Rogue Dialers - The Net's Latest Scamola!
If recent news stories concerning worms, trojans and security exploits within Microsoft's Internet Explorer, left you feeling vulnerable, this will leave you terrified.
PC's the world over are already being hit by a new breed of trojan type software called Rogue Dialers.
More malevolent than most ordinary spyware, Rogue Dialers actually hijack the computer's modem and then uses it to dial-up a premium rate telephone number, racking up huge telephone charges.
Many Dialers operate whilst the victim is actively surfing the Net by dropping the current connection and then performing an automatic reconnection via a premium rate number.
Most scary of all are the Dialers which connect themselves to a premium rate number while the victim is away from their machine, achieving this by detecting long periods of inactivity.Most "infections" of Rogue Dialers are contracted by the "drive-by download" method, where-by the dialer software is automatically downloaded from a webpage without the victim ever being aware.
This method of installing software onto a users PC was pioneered by the online adult services industry as a way of putting spy and adware programs onto a customers PC without them knowing.
Originally confined to adult websites, drive-by downloads of spyware used to be known as the Electronic Pox; a risk the end-user took when visiting adult websites.
Of course, just like the first pop-up box, also developed by the adult industry, the rest of the Internet was soon to follow.
Thanks to a glaringly obvious design flaw in Microsoft's Outlook Express, which allows emails, including those containing HTML and embedded malevolent code, to be previewed without any warning, Rogue Dialers can be placed onto a victims PC without them ever going near a website.
Rogue Dialers are just the next generation of electronic misery which can be inflicted upon the end-user.
Unfortunately for any victims, Rogue Dialers hit the pocket and they hit it hard!In America, one victim of a Rogue Dialer scam racked up some $500 in charges after their modem was hijacked and a premium rate number was contacted on just six occasions.
In the UK too, numerous victims have reported huge telephone charges, with some in excess of ?1500
($2800).The consumer website, Bad Business Bureau has received over 1300 complaints from victims of this latest scam and, while this whole matter is being investigated by Federal Trade Commission in the States and by the Office of Fair Trading in the UK, scammers are already responding with new software which dials numbers in countries where trade controls are lacking.A further blow has recently been delivered to UK based victims with announcements from the leading telecoms providers, BT and NTL that they are "not responsible" for calls which have been made fraudulently and that customers will not be exempted from any charges incurred.Protecting Yourself & Your WalletFirewalls and and anti-virus software WILL NOT provide protection against Rogue Dialer infections.
The "drive-by download" method of introducing a Rogue Dialer onto a PC normally involves an ActiveX script and users advised, at the very least, to set
their browser settings to either disable ActiveX or warn of its existence.
For a more professional approach to protecting your modem, StopItNow, an Australian based software company has released a specific Rogue Dialer killer which retails for just $16.95.To avoid having a Rogue Dialer dumped onto their computer via the preview pane of Outlook Express, users may want to consider an alternative email client such as the freeware program, Eudora.Related Links:
- http://www.badbusinessbureau.com
- http://www.stopitnow.com.au
- http://www.ftc.gov
- http://www.oftel.gov.uk
- http://www.eudora.com
Internet Privacy Solutions - What Happens in ShadowMode, Stays in ShadowMode
ShadowStor Inc., a provider of innovative and non-intrusive security, data protection, and disaster prevention solutions for PCs and Servers, announced the immediate availability of ShadowSurfer and ShadowUser. ShadowSurfer and ShadowUser solutions provide the following benefits:Surf the Internet without a Trace ? eliminate cookies, internet history and cyberjunk Eliminate spyware, adware and other unwanted PC changes Eliminate viruses, malware and trojansInstantly undo malicious or unwanted PC changes Return your system to its original state as fast as it takes to rebootFor a brief description and free full-featured trial version of ShadowStor ShadowSurfer and ShadowUser, go to the following link:http://www.shadowstor.com/netprivacy.htmlShadowSurfer and ShadowUser provides a safe computing environment by creating a virtual twin of your PC. Place your PC in ShadowMode and surf the internet without a trace of unwanted...
Internet Privacy Solutions - What Happens in ShadowMode, Stays in ShadowMode
Adware > Internet Privacy Solutions - What Happens in ShadowMode, Stays in ShadowMode
Not All Spyware Is Malicious But Must Be Removed
Some people believe that you may not always need to remove spyware because Spyware is not always malicious. There are many kinds of Spyware that can infect your PC. Most of them are, thankfully, not uploaded with malicious intent. But why take chances. First of all let us analyze how Spyware comes to get onto the system in the first place.
People who browse the Internet come across many sites that offer free download. Clicking on these downloads may bring with it some program in the background or hidden from the user. This may be in the form of ActiveX controls or components. When we download certain programs the download program flashes a message requiring the user to allow the download of an ActiveX control without which the download will not work. This ActiveX control is registered in the CLSID files of the registry.
Once the download is complete the ActiveX control stored as a .OCX file begins its stealthy work. Best Spyware removal programs are especially weary of...
Not All Spyware Is Malicious But Must Be Removed
Adware > Not All Spyware Is Malicious But Must Be Removed
Free Spyware Removal Tools
There are many pseudo spyware removers out there, which intend to infiltrate your system under the pretence of an effective spyware removal tool. Many such spyware removal tools lured users and trapped them inside their own computers. Systems slowed down, crashed or were filled with spam. This reiterates the fact that users have to be extremely careful in choosing their free spyware removal tools.
Tools for effective spyware removal include those which scan, detect, eliminate and protect the system from potentially dangerous stuff. The first of these is of course, a spyware scanner like Spybot which routinely checks your system for unwanted material.
Make sure you use a pop-up blocker for your internet browsing engine.
Spyware Doctor is a powerful anti-spyware tool that can be downloaded for free into your system. It prevents any malicious and dangerous software from installing themselves on to the computer. This tool enhances your PC protection three...
Adware > Free Spyware Removal Tools
It's War I Tell You!
As you may or may not know, a new computer is extremely vulnerable when you first get online with it. There are ways to insure security though. You can get the Windows Update CD from Microsoft and install that before you get online. You can also get most Antivirus Definitions dnloaded and save em to disk and then install those before you go online. Course you have to be using that Product in the first place.
And you can get AntiSpyware on a disk and do the same. But how many people do that in their excitement to take it out of the box and hook it and see what She'll do.
Sans Internet Storm Center says those people will have their Puter infected with adware or worse in less than 20 min! Virgin Puters online stick out like a sore thumb. And the pain from that sore thumb will be considerably less that the person who soon realizes their brand new puter is sick. First comes the shock, then the anger, then the question. How do I fix it? If they are lucky they can fix...
Adware > It's War I Tell You!
How to Remove Unwanted Spyware...Spyblaster, NoAdware or SpywareNuker Will Help Keep Your PC free of Spyware and Adware
Spyware is installed quite easily on computers. Many spyware programs often enter computers hidden in programs that apparently seem harmless such as freeware, shareware or demos. For more information about spyware please visit http://www.e-katerina.com/sitemap.htmlWhat is spyware and adware?It is short for advertising supported software and allows its publishers to snoop on a people's internet activity, invade their your privacy, and flood their computer with those horrible popups.Why is it important to detect and remove spyware and adware?* Loss of privacy* Annoying pop-ups that do not go away.* A spyware program such as a dialer can make long distance calls from a user's computer without their knowledge and consent and then that person receives a huge phone bill. * In severe cases, a person's sensitive and confidential information such as a Social Security number or an online banking password can be recorded through...
How to Remove Unwanted Spyware...Spyblaster, NoAdware or SpywareNuker Will Help Keep Your PC free of Spyware and Adware
Adware > How to Remove Unwanted Spyware...Spyblaster, NoAdware or SpywareNuker Will Help Keep Your PC free of Spyware and Adware
Spyware Slayer Included as Part of Antivirus Email's Privacy Protection Software Bundle
Fort Lee, NJ (ContentDesk) August 3, 2005 -- Antivirus Email, a consumer products company offering subscription e-mail and ISP services, is now including Spyware Slayer in its suite of privacy protection software that is available to users with a monthly subscription to Antivirus Email.Antivirus Email understands that there is a real threat online from unscrupulous marketers who secretly install Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Worms & Viruses on a PC, all which can contribute to:- Damaging and corrupting a hard drive- Stealing passwords, credit card & banking information- Recording everything said in emails & chats- Sending personal information to ad companies that send pop-ups & spam- Allowing hackers to take over a computerAntivirus Email with Spyware Slayer software helps protect users' personal computers from these risks and keeps them from slowing down and crashing from unwanted toolbars and pop-ads being unknowingly delivered and downloaded to the PC.A standard monthly Antivirus Email...
Spyware Slayer Included as Part of Antivirus Email's Privacy Protection Software Bundle
Adware > Spyware Slayer Included as Part of Antivirus Email's Privacy Protection Software Bundle
Spyware Programs Are Out To Get You
Spyware Programs Are Out To Get You
By Lawrence AndrewsThe average computer is packed with hidden software that can secretly spy on online habits.The US net provider EarthLink said it uncovered an average of 28 spyware programs on each PC scanned during the first three months of the year.There are currently over 38,000 spyware and adware programs that are infecting innocent Internet users such as yourself through downloadable games, music, screensavers, pictures, pop-ups, emails, and the list goes on and on. Spyware and Adware can cause your PC to run extremely slow and even crash, and allow hackers and advertising companies to invade your privacy whenever they wish.What Is Spyware?Spyware is a broad term for programs that collects information from your computer without your knowledge or consent. Spyware is a software program that transmits a unique code to identify you (for tracking purposes) without your knowledge or consent. The programs collects or transmits information... Spyware Programs Are Out To Get You
Adware > Spyware Programs Are Out To Get You
It's War I Tell You!
As you may or may not know, a new computer is extremely vulnerable when you first get online with it. There are ways to insure security though. You can get the Windows Update CD from Microsoft and install that before you get online. You can also get most Antivirus Definitions dnloaded and save em to disk and then install those before you go online. Course you have to be using that Product in the first place.
And you can get AntiSpyware on a disk and do the same. But how many people do that in their excitement to take it out of the box and hook it and see what She'll do.
Sans Internet Storm Center says those people will have their Puter infected with adware or worse in less than 20 min! Virgin Puters online stick out like a sore thumb. And the pain from that sore thumb will be considerably less that the person who soon realizes their brand new puter is sick. First comes the shock, then the anger, then the question. How do I fix it? If they are lucky they can fix...
Adware > It's War I Tell You!
Adware
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