Everything You Need to Know about Tech Support Scams

It seems like for every good thing out there, there's a bad counterpart. Such is the case with tech support, which is a vital and valuable service that helps get your workers back to business after a virus, software crash, or hardware failure. Great tech support teams can improve the performance of the machines, remove adware, viruses, and other unwanted software (often called crapware or junkware), and even help you install new systems, software, and peripheral devices like printers and modems for greater employee efficiency.

Unfortunately, there are also scammers posing as tech support gurus, and their goal is not to provide you with computer or network support -- it's to rid your coffers of some cash your business would likely rather keep. Tech support scamming could very well be the single greatest scam around, victimizing about 3 million people each year and consuming $1.5 billion in the process. These scams target both businesses and individuals, so keep an eye out for these criminals both at work and at home, and be sure your workers are aware of the problem, especially those at branch offices who are removed from the primary headquarters. Here's everything you need to know to keep your systems and users safe.

How the Tech Support Scams Work

The scammer poses as a tech support professional. Usually, they call the victim on the phone (see variations below) and try to trick the victim into following a series of steps, which culminate in the victim giving the scammer remote access to control their computer. Once in the system, the scammer charges the victim hundreds of dollars to remove "malware" that isn't really even there (if there is malware, they don't actually find or remove it). Similarly, the scammers might sign the victim up for an ongoing computer or network support plan or some useless antivirus software package.

Variations of the Tech Support Scam to Watch Out For

In addition to the old fashioned phone call, tech support scammers might also:

• Embed pop up ads into websites, claiming that the victim's computer is infected with a virus. The pop up scam promises to remove it, but the services performed are useless and potentially harmful.
• Similarly, pop up ads on websites might claim to be able to boost the speed of the victim's computer, instead taking them to a malicious website where they get infected and charged for the privilege.
• Malicious ads in web searches that lure in victims looking for actual tech support.

Unfortunately, these and similar scams are on the rise. The problem is serious enough to have attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, which has issued warnings about these scams.

How to Protect Yourself Against Computer & Internet Scammers

Get good security policies and procedures in place and stop worrying about it.

Protecting your business systems and users from tech support scams is similar to protecting against similar scams, including ransomware (which is also rising sharply in both frequency and severity) and phishing scams (which often use social engineering to construct messages that convince even savvy users to give up their login credentials or other sensitive info).

• Establish a backup solution. Back up regularly, thoroughly, and disconnect the backup from the primary system when not in use.
• Keep software, antivirus protection, and firmware (software to power your printer, modem, and other connected devices) up to date with regular patches.
• Use pop up blockers and ad blocking software.
• Use browser filters, spam filters, and train users on the dangers of opening suspicious emails.
• Never allow anyone you don't know to gain remote access to your computer system(s).
• Don't download software unless you're 100% sure where it came from and who the developers are.
• Report scams to the authorities. The more information they have, the greater chance there is that they can get it stopped.

Inevitably, your network security is too important to trust with anyone you aren't sure of. Meet with a TTI cyber security expert to find your best protection plan today.