Computerz R Us

Cyber Security Division
Security Awareness for Everyday Users

Stay Safe Online with Computerz R Us

Most cyber attacks start with one click: a fake email, a bad link, or a password reused too many times. This page walks you through real-world examples, demo “attacks”, and simple steps to protect yourself at home and at work.

✉️ Email phishing examples
💀 Ransomware demo (safe)
🛡️ 10 ways to protect yourself

Big picture: why this matters

  • 👀 90%+ of attacks start with phishing.
  • 💻 Ransomware can lock all your files in minutes.
  • 🔑 Weak or reused passwords make attackers’ lives easy.
  • 🧠 Your best defense is slow down, verify, and ask.
Questions or need help after suspicious activity?
Computerz R Us – Clara City, MN
Phone: 320-403-1122
Email: computerzrus@outlook.com

✉️ Phishing & Scam Emails

Phishing emails pretend to be someone you trust (IT, your bank, a friend) to trick you into clicking a link, opening an attachment, or typing your password into a fake website.

Common Red Flags

How to recognize a bad email

  • Sender address is “off” – looks close to real but not exact.
  • Urgent threats – “pay in 2 hours or your account is deleted”.
  • Generic greeting – “Dear user” instead of your name.
  • Spelling and grammar mistakes in “official” messages.
  • Unexpected attachments – ZIP, EXE, strange invoices.
  • Weird reply-to address that doesn’t match the sender’s domain.
Safe Behavior

What to do when in doubt

  • Pause. Don’t click any links or open attachments yet.
  • Hover your mouse over links to see the real destination.
  • Verify using another channel (phone call, known website, official app).
  • Use your company’s “Report phishing” button if available.
  • Ask IT / Computerz R Us for help – better safe than sorry.
Quick URL check

Spot the difference

  • https://yourbank.com/login ✅ Legit (if typed yourself)
  • https://yourbank.secure-login-support.com ❌ Fake
  • https://company.com.hr-portal.co ❌ Fake
  • https://portal.company.com ✅ Can be legit subdomain

In general, the real company name should be right before .com / .org, not buried in the middle.

💀 Ransomware: “Your Files Have Been Encrypted”

Ransomware is malware that silently encrypts your files, then demands money (usually in cryptocurrency) to get them back. Many outbreaks start from a phishing email.

What it looks like

Typical ransomware screen

  • Bright red or scary warning page taking over your screen.
  • Message like “Oops! Your files have been encrypted.”
  • Countdown timer, threatening permanent data loss.
  • Instructions to pay in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.

Our demos below show what this can look like – but no actual file encryption is happening. They’re safe training simulations.

If you ever see this for real

Immediate steps

  • Stay calm. Don’t click any buttons on the ransom screen.
  • Disconnect from the network: unplug network cable / disable Wi-Fi.
  • Take photos of the screen (messages, IDs, timers).
  • Contact IT / Computerz R Us immediately.
  • Do not plug in USB drives or external backup drives.
  • Don’t decide to pay the ransom yourself – follow the incident plan.
Prevention basics

How to reduce the risk

  • Don’t click suspicious links or open unknown attachments.
  • Keep systems and software patched and up to date.
  • Use strong, unique passwords + multi-factor authentication (2FA).
  • Use reputable antivirus/EDR and let it update automatically.
  • Have offline or cloud backups that aren’t always connected.

🔑 Passwords, 2FA & Account Safety

Your accounts are only as strong as your weakest password. Attackers love reused passwords and simple patterns they can guess in seconds.

Bad habits

Things to avoid

  • Using the same password on multiple websites.
  • Simple passwords like Password123 or Season+Year.
  • Writing passwords on sticky notes on your monitor.
  • Sharing passwords by email or text message.
Stronger approach

Better habits

  • Use a reputable password manager to store unique passwords.
  • Turn on 2FA / MFA (code or app) wherever possible.
  • Use long passphrases (e.g. blue-train-sundae-rocket).
  • Change passwords immediately after any suspected compromise.
Extra safety

Other things that help

  • Lock your screen when you step away from your computer.
  • Be careful with public Wi-Fi – use a VPN if possible.
  • Don’t post private info (address, phone, birthday) publicly on social media.

🧪 Cyber Security Training Lab

Click a demo to see a safe simulation. These are visual examples only – no real malware, no real encryption, just training.

Demo #1

Phishing Email Example

See what a fake “IT Help Desk” email might look like, with mismatched domains, urgent threats, and a suspicious “invoice” link.

Tip: look at sender address, reply-to, and the real URL.

Demo #2

Ransomware Lock Screen

View a simulated ransomware “Your files have been encrypted” screen. Great for showing how serious it looks – and what to do next.

Simulation only. No real files are touched.

Demo #3

Safe vs Unsafe Links

Practice spotting dangerous links that try to trick you with look-alike domains and extra words after the real company name.

If you’re not 100% sure, don’t click – type it in yourself.

✅ Top 10 Ways to Protect Yourself Online

These simple habits stop a large percentage of common attacks against everyday users.

  1. Pause before you click. Don’t rush when an email feels urgent or emotional.
  2. Check the sender’s address and make sure the domain is exactly correct.
  3. Hover over links to see where they really go before clicking.
  4. Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager.
  5. Turn on 2FA / MFA for email, banking, and important accounts.
  6. Keep devices updated – apply Windows/macOS and app updates regularly.
  7. Back up important data to a secure cloud or offline backup.
  8. Be careful on public Wi-Fi – avoid logging in to sensitive accounts.
  9. Don’t overshare on social media (address, phone, birthdays, answers to security questions).
  10. Ask for help. If something feels off, contact Computerz R Us or your IT team.