IT support needs to watch out for Windows 10 upgrade scams
Whenever anything is available for free, there are plenty of people who will try to make money by ‘selling’ it. Perhaps along with an extra service or two, but also as a direct scam for the unwary. So, when the free Windows 10 upgrade offer starts on 29 July, expect your users’ email accounts to be hosed with spam offering ‘unique opportunities,’ ‘expert delivery’ and ‘bargain prices’ for this ‘once in a lifetime’ Microsoft offer.
Naturally, it will all be rubbish. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users with a Pro version can upgrade for free, while businesses with volume agreements will be making their own arrangements. However, many workers and PC users won’t know this, and might be tempted to click on the link. This could lead to a direct payment page where people can give £10 for the luxury of being redirected to the official Microsoft upgrade site. Or, it could encourage people to enter their business credit card details or their Microsoft account log-in, so the scammer can use those for their own ends. Not only could that cause untold damage to the business, but should urge you to upgrade your email and spam filtering, if such messages are getting through.
Either way, make sure that your workers are informed of your company’s Windows 10 upgrade strategy, and explain what they should do if they see any tempting offers. Compatibility shouldn’t be an issue for upgraders, and the operating system requirements are broadly in line with Windows 8.1, so you shouldn’t need new hardware. If you don’t have an upgrade plan, then talk to us about managed computer services that can remove these issues and free your time to focus on running your business.
See our earlier post on preventing workers upgrading by accident (https://oswin.com/how-to-stop-upgrading-to-windows-10/) to stop users running consumer versions of Windows getting ahead of your policy. Even if you weren’t planning on upgrading, it should be on your calendar, as support for previous editions will soon fade away, and Microsoft’s security focus will be on the latest product.
When you do get round to upgrading your company’s IT systems, a full audit of your business IT requirements can help reduce the upgrade bill by transitioning to hosted servers and cloud services. We can discuss your needs and requirements to help you save money and improve productivity.
