Monday, November 30, 2009
Wordpress Owners Beware
There is an attack directed at sites using Wordpress as of lately. Read the whole story here http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2009/11/30/distributed-wordpress-admin-account-cracking/ and make sure your up to date on your patches.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tech Support Scams.
They claim to be Internet security watchdogs offering help with a computer virus you mistakenly downloaded. Their real intention: to get remote access to your files.
It’s the “tech support scam,” a ruse that has made headlines overseas and now is quietly targeting computer users in this country.
It starts with a phone call from someone claiming to be from a software provider such as Microsoft, Norton or McAfee, or your computer’s manufacturer. (Other callers say they represent Support on Click, a firm based in India.) You are told that your computer has a virus and may be in danger of losing all stored data, but the caller can help avoid that—if you follow his instructions.
Don’t take the bait.
“What they usually try to do is get you to download software that they say will fix the virus,” says Paul Aziz, who runs a computer repair business in Lebanon, Ore., and teaches older users about Internet security at Linn-Benton Community College.
“What that software really does is give them remote access to your computer and everything on it—your passwords, online banking accounts, everything.”
In some cases, users are directed to the website www.logmein123.com, which gives the hackers remote access to your computer, allegedly to “fix the problem.” Or they may ask you to provide your user name and password.
How are users targeted? Their names and phone numbers can be accessed from online telephone directories. Some calls may be made with an auto-dialer that calls numbers in sequence.
Charlotte Brooks of Bedminster, N.J., received several such calls from men with foreign accents saying they worked for her “computer monitoring firm.” “When I asked which firm, at least three correctly guessed Norton; the others fudged,” she told Scam Alert. “Each said it was extremely urgent that we go online immediately so he could help us get rid of this virus by letting him have remote access to our computer. When I sent an e-mail to Norton about this, they had no idea what I was talking about.”
Be on the alert for signs of trouble:
• The warning that you have a computer virus comes to you by telephone or e-mail. If a real virus is ever detected, you’re likely to receive a security update or warning directly on your computer.
• Callers try to sell subscriptions for “computer monitoring” or “security services.” Giving hackers your credit card information creates an added danger.
• When you answer the call, you hear a ringing tone. That indicates a callback system that could result in expensive long-distance charges to you, since these posers often call from Europe or Asia.
If you believe you’ve already fallen for a phony tech support scam, contact a computer repair company to stop the hackers’ remote access. Also notify your bank and credit card companies, and monitor your statements for any unauthorized charges.
Sid Kirchheimer is the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling.
It’s the “tech support scam,” a ruse that has made headlines overseas and now is quietly targeting computer users in this country.
It starts with a phone call from someone claiming to be from a software provider such as Microsoft, Norton or McAfee, or your computer’s manufacturer. (Other callers say they represent Support on Click, a firm based in India.) You are told that your computer has a virus and may be in danger of losing all stored data, but the caller can help avoid that—if you follow his instructions.
Don’t take the bait.
“What they usually try to do is get you to download software that they say will fix the virus,” says Paul Aziz, who runs a computer repair business in Lebanon, Ore., and teaches older users about Internet security at Linn-Benton Community College.
“What that software really does is give them remote access to your computer and everything on it—your passwords, online banking accounts, everything.”
In some cases, users are directed to the website www.logmein123.com, which gives the hackers remote access to your computer, allegedly to “fix the problem.” Or they may ask you to provide your user name and password.
How are users targeted? Their names and phone numbers can be accessed from online telephone directories. Some calls may be made with an auto-dialer that calls numbers in sequence.
Charlotte Brooks of Bedminster, N.J., received several such calls from men with foreign accents saying they worked for her “computer monitoring firm.” “When I asked which firm, at least three correctly guessed Norton; the others fudged,” she told Scam Alert. “Each said it was extremely urgent that we go online immediately so he could help us get rid of this virus by letting him have remote access to our computer. When I sent an e-mail to Norton about this, they had no idea what I was talking about.”
Be on the alert for signs of trouble:
• The warning that you have a computer virus comes to you by telephone or e-mail. If a real virus is ever detected, you’re likely to receive a security update or warning directly on your computer.
• Callers try to sell subscriptions for “computer monitoring” or “security services.” Giving hackers your credit card information creates an added danger.
• When you answer the call, you hear a ringing tone. That indicates a callback system that could result in expensive long-distance charges to you, since these posers often call from Europe or Asia.
If you believe you’ve already fallen for a phony tech support scam, contact a computer repair company to stop the hackers’ remote access. Also notify your bank and credit card companies, and monitor your statements for any unauthorized charges.
Sid Kirchheimer is the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Fake Blue Screen of Death on the Rise Again
Well they have Dusted it off and Re Written it for the newer Windows Versions. back in Windows 98 and Windows ME we saw another version of this. And then there was a version for Windows XP back in the early part of 2008 I saw about 4 cases of this. Each of those were scareware designed to make you buy their "removal" tool. Their tool of course would remove it but would then capture your credit card info and logins to sites you would use. Thus was a tool for Identity Theft, Norton would not catch it and neither would McAfee. the 2 that would catch it were Avira and AVG Anti Virus. If you ever get one of these sor t of virus's Never Buy thier Tools.
First thing that should be a red flag is a Virus that tells you the victim what tool to buy and use to remove it. This alone says it is released by the same author or one author is connected to the other in some way.
If you ever get something like that, Stop what you are doing and Call Us or Your Local Repair Specialist. Make sure to tell them You May have a Fake AntiVirus or Scareware on your system.
Steven Young
Technician Supervisor
S.a.A. Computer Repair
steven@saacomputer
Phone 503-588-5337
Cell 503-927-9098
OnForce Tech ID #46721
Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/saacomputer
Connect to us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salem-OR/SaA-Computer-Repair/131092157603
Link with us at http://www.linkedin.com/in/saacomputer
Be friends on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/saacomputer
First thing that should be a red flag is a Virus that tells you the victim what tool to buy and use to remove it. This alone says it is released by the same author or one author is connected to the other in some way.
If you ever get something like that, Stop what you are doing and Call Us or Your Local Repair Specialist. Make sure to tell them You May have a Fake AntiVirus or Scareware on your system.
Steven Young
Technician Supervisor
S.a.A. Computer Repair
steven@saacomputer
Phone 503-588-5337
Cell 503-927-9098
OnForce Tech ID #46721
Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/saacomputer
Connect to us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salem-OR/SaA-Computer-Repair/131092157603
Link with us at http://www.linkedin.com/in/saacomputer
Be friends on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/saacomputer
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