RANT - OT and long, but important: One of the reasons I'm not on here as often...

This morning, I tried to look at some of the threads over in Classics Tech, and couldn't - and it's my fault! Here's why:

First, a little background:
These days, I spend a lot of time working on coustomers' DSL connections and their computers. Over 50% of the time; the trouble is that their computer is so chock-full of virii, adware and spyware that Internet Explorer - and "my" DSL router - is too busy servicing that, um, "stuff" to allow them to "surf the Net".
This "junk" can be pretty malicious, too! My own computer picked up (who knows where, 6 people use it online!) one fun little program called a "data miner"; which watches where we were going and what we were entering in through the keyboard and sends the information on to "somebody". Most cases, a data miner just sends the info to some sleazy advertising agency which uses the info to decide what kind of SPAM with which to fill your email box! But, it can also be recording when you're ordering something at some super-duper "Secure Online Ordering" webpage! The webpage may be secure, but your keyboard very probably isn't! The data miner can be recording all your keystrokes (like your credit card number and the "threee digit secret code" on the back of the card :eek; ) and later sending the info along to whomever to use however they want. Mostly, small things are charged (easier to keep you from noticing); but every once in a while somebody gets greedy and you're getting a nasty-gram from Expedia.com because "the card rejected" on those two tickets to Aruba! How do I know?
Well, by the time Mrs StDr and I figured out what was going on, and cancelled our Debit Card (had been used to order -online- Christmas stuff for 1/2NK and her sister and brother) we lost approx $3170! And, by the way, all that "credit protection" doesn't work on a Visa debit (check cashing) card Expedia sent me the nasty-gram the day after we cancelled the card. (We really weren't planning on going to Aruba!)

And now, the problem:
Since then, I got really serious about my computer. First off, Norton anti-virus doesn't catch all this stuff (trust me!) - cause it's not a "virus" in the truest sense! So, now Norton "has some backup"; and those new programs don't like some of the adware that comes with Stangnet usage! Ad-Aware SE keeps wiping out all the "Tribalfusion" cookies from when I click on Forum pages; Spybot Search and Destroy blocks all "Avenue A, Inc" attempts, and SpyAd Blaster is usually the one which catches "admdt". Then the page just stops loading. I then click "refresh" - maybe do it twice, maybe more than twice. This morning, I gave up after trying to "refresh" my way into a thread on 9" third-members! Seven refreshes, seven times I end up looking at a blank red screen (yeah, my SN desktop theme is " '05 Mustang"). I gave up trying to read it.

Y'know, I'd probably pay for a "premium membership" if Mike or somebody could guarantee that I won't be dealing with this crap anymore!



Still Dreamin'

Geez man, you're scaring me!

It's true, and ity's starting to get some press. Most the spyware is done by american companies, not sweatshops in third world companies like Spam. Unfortunately, it leaves your computer open to intrusion from less than reputable types. Congress is workingh on legislation that will pass next year. and all legit companies will have to fully disclose what they are doing and allow the user to easily opt out of it.

Rule number 1 of the internet: NEVER USE A CREDIT SOURCE WITHOUT FULL PROTECTION!!!!!!

Even with PayPal....

Phew...dont get me started On Evil Paypal. What a crock of Hooey that company is full of.

I am very careful using my CC online. As for the Visa check cashing Card....you can go to your bank and file an affadavit if you need to get your money back. Although, I am not really sure about your situation.

As for spyware and adware....fohgettaboutit!! Well, dont forget about it, but there is really NO way around it. I have adaware, spybot, spyware killer, popup blockers...and...it has helped....but I still get 100+ spam emails a day advertising stuff. I only visit stangnet, corral, xfoa, my bank site, my credit card sites, and a few others. You just cant get around that crap. 80% of the spyware that is on my computer is a data miner.

I just dont know how to get around it. I end up running adaware at least twice a day. With stangnet and all the ads they have on here...who knows what is going on. Alfred E newman, the underlined words that link to ads, etc...

It's all AL GORE's fault!

Your best protection is to quit using IE and NEVER use Outlook. Firefox/Thunderbird seem to be the most secure browser/e-mail combo, but it's always good to have a hardware firewall, a software firewall, virus checker with some form of auto protect, spyware detector, and a partridge in a pear tree.

That's why I NEVER use a credit card online. I'll either call & order things over the phone or send a money order. It may not be as convenient as the internet, but it's definitely more secure.

-Chelle

I second that, "NEVER use Outlook". I still use Netscape 4.79 for email and I've never had any email virus issues. I also never open email attachments and keep 2 sepperate emails - 1 for public junk (yahoo) and 1 private. I reluctantly switched to IE a few years back cause Netscape wasn't keeping up - sites weren't loading properly.

I've fixed too many peoples PCs and found the worst cases all have a common denominator: There's a teenage boy in the house. Need I say more?

Per Computer Shopper, the best adware removal program is Spysweeper, but it can be too thorough in my experience. It wiped out my sons legitimate registration for 3D Studio Max, thus he had to get a new registration code.

.

I'm not a computer expert, just barely get by, but I'm having the same problem with Stangnet. The slow loading and blank screen, refresh, and refresh. Half the time I just go back to "home" and start over. I run Ad-Ware SE 2x daily and keep seeing this "data miner"

Is Stanget my computers worse enemy? Don't seem to have this problem on other sites.

Just wait till the BOTM threads start up. Not only will they probably eat most of SN's bandwidth alotment, but the linked "babe" pics will give the bots/agents/miners/etc and road map right to us

Are you sure? The sheeple are at your door and the black helicopters are hovering overhead!

Tinfoil hats ward off black helicopters, sheeple are another story

A few responses:

Mozilla/Firefox and Netscape get their share of spyware, adware, tracking cookies and data miners. I know, you never have trouble with Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape.....but I can tell you the horror stories of the computers I've had to clean up. See what happens is that people get loaded up on this crap on dialup; but when they get DSL (or cable broadband) the growth rate is exponential - so guess what? "Your DSL service gave it to me!" So I get to fix it - usually only once, then they get the bill from my company. For the record, a little over half of the content of my Spybot S&D logs contains stuff pulled off Netscape, which our kids think is a "more cool Browser".

As for the credit cards....I found the hot ticket! Went to a chain drugstore and bought a prepaid MasterCard Debit card. When I want to buy something online, I go throw some cash on the card and make my purchase. Since today is the 15th, they took out the 4.95 service fee around noon; which leaves about $7 on the card presently - go ahead, use it to order plane tickets.

Email spam is unfortunately a way of life. I have a "spam account". When I think there may be something I want to see (like a UPS tracking number) in that account; I wade through the spam, send it to the junk mail filter; and print out what I want. Works for me!

Still Dreamin'

I've got my foil handy and Trixie the Killer Basset Hound will ward off any sheeple that come near.

I use 2 email accounts too. One for personal stuff, and the other I created specifically for things where I have to submit an email address to sign up. I used to have a huge problem with spam in my personal email account (before I set up the 2nd one), but it's through Yahoo and I just turned on all their spam blocking stuff and that took care of a lot of it. Now I only get maybe one or two a week. It does try to block out my brother's email, but I just set up a filter for that and all is good.

-Chelle

Maybe it was trying to tell you something?

I've been doing the two account thing for years, but I still get a lot of spam on my primary.....

Craziness....

and we only get a certain amount of space to put pics on stangnet....but apparently there is room for BOTM....

God, I hope not.

I was constantly fixing my g/f's PC. Odd how everything's been fine ever since her son moved out. The bottom line: The worst culprits of caustic spyware is PORN sites!

Platonic, you have a very good point. Nearly all of what I have to clean up drops in at about the same time as a visit to a porno site or some online gambling site! (Gotta love those browser logs embedded in the router's "utility" screen - over 97% of the users don't pay any attention to what that sucker files away! )

Unfortunately, they don't have the spyware market cornered! Any time I find Kazaa, I just my head for a while while I start digging out the thumbdrive with AdAware, Spybot, and Spyad Blaster startup programs. Weatherbug can be a real PITA - there's a reason why it's called Weatherbug! Neopets, some of the other anime sites, some of the purportedly "safe" gaming sites, most "small-time" chat pages...... oy!

Still Dreamin'

I started using Firefox and not only did my performance improve, but it has boon blocking all the spyware and pop-ups so far.

I don't think that's right... Are you sure??? I've worked for a credit union for the last 5 years and we issue Visa Check Cards (debit cards) for most of our members. A debit card can be used 2 different ways. First is through the ATM/debit systems when the PIN number is used. The other is when it is swiped and it is processed through the Visa system, requiring that you sign for the transaction. This is the only way I'm aware of that online retailers can process a Visa Check Card. Accordingly, any purchase done on your Visa Check Card should be protected by Visa's Zero Liability Protection which is standard on all Visa Check Card products. Admittedly, I'm not familiar with all the intimate details of the Zero Liability policy, I do know that unauthorized online purchases should be covered without issue. In fact, just visiting Visa's site provided this general description of the policy.

I do know from experience that if you do use your Visa Check Card online and an unauthorized purchase appears, the cash will disappear from your account and you will have to go through Visa's process for disputing/reporting the erroneous charges. This means you may be out the cash in the meantime, but most good banking institutions will provide provisional credit until it is resolved. Simply contact your bank and they'll help you out.

Anyway, based on my banking experience, I always recommend people use an actual credit card when doing purchases online. All the major credit card companies have protection against unauthorized purchases and you won't be out the cash in the meantime. You do have to monitor your monthly statement and report errors within a set time period (I think it's 30 days or more from the statement date). The prepaid card idea is great too, but I think they often have maximum limits that may not be adequate for some purchases.

Anyway, hopefully you still have the opportunity to deal with the unauthorized charges and get that cash back!

Good luck!