There is a little purple hairy monster that has appeared on my taskbar. It wouldn't let me close any tasks or shut down my Laptop.

Hi team,

Please be aware that the concept of any computer, data, Wireless/Wi-Fi etc, related issue scares the heck out of me !

There is a little purple hairy monster that has appeared on my taskbar. Windows was running extremely slow for a good time before I noticed it was there . There a a number of other issues also that I now recognise may well be linked. These include server connection issues and hardware devices (wireless earphones specifically) that pair but do not connect. And Possibly my small Smart TV pairing a number of days ago but now looking like it might be compromised.

To give you some background context of the issue, on Tuesday 15th of this month I managed to acquire five days worth of unlimited data through a local EE hot-spot (EE being my Mobile/Cell provider). The reason being that the Wi-Fi server in our shared accommodation was down.

I also thought that this would be the ideal time to do some data housekeeping, Transfer files between devices, delete and merge documents, photos etc between them. The priority being to free up storage pace on my mobile phone by moving files and documents to the

I noticed that after a couple of days into the short term internet plan there seemed to me to be some conflict between platforms. Especially when trying to connect, pair or share data between Devices. Platforms involved included :

Microsoft (Laptop default engine and Phone)

Google (Phone - running on Chrome, Laptop and email provider)

EE, (phone contract and now short term internet provider).

Lenovo - laptop. Model - Ideapad 320

Samsung - phone type - model A04s

sasecure.org.uk - default managing internet provider for shared accommodation.

New Cheap Bluetooth wireless earphones by STREETZ - Model T160

The earphones initially paired seamlessly.

And to a lesser extent. 22" Hitatchi smart TV. Quite old but with connectivity to devices which could cast/project content. Which I gave up on !

And it was here that I then became increasingly frustrated with the number of options, instructions and my own lack of understanding that things didn't seem right. However, I was confident that by following the direction and prompts on the devices the devices that all would come good. I managed to pair and connect the laptop and phone using a combination of Google, Microsoft and EE prompts and files were transferring.

As the default shared Wi-Fi provider, sasecure.org.uk. started to come back to life I was having to constantly switch between Wi-Fi providers> Mainly as a result of EE, Microsoft and Google restrictions/allowances being vastly different. I have no access let alone permission to change these.

I noticed then that the earphones would now not connect through any means. I observed that they had in fact been disconnected/disabled, as noted in the 'Events'tab of the device properties instruction. Again, this was all perplexing to me. Best left well alone.

Finally I had a blue screen notification stating that something was wrong from MS and the laptop immediately shut down and restated in order to mitigate any threat. Whether any security or protection aids were compromised I would have no idea this is when the Laptop was starting to stall, and icons were impossible to open. I then noted after a while that a little, scruffy and purple thing was lodged in my search tab of the taskbar.

I could not access any power down buttons so I slammed the computer shut and in my haste did not think to get a picture of the 'creature'.

The laptop has not shutdown and is currently on the MS login page. I am apprehensive to log in as I fear I could make the situation worse.

My phone and Google seem untouched, I have run the protection and no issues are raised.

Thankyou.

Marc James