The second Monday in February is National Clean Out Your Computer Day, making your computer a great place to jump-start any spring cleaning. Keeping your computer secure and free of unnecessary data is a great way to keep it safe from spyware and keep you safe from identity theft, says Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Tech support scams, the subject of a BBB in-depth investigative study in 2017, remain a common threat, with more than 1,400 such scams reported nationwide to BBB Scam Tracker in 2020. A pop-up on your computer or an unsolicited phone call may tell you your computer needs imminent repairs. If you allow the scammer access to “fix” your computer, they may install spyware or malware that will scan your computer for personal information or monitor your web-surfing behavior, opening you up to identity theft.
A Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, woman reported losing $8,000 to a tech support scam in December 2020. The woman told BBB Scam Tracker she was instructed to call a phone number that appeared on her computer screen after the screen locked up. The person who answered the phone, who claimed to be with Microsoft, said her computer had been hacked by Russians. He instructed her to purchase eight $1,000 Lowe’s gift cards and read the numbers on the back to him.
Tech experts recommend four ways to keep your computer safe and running optimally:
- Clean up old files: Go through all installed software on your computer and uninstall or remove the programs you no longer want or need. You also should delete files you no longer need.
- Update your computer: Install updates to your computer’s operating systems and your software as soon as they become available. Your computer should notify you of available updates. You also can search for software updates for your accessories, such as printers and routers, by going to the support area of those devices’ websites and searching for “firmware update.”
- Back up your files: It’s critical to back up important files on a regular basis in case of theft, fire, viruses or a damaging power surge. This includes irreplaceable digital photos, documents, email addresses, calendar items, web bookmarks and more. You can use a local solution like a USB flash drive or external hard drive, keeping it in a safe place, or you can use a cloud solution.
- Keep your computer secure: Be sure to use virus protection or cybersecurity software to safeguard your computer from viruses, spyware, hackers, scams and more.
For assistance, go to bbb.org or call 888-996-3887. Report any scams to BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker
