Three Towns Forum

Members' Lounge => Science and Technology => Topic started by: Ian on September 20, 2010, 02:07:31 pm

Title: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on September 20, 2010, 02:07:31 pm
This is worth reading, as it warns about the dangers of posting mobile phone pics on the internet,  Page 2 is especially interesting...



http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=3239522 (http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=3239522)


Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on November 26, 2010, 11:27:04 am
My spam trap has collected quite a few of this particular email today, needless to say it is fake and should be deleted and reported as Spam. (I have removed the links):


Subject: News Releases : Upgrade New Adobe Acrobat Reader 2011 For PC And Mac

INTRODUCING UPGRADED ADOBE ACROBAT 2011
 
Dear Customers,
 
Adobe is pleased to announce new version upgrades for Adobe Acrobat 2011.

http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
 
Advanced features include:

- Collaborate across borders
- Create rich, polished PDF files from any application that prints
- Ensure visual fidelity
- Encrypt and share PDF files more securely
- Use the standard for document archival and exchange
 
To upgrade and enhance your work productivity today, go to:

http://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (http://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
 
To leave comments, please contact us at: comments@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Best regards,
Andy Tailor
 
Copy rights © Adobe Acrobat 2010 - All Rights Reserved
1028 Parkway,Seatle,CA,10283, USA
Website: http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

If you no longer wish to receive similar emails, please send a REPLY with UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Fester on June 30, 2011, 10:24:13 pm
This week, my PC was invaded by some kind of hijacking ''virus'' which demanded money, or my systems would be destroyed... and my online banking details compromised etc..etc..
If I didn't buy this anti-spyware It spelled the end of my world and my business...apparently.

The genius that is Dave R, took less than10 minutes to sort this out for me... (the cost so far only a couple of pints in the Deganwy Quay hotel bar)

However, see here..  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13973805 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13973805)

Indestructible viruses, sounds very scary.

Why do these people have so much time on thier hands to cause such mischief?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on June 30, 2011, 10:29:07 pm
Why do these people have so much time on thier hands to cause such mischief?
$$$$$$$$$$$
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on July 01, 2011, 11:53:41 am
I am running Microsoft Security Essentials on one of my PC's and (touch wood) I have had no problems so far.  The program runs in the background and from what I can tell examines everything that goes on.   I run the Full Scan option occasionally and on the first occasion it pulled out a few oddments of Trojans etc but since then I have had nothing from the scans.   Apart from Very serious threats which I opt to destroy automatically when found I have anything else it comes across sent to quarantine so that I can actually see what it is catching.

As this does not operate well with other security software on the same PC this is all I use.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Fester on July 01, 2011, 09:13:03 pm
When my PC went haywire, the so called ''virus'', which turned out to be a scam, kept telling me I had Trojans all over the place.

I have no idea what they are, (and can't be bothered to look it up) ...but all I could imagine was lots of little sandal-wearing buggers with togas and minute ancient swords, running around and hacking away at my hard drive.

Its funny what the mind conjures up.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Blodyn on July 01, 2011, 09:24:07 pm
When my PC went haywire, the so called ''virus'', which turned out to be a scam, kept telling me I had Trojans all over the place.

I have no idea what they are, (and can't be bothered to look it up) ...but all I could imagine was lots of little sandal-wearing buggers with togas and minute ancient swords, running around and hacking away at my hard drive.

Its funny what the mind conjures up.

Trojan, what were you doing in Fester's PC?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Trojan on July 02, 2011, 05:46:50 pm
When my PC went haywire, the so called ''virus'', which turned out to be a scam, kept telling me I had Trojans all over the place.

I have no idea what they are, (and can't be bothered to look it up) ...but all I could imagine was lots of little sandal-wearing buggers with togas and minute ancient swords, running around and hacking away at my hard drive.

Its funny what the mind conjures up.

Trojan, what were you doing in Fester's PC?

 :-[
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on July 02, 2011, 05:50:00 pm
When my PC went haywire, the so called ''virus'', which turned out to be a scam, kept telling me I had Trojans all over the place.

I have no idea what they are, (and can't be bothered to look it up) ...but all I could imagine was lots of little sandal-wearing buggers with togas and minute ancient swords, running around and hacking away at my hard drive.

Its funny what the mind conjures up.

Trojan, what were you doing in Fester's PC?


 :-[
...always the prime suspect!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Trojan on July 02, 2011, 05:54:10 pm
When my PC went haywire, the so called ''virus'', which turned out to be a scam, kept telling me I had Trojans all over the place.

I have no idea what they are, (and can't be bothered to look it up) ...but all I could imagine was lots of little sandal-wearing buggers with togas and minute ancient swords, running around and hacking away at my hard drive.

Its funny what the mind conjures up.

Trojan, what were you doing in Fester's PC?


 :-[
...always the prime suspect!  :laugh:

 ???
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on July 02, 2011, 07:06:16 pm
I have had my main PV and Notebook hit in the past week by a virus called Exploit.  My Microsoft Security Essentials detected and got rid of it automatically.  For what it is worth this is what is said about it.

What is Exploit Virus problem?

Once installed and running, Exploit Virus will scan your computer, list a variety of infections, and constantly annoy you with nagging screens and fake security alerts about problems on your computer. What's more, Exploit Virus may also display a window labeled Exploit Virus Protection Center which impersonates the legitimate Windows Security Center. This protection center states that your computer has no protection and recommends that you purchase Exploit Virus. All the despicable actions of Exploit Virus are actually in the attempts to promote users to purchase its useless full version.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/what-is-exploit-virus-problem-and-how-to-remove-exploit-virus-with-best-antispyware-tool-2195437.html#ixzz1QyLaKNdJ (http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/what-is-exploit-virus-problem-and-how-to-remove-exploit-virus-with-best-antispyware-tool-2195437.html#ixzz1QyLaKNdJ)

Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on July 02, 2011, 10:06:21 pm
That's a similar one to the problem that Fester had. It's worth mentioning that if viruses are able to install themselves on any PC on a regular basis, then the security needs to be beefed up. I'd recommend anyone using FireFox also installs the free NoScript addon:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noscript/
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Fester on July 02, 2011, 11:32:20 pm
Yes Dave and Yorkie, that is a very similar scam virus.

It impersonated Windows Security, and me being me, I fell for it... clicked on it,  and that was it ... it disrupted everything.

Dave thinks its nothing to sort these things out, to me its worth a small fortune...(or at least a couple of pints  L0L  L0L) ... which in the Deganwy Quay amounts to the same thing really!

 

Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on February 29, 2012, 07:48:15 am
This one is real...or slightly so:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/250296/the_truth_about_the_march_8_internet_doomsday.html (http://www.pcworld.com/article/250296/the_truth_about_the_march_8_internet_doomsday.html)

It doesn't affect Macs, of course...  D)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Hugo on April 27, 2012, 03:58:35 pm
I had an e-mail the other day and it was from a friend we hadn't heard from for a while.  When I opened it, in bold letters it said my Christian name followed by "show video now view here"  so I clicked on it and it just said that Internet Explorer could not find the web page.
I e-mailed my friend back and she said that she had never sent me an e-mail and asked if it could be a virus!
I carried out a scan and there were 4 exploit/java items and one Trojandownloader listed in the history that have now been removed.
By coincidence or not all the addresses in my address book have gone, all 200 plus and I don't know how or if I can recover them so someone is coming along next week to help me sort things out.
Has anyone had a similar problem?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on April 27, 2012, 04:06:00 pm
That's why using Internet Explorer is never a good idea. Firefox & NoScript would have blocked it.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Hugo on April 27, 2012, 05:36:54 pm
You have advised me of Firefox a few times before and I should have listened then!     :-[
I'll see what the PC Doc says when he comes to see me next week.  I'm hoping that I've clicked on something in error and that it can be retrieved but I'm not banking on it.     :(
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on April 27, 2012, 06:33:57 pm
They will probably be on your HDD somewhere.

Amuse yourself with this DIY Video:    :rage:

Hard Drive Recovery (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA28zXo5e6I#)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on April 28, 2012, 08:39:49 am
Internet Explorer is unique, in that it ignores just about all the conventions and protocols of the WWW community.  FF, Chrome and Safari are much better in just about every way.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on April 28, 2012, 11:18:19 am
I have moved almost entirely over to Chrome.   I find it very friendly, quick, and so far have not had any glitches or problems even when I have as many as six pages in use at the same time, and constantly switching from one to the other.   Can't seem to get on with Safari and rarely use FF.

 ;)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on April 30, 2012, 01:03:40 pm
I know very little of viruses. However last week I had a rude awakening. I had an increasing number of emails from virtually all my twitter followers telling me I had been hacked. As always our own dear DaveR was amongst the early ones. Anyway TinyURL stepped in and more or less shut the whole account down whilst I deleted all my apps, which I was told by several was where the problem was. I'm not too sure who or what Tiny is.
 However what I cannot understand that a large number of the messages through twitter were, ostensibly, from businesses around here, guesthouses etc, all my followers. They all wrote, virtually word for word "Ho Ho Ho didn't we have a good laugh when we saw those photos of you" and a link.
 I managed to refrain from clicking the link.
 The thing is, does anyone know how or why all these business people from Llandudno to Betws y Coed etc  are writing virtually the same thing?
  As yet I haven't plucked up the courage to phone any of them up to ask What the hell is on this photo.  mike
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on April 30, 2012, 01:11:00 pm
Mike, it isn't a photo, that link contains the Twitter virus.

Every time someone clicks on that link, they become infected with the virus (in the form of an App in the Twitter account) and then they will start sending out similar messages to all their friends.

It just goes on and on...until people realise not to click on links in weird Twitter messages!  &shake&
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on April 30, 2012, 09:24:11 pm
Well I sort of guessed something like that but ----- these more or less identical messages addressed to me on Twitter, they all appeared to be sent by regular local firms that happen to follow me, all people that would never mess around hacking anyone. The message you sent was early on, before the flood of messages started. Unfortunately I didnt read it until five or six hours after you had sent it.
    Makes me think is Twitter worth the bother.  Mike
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on April 30, 2012, 09:39:39 pm
I'm convinced that Twitter is for silly billies.   They do say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, and that is what most Twitterers seem to do.  I had a look at it when it started but didn't see any sense in signing up.   

Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Fester on April 30, 2012, 10:45:57 pm
I opened a Twitter account last year... messed about with it for a week or so... then abandoned it as a complete waste of time.

Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on April 30, 2012, 11:02:52 pm
As with most things in life, you get out of something what you put in to it.

I've found Twitter invaluable for both making contacts (local journalists etc) and as a source for instant local news (the shipwreck at Llanddulas).  $good$
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on May 01, 2012, 08:41:43 am
I'm convinced that Twitter is for silly billies.   They do say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, and that is what most Twitterers seem to do.  I had a look at it when it started but didn't see any sense in signing up.   

Did I really say "silly billies" ?    _))*   L0L   _))*   L0L   _))*   ZXZ
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Merddin Emrys on May 01, 2012, 09:32:14 am
Yes! Twice now!   :laugh:
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Yorkie on May 01, 2012, 11:19:44 am
Yes! Twice now!   :laugh:

It certainly ain't what I typed!   The last person I would wish to imitate would be Dennis "eyebrows" Healey!! L0L
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: hollins on May 01, 2012, 08:30:42 pm
Internet Explorer is unique, in that it ignores just about all the conventions and protocols of the WWW community.  FF, Chrome and Safari are much better in just about every way.


I have been a good girl and taken note of Ian's advice and downloaded Firefox to replace the Internet Explorer I was using. I'm not really sure exactly what they do but I would just like to ask if it is okay now to uninstall all the items related to Internet Explorer?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on May 01, 2012, 09:54:53 pm
Why not just leave it in situ, but not use it, for the time being, until you are up to speed with Firefox?
Title: Has my Mac picked up a virus?
Post by: Michael on May 11, 2014, 10:17:31 pm
   A few hours ago I clicked here and there and before I knew it I had downloaded an innocent? application to join a forum to do with Epson printers.

  Now something by the name of GENIEO and says it comes from Israel has highjacked my home page which is normally Safari.

   Actually this GENIEO appears quite good, its got lots of uptodate news lines, sport, all sorts. But I never asked for it nor want it.
   It has a questions and answers section and amongst them is "I want to delete you."

    Gave this a go, it gave instructions on how to disinstall, I did this and a pop up comes up "Genieo wants to alter your system. Is this O.K? Your user name and password.
 
Thats when I thought I wouldn't do any more and wait and see what develops.

    Any ideas from a technically minded members?
Title: Re: Has my Mac picked up a virus?
Post by: DaveR on May 11, 2014, 10:31:41 pm
It's not a virus and seems 'fairly' harmless, you must have downloaded with the printer application software:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4497906?tstart=0

Title: Re: Has my Mac picked up a virus?
Post by: Michael on May 11, 2014, 10:54:00 pm
  Thanks Dave. Reading your link it appears its been around for a good while. Trust me to find it.

    If I wasn't so irritated by it just taking over my screen I think I could actually enjoy it. Looks a lot fresher with the news than Safari.  Mike
Title: Re: Has my Mac picked up a virus?
Post by: Ian on May 12, 2014, 07:11:14 am
The other point, Mike, is that the Apple won't let you install anything that's even mildly suspect without making you go through the rigmarole of suspending your security settings. Here;s how to uninstall it:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5835767?tstart=0

Scroll down to Linc Davies and follow the detailed instructions.
Title: Re: Has my Mac picked up a virus?
Post by: Ian on May 12, 2014, 07:28:50 am
It's an irritant, rather than a virus, Mike, but you must have clicked on something to download it. Just to be absolutely on the safe side for the future, however, go to  System

Preferences / Security and Privacy / General


Towards the bottom of the screen there's a section which reads:

"Allow apps downloaded from:"


and there are then three options. Make sure there's a dot in the option which says

"Mac App store and identified developers". 

Under no circumstances allow a dot in the option at the very bottom, which says

"Anywhere".

You only use that option if you're very used to Macs and know exactly what you're doing.
Title: Re: Has my Mac picked up a virus?
Post by: Ian on May 12, 2014, 07:50:54 am
It's an annoyingly persistent bit of adware which is crafted to resist easy removal, by disguising its components. Softonic and Download.com are two of the worst sites in terms of allowing this thing to piggy-back on their downloads, so it's wise to give them a wide berth. Generally, you should always look first on the App store for anything you might need.  The Mac itself will automatically alert you to software downloads for your printer (I got one only last week), so you don't need to go round looking for those.

Probably the best guide to removing the pesky thing is here:

http://www.thesafemac.com/arg-genieo/ (http://www.thesafemac.com/arg-genieo/)

Some other good tips on the site too.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on May 12, 2014, 09:17:31 am
One other- albeit unlikely - thing, Mike, is the possibility that your router has been hacked. It's worth reading this

http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-manage-a-hacked-wireless-router/ (http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-manage-a-hacked-wireless-router/)
'
to make sure.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on May 12, 2014, 07:10:30 pm
  Thank you very much, both Dave and Ian. But especially Ian.

  I have all my life been a late starter, without an alarm clock I doubt if I would wake up before noon.
So you can imagine my admiration for anyone who helps out with technical problems at around 07.30 in the morning. In the unlikely event of my reading the forum at that time, it would only be through bleary eyes and holding a mug of tea
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on May 15, 2014, 08:10:33 pm
  Re my earlier posts about tho Genieo. Thanks again to Dave and Ian but --- tonight I took the bull by the horns and started to get rid of Genieo.
   I'm am not easily frightened but at first glance at the start of following one of the removal links was enough to frighten any middle of the road computer user.  Just a brief quote "If you do not follow exactly the instructions for removal your computer will probably freeze and you will be unable to use it."  And the instructions are not of the easily understood nature.
   I am still trying, but with my heart in my mouth. BUT --- BUT, why me? Why should me trying to join a friendly forum to discuss problems with an Epson printer bring all this down on my head?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on May 15, 2014, 08:26:14 pm
  It gets worse. Ian gave me a link a day or two ago and said this is probably the best way to remove it. Now Ian please believe me when I say this looks an absolute minefield. The more you read the worse it becomes.
  To add insult to injury whilst I was reading it shacking in my boots a pop up comes up in the corner of my screen from of all people Genieo. Telling me the easy way to remove unwanted adware. Hard to believe.
   Anyway I am not going to do anything. I am just going to accept Genieo as my home page and just ignore it
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on May 15, 2014, 08:53:17 pm
This is a nasty scam on the lines of the Courier scam, but more sophisticated.  Worth listening to.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01z2ntt (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01z2ntt)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Fester on May 15, 2014, 11:31:05 pm
Mike,  is this Genio (or whatever it is) causing you to have lots of ads popping up all over your screen?

You click them off, and then they just pop up elsewhere soon after?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Walker on July 01, 2014, 07:44:43 am
Another article about Genieo: http://www.macsecurity.net/view/56/ (http://www.macsecurity.net/view/56/)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on October 23, 2014, 09:03:35 pm
  I've got yet another computer problem (groans from any readers) I am horrified that I was the last forum member to use this particular Topic five months ago --- am I being a pest?
   This evening I logged on to a website that I log on every night to. Its a business firm who, incidentally, do a lot of work with computers over the internet. Up comes a screen:----

    Web Servers Default Page.

   This page is generated by "Parallels Plesk Panel"

   You see this page because there is no web site at this address. 

   _________________________________________________________________________

   There was then a whole lot more, all apparently highly technical, all way above my head. Cannot understand a word of most of it.

   I got my iPad out and I gt straight through to the company website I was after, no problems. So I have emailed them to see if they have got any ideas what it is all about, but I assume it is nothing to do with them as there is no problem when I use the iPad.

   The only other thing I noticed is when their website address showed up in the panel at the top, before their address there were two virtical red bars that are not normally there.

   Anyone any ideas what is going on?
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on October 24, 2014, 09:09:50 am
Could be several things, Mike. It can be issues with the server, temporary glitches with the website itself, and a possible failure of the company to pay its dues, among a host of other things,  It's certainly not your computer, however.  Parallels Plesk is a server company.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Michael on October 24, 2014, 10:02:59 am
  Thank you Ian. That is a bit of a relief. I have emailed the company I was trying to reach. I cannot see it being not paying any dues because I can get to them o k on my iPad. But I always find completely mysterious things happening with computers that to my logical mind are unbelievable.
 A little incidence. From the time I bought my Mac secondhand the £ symbol was unavailable. Click it and the dollar sign came up. I don't remember what happened if you clicked the dollar sign, but it wasn't what I wanted.
   Now, out of the blue, after two years---it suddenly works o.k.   I only found out by chance. I have done nothing that I know of to cause this. If only every fault would rectify itself  Mike
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on October 24, 2014, 10:35:27 am
Possibly a recent update has fixed the pound sign.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on July 24, 2015, 11:26:54 am
According to Which? cheap software exists which can spoof your incoming 'phone calls to make them appear as a number you might recognise. It seems Caller ID is no longer of any great use.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DVT on July 24, 2015, 12:07:00 pm
Couple of days ago phone rang, 02083787373 number showing on the screen.  I answered it and it was a very English guy who started off about being from Quadrangle Research and conducting a survey on shipping experiences.  He started his waflle and I keyed in the phone number on google to find out who's calling me ... the google page came up with it being a scam and usually was from someone pretending to be HMRC with a tax refund!

So I googled Quadrangle Research and it appeared to be a legit company - but with a different phone number.  So, why was a legit company ringing me on a scam phone number?

Anyway, I kept stopping him to ask this question and all he did was repeat his script - he was a real person although seemingly could/would not answer me.  I did say my number was logged with TPS and his reply was that Research calls are not included (I did know that).  I asked how he got my number and he said H2 Data in Manchester - googled that but with no result.

In the end he got fed up of my questioning and doubting him and hung up!
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on July 24, 2015, 12:16:21 pm
And it's a tactic only going to increase.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Hugo on July 24, 2015, 02:55:16 pm
I've recently bought a CPR Call Blocker to stop all those unwanted calls,  but since I bought it I've had no unwanted calls so that I can try it out.
If I see the caller display showing an international call,  then I just speak Welsh to them and they usually hang up.    $walesflag$
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on August 14, 2015, 07:18:25 pm
Although I'm sure we're far too savvy a bunch to be caught by this scam, it is a scam, and it's fleecing some decent folk in the US:

The Massive Cover-Up That
Is Stoping Millions From Cutting Their Power
Bills By 80%..

.



If you didn' t watch this INCENDIARY broadcast yet, then it will take you by complete surprise.

The Big Energy Fat Cats Almost Started Another War For Not Making It Public.

 

" CRAZY" scientist uncovers one of the biggest secrets of the mankind...


While he was working on a secret project, he discovered a method so powerful... that it can cut anyone' s electric bill by more than 80%.

It' s the same device that it was used with great success by the US navy to propel their ships for millions of miles... without any fuel...

Watch Unveiling Video Now

It all refers to the QEG: a magical device that generates far more power than it takes to run it. Ignoring the Laws of Thermodynamics, they claim it's been around for years. Full details:

http://www.fixtheworldproject.net/quantum-energy-generator.html (http://www.fixtheworldproject.net/quantum-energy-generator.html)

Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Merddin Emrys on August 14, 2015, 07:29:55 pm
I made my own  years ago, never been able to turn it off!  :twoface:
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on August 14, 2015, 07:40:41 pm
 _))* _))* _))*
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Blongb on January 10, 2016, 06:40:53 pm
I've had my first scam e-mail of the year today:

Dear customer,

You have 1 important message from LloydsBank .

In order to read it please click the following link:

https://lloydsbank.co.uk/secure/email.php?id=BS749A23Q6289E  PLEASE DO NOT TRY AND USE THIS LINK

Please do not respond to this e-mail.

Sincerely,
LloydsBank
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Blongb on January 23, 2017, 02:54:25 pm
Latest e-scam to arrive today
Irish tax&customs <moosetoys.com>
[News]we may need some information to process your claim.
Claim-ID003223...(88 kb)

We have successfully recalculated  your fiscal activity

..........
We have sent you a document please read and fallow the steps.

Irish Tax % Customs Team.

 
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on January 23, 2017, 03:08:22 pm
In your previous post, Blongb, you posted a scam from Lloyds with the link address starting www.lloydsbank.co.uk/ (http://www.lloydsbank.co.uk/) but that's actually a genuine email address for Lloyds.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on January 24, 2017, 09:26:13 am
In your previous post, Blongb, you posted a scam from Lloyds with the link address starting www.lloydsbank.co.uk/ (http://www.lloydsbank.co.uk/) but that's actually a genuine email address for Lloyds.
Maybe the actual link is to a different website, as that's a common scam technique? If you hover your mouse over the link, it may well show a completely different web address.

Best way to spot a scam is to look at the actual email address it was sent from. It may show a Sender as 'Lloyds Bank' but the email address it was sent from will not be correct, i.e. 'support.lloydsbank@gmail.com' instead of 'something@lloydsbank.com'.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on January 24, 2017, 12:08:53 pm
Yes, but that link above is actually from Lloyds' own domain.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: DaveR on January 24, 2017, 02:27:15 pm
It's definitely a scam message though, as they never use the phrase 'Dear Customer':

"We always greet you by title and surname, as in ”Dear Mrs Smith”. We also include a partial account number or postcode if you’re awaiting an account number."

https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/security/suspicious-emails-and-text-messages.asp (https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/security/suspicious-emails-and-text-messages.asp)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on January 24, 2017, 03:05:38 pm
It might have something to do with this:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/23/lloyds-bank-accounts-targeted-cybercrime-attack (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/23/lloyds-bank-accounts-targeted-cybercrime-attack)
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Blongb on January 24, 2017, 06:34:24 pm
In your previous post, Blongb, you posted a scam from Lloyds with the link address starting www.lloydsbank.co.uk/ (http://www.lloydsbank.co.uk/) but that's actually a genuine email address for Lloyds.

But I'm not nor ever have been a Lloyds customer Ian.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Bellringer on January 24, 2017, 06:57:33 pm
I had an email today supposedly from NatWest Customer Security saying threats to my online banking had been made in the past few days, and to click on a link to review my account
I don't have any connection with NatWest, and the sender's address looked completely 'alien'.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on January 24, 2017, 07:31:36 pm
It seems as though someone had hijacked the Lloyds.co.uk server address.  They're getting more cunning by the day.
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on February 24, 2017, 04:58:45 pm
Sometimes. Spammers can give you a laugh.  One of the funniest scams I've had in a while:

Virus Warning: E-Mail from ‘FBI Alert’


Apple has detected an unauthorized sign-in to your iClodu
account.
Please verify your account by sending 112$ to this Bitcoin adress
: 17k7zLDwktZ7KATq4cQDhYJv15HJV7NbJ9
If no response is received your account will be locked for
security.
The server will lock yor account within 2 hours if we don't
receive the payment!


We are working to create a world where privacy is the norm, end-
to-end encryption is the standard, and security and usability are
synonymous.

FBI and iCloud is selling a tool for iCloud protection against
hackers and scammers this tool costs only 112$

the license for our tool is 360 days

If you are  not familiar with bitcoin you can buy it from here :

SITE 1 : www.coinbase.com (http://www.coinbase.com)
SITE 2 : www.bitstamp.net (http://www.bitstamp.net)
SITE 3 : www.localbitcoin.com (http://www.localbitcoin.com)

After we confirm the payment , we send the private key so you can
unlock your email and download our tool.

FBI SECURIRY @ iCloud and Apple Protection
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on May 03, 2017, 04:02:13 pm
Little more serious: one trick spammers attempt is to register domains which can be mistaken for the real thing. Here's the latest list

[smg id=3364]
Title: Re: Privacy, Spamming and viruses
Post by: Ian on September 01, 2019, 05:57:07 pm
The never-ending battle to stay ahead of the scammers has taken a new and ugly turn.   

Hackers have been discovered injecting malware into compromised e-commerce websites that steal payment card data from unsuspecting victims.

The technique is known as online skimming — the stealing of payment card data transmitted to the vendor by unsuspecting customers.

Researchers said that the cyber criminal gang has been actively attacking multinational organisations, targeting specific employees with spear-phishing emails advertising fake job advertisements and repeatedly deploying the More_eggs JScript backdoor malware (aka Terra Loader, SpicyOmelette).

Researchers said that the gang has been around for four years: “Its attacks are financially motivated, sophisticated and persistent. The group historically has specialized in stealing payment card data from POS machines and has more recently expanded operations to target card-not-present data from online transactions."

The reason this is more sinister than previous scams is that you might be doing everything right and still be caught out.

Basic rules for staying safe are the same as always:

Use bookmarked URLs only
Don't ever follow links in emails - ever.
If you go to a site you know and trust and see a redirection flag - get out.





Title: Re: Privacy
Post by: SteveH on March 04, 2020, 11:17:07 am
Amazon keeps records of every motion detected by its Ring doorbells, as well as the exact time they are logged down to the millisecond.

The details were revealed via a data request submitted by the BBC.

It also disclosed that every interaction with Ring's app is also stored, including the model of phone or tablet and mobile network used.
One expert said it gave Amazon the potential for even broader insight into its customers' lives.

"What's most interesting is not just the data itself, but all the patterns and insights that can be learned from it," commented independent privacy expert Frederike Kaltheuner.

"Knowing when someone rings your door, how often, and for how long, can indicate when someone is at home.
"If nobody ever rang your door, that would probably say something about your social life as well."

She added that it remained unclear how much further "anonymised" data was also being collected.    cont   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51709247 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51709247)