PAST MEETINGS

January 7, 2019 - Hammondsport Mac Users Group

ATTENDING : Tom B, Gene N, John M, Bill M, Russ C, Luanne G.

TOPIC : HOW TO COMBAT SPAM, SCAMS AND SCHEMES

Here are a few things you might do to reduce your chances of being tricked or scammed by phony emails, false virus alerts and ransomware payments.

1) PUT A STICKY NOTE over your computer's cam eye and keep it covered except when you are Skyping or using FaceTime.

2) DO NOT CLICK on any links found in Virus Alert emails or pop-up warnings in your web browser.

3) DO NOT CALL any phone numbers in emails that warn of viruses or hacked accounts.

The best response to these spams and phishing emails is to Trash them and mark them SPAM. If you are concerned about a personal account, go online and log in at the site or used a trusted bookmark.

We watched a couple of short video tutorials from Gary on MacMost :

Checking For and Removing Adware from Your Mac - video (7:16)

Learn to Avoid Phishing Attempts - video (6:49)

EXAMPLE OF LEGITMATE GMAIL ALERT :

Learn How to Mark or Unmark Spam in Gmail - see how here

EXAMPLE OF RECENT SCAM ALERT

SCAM - AppleCare - virus hoax - see screenshot of actual hoax warning and text

Phishing scammers are spoofing Applecare phone number -
Read similar reports at Apple Support here

EXAMPLE OF RECENT MALWARE :

WeKnow-AC-hijacker - see how to remove this stubborn malware at MacSecurity here - another solution from MalwareFixes here

APPS

DetectX - free download and no-limit trial from Sqwarq - quickly find malware and adware hidden in your Mac - DetectXSwift for 10.11+ and DetectX for 10.9+

IN THE NEWS

ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Miridian Response) - or subliminal audio - used in Super Bowl beer commercial to heightened your senses, relax your mind and, of course, sell you something. Read more here and here

NEXT MEETING - first Monday of each month

Hammondsport Mac Users Group - Hammondsport, NY 14840 - www.hportmug.com