Windows 10: Possible scam

I had occasion to use my backup computer today, an older model hp. It fired right up, ran fast and clean and the graphics were good. After a couple of hours I got a message, presumably from, I thought, Microsoft informing me that PowerApp had been disabled and gave me the solution to fix it. Among the "solutions" was changing the settings on a number of websites and changing search settings Microsoft or Google?, both of which sounded a littlelot sketchy to me. In the place of the button or icon, or whatever the hell it is called, that I'm supposed to click on to customize my search settings -those three little dots- there is now an orange exclamation mark. I have not done anything to the computer since, other than write this, that is to say I have not opened anything or complied with those suggested remedies. I am reasonably sure how I got this whatever it is and will not go into that here, other than to say that I will implement greater security measures in the future. This seems to be a bit better done than some of the other things I have seen, if it is indeed a scam. I am the opposite of IT/tech savvy, but I'm quickly getting better, but something like this is out of my league. Is there anyone out there who can help me out?

:)

 

Possible scam?

Hi Thomas,

I can understand the situation you are going through. To help you further, we need the following information.

• Which Microsoft website have you visited?
• What is the phone number that you have contacted?
• What is the make and model of the computer?

I suggest you to refer to the links for more information on possible scams.

Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/online-privacy/msname.aspx

HOW TO: Report the Microsoft phone scam

HOW TO: Report the Microsoft phone scam - Microsoft Security

@ bhringer, thank you for bringing this to our notice.

Please get back to us with the above information.

 

scam alert possibly??

Yes, that's an ongoing scam.

Suggest to read/view:

• Protect yourself from tech support scams
• Beware of Phony Tech Support Scams

 

Possible virus or scam

As already mentioned:

All these kind of pop-ups/alerts are fake warnings - scams. Never ever call these numbers.

Please read:
Beware of Phony Tech Support Scams

Normally you just close your browser:
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2014/11/psa-tech-support-scams-pop-ups-on-the-rise/

8 Ways to Open Windows Task Manager - wikiHow

You might want to run a quick scan with your Anti-Virus program.

In case you keep on getting these fake alerts:

Follow the steps provided here: Remove Tech Support Scam pop-up (Call For Support Scam)

Suggestion to read:

• Scam Pop-Ups: What You Need to Know

• Avoiding technical support scams
• Tech Support Scams – Help & Resource Page
• Best Practices for Safe Computing - Prevention of Malware Infection

You might want to report this to Microsoft (but you don't have to):
http://support.microsoft.com/reportascam

and you might want to watch:

Fake Tech Support Scams – video from the MS Digital Crimes Unit