Virus Warning
oh don't pick on Tom, he's just warning us! He's a staple of this
newgroup!!! madgardener -- Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." Chief Seattle "Jim Shaffer, Jr." wrote in message ... First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. |
Virus Warning
In article ,
William Wagner wrote: Nice little program "Little Snitch" shareware lets me know about anyone trying to contact my machine. For Mac's but PC folks may have something similar. William (Bill) Now back to garden stuff. -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
Jim Shaffer, Jr. wrote:
First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. Jim, You are correct on both points but the plain truth is that millions of people are just not computer savvy. Tom was just posting the information for those in that group. It has been reported that many people ARE clicking on the link and just maybe the warning will prevent one of our gardening friends from getting hit. -- Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A) Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850 For pictures of my garden flowers visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail |
Virus Warning
Bill R wrote:
You are correct on both points but the plain truth is that millions of people are just not computer savvy. Tom was just posting the information for those in that group. It has been reported that many people ARE clicking on the link and just maybe the warning will prevent one of our gardening friends from getting hit. The problem is, those people who didn't already know (or at least suspect) that something was amiss with the rogue post wouldn't see Tom's warning in time. Either they were zapped already, or they're reading the posts (or threads) in chronological order, and will be zapped before getting to this thread. It was a nice gesture. But even if it came yesterday, it was too late. The lesson that can be reinforced to the rest of us is to remember that warnings never come fast enough for the gullible. Anyone who just *has* to see "news" photos before they're released (we'll ignore the unlikelihood of them being in rec.gardens before being on every TV station on the dial) really needs to take a breath, and weigh the possibility of damage over the need to know something a little ahead of everyone else. At least wait for either the warnings, or for it to become public knowledge. Same goes for your bank, credit card company, or anyone else you do business with needing to confirm information right away. If they need it so quickly that you don't have the chance to call them on the phone to confirm it's really them, then it's something bad for you. I'm sure we'll see plenty of these for years to come, and the real lesson (which I know we already know) is don't let them rush you. Don't let them come up with *any* reason that convinces you to act faster than the warnings can come, or faster than you can confirm something. The most basic part of any con is getting you to act fast. Too fast. Most of the people who act too fast in most cons knew better to begin with. They just forgot. Think before acting. Ask before acting. That's the message that needs to constantly be hammered into our human heads, and Tom's message has been a catalyst for this discussion. BTW... This doesn't just apply to downloading files, or opening messages, or even computers. It applies to watching out when someone offers us a tool or a plant, and tries to entice us to act faster than we should. Impulse buys are fun if it's your impulse. If it's someone else playing you into making an impulsive decision, you'll get burned. And again, the warnings won't come along fast enough to save the most impulsive of us. Any one who can say they've never been conned either is lying, or they're so dumb they haven't even realized they've been conned yet! And most of us, given a long enough life, will fall victim again. But the more we repeat the lesson to think before acting, perhaps the fewer times we'll be suckered while we're still around. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Blatant Plug: Books for the Pacific Northwest gardener: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/nwgardener/index.html |
Virus Warning
Neither Norton Anti-Virus (Symantec), CIAC (Dept of Energy),
US-CERT (Dept of Homeland Security), CERT (Carnegie-Mellon), nor CVE (Mitre) report such a threat. According to CIAC, a valid warning has the following characteristics: * There is a link to a report at an authoritative source (e.g., a member of FIRST http://www.first.org/ but not a news organization). * The warning is digitally signed (e.g., via PGP) so that its origin can be authenticated and the integrity of its content can be verified. * It does not say, "Tell all your friends." -- David E. Ross http://www.rossde.com/ I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that complies with Web standards. See http://www.mozilla.org/. |
Virus Warning
In article ,
"Jim Carlock" wrote: Thanks to Tom. And just a heads up to William Wagner and anyone else out there that doesn't know... William, can you check something out for me ? https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 Interesting Jim! Here our my results for my MAC "Attempting connection to your computer... Shields UP! is now attempting to contact the Hidden Internet Server within your PC. It is likely that no one has told you that your own personal computer may now be functioning as an Internet Server with neither your knowledge nor your permission. And that it may be serving up all or many of your personal files for reading, writing, modification and even deletion by anyone, anywhere, on the Internet! Preliminary Internet connection refused! This is extremely favorable for your system's overall Windows File and Printer Sharing security. Most Windows systems, with the Network Neighborhood installed, hold the NetBIOS port 139 wide open to solicit connections from all passing traffic. Either this system has closed this usually-open port, or some equipment or software such as a "firewall" is preventing external connection and has firmly closed the dangerous port 139 to all passersby. (Congratulations!) Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer. All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet." -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 12:58:39 -0400, Bill R wrote:
madgardener wrote: we need to get these people into gardening on a grand scale. They have waaaaay too much time on their hands! I don't think "those type" of people are into gardening. Here is what is going on: the file contains a "backdoor" trojan that, once installed on a computer (and all you have to do is click on the link for it to be installed), allows them to use (control) that computer to send spam mail to thousands of people daily. It also can be used to make a person's computer "a pornography file server" or other such device (it has been reported that terrorist use it to send messages back and forth but I haven't seen any proof of that). A very good (free) program that you can use to make sure that none of these type of programs are installed on your computer is Ad-Aware 6.0 and is available from the Lavasoft web site, http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ Be sure to keep it updated and scan your computer at least once a week. If you use Internet Explorer you better scan every day or 2 at the very least. |
Virus Warning
On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 12:58:39 -0400, Bill R wrote:
madgardener wrote: we need to get these people into gardening on a grand scale. They have waaaaay too much time on their hands! I don't think "those type" of people are into gardening. Here is what is going on: the file contains a "backdoor" trojan that, once installed on a computer (and all you have to do is click on the link for it to be installed), allows them to use (control) that computer to send spam mail to thousands of people daily. It also can be used to make a person's computer "a pornography file server" or other such device (it has been reported that terrorist use it to send messages back and forth but I haven't seen any proof of that). A very good (free) program that you can use to make sure that none of these type of programs are installed on your computer is Ad-Aware 6.0 and is available from the Lavasoft web site, http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ Be sure to keep it updated and scan your computer at least once a week. If you use Internet Explorer you better scan every day or 2 at the very least. |
Virus Warning
Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure
Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ |
Virus Warning
First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or
not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. |
Virus Warning
oh don't pick on Tom, he's just warning us! He's a staple of this
newgroup!!! madgardener -- Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." Chief Seattle "Jim Shaffer, Jr." wrote in message ... First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. |
Virus Warning
In article ,
"Jim Shaffer, Jr." wrote: First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. Jim I assume you may be having a bad day. Lot's of folks purchase computer systems via price. Some come with defaults set to open access. Not their fault. I'd suggest doing a search on the author of anyone you do not know first before clicking on anything. Actually I'd Grokker the author. Meanwhile Tech support has to make a living too. A heads up from Tom does no harm. William (Bill) -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
In article ,
William Wagner wrote: Nice little program "Little Snitch" shareware lets me know about anyone trying to contact my machine. For Mac's but PC folks may have something similar. William (Bill) Now back to garden stuff. -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
Jim Shaffer, Jr. wrote:
First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. Jim, You are correct on both points but the plain truth is that millions of people are just not computer savvy. Tom was just posting the information for those in that group. It has been reported that many people ARE clicking on the link and just maybe the warning will prevent one of our gardening friends from getting hit. -- Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A) Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850 For pictures of my garden flowers visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail |
Virus Warning
"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message ... Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ Tom your warning is very appropriate dispite the attitudes expressed by some in this thread. Everyone should know that the Osama picture may be a link to an maliscious web site that runs a file by taking advantage of a known security hole in Internet Explorer. It is not necessarily an .exe attachment. Or it might be an exe disguised as a jpg. with only the jpg extension seen in the attachment window. Seasoned Internet users can get caught by a tricky email or web virus. A first line of defense is to make sure the windows operating system is updated at the Windows Update site. Be sure to get every Critical Update. Second is to keep onboard anti virus updated. I even have a DOS virus system onboard if I have to quickly go to DOS and scan my computer. If someone is caught with an old virus update and a virus installs, sometimes the next update will give a cure for the virus. So don't give up hope of curing the nasty from the infected computer. Wil |
Virus Warning
Bill R wrote:
You are correct on both points but the plain truth is that millions of people are just not computer savvy. Tom was just posting the information for those in that group. It has been reported that many people ARE clicking on the link and just maybe the warning will prevent one of our gardening friends from getting hit. The problem is, those people who didn't already know (or at least suspect) that something was amiss with the rogue post wouldn't see Tom's warning in time. Either they were zapped already, or they're reading the posts (or threads) in chronological order, and will be zapped before getting to this thread. It was a nice gesture. But even if it came yesterday, it was too late. The lesson that can be reinforced to the rest of us is to remember that warnings never come fast enough for the gullible. Anyone who just *has* to see "news" photos before they're released (we'll ignore the unlikelihood of them being in rec.gardens before being on every TV station on the dial) really needs to take a breath, and weigh the possibility of damage over the need to know something a little ahead of everyone else. At least wait for either the warnings, or for it to become public knowledge. Same goes for your bank, credit card company, or anyone else you do business with needing to confirm information right away. If they need it so quickly that you don't have the chance to call them on the phone to confirm it's really them, then it's something bad for you. I'm sure we'll see plenty of these for years to come, and the real lesson (which I know we already know) is don't let them rush you. Don't let them come up with *any* reason that convinces you to act faster than the warnings can come, or faster than you can confirm something. The most basic part of any con is getting you to act fast. Too fast. Most of the people who act too fast in most cons knew better to begin with. They just forgot. Think before acting. Ask before acting. That's the message that needs to constantly be hammered into our human heads, and Tom's message has been a catalyst for this discussion. BTW... This doesn't just apply to downloading files, or opening messages, or even computers. It applies to watching out when someone offers us a tool or a plant, and tries to entice us to act faster than we should. Impulse buys are fun if it's your impulse. If it's someone else playing you into making an impulsive decision, you'll get burned. And again, the warnings won't come along fast enough to save the most impulsive of us. Any one who can say they've never been conned either is lying, or they're so dumb they haven't even realized they've been conned yet! And most of us, given a long enough life, will fall victim again. But the more we repeat the lesson to think before acting, perhaps the fewer times we'll be suckered while we're still around. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Blatant Plug: Books for the Pacific Northwest gardener: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/nwgardener/index.html |
Virus Warning
Neither Norton Anti-Virus (Symantec), CIAC (Dept of Energy),
US-CERT (Dept of Homeland Security), CERT (Carnegie-Mellon), nor CVE (Mitre) report such a threat. According to CIAC, a valid warning has the following characteristics: * There is a link to a report at an authoritative source (e.g., a member of FIRST http://www.first.org/ but not a news organization). * The warning is digitally signed (e.g., via PGP) so that its origin can be authenticated and the integrity of its content can be verified. * It does not say, "Tell all your friends." -- David E. Ross http://www.rossde.com/ I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that complies with Web standards. See http://www.mozilla.org/. |
Virus Warning
Thanks to Tom.
And just a heads up to William Wagner and anyone else out there that doesn't know... William, can you check something out for me ? https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 If that link doesn't work, try: http://www.grc.com/default.htm Scroll down to the ShieldsUp! link and see if you can get that to work ? It is a port scanner that will identify any open ports on your system. Your Snitch software will probably alert you to quite a few a things. There should be a "Common Ports" link that you should try before trying to do all ports. I'm a little ignorant on whether that webpage will work on a MacIntosh system. As far as any computer goes, PC's or Mac's or other, IP addresses are being contacted constantly. I am not familiar with what "Little Snitch" is, so I assume it is firewall software. My IP address is contacted about 10 to 40 times a minute, every minute of the day, and it doesn't matter that my IP address changes. The reason this happens is because there are a lot of people out there that are probing just about every port on the Internet. A good firewall will hide your system and drop incoming packets that are sniffing your system. Not only are people scanning ports trying to detect open systems, but virally infected systems may do the same and there seem to be a lot of virally infected systems out there. It seems as if most people program a virus to do a couple things: 1) open a port on the infected system, 2) broadcast the open port to people that want to know, And then there are the other type of viral programs. The ones above are really called worms because they burrow into your system and create a hole for other worms to crawl in. :-) Viral programs tend to contact a system, may or may not open the system up for Internet communications, but these are the ones you generally hear about that infect a floppy drive, a CD and so on. Their goal isn't so much to open the system up for contact, but is to spread their infection around. Then there are the viral worms that exhibit both behaviours. I have noticed that a lot of worms are not detected by anti-viral software. For PC systems, folks are told to get commercial anti- viral software, a firewall as well as two other anti-tracking softwares. :-/ The fact that Microsoft built the operating system so openly, provides PCs with a lot of freedom, but certain corporate entities decided to abuse that freedom and create intrusive software. http://www.lavasoft.de has the LavaSoft AdAware software that is free and one of the most highly recommended tools to install on any Microsoft Windows operating system. http://www.safer-networking.org/ has SpyBot Search & Destroy. This is more free software that should be installed on every Microsoft Windows system. http://www.grisoft.com/ has a free anti-viral software product as well, but I've noticed that it is not recognizing some older viruses. This is some more free software, and it's currently the only anti- virus product I am using on this system. So I do recommend to others that a commercial anti-viral product like Symantec or Macafee's but I don't use those myself. :-/ I guess I am one of those guys that doesn't practise what I preach. :-( So I pass this on with that disclaimer. The firewall software that is generally used on a PC is called Zone Alarm and is available on a trial basis at www.zonelabs.com or you can get a freeware earlier version from www.oldversions.com. It's PC only software though. Hope I've cleared up some things. -- Jim Carlock http://www.microcosmotalk.com/ Post replies to the newsgroup. "William Wagner" wrote: In article, William Wagner wrote: Nice little program "Little Snitch" shareware lets me know about anyone trying to contact my machine. For Mac's but PC folks may have something similar. William (Bill) Now back to garden stuff. -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
In article ,
"Jim Carlock" wrote: Thanks to Tom. And just a heads up to William Wagner and anyone else out there that doesn't know... William, can you check something out for me ? https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 Interesting Jim! Here our my results for my MAC "Attempting connection to your computer... Shields UP! is now attempting to contact the Hidden Internet Server within your PC. It is likely that no one has told you that your own personal computer may now be functioning as an Internet Server with neither your knowledge nor your permission. And that it may be serving up all or many of your personal files for reading, writing, modification and even deletion by anyone, anywhere, on the Internet! Preliminary Internet connection refused! This is extremely favorable for your system's overall Windows File and Printer Sharing security. Most Windows systems, with the Network Neighborhood installed, hold the NetBIOS port 139 wide open to solicit connections from all passing traffic. Either this system has closed this usually-open port, or some equipment or software such as a "firewall" is preventing external connection and has firmly closed the dangerous port 139 to all passersby. (Congratulations!) Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer. All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet." -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
there is also one that announces Schwarzenegger's suicide - it too contains
a virus. "TOM KAN PA" wrote in message ... Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ |
Virus Warning
there is also one that announces Schwarzenegger's suicide - it too contains
a virus. "TOM KAN PA" wrote in message ... Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ |
Virus Warning
we need to get these people into gardening on a grand scale. They have
waaaaay too much time on their hands! madgardener whose own garden is now overgrown, half blown out, and the grasses that she "doesn't have" are up to her knees in the pathways between the beds running down the slope..............to the patch of weeds that slipped in quietly in the night under cover of the rains and are now great woods eating things.................. -- Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." Chief Seattle "Jutta Haas" wrote in message .rogers.com... there is also one that announces Schwarzenegger's suicide - it too contains a virus. "TOM KAN PA" wrote in message ... Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ |
Virus Warning
madgardener wrote:
we need to get these people into gardening on a grand scale. They have waaaaay too much time on their hands! I don't think "those type" of people are into gardening. Here is what is going on: the file contains a "backdoor" trojan that, once installed on a computer (and all you have to do is click on the link for it to be installed), allows them to use (control) that computer to send spam mail to thousands of people daily. It also can be used to make a person's computer "a pornography file server" or other such device (it has been reported that terrorist use it to send messages back and forth but I haven't seen any proof of that). A very good (free) program that you can use to make sure that none of these type of programs are installed on your computer is Ad-Aware 6.0 and is available from the Lavasoft web site, http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ Be sure to keep it updated and scan your computer at least once a week. -- Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A) Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850 For pictures of my garden flowers visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail |
Virus Warning
"madgardener" wrote in message ... we need to get these people into gardening on a grand scale. They have waaaaay too much time on their hands! madgardener whose own garden is now overgrown, half blown out, and the grasses that she "doesn't have" are up to her knees in the pathways between the beds running down the slope..............to the patch of weeds that slipped in quietly in the night under cover of the rains and are now great woods eating things.................. Good to see this post. I was worried the hyperlink fix I suggested might have caused you trouble............ Did you try it? "Jutta Haas" wrote in message .rogers.com... there is also one that announces Schwarzenegger's suicide - it too contains a virus. "TOM KAN PA" wrote in message ... Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking |
Virus Warning
On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 12:58:39 -0400, Bill R wrote:
madgardener wrote: we need to get these people into gardening on a grand scale. They have waaaaay too much time on their hands! I don't think "those type" of people are into gardening. Here is what is going on: the file contains a "backdoor" trojan that, once installed on a computer (and all you have to do is click on the link for it to be installed), allows them to use (control) that computer to send spam mail to thousands of people daily. It also can be used to make a person's computer "a pornography file server" or other such device (it has been reported that terrorist use it to send messages back and forth but I haven't seen any proof of that). A very good (free) program that you can use to make sure that none of these type of programs are installed on your computer is Ad-Aware 6.0 and is available from the Lavasoft web site, http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ Be sure to keep it updated and scan your computer at least once a week. If you use Internet Explorer you better scan every day or 2 at the very least. |
Virus Warning
I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored by
a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. I protect my emails with programs that look at messages on my server before I download them to my computer. I do not have such a recourse with the newsgroup messages. It's very scary to use the newsgroups, even though I am protected every way I know how. TOM KAN PA wrote: Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ |
Virus Warning
sherwindu wrote:
I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored by a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. I protect my emails with programs that look at messages on my server before I download them to my computer. I do not have such a recourse with the newsgroup messages. It's very scary to use the newsgroups, even though I am protected every way I know how. Very few newsgroups are moderated. Maybe a hundred out of a few thousand groups. This isn't one of them. (Nearly all that are moderated have the word moderated in the title.) However, just because a group is moderated doesn't make it any safer. It's easy enough to fake the headers that authorize the release of a message. (Yes, it's against the rules, but so is distributing viruses.) It's not hard to protect yourself. Number one on the list is don't open any attached files. There is no legitimate reason for anyone to post a file in a non-binary newsgroup such as this one. alt.binaries.pictures.gardens is available for that. If you're nervous about how safe it is, don't go to that group. (Many ISP's will either strip the attachment off of posts to non-binary groups, or they'll simply drop the posting all together.) Second, don't follow links to unsafe websites. A link (supposedly) to a story about Sadam hanging himself is probably not safe if it's posted in a gardening newsgroup. So what about a link to something garden-related? It may or may not be a safe site. Look at who's posting it. Is it a regular poster to the group? Is there content in their message other than just an invite to the link? Have others commented on the link? Does the site name look okay? Worried that the link doesn't go where it says it goes? Well, that isn't a problem in a plain text message, which is one of the many reasons why people prefer newsgroup messages to be in plain text instead of html. If the post isn't plain text, but formatted html, it might go someplace other than what the text shows. Instead of clicking on the link, copy the link, and paste it in your browser. Then you'll go where it says, not to some hidden link under it. Lastly, most newsreaders have an option to only download headers. The messages are only downloaded if you click on the header. Be judicious in which posts you read. Evaluate whether or not you view the message by looking at the subject line, who posted it, and the size of the message (as in, is it so big that it must have an attachment.) Just following these common sense guidelines will keep you safe. I have been reading newsgroups for over a decade now, and I have never had a problem. I scan about two dozen newsgroups a day, some are binary groups, too. I probably look at two hundred messages a day. I pass over far more than I read. Having worked for some ISP's and other technology companies, I have the skills to deal with things that could go wrong better than most, but I'm sure you'll find that many of the non-technical people who read this group can give you similar stories of never having a problem. Good judgment and technical skills are not synonymous. You lock the doors of your house. You keep your car doors locked. You don't walk in deserted areas at night. Unless you're agoraphobic, you leave your house each day, and use good judgment that has allowed you to come home unharmed nearly every day of your life. Yes, there are plenty of things out there that can harm you, and it's possible that no matter how careful you are, something will. But that doesn't keep you from going out, and living your life. Likewise, use good judgment online, and live your online life. Don't let fear keep you from the rich content that is available in many of the thousands of newsgroups. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Blatant Plug: Books for the Pacific Northwest gardener: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/nwgardener/index.html |
Virus Warning
sherwindu wrote:
I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored by a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. I protect my emails with programs that look at messages on my server before I download them to my computer. I do not have such a recourse with the newsgroup messages. It's very scary to use the newsgroups, even though I am protected every way I know how. Very few newsgroups are moderated. Maybe a hundred out of a few thousand groups. This isn't one of them. (Nearly all that are moderated have the word moderated in the title.) However, just because a group is moderated doesn't make it any safer. It's easy enough to fake the headers that authorize the release of a message. (Yes, it's against the rules, but so is distributing viruses.) It's not hard to protect yourself. Number one on the list is don't open any attached files. There is no legitimate reason for anyone to post a file in a non-binary newsgroup such as this one. alt.binaries.pictures.gardens is available for that. If you're nervous about how safe it is, don't go to that group. (Many ISP's will either strip the attachment off of posts to non-binary groups, or they'll simply drop the posting all together.) Second, don't follow links to unsafe websites. A link (supposedly) to a story about Sadam hanging himself is probably not safe if it's posted in a gardening newsgroup. So what about a link to something garden-related? It may or may not be a safe site. Look at who's posting it. Is it a regular poster to the group? Is there content in their message other than just an invite to the link? Have others commented on the link? Does the site name look okay? Worried that the link doesn't go where it says it goes? Well, that isn't a problem in a plain text message, which is one of the many reasons why people prefer newsgroup messages to be in plain text instead of html. If the post isn't plain text, but formatted html, it might go someplace other than what the text shows. Instead of clicking on the link, copy the link, and paste it in your browser. Then you'll go where it says, not to some hidden link under it. Lastly, most newsreaders have an option to only download headers. The messages are only downloaded if you click on the header. Be judicious in which posts you read. Evaluate whether or not you view the message by looking at the subject line, who posted it, and the size of the message (as in, is it so big that it must have an attachment.) Just following these common sense guidelines will keep you safe. I have been reading newsgroups for over a decade now, and I have never had a problem. I scan about two dozen newsgroups a day, some are binary groups, too. I probably look at two hundred messages a day. I pass over far more than I read. Having worked for some ISP's and other technology companies, I have the skills to deal with things that could go wrong better than most, but I'm sure you'll find that many of the non-technical people who read this group can give you similar stories of never having a problem. Good judgment and technical skills are not synonymous. You lock the doors of your house. You keep your car doors locked. You don't walk in deserted areas at night. Unless you're agoraphobic, you leave your house each day, and use good judgment that has allowed you to come home unharmed nearly every day of your life. Yes, there are plenty of things out there that can harm you, and it's possible that no matter how careful you are, something will. But that doesn't keep you from going out, and living your life. Likewise, use good judgment online, and live your online life. Don't let fear keep you from the rich content that is available in many of the thousands of newsgroups. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Blatant Plug: Books for the Pacific Northwest gardener: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/nwgardener/index.html |
Virus Warning
I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored
by a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. Not all newsgroups are monitored. This one is not. Sometimes the spam even gets into the monitored ones. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) |
Virus Warning
I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored
by a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. Not all newsgroups are monitored. This one is not. Sometimes the spam even gets into the monitored ones. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) |
Virus Warning
-- "sherwindu" wrote in message ... I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored by a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. I protect my emails with programs that look at messages on my server before I download them to my computer. I do not have such a recourse with the newsgroup messages. It's very scary to use the newsgroups, even though I am protected every way I know how. TOM KAN PA wrote: Perhaps it was the moderator that warned us. Wil |
Virus Warning
-- "sherwindu" wrote in message ... I was under the naive impression that these newsgroup forums were monitored by a group moderator whose duties included removing viruses, spam, etc. I protect my emails with programs that look at messages on my server before I download them to my computer. I do not have such a recourse with the newsgroup messages. It's very scary to use the newsgroups, even though I am protected every way I know how. TOM KAN PA wrote: Perhaps it was the moderator that warned us. Wil |
Virus Warning
First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or
not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. |
Virus Warning
On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 17:53:11 -0400, Wil wrote:
Perhaps it was the moderator that warned us. Wil This group has no moderator. Not all groups have one. |
Virus Warning
oh don't pick on Tom, he's just warning us! He's a staple of this
newgroup!!! madgardener -- Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." Chief Seattle "Jim Shaffer, Jr." wrote in message ... First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. |
Virus Warning
In article ,
"Jim Shaffer, Jr." wrote: First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. Jim I assume you may be having a bad day. Lot's of folks purchase computer systems via price. Some come with defaults set to open access. Not their fault. I'd suggest doing a search on the author of anyone you do not know first before clicking on anything. Actually I'd Grokker the author. Meanwhile Tech support has to make a living too. A heads up from Tom does no harm. William (Bill) -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
In article ,
William Wagner wrote: Nice little program "Little Snitch" shareware lets me know about anyone trying to contact my machine. For Mac's but PC folks may have something similar. William (Bill) Now back to garden stuff. -- Zone 5 S Jersey USA Shade Earth sometimes. There is atleast one word misspelled deliberately in the above post. ;)) http://www.oxymorons.info/ lots of word fun! |
Virus Warning
there is also one that announces Schwarzenegger's suicide - it too contains
a virus. "TOM KAN PA" wrote in message ... Reports of bin Laden's death are viral lure Beware of clicking By INQUIRER staff: Saturday 24 July 2004, 18:46 NEWS.COM and other wires report that sensational messages spreading on USENET and by email which flash news of the death of Osama bin Laden's death are really lures to trap the unwary into downloading a Trojan horse. According to news.com, the message purports to have a picture of the arch-terrorist committing suicide. But click on the picture and before you know where you are you've got an infection. µ |
Virus Warning
In article ,
Jim Shaffer, Jr. wrote: First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. The latter may not be obvious at all. I use a Linux box and read mail/news in ascii only, so when an html message pops up I end up having to peruse the html code. Doing that on a couple of spams has been interesting. In one set, the link has one name but the ref has another. In another variant, the name is obfuscated by a lot of white space (e.g. "funnypicture.jpg .exe" with the last part overwritten. Thus, even people who know the difference between an executable file and a picture can be fooled... billo |
Virus Warning
In article ,
Jim Shaffer, Jr. wrote: First, anyone who couldn't figure out that it was spam of *some* sort, viral or not, shouldn't be on the net. Second, anyone who can't tell an executable file from a picture shouldn't be on the net. The latter may not be obvious at all. I use a Linux box and read mail/news in ascii only, so when an html message pops up I end up having to peruse the html code. Doing that on a couple of spams has been interesting. In one set, the link has one name but the ref has another. In another variant, the name is obfuscated by a lot of white space (e.g. "funnypicture.jpg .exe" with the last part overwritten. Thus, even people who know the difference between an executable file and a picture can be fooled... billo |
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