Peter:
I side with your wife. Microsoft doesn't call customers out of the blue about problems customers may not know they are having with their computers--the company is way too busy with other projects to care about that. And, besides, it doesn't monitor customers' computers in the first place. My best guess is that the calls you are receiving (and I have received them too) are calls from companies trying to have you install their own virus-spy software on your computer. I have literally called these people liars directly over the phone to them before hanging up on them. They are scoundrels that should (but probably won't) be prosecuted for their activities. This is really a phone version of spam mail.

As far as the torrents go, the groups you should worry about here are your internet service provider and some copyright holders, notably the music and recording industries. You might want to find out your ISP's policies towards downloading torrents and specifically if and how company representatives would notify you before turning off your Internet service because of those torrents.
--
Ted Chittenden

Every story has at least two sides if not more.
---- peter altschul <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
Hi:

My wife and I have received three phone calls from people 
identifying themselves as Microsoft employees telling us that our 
computer is sending error messages and that our security has been 
compromised - that a third party is using our network for 
nefarious purposes.  They have offered to assist us to solve the 
problem by giving us step-by-step instructions as we sit by the 
computer.  My stepson admits to torrenting music, books, and 
movies, and has been suspicious that we are being hacked.  My 
wife and I sense that these calls are suspicious, and wonder what 
you-all think about this.

Thanks, Peter


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