Spammer Lurking

[livinthedream]

FYI y'all, some folks are receiving PMs regarding a potential virus and a link. DON'T CLICK THE LINK. Mods have been alerted and will be addressing shortly, but in the meantime understand it's spam and please ignore it.

[Canesluver]

I was wondering how many other people got that Email. The first thing that caused me to ignore it is the fact that the sender has 0 posts here.

[ontheboards]

I got one as well and given I didn't recognize the sender and it seemed the name was a wee bit ominous, so I didn't click. I saw that he sent it to others-- KaniacFever, PennsylvaniaCanesFan-- among others. How convenient that we all have the same problem? :lol: Jackass!

[Canesluver]

Yeah... My first thought when I saw the name is, "Who the hell are you!". And.. he has zero posts.

Sorry, doofus! I'm not falling for your lame shenanigans!!

[superdave]

I got the message and just deleted it. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday.

[livinthedream]

I feel slighted. I didn't get one. :(

That being said, I guess he's/it's still on here until one of the mods can get on and revoke access, so maybe I'll be part of the spam clique too when all's said and done.

[IceSun]

Thanks LTD - got it too

[c-girl]

I got one and forwarded it to the mods. I had noticed that screen name as a new member this week and that "he" had 0 posts so I was immediately suspicious.

[livinthedream]

Woooooo Hoooooo! Just got my PM. I'm in with the cool kids.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

I got one too. I feel loved.

[KaniacFever]

I got it too and deleted it. Figured it was spam since I didn't know who was sending it and I find it highly impossible that a user on this site would know if a virus is floating around on my computer.

I'll stick to Norton blocking out virus' and informing me when they blocked one.

[ssangste]

I'll stick to Norton blocking out virus' and informing me when they blocked one.

That's not a safe way to go.... Norton is total garbage and will NOT block everything. Perfect case of a company living off their name. Real world shows different results. I've had to fix waaaay too many friends and neighbors machines that had stuff that Norton didn't catch that immediately popped up with other virus software.

I've had much better luck recently with Avast! for personal computers. Best thing about it is that it's small, not a resource hog, and it's free. They try to lure you in with the free home licenses and live off the corporate licensing. It's worked on me as I've tried to get our division to switch to it from the junk they're currently using.

[puck_it]

thanks for posting for me LTD. User has been taken care of.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Woooooo Hoooooo! Just got my PM. I'm in with the cool kids.

Me too!

[superdave]

For those of you that didn't get your spam...
http://simplesem.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/link-spam-report.jpg

Happy now?

[livinthedream]

What does it mean when the spammer thread gets more action than the game thread?

[KaniacFever]

That's not a safe way to go.... Norton is total garbage and will NOT block everything. Perfect case of a company living off their name. Real world shows different results. I've had to fix waaaay too many friends and neighbors machines that had stuff that Norton didn't catch that immediately popped up with other virus software.

I've had much better luck recently with Avast! for personal computers. Best thing about it is that it's small, not a resource hog, and it's free. They try to lure you in with the free home licenses and live off the corporate licensing. It's worked on me as I've tried to get our division to switch to it from the junk they're currently using.

Been using Norton for years and never got a virus (knock on wood).

[SouthernHockeyChick]

^Same here. All my friends seem to have virus issues all the time. I've been lucky....with Norton.

What does it mean when the spammer thread gets more action than the game thread?

That your team is in 30th? (or 29th depending on if Edmonton is playing or not:lol:)

[Greensboro Hurricanes]

It was such a bummer. I got my hopes up because no one ever writes me just to see it was spam.

[SoCalcaniac]

I got the PM too, and deleted it cause I didn't know the person, and he/she/it had zero posts. Plus I've used AVG for years and never have had any kind of virus. How odd we had a spammer in here.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

How odd we had a spammer in here.

Probably a Buffalo fan getting an early start.

[Shell]

Thanks for the vigilance guys! I just came in to take care of him but see Puck_it already did so that is great.

I guess they were smart enough not to send it to the admins.

Thanks for letting me know LTD!

[puck_it]

nope, i got one shortly before i banned him.

[Dammit100]

but it says please!

[WillLikeWhoa091]

My first thought when it said "Your computer is showing signs of viruses":

"...but I own a mac... this can't be real."

[ButtersSaysNo]

Mine said I was related to the Somali Pirate Warlord and they wanted to ensure that I got my share of the stolen treasure and that all they needed in order to make me rich was my ssn, bank acct info, blood type and mailing address.

You mean I shouldn't have gave it to them? Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh

;)

[IceSun]

My first thought when it said "Your computer is showing signs of viruses":

"...but I own a mac... this can't be real."

No, Will - it's not saying your Mac has a virus, it's just showing signs of viruses...like this ;)

http://www.spacecoastmedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/swine-flu-symptoms-300x289.jpg

[ssangste]

My first thought when it said "Your computer is showing signs of viruses":

"...but I own a mac... this can't be real."

Macs can and do have viruses or programs written to take advantage of weaknesses in the OS.

If Mac sales even remotely compared with PCs, virus writers would be intereested in attacking them. They're too small a population and the PC side of things too easy to write for at the moment....

[puck_it]

Mine said I was related to the Somali Pirate Warlord and they wanted to ensure that I got my share of the stolen treasure and that all they needed in order to make me rich was my ssn, bank acct info, blood type and mailing address.

You mean I shouldn't have gave it to them? Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh

;)

that was legit. i sent that one. send me that account numbe one more time to verify.

[puck_it]

If Mac sales even remotely compared with PCs, virus writers would be intereested in attacking them. They're too small a population and the PC side of things too easy to write for at the moment....

lol, people have started writing them for macs just to prove a point :lol:

[Darkwing]

lol, people have started writing them for macs just to prove a point :lol:

Fortunately, the iPad is made from the dust of ground unicorn horns and fairy wings, so it is magical and impervious to virii!

[puckin_A]

I got it too but the address he gave ended with *solracer*......I never click on anything anymore that I don't already expect coming to me. I asked Solracer and he said it's not his and not to click on it. Getting alot of virus's coming through facebook too.

[caniac97]

Mine said I was related to the Somali Pirate Warlord and they wanted to ensure that I got my share of the stolen treasure and that all they needed in order to make me rich was my ssn, bank acct info, blood type and mailing address.

You mean I shouldn't have gave it to them? Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh

;)

i got one of those but it said i could only spend my vast wealth on male enhancement drugs.

[superdave]

i got one of those but it said i could only spend my vast wealth on male enhancement drugs.

Smilin' Bob is still waiting for his money too.

[caniac97]

Smilin' Bob is still waiting for his money too.

if he will take it in Nigerian currency then i am worth millions!!

[aldamon]

You should go into the database and delete all of the PMs from this guy. Should be pretty easy to do with PHPMyAdmin.

[puck_it]

that it is, except caniac is the only one with server side access. so. we're stuck for the time being.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Fortunately, the iPad is made from the dust of ground unicorn horns and fairy wings, so it is magical and impervious to virii!


:laugh::laugh:

[Alicia]

Another spammer sending PM's: freellGah

[sandstorm]

i got it too... deleted it

[Canesluver]

Yep---- he's baa---aaack. :sick:

[KaniacFever]

Darn, haven't gotten that one.

[Shell]

yep me too. I'll go ban him now.

[msgtcody]

i got one as well, they called me their dear friend and wanted me to go to a website so i could rid my computer of viruses. it says banned under their username though so looks like you guys already took care of them too.

[puck_it]

ugh. lossssssssers

[andyt]

Another spammer sending PMs...Dersterman. Same schtick about anti-virus software.

[StormChaserBH]

Another spammer sending PMs...Dersterman. Same schtick about anti-virus software.

Dbag spammer already banned here: http://www.letsgocanes.com/forum/showthread.php?p=551027#post551027

[lin]

What to do if you did click the link? Blondie here did just that!

[IceSun]

These phishers are getting nastier - PM from Moderator Team (now a banned user)

I was actually stupid enough to open this message (but not the link) even though I should have known that any legit PM would have only come from Caniac, Shell, Puckit, Guyute (sorry if I'm forgetting any mods).

"Important message from forum administration!
Dear Sundevil (& others)

A virus alert was noticed on your computer.
We highly recommend you to check your computer and perform online virus check at our site immediately (link to site you should no-way no-how click). If you do not pass this test we will have to delete your account and forward a complaint to your Internet Provider.
---
Forum Administration www.letsgocanes.com"

[IceSun]

What to do if you did click the link? Blondie here did just that!

Sorry for the back-to-back posts.

Lin, I would disconnect from the internet and do a full system scan with the virus checker of your choice. If you do not have one, there are lots of good free ones like Avast you can download. You can also usually do legitimate web scans on Norton and the other "big company" anti-virus sites (McAfee, CA, etc)

Personally, I love NOD32, (but virus-checking is another computer topic that can inspire religious fervor, so I will just say that it's worked well for me. And yes, I use computers with all of the major OS, so I'm not going to recommend being unprotected on any OS even those that attract less attention from hackers ;))

[lin]

seeing as I am not too smart when it comes to computers (hence the click on the link...) I have called in expert help: some guy will come by tomorrow and hopefully will get me up and running again

[aldamon]

I turned off my PMs.

[puck_it]

sorry this is such an inconvenience :(

[Shell]

I highly recommend Malware Bytes. It is free, easy to use, and effective. You can download it here:
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol

[lin]

Well , the computer has been cleaned up good: th guy installed two free scan programmes and deleted that stupid security tool the link referred to. He aslo advised me to run the scan pretty regularly especially in the upcoming time, to prevent further damage. Luckily itdidn't need to be reprogrammed altogether!

All in all not such a bad thing to have happened, was lacking on the security front for quite some time now! good to be up to date

[DSCanesfan]

We have another. Again!:( This is what I got today:


Hi!
<HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->
Hi, was it you on this adult dating site?
http://www.best-dating.net/profile/B...k1;KaniacFever (http://www.best-dating.net/profile/Bonbonsgrrl;BrooklynCaniac;DSCanesfan;canefan2k1;K aniacFever)

[puck_it]

give me a screen name... PMs are going to be put on hiatus again soon...

say, in 24 hours? everyone exchange email addys or something if you need to get in contact with each other...

[nccanes]

G'Boro Hurricanes - I sent you a PM about some DVD copies of games for Canesluver. Let me know if you can't get it.

[msgtcody]

I've got 3 in my inbox today from

Dersterman , jordoniuss , Cliffinzz

[Greensboro Hurricanes]

G'Boro Hurricanes - I sent you a PM about some DVD copies of games for Canesluver. Let me know if you can't get it.

I got it and sent back a reply. You can email me at canes24 AT yahoo DOT com if you need to.

[nccanes]

Oh thanks GBH! I pm'd you back (before reading this) and also at TSBs, so hopefully you got them. :)

[andyt]

I've got 3 in my inbox today from

Dersterman , jordoniuss , Cliffinzz

I had Dersteman already, but I got the other two too.

[Fernando da Silva]

I've got 3 in my inbox today from

Dersterman , jordoniuss , Cliffinzz

Of these ones, only Dersterman didn't sent me anything

[aldamon]

You should turn off the Members List.

I would also increase the amount of time someone has to wait between PMs to something like 5 minutes or more. That way a spammer would have to spend an hour to send 12 PMs. You can also flood check the number of PMs people send.

[puck_it]

flood check is set at a minute, and i'm disinclined to up the flood check... some people are popular, and have multiple people to contact at one time.

[Caniac]

I figured out how to disable PMing altogether for those that have registered but not been verified.

That should put an end to this issue. :)

[Shell]

awesome!! Thanks so much!! It is a big help for us to have PMs right now so much appreciated!

[DSCanesfan]

I figured out how to disable PMing altogether for those that have registered but not been verified.

That should put an end to this issue. :)

So how does one get verified? Or is that some sort of double secret probation thingy. :)

[Caniac]

When someone registers, it puts them in the category of "Users Awaiting Email Verification". Once they click the link in the registration email, it puts them in the category of "Users Awaiting Moderation", where an admin or mod can then activate them to use the forums or terminate them with extreme prejudice.

The spammers have, by and large, been in the first category, since they don't usually use a real email address. So they sit in that category, but up until now could PM. I found a way to modify that user group so that PM'ing is disabled.

A few have used a real email and gotten into the 2nd group, so I disabled it there too.

We have our own "Double Secret Probation" list that we maintain for those that are going through life "fat, drunk and stupid". ;)

[caniac369]

We have our own "Double Secret Probation" list that we maintain for those that are going through life "fat, drunk and stupid". ;)

IE: Anyone from Buffalo...?

[caniac97]

When someone registers, it puts them in the category of "Users Awaiting Email Verification". Once they click the link in the registration email, it puts them in the category of "Users Awaiting Moderation", where an admin or mod can then activate them to use the forums or terminate them with extreme prejudice.

The spammers have, by and large, been in the first category, since they don't usually use a real email address. So they sit in that category, but up until now could PM. I found a way to modify that user group so that PM'ing is disabled.

A few have used a real email and gotten into the 2nd group, so I disabled it there too.

We have our own "Double Secret Probation" list that we maintain for those that are going through life "fat, drunk and stupid". ;)

what about for us old folks having a senior moment?

[puck_it]

IE: Anyone from Buffalo...?

nothing secret about their probation.

[aldamon]

puck_it, you've got a PM.

[puck_it]

thanks for the tip.. think caniac may have found a way to stop them for now :)