ISP had us run netstat and said we have a security issue

Understanding a Recent Scam Attempt: A Cautionary Tale from a Tech-Savvy User

In today’s digital landscape, scams and phishing attempts are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often targeting even well-informed users. Recently, a story surfaced involving a call from someone claiming to be from an internet service provider (ISP), which highlights the importance of recognizing suspicious activity and knowing how to respond appropriately.

The Incident

A homeowner received a phone call purportedly from their ISP, Xfinity. The caller instructed the homeowner’s father to run a network diagnostic command—specifically, the netstat command—on his personal computer. The output displayed approximately 70 network connections, with around 40 marked as “Established.” The caller insisted that this was evidence of a security breach, suggesting that numerous unauthorized users had access to their Wi-Fi network.

Furthermore, the caller offered to connect remotely so he could “fix the problem,” prompting suspicions.

Red Flags and Analysis

1. Unsolicited Contact: Legitimate ISPs typically do not initiate support calls requiring users to run commands or grant remote access without prior scheduling.

2. Requesting Command Execution: Asking users to run commands like netstat and interpret the output is uncommon in professional support scenarios, especially over the phone.

3. Remote Access Offer: No reputable company will ask you to connect them directly to your device without secure, official channels.

4. Technical Misinterpretation: While seeing numerous established connections might seem alarming, it is often normal for devices to have multiple persistent connections, especially with modern applications and background services.

Was It a Scam?

Given these red flags and the caller’s approach, it’s safe to conclude that this was a scam attempt. The caller’s intent was likely to gain remote access or extract sensitive information under false pretenses.

Best Practices When Facing Such Calls

• Hang Up: Do not engage with unsolicited callers claiming to be from your ISP or other service providers.
• Verify the Identity: If you suspect an issue, contact your ISP directly using official contact information from their website or your bill.
• Avoid Running Commands on Advice from Unverified Sources: Unless you are certain of what you are doing and trust the source, refrain from executing diagnostic commands based solely on a phone call.
• Stay Informed: Educate yourself about common scam tactics to better identify suspicious activity.

Conclusion

This incident underscores the importance of vigilant skepticism when dealing