As AI surpasses human intelligence, hackers on all fronts are using AI to compromise your computer for a variety of scams.  It is important to be very careful and watch for signs of surreptitious activity on your computer.

Customers are coming to me with computers that have remote control and key logging software install.  The software is legitimate, one for tech support and one for parental control, be the customers did not install the software or know who did.  These tools are used by hackers to collect data on your computer and then remotely retrieve it.

The customers did not ever know their computer was compromised - only that "funny things" were happening, which is why they contaced me.

The user does not know their computer is compromised.

Advertisements have been used to exploit computer users for a long time.  The victim will get a full screen pop-up with a message that indicates the computer is infected and the user must call a number right away - sometimes it pretends to be Microsoft or Apple, but any company can be spoofed for these attacks.  If the victim calls the number, the person who answers tricks them into allowing control of the computer, opening up a variety of avenues for exploitation.

Today, hackers use clever techniques to use that same advertising network to install malicious code into the computer.  This usually requires a second step the user must take, perhaps an e-mail or a targeted prompt.

Check your system tray from time to time - the "system tray" is the lower right corner of your Windows desktop, usually including the date and time.  If you see any symbols you do not understand, ask somebody!  Click the carat (^) to view all the icons.  Hover your mouse pointer over an icon to see a popup with the name of the program.  Remote control programs include:

• Screen Connect
• Team Viewer
• Splashtop Viewer
• Anydesk

If you see any of these and did not install them, remove them immediately and run a full scan of your computer.