Posted on 06/06/2025 2:39:55 PM PDT by Michael.SF.
I use an app which shuts off update service from microsoft. Updates tie up my computers for lots of time. I activate updates every 4 to 6 months.
Shut down your computer and unplug your wifi. Easy.
My routercraft is full of eels.
Spyware..........
“That kind of access to a computer is very risky.”
I tend to agree with that. A couple times I needed computer help with a program, I believe one time was Norton Anti Virus. They asked permission to get inside my computer, I gave it.
By way of the internet I could see the mouse moving around, folders opening and closing when the Norton guy was doing the fix.
Allowing someone else to get inside your computer is risky, anything can happen.
Yes. This is likely the correct answer.
Are you sure that the “computer help system” that you subscribe to is a legitimate company? Do they access your computer only when you ask them to?
The browser companies are making money off of ad revenue and aren't controlling the systems as well as they could. Such ads should blocked as malware, and the domain hosts warned they'll be cut off from the browser if they don't stop the poor code from going out.
Microsoft Teams doesn't run clean either. Although rare, I've had audio hijacked from that too. No ads, but it doesn't recognize the microphone after exiting a meeting depending on who I'm connecting with.
We were having supper one evening when we heard voices coming from our smart TV. It was turned off and the sound system was also off...
ANY third-party or native remote assistance application can ostensibly spy on you. If they leave open an audio channel, it's possible you'd hear something from the other side. However, legitimate assistance programs, such as the native Quick Assist in Windows, will prompt you at least once to approve a remote connection.
I'd suggest you go through your Add and Remove Programs view in Windows and remove any remote assistance programs from your system. These include things like DameWare, TeamViewer, LogMeIn Rescue, AnyDesk, RealVNC, and the like. Unfortunately, if you have a malicious actor connecting to your machine, they already have your data and now have the ability to listen and watch any activity on your machine. Run whatever antivirus programs you have available or run an offline scan with Microsoft Defender:
How to start a scan for viruses or malware in Microsoft Defender
Honestly, this is kind of a weird flex. Over 90% of breaches are caused by a combination of phishing and unpatched machines. It's trivially easy for a threat actor to move laterally in a corporate environment when unpatched machines abound, regardless of the OS.
Just last month, Microsoft released patches for over 70 vulnerabilities and 5 zero-days which are in-the-wild exploits of the Windows OS (10 & 11). You say you haven't updated in "the past few years," you are literally gambling with your security.
Shut up Stella I mean Alexa.😁
I have a treadmill that has bluetooth speaker so I can listen to music from my cell phone thru them.
I have never set that up yet one day earlier this year I hear thru that speaker my neighbor 3 doors away talking maybe 20ft away (apt). He has an accent from Africa or Bahamas so I knew it was him. It happened one time so far. The treadmill was powered on at the time but not in use.
So maybe some bluetooth connection or the NSA is monitoring you...
I wonder if there is an award out for you messing with the gov’t?
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