Do I have malware?

[Tommy66]

• Ok, so I connect up with an agent of Brother printers to get help downloading a driver for my new Brother printer. There's a problem so he takes control of my computer and informs me I have a ton of malware on my new M1 Mini. He says there are other computers watching my every keystroke which is infecting my entire network and why I cannot download the driver online or from the CD. His technicians can clean everything up for $275 to $500. I don't know him from Adam so I decline saying I will get a 2nd opinion. How do I find out what's infecting my computer and my network of iPhone, iPad and one other Mini? Can I do it on my own or do I need his technicians to do it? I don't know. To date we have had no issues other than this one printer.

 

[Apple_Robert]

He is trying to scam you. Don't have any further contact with him..

 

[southerndoc]

Are you sure it was an official Brother printer site or an authorized agent? Sounds very suspicious.

 

[pmiles]

My favorite version of this scam is when they say my Windows machine is infected....

Oh really? That's funny I don't own a Windows machine...

If you need help getting a printer driver for your computer. Post the make/model of your printer and the version of the OS you are running. Apple provides drivers for most of them with the OS. Those that aren't found there are found at the manufacturer's website. If it's not there, then you have an old printer, in which you have to find the printer driver at yet another site.

Brother Drivers: Info & Downloads - Printer Drivers & More | Brother

Drivers are software that help your computer work with devices. Learn more & download drivers for your Brother printer, scanner, or other device.

www.brother-usa.com

Note: A printer driver is not the same thing as bundled software. You don't need bundled software to use your printer.

 

[Tommy66]

I followed the address on the instruction page which was included in the box. I thought I needed a driver to print but I turned the machine on and printed a couple of pages. So why do I need this driver? I don't know but yeah, those 2 agents (I contacted Brother twice) were suspicious in what I was being told and how I was being told. They were not particularly pleasant people to deal with.

 

[Tommy66]

Thanks for the info, pmiles.

 

[Fishrrman]

That was a scam.
As mentioned above, DO NOT speak to whomever you were talking to, again.
Do not do business with them again in any form.

Just to be sure, you could download MalwareBytes. It's FREE.

Official Site | Malwarebytes: Antivirus, Anti-Malware & Privacy

Malwarebytes offers real-time antivirus, advanced anti-malware and privacy protection for all your devices. Launched in 2004 as a free virus scan, we still offer a free basic version 20 years later. Learn more.

www.malwarebytes.com

IMPORTANT:
Select the "home" option.
It's a FREE download

IMPORTANT:
You DO NOT NEED TO BUY A SUBSCRIPTION to run MalwareBytes.
It will run FOREVER IN FREE MODE.
When you open it, IGNORE the button to "Upgrade Now" or "Activate License".
Just click "Scan".
Again, you DO NOT have to buy the pay-for version!

 

[Tommy66]

Thank you Fish. I did download the driver from the Brother site (it worked this time - ???) so you are right. Scam. I wasn't ever going to talk to those people again anyway. The guy definitely sounded like a scammer insisting my computer had a mountain of horrible, terrible malware. He wondered how it was even functioning. What a creep.