Have you ever clicked one of those “prove you’re not a robot” boxes online? Of course you have — we all do it dozens of times a week. But scammers are now weaponizing that familiar experience to trick people into installing malware on their computers, and it’s catching even seasoned IT professionals off guard. In this episode of Tech Talk with Refresh Computers, technician Adam Littlefield breaks down exactly how this new scam works, what to do if you’ve already fallen for it, and shares practical tips for freeing up storage on your phone and upgrading your computer setup on a budget.
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The “ClickFix” Scam: How a Fake Captcha Can Hand Over Your Entire Computer
Security experts are calling it ClickFix, and both the FBI and FTC have issued warnings about it this year. Here’s how it works: you’re browsing a website — possibly even one you trust — and a familiar-looking captcha pops up. Maybe it asks you to check a box, select some images, or type in a few letters. So far, so normal.
But then something different happens. After you complete the initial puzzle, the pop-up displays a few extra steps. It might ask you to press certain keys on your keyboard (like Ctrl+C to copy), open a program called PowerShell or the Windows Run box, paste in a command, and hit Enter. It looks official. It feels like part of the verification process. But the moment you run that command, you’ve just handed a stranger the keys to your entire digital life.
No legitimate website, update, or verification process will ever ask you to copy and paste a command into PowerShell or the Windows Run box. If you see this, stop immediately — it is a scam.
What Happens When You Run the Command?
The damage can be swift and silent. When that pasted command executes, there’s no dramatic warning or flashing screen — you might just see a blinking cursor and nothing else. Behind the scenes, however, that command can:
- Install malware or remote access tools that let a stranger control your computer
- Steal saved passwords from your browsers
- Grab login tokens for services like Facebook, email, and even your bank
- Exfiltrate personal data without you ever knowing
Because the command window shows almost no output, some people even run the command a second time thinking it didn’t work — which can make the infection even harder to remove.
What to Do If You’ve Already Fallen for It
First: don’t panic, and don’t feel ashamed. This scam is designed to prey on normal, everyday computer habits, and it’s tricking people who work in IT for a living. You are not alone. Here’s what to do right away:
- Disconnect from the internet immediately. Turn off Wi-Fi, unplug the Ethernet cable — whatever it takes to sever the connection. This cuts off the remote access the attacker may have gained.
- Bring your computer to a trusted repair professional. Specialized tools are needed to identify and remove the malware that was installed.
- Change your passwords for critical accounts (email, banking, social media) from a different, clean device.
The single fastest thing you can do to limit damage is disconnect your computer from the internet. Do it before anything else.
How to Free Up Storage on Your Phone (Without Buying a New One)
Before diving into scams, the show tackled a problem almost everyone deals with: a phone that’s running out of space. If your phone has been feeling sluggish or you keep getting “storage almost full” warnings, here’s a checklist to make it feel new again.
Step 1: Check What’s Actually Using Your Storage
- iPhone: Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage
- Android: Go to Settings → Storage
- Samsung: Use the Device Care feature for a full overview of storage, memory, and battery usage
You might be surprised to find that photos and videos are consuming far more space than you realized — especially if you shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second, where a single video can easily hit one gigabyte, or if your phone captures 200-megapixel photos.
Step 2: Clean Up Photos and Videos
- Delete duplicate and blurry shots — those 15 photos of the same sunset and the burst shots your toddler accidentally took
- Back up important photos and videos to a cloud service (iCloud for iPhone, Google Photos for Android) or an external drive
- Remember that deleted items go to a Recently Deleted album and stay there for 30 days before being permanently removed
Step 3: Remove Unused Apps
Check your full app list in Settings — you’ll probably be surprised by how many apps are installed that you haven’t opened in years. Some games and apps can consume 8 to 12 gigabytes of space. The good news? If you use Apple’s App Store or Google Play, your game saves are usually tied to your account, so you can reinstall later and pick up right where you left off.
iPhone users should also look into the Offload Unused Apps feature, which automatically removes apps you rarely use while keeping their data for easy reinstallation.
Step 4: Clear Downloads and Cache
Every PDF you tapped open in an email, every image you downloaded from a website — those files pile up in your Downloads folder. Your web browser also saves temporary files (cache) that accumulate over months of use. Check your file manager app (My Files on Samsung, Files on other Android devices) and clear out anything you no longer need.
Bonus tip: If you’re getting spammed with constant notifications saying your storage is full and urging you to “purchase more storage on your device,” that could actually be a malicious app — not a real system warning. You cannot buy additional physical storage for your phone through a pop-up.
And don’t forget the simplest fix of all: restart your phone. Many people go months without restarting, and a simple reboot can resolve slowness and clear temporary files.
Why Replacing Your Old Monitor Is One of the Best (and Cheapest) Upgrades
Here’s a question most people never think to ask: how old is your computer monitor? Adam shared that he regularly sees customers replacing 15-year-old computers while hanging onto 20-year-old monitors. If that sounds familiar, a new monitor might be the single most noticeable — and affordable — upgrade you can make.
Modern monitors offer sharper resolution, larger screen sizes (up to 32 or even 40 inches), lower energy consumption, and standard connectors that eliminate the need for adapters. If you’ve been squinting at a dim, small screen with the ghost of Windows XP burned into the background, it might be time for a change.
Tech Tip of the Week: How to Take a Full-Page Scrolling Screenshot
Need to capture an entire web page, a long recipe, or a lengthy text conversation? Your phone can do it — no third-party app required.
On iPhone
- Take a regular screenshot (Power + Volume Up)
- Tap the preview thumbnail that appears in the corner
- Select the Full Page tab at the top
- Tap Done to save — works best in Safari and select apps
On Android
- Take a regular screenshot (Power + Volume Down)
- Look for the Capture More option in the menu that appears at the bottom
- Drag to extend the capture area, or tap the down arrows to scroll and capture more content
- Crop to keep only what you need
Keep in mind: the longer the screenshot, the more it will be compressed when you send it through messaging apps. Very tall images can become hard to read, so try to capture only what you actually need.
Stay Safe and Stay Connected
Scams like ClickFix succeed because they disguise something dangerous as something routine. The single most important thing to remember is this: no real website will ever ask you to paste a command into your computer to prove you’re human. If you see it, close the browser. If you’ve already gone through the steps, disconnect from the internet and get help.
Whether you need help removing malware, cleaning up a sluggish phone, or upgrading your monitor, the team at Refresh Computers is here to help. Call the free tech support hotline at 407-478-8200 (Monday–Saturday, 9 AM–7 PM), visit refreshcomputers.net, or stop by the Refresh Computer Superstore in Longwood at 820 E. State Road 434, just three and a half miles east of I-4. No question is too small — and no scam is too embarrassing to ask about.
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