Posted by jba/fl on 3/4/10 3:11am
Msg #325272

Something to think and wonder about:

It is the last line of this article that really caught my attention:

"The infected computers have so far been used to make money in ordinary ways, pumping out spam and spreading fake antivirus software."

Then, the first paragraph set it for me when I reread. They called it a "a data vacuum that stole credit cards and online banking credentials from as many as 12.7 million poisoned PCs."


http://cbs4.com/national/malware.group.busted.2.1534444.html

I am very interested in comments about this since much will not come out, I'm sure, until it goes to court.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/4/10 7:12am
Msg #325274

Interesting and almost too big to get my head around.

The other day I was on FB and all of a sudden my computer told me I was infected. Hmmm...do this, do that...hmm. I didn't do any of it. I simply shut the window and clicked on my AV icon and told it to get busy. I was cleared for infection; I believe that part of the infection that we get ourselves into is because we believe and do everything we are told to do. "Social engineering" is a VERY good means of getting into real life trouble as well as computer infection. We do as we think we should, try to be polite, accept things we shouldn't...open doors and files we shouldn't...talk to strangers and communicate by email when we shouldn't...just because we are socially engineered a certain way.

Reply by Patricia/VT on 3/4/10 8:07am
Msg #325276

Re: Interesting and almost too big to get my head around.

Well said, Brenda.

Reply by jba/fl on 3/4/10 8:42am
Msg #325277

Social engineering - great perception on these things.

We are taught to be "nice" and "obliging", which I think sometimes gets us into great trouble.

I had something like this malware, if not this one, and a few others here have as well. It is disturbing to say the least. Oh, heck, I went into a panic at first and thought I need to change all my passwords and my credit cards for new numbers. How cautious must we, should we, be? I was annoyed recently when my bank insisted upon changing our passwords - it was not an option as they do this periodically. A PITA, but I'm happy about that now. (This was post-infection.)

Looking forward to some of our computer experts to comment.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/4/10 12:25pm
Msg #325321

"Nice and "obliging" are highly over-rated!

Fortunatly. I've never been accused of either! ;-)

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/4/10 3:05pm
Msg #325340

Re: "Nice and "obliging" are highly over-rated!

And they are also what the bad guys count on to take advantage of unsuspecting people. This story is one of the reasons I decided not to use an anti-virus program that is downloaded free from the internet. (I use ESET NOD32, as several others here do. So far, so good.)

Reply by Laura_V on 3/4/10 10:10am
Msg #325288

I have been living in this h@ll for almost 2 weeks

Truly a nightmare. Usually on the phone with various tech and abuse support ppl soon after I wake up at 3am or 4am every day. Today it's 6am because I slept in.

Spent 12 hours Wednesday a week ago on this problem. Several hours each day on all other days.

Got email around 5am today with new problem: old host deleted my entire email account with all contents without warning. I paid for that in advance. This morning alone I spoke with 3 tech ppl and am on hold on speaker phone to speak to the abuse tech dept. Again.



Heads up to NSAs - one of the nice ppl who responded to my cry for help on this forum is a part owner of Notary ASAP in SoCalif. Hugely generous and busy notary who does a ton of volunteer work.

I would imagine they treat their notaries with the same ethics so you may wish to sign up with them if you are VERY experienced.


Back to my nightmare -
I launched an artsy business last fall. Monday last week I started talking with two important charities in Canada about partnership marketing. I give them artsy thing I design and make that sells for $5K, they auction off to get even more $. Thing costs me hundreds to make and that is cheap marketing since my thing will be in front of the eyes of my best prospective clients.

One charity founder is so respected she was one of the ppl who carried the torch.

And neither charity can see my website. Arrrrrrrgh.


Filipino tech support just answered phone here


Now it's 2.5+ hours later I have spoken to a series of four tech / billing support ppl. (Good thing I know how to copy-paste into notepad so I don't lose text to getting timed out here.)


4th advanced tech in abuse dept just sent me and my tech friend in Denver an email that may fix site and help google to let ppl see my website again.


I have been sleeping 7 hours or so each night and waking up tired.


So, yes, I have heard of this evil malware. My wonderful webmaster retired and moved to some other state so I didn't have access to clean files.


MANY SUPER HUGE THANKS
to you wonderful ppl in notaryland who helped me with technical stuff, offered to help, and who gave me a shoulder when I was frustrated. I'll name only the names of ppl I know won't mind in no particular order:
Marian CA
Susan Fischer
Notary ASAP
Sylvia FL
Carolann W
and several more I've never even corresponded with before.



I was going to do a Go Live chat this Sunday but I've been a tad bit busy. I'll come through when I come up for air.
How about the Saturday before Easter Sunday? Or is Saturday a special holiday, too? Is Sat still date night in North America? Anyway, I have the topics ready just not the notes.
Carolann W and another notary helped me come up with great topics - you will love them.