Dr...

I got the same thing, but you MAY be surprised that your call MAY not have been at random...

I'm working on a blog regarding "RATs" which are remote access trojans. They enter your computer, then set up shop by activating your Windows Remote Assistanace software and possibly your Remote Desktop to invade other computers you have.

These RATs are NOT amateurs having fun, some of them determine that your system has uses that they can profit from, such as turning your computer into a proxy server so that they can earn income from your IP address.

Since you received this call, you should do a regedit check to see if a RAT is in your computer.

Go to your Start Menu, click RUN then type in 'regedit' (no quotes, of course)

When you get into regedit go cntrl F and type 'remoteaccess' no spaces, caps or quotes.

Hit F3 button to go the the next entry.

You should NOT have anthing but clearly identifiable computer type coding and nothing like 'IMnComputer' or 'Dialup_for_Free'

If you have anything like this then you have a RAT.

After going all the way to the bottom, scroll your registry all the way to the top and click 'Computer' (that will take the invisible cursor to the top.

This time, type in 'zonemap' in the find box and click F3 to go through the same process.

When you get to 'zonemap' open the folder and all of the subfolders. Take note of any suspicious Internet Domain Names like bubba.com or www.(porn, gambling, hacker).coms.

If you find Internet sites that you know you haven't been to, your computer has been turned into a proxy server.

In either, everyone I know recommends formatting your hard drive and reinstall windows.

To the best of my knowledge (and I've done a lot of study in the area) NO antivirus software whatsoever will advise you that you may have a RAT or you have been turned into a proxy server.

One important, once a RAT gets into your computer, it can install a broadcast beacon which transmits in the blind in the event your IP address gets changed.

Hackers like the one who called you know what the signal is, and possible some of them might even be honest (the guy who called me seemed to be honest when I told him I could fix this myself. He said the words to me "You better not use the Internet until you get rid of this."

I didn't believe him, and I found out that I was wrong when someone got into my bank account. (Luckily nothing was stolen because the account was empty that day.)