Navigating the “Your Computer Has Been Locked” Virus: A Cautionary Tale

Recently, my wife encountered a frustrating situation with her computer, which displayed a warning claiming, “Your computer has been locked up.” The message prompted her to call a certain number, 833-324-0303, for assistance. Upon reaching out, the individual on the line claimed to be a representative from Microsoft.

Typically, my instinct was to recommend a simple solution: restart the computer.

Curiously, when my wife inquired about the legitimacy of the call and asked for a website to verify his claims, the person responded, “This is the way we do it—having a website doesn’t help.” This response raised flags for me.

Fortunately, after following my advice to restart her Apple computer, the alarming warning disappeared without further issues. I’ve experienced similar situations on my Windows machines roughly every few years, and turning off the computer has always resolved the problem.

Have any of you faced similar scenarios or have tips to share?

Your insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!