careful with computer use and practice safe computing, but you may want to pass this on to other Windows users, since the scam referenced in the linked article is aimed at that demographic.
Security alert: Bogus tech-support phone calls (https://windowssecrets.com/top-story/security-alert-bogus-tech-support-phone-calls/)
The article details the scam. I’ve actually received a call like this recently. It boggles my mind that whole call centers (I heard the typical cheap, mass call center sounds in the background) can be run funded by suckers who fall for this scam, but there you are: one born every minute, I suppose.
Microsoft offers a simple security audit (referenced in the article linked above) that can get casual computer users started.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2534555/en-us
Be aware: if you prefer managing your Windows Updates manually, the Fixit applet will tag that as a security problem. It’s not IF you are faithful in performing your manual updates.
If you want to perform a more detailed security scan, consider Secunia PSI (“Personal Software Inspector”– http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/). It’ll scan for any known security holes in installed software and prompt you to update the software. Good stuff, Maynard.
Feel free to pass this along to folks you feel might need the information.
Secunia PSI is a great tool. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now, and it’s great to get updates whenever they become available.
I have really appreciated Secunia PSI up until some recent updated versions have proven to be really, really slow on some computers. *shrugs* Sure, it must be the configuration of those computers, since it’s not consistent across the board, but tracking down the one or two things that hang it up can be a PITA. Sometimes I have found it quicker to look at what it suggests needs updating and then using Ninite Installer to just install fresh copies of whatever, since it’s the download/install process in Secunia PSI that seems so slow on those computers that have issues.