Is it safe to let someone view my computer screen remotely for tech support?
Sharing your screen with a verified, trusted IT professional is normal practice. Sharing it with someone who contacted you unsolicited — especially claiming your computer has a problem — is extremely dangerous.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Legitimate remote tech support happens in a specific way: you initiate contact with a known support organisation, you schedule a session, and you knowingly install and run a remote viewing application. At every step, you are in control and you initiated the interaction.
Tech-support scams work in reverse: someone contacts you — via phone, pop-up, or email — claiming your device is infected or compromised. They direct you to install remote viewing software and share an access code. Once connected, they can see everything on your screen, operate your mouse and keyboard, and access your files.
What happens during a scam remote session varies. The scammer may show you alarming but meaningless system information to justify their claimed expertise. They may open your banking app or website and, while keeping you distracted, make transfers or add new payees. They may install persistent malware. In the worst cases, they do all of these.
The rule is simple: never accept remote access from a connection you did not initiate. This applies to calls claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, your bank, your internet provider, or any government body. None of these organisations cold-call customers and request screen access. If you receive such a call, hang up.
Common red flags
- You were contacted unsolicited and the caller claims your device is compromised
- Caller claims to be from Microsoft, Apple, or a government agency
- A pop-up on your screen includes a phone number to call — that number leads to a scammer
- The caller knows your name and creates a sense of official authority
- You are instructed to open specific applications or navigate to specific websites to 'prove' the problem exists
- You are asked to pay to fix the alleged problem
What to do now
- Hang up or close the session immediately
- If screen access was already granted, force-close the remote access app
- Disconnect from the internet immediately after closing the app
- Call your bank on the official number before reconnecting to the internet
- Have a professional IT technician inspect your device for installed malware
- Change all passwords from a different device
- Report to your national fraud reporting service and the remote-access software company
Frequently asked questions
A pop-up appeared on my screen with a phone number saying my computer is infected — what should I do?
This is a common tech-support scam trigger. Do not call the number. Close the browser tab or window — if it is unresponsive, use Task Manager (Windows) or Force Quit (Mac) to close the browser entirely. Run a reputable malware scan to confirm your device is actually clean.
My elderly parent gave someone remote access before calling me — what should I do now?
Disconnect the internet on their device immediately, then call their bank from a different phone to report potential fraud. Have the device professionally checked before reuse. Help them change all passwords from a clean device.