You were right to disconnect - Microsoft doesn't contact individual users in this way and has no means to monitor individual PCs.

If the Malwarebytes run concluded happily, you're probably ok. You need to have a more effective security program on that PC, consider changing (or installing) something better. Other contributors here have more experience with malware, you may get more helpful suggestions.

Malware like that doesn't come from nowhere. If your husband is careful about not opening email attachments from unknown senders, he picked up something from a website he visited. Careful internet use is the best way to avoid problems.

They call me on the phone every now and then. You'll be lucky if they don't call you back in next few days. Be polite but get rid of them.

I was rude to one of the phone guys telling me my computer was infecting all the internet.. He & others in his office called back everyday for a couple weeks. Threatened me, cursed me.. very rude people. Funny but gets old fast.

Lea, I would be very concerned about what he did have you install! There is no telling what it was and what kind of access this will give them to your computer in the future. I think I would take it into a computer shop and tell them what happened and have them check it out for you! Either that or Format, Partition and Reinstall Windows yourself to be 100% sure you're safe! If ever you run into anything like this again, DON'T DOWNLOAD ANYTHING. If you're concerned, take your computer in to a shop for verification! Like Snidely said, "Microsoft will never contact an Individual like this"! BTW, neither should Paypal, Ebay, Amazon, etc... it's just some kind of scam most likely to gain control of your computer and rob you blind!

I had someone call me one day saying he was with Microsoft and that my computer was at risk. I told him I had 8 computers and asked what the IP Address of the problem computer was (He couldn't answer that question for me). I told him I was a Tech and I would just reformat and reinstall. I knew my computers weren't at risk and he was full of sh*t, I have plenty of protection! He did his best to try and get me to install something from some website, and the Microsoft name was no where to be found at that website (I took a look after I got off the phone).

I did Contact and Report this to Microsoft giving them the Number the call came from. I was assured it was a scam and that they would try tracking the number I gave them. He said chances were it was a dummy number and tracking it wouldn't do any good, but thank you for reporting it! He took no more information other than the number I offered!

Can you say SCAM? never ever take phone calls or messages pop up's seriously about your PC and especially never download anything a scammer tells you to OMG! Not only does Microsoft not contact you it is very difficult to contact them, you can get answers etc. at the MS group forum, but that's about it.

I got a call similar to mikie_gw . I told the guy I had a Mac (I don't) and he hung up.

I seldom waste the opportunity to hassle those callers. One guy called me all kinds of nasty verbs, accused me of doing obscene things to myself and other salacious activities THEN got really mad that I wasted his time and chewed me out for that. I suggested mildly that it he knew darn well it was a scam and why should I care. He responded that yes, of course, it’s a scam but that didn’t give me the right to waste his time.

Well what can you say?

Well I do waste their time. I string them along for a while but don't actually do anything to my pc that they suggest. That way they aren't bothering anyone else, especially the gullible.

I agree with bugspop. You should do more to scan the computer, but you should go in to your Control Panel first and uninstall the program that you downloaded and installed...who knows what that was? Besides taking over your computer, it could have dumped some malware onto your hard drive.

Totally apart from the fact that you ran Malwarebytes afterwards, do you have a standard antivirus program running and up-to-date, and have you had it perform a full scan? I would also suggest you download and run the free version of SuperAntiSpyware: SAS

I never did come out and say it and should have, but yes you should definitely try and Uninstall anything you downloaded and installed in accordance with this person. I'd also Delete the Files you downloaded if you saved them.

Doing an Online Virus Scan at Eset Free Online Scanner won't hurt either!

I have to agree with the above. Do not do any online shopping or put anything on that computer. They are scammers, and are trying to get your information and you have given them free access. I do agree, to take your computer somewhere and get it totally cleaned and if a reformat is necessary, have them do it. If you get any more calls, just tell them, you do not have a computer, and hang up. Any credit card numbers your husband has used, on there to order online, could be compromised.

If one, and better, two of the top malware programs say all is clear, then all is clear.

Snidely, I always have trouble trusting those programs to find everything. I'm not saying they didn't find everything, I just don't 100% trust that they caught everything. I did run into a problem with Norton's many, many years ago not catching a virus our son had downloaded. Ever since then I just can't put all of my faith in any of those programs (even if 4-5 programs were saying I'm clear)! Myself, I'd have to do a Complete Format and Reinstall after an episode like this, just to be sure, But that's me!

You feel how you feel, whether it's justified or not, that's that.

But as you seem to suspect you should have overcome a long ago negative experience and haven't (and I agree with you), you're not doing anyone a favor by passing on such an overly sensitive view as "advice". If that's "just you", fine. Keep it just FOR you too. Or, at least let others know where you stand with something like "I had a bad experience and since then I don't fully rely on security software. I may be overly cautious, but this is what I do....... "

OK?

(Reason being, many who come here for advice are true novices and may readily assume that offered advice that's alarming and overly cautious about their situation is warranted. Panic spreads too easily)

A couple of things.....first, I did not contact them. That message which said if I shut down my computer I might lose my hard drive came on the screen and something to the effect to contact Microsoft immediately and it gave the number which I called. I know now that was wrong but I was duped. Secondly I did run the Malwarebytes Anti Malware afterwards. I also have Avast and it said I was covered. We have had a death in the family so have been away and he has not used the computer. I will definitely go see if I can find the program that was downloaded. I really wish that I had written down what that message said. Thanks everyone.