I work for an elderly lady who recently received a scam phone call, and I believe she might have gotten hacked. She can't recall exactly what happened, but she likely followed their instructions and could have installed something malicious or clicked on a harmful link. When I arrived shortly after the incident, her computer was unresponsive, and after turning it off and back on, it displayed a boot error and couldn't repair itself. It's a Dell Windows machine, and I'm unsure what the next steps should be. Should I try booting it up in safe mode? I'm not very experienced with this sort of tech issue. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Definitely go with wiping and reinstalling Windows. Before doing that, you should backup any important files on a flash drive, though this process can be time-consuming and a bit risky if there are forgotten passwords involved. Still, it's better to try before doing a complete wipe.
First things first, disconnect the computer from any network immediately. After that, use a different, secure device to change all passwords for any online accounts that might have been compromised. Make sure two-factor authentication is set up using a mobile app. Once you've secured the accounts, check the computer for important files and consider performing a full wipe and reinstall of Windows to clear any potential threats. And just a heads up, be careful about offering any rewards; it goes against group rules.
If the computer is relatively new, I suggest checking Dell's support site and entering her Service Tag. This will help you find any warranty information or technical support. The Service Tag is usually found on a sticker; on towers, it’s commonly on top, while laptops might have it in very fine print on a black label.
Related Questions
Can't Load PhpMyadmin On After Server Update
Redirect www to non-www in Apache Conf
How To Check If Your SSL Cert Is SHA 1
Windows TrackPad Gestures