Navigating Computer Scares: A Personal Encounter with a “Locked Up” Virus

In our increasingly digital world, encountering malware, viruses, and other online threats has become an unfortunate reality for many users. Recently, my wife faced one such dilemma. She fell victim to a virus that displayed a warning message claiming, “Your computer has been locked up,” along with a prompt to call an unfamiliar number: 833-324-0303.

When she dialed the number, she was met by a person claiming to represent Microsoft. Naturally, I advised her to restart her computer to see if that would alleviate the issue. During the call, when she inquired about the company’s official website, the individual responded with unusual assurance: “This is the way we do it—having a site doesn’t help.” This suspicious statement raised several red flags for us.

Fortunately, after restarting her Apple computer, the warning message vanished, demonstrating how effective a simple reboot can be in these scenarios. I’ve encountered similar issues with my Windows devices about once every couple of years, and shutting them down has consistently resolved the problem.

I’d love to hear thoughts or experiences from fellow readers on this matter. Have you faced similar situations? What measures do you take to protect your devices from such threats?

Thank you for sharing your insights!