurrecting a relative antique. Third, everyone here in the thread seems to be focused on keyboard issues. This along with your WiFi connection problems lead me to assess somebody has planted some rather poorly-written (...no surprise...) hacked drivers as "man-in-the-middle" intercepts of keyboard and internet data. A new keyboard is unlikely to solve your problem. Fourth, you assess your own computer skills as minimal, so it would follow that you might not recognize these "...this isn't right..." cues.

My recommendation? You would be time and money ahead to set this system aside and start from scratch with a new machine. With the new computer, and only the new computer, log into every account you have and change your passwords. Then review all your accounts - again only on the "virgin" system, and audit for transactions and other activity you don't recognize. The suspected hack was installed to record account IDs and passwords for later use, most likely to drain your financial accounts. This would happen weeks or months after you "fixed" the problem with your computer, no matter who helped, so you wouldn't easily associate your computer problems with new financial woes.

As far as rescuing files from your soon-to-be-scrapped computer, I suggest professional help. Take it to a reputable repair shop, tell them what we think happened, and let them determine how to recover your files. The danger I have in mind is the hack may also have planted a "disk" or other storage driver that would contaminate a USB stick or other portable file device, which would then hack the new system.

Guys... am I off-base here? The "remote access" thing throws a big red flag.

[woodone]

WOW !  You say take this to a pro computer person-why would he not be a hack?
I guess that I am old school. A hand shake on a deal is has good has gold.
I do a lot of DCC installs for people all over the USA, IF they have a problem with the install, they can call me and I we’ll see if I can get him or her going, if that fails all they need to do is send it back to me and I will make it good, refund the $$ or something.
My word is his guarantee.
I have yet to fail to make the customer happy..
have  you ever try to contact MS.
Let me tell you this, you have to have the patience of Job to be on hold before you get a live person on the line.
Then they try to help via telling to to try different things- most times they solve my problem this way- would a hacker spend this much time with you?
Also is it a sign of a hack when I shut the computer down there is a up date, before it turns off.
I do NO on line banking- bank hates me- still write checks and mail them, my creditors don’t like that either.
But my credit score is way above average. & don’t have a huge dept.[
I guess I better stick to the nuts & bolts that I am very familiar with.

[MK]

have  you ever try to contact MS.
Let me tell you this, you have to have the patience of Job to be on hold before you get a live person on the line.
Then they try to help via telling to to try different things- most times they solve my problem this way- would a hacker spend this much time with you?

So YOU were the one who initiated the call with Microsoft?  And you didn't call a number that came in an e-mail or on a pop-up on your screen?  If that's the case then probably you are ok.  If not, as others have said, Danger!  Will Robinson!

This happened to a friend of mine.  He's not computer savvy and is elderly.  A pop-up came on his screen saying that his computer is infected and to call Microsoft to get it fixed.  He called the number and gave the person on the other end remote access.  Turns out it was someone from India.  They were snooping around on his PC for hours and ended up installed, what appears to be a legitimate copy of Norton Anti-virus but charged his credit card (yes, he gave them that too!  ) $400.  I think they did that so that if he contested the charge with his CC company the other side would say that they gave him something in return for the $400 so it's not fraud.  Though Norton AV is probably $30 on Amazon.

[woodone]

Yes, I contacted MS.
Your description of your friend fits me to a tee.
3 days older than dirt.. LOL
I have had that same message-they lock you up in a screen that is very hard to get out of.
How they do that I have no idea!

[peteski]

Peteski- I, will do that ( sketch of equipment hook up).
I am going back your instructions on photos— I got to learn how to do them.
MK, the new download from MS happened while they had remoter control.
So I am petty sure it was MS.
Hook up is like this—-all service for my computer,TV & phone come from one source- Cox.
I have a TV control box which recorded programs Etc. it has a separate line(cable)
The computer has a single line in to a modem ( coax )connection, then to the Visio router via Ethernet cable.
There is also on the modem, a phone jack (RS 11 connector).
Out of the modem there is the phone and the Ethernet cable which goes to the computer.
I also looked at the in box out side of house- there is a single coax cable into a splitter. One TV. One computer?
I think that covers it but a sketch will follow.

I'm still confused.  You say things like "The computer has a single line in to a modem ( coax )connection" and to ma a "computer" is your PC (tower) that you provided photos of.  There were no coax connections on it (and I wouldn't expect it to have coax connector on  a back of a PC, unless you have a TV tuner PCI card installed in your PC).  You also don't mention WiFi. Where does that fit in?

It will be very helpful to see a diagram of all the pieces of the equipment and cabling between them.

[CBQ Fan]

I have a Canon all in one printer that refuses to learn our new WiFi system. So $26 at Best Buy and I have a new one from HP on order.  Should be in at the store in a few days. My Canon is one of the early wireless printers so I feel I have gotten my money out of it. Also ink alone for the old one costs more than the new printer!  Lol.

[peteski]

I have a Canon all in one printer that refuses to learn our new WiFi system. So $26 at Best Buy and I have a new one from HP on order.  Should be in at the store in a few days. My Canon is one of the early wireless printers so I feel I have gotten my money out of it. Also ink alone for the old one costs more than the new printer!  Lol.

HP inks will also cost you an arm and a leg.  Don't think it will cost you any less than the Cannon.   

[CBQ Fan]

HP inks will also cost you an arm and a leg.  Don't think it will cost you any less than the Cannon.

Oh I know it won’t be any cheaper!  Kind of like razors and blades!  I was just pointing out the cost of a new printer was less than buying replacement cartridges, which I actually need to get for the old one if I was going to keep using it.

[Steveruger45]

I get my Canon printer cartridges from EBay vendor.  They work perfectly and much much less $$$
https://www.ebay.com/itm/221639765111

[woodone]

Peteski- will be sending you a diagram of equipment and cable hook up.
WIFI ?  The reason I got the Visio router was so I could use a computer upstairs with out running a hard wire cable.
At least that is what I thought the router was for- I do have a Canon printer that is wireless- don’t know if it get a connection via Visio router or if there is some sort of connection via computer. There are NO connections between the printer to any thing other than a 110 volt plug to a shall socket.
Drawing on its way to you.