Security Alert!

[javacool]

Reaction to stupid advertising tactic is below:

Browsing along the Internet, I came across a truly startling pop-up window.

"Warning - Your Computer Is Currently Broadcasting an Internet IP Address. With This Address, Someone Can Beging Attacking Your Computer!"

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/attachments/alertjpeg.JPG

Oh no! :o What shall I do? Oh look - an "OK" button. I must click on it!

*clicks OK button - new window pops up* (http://images.bonzi.com/fastclick/ia9g3.asp)

Internet Alert? Oh - to protect myself from Internet Attackers! Sounds too good to be true!

*scrolls down page*

-{ Quote: "Your Computer's Data Is At Risk! (SEE BELOW.)
Your computer's address is: xx.xx.xxx.xx . Every time you connect to the Internet, send e-mail, or submit any private information to a web site, you broadcast your computer's unique IP Address over the Internet. With this IP address, someone can immediately begin attacking your computer! Until now, there has been no way of telling if this has happened or any way of stopping it! Well not anymore! " }-

Thank goodness this oh-so-wise and caring company has come to my rescue!

-{ Quote: "
What Can Happen To Me?

Steal Your Credit Card & Personal Information!
Read Your E-Mail!
Plant a Virus or Worm!
Steal Online Banking Information!
Delete files from your computer!
" }-

My oh my - what terrible things can happen to me now that any person can have my "Internet IP Address"! I mean, look at how quickly that webpage came up with it - I could be getting personal information stolen right now!

-{ Quote: "InternetALERT is an absolute "MUST" for anyone connecting to the Internet! It will notify you if someone is breaking into your computer, stop them dead in their tracks, and even build a visual map showing you the Attacker's ISP (Internet Service Provider) location! You can now connect to the Internet with the comfort and security of knowing that no one from the Internet can access your computer without your knowledge or permission!" }-

I wouldn't want anyone getting into my computer without my knowledge or permission, that's for sure. Blocking them might be useful too...but let's read on!

-{ Quote: "InternetALERT is easy-to-use! Once installed, you can go about your work without a worry. It runs silently in the background protecting you. Every time you turn on your computer, InternetALERT starts working automatically, only leaping into action when suspicious connection attempts are made to your computer. " }-
So the rest of the time it does...what?

The page goes on about the exciting feature of being able to find out exactly where these rogue individuals are located, so you can drive to their house and beat them up.

I wasn't so sure about purchasing this amazing product, until I saw the customer comments...

-{ Quote: "Protected Customers With InternetALERT...
"So far my computer system has been attacked twice, and InternetALERT has picked up on it. Both times I was able to notify the offending companies to shut down the hackers. I am VERY impressed with this software package, and will continue to look at your company for new and exciting products. Keep up the great work!"" }-
Wow! This is an astounding success story! I can't wait for other new and exciting products from this company either...wait a second, don't they already make the great purple ape called Bonzi Buddy?

-{ Quote: ""I could not believe how many people were trying to get into my system!" " }-
Neither could I! Do you have Bonzi Buddy installed? We all know its a hacking program. <g> (From other hilarious site about "How You Know Your Son Is a Hacker")

For only $49 a year I can get this amazing product that will protect my computer security. It comes from a company with an amazing track record of programs like...Bonzi Buddy. Who wouldn't want to buy it? <g>

-Javacool

[javacool]

In other news, when can this sort of scare tactic be made illegal? It becomes annoying for knowledgeable users, and might sucker beginners into buying something they don't really need (when other free alternatives are available that are MUCH better).

Does anyone want to contact their local representative? ;D

-Javacool

[snapdragin]

-{ Quote: "Neither could I! Do you have Bonzi Buddy installed? We all know its a hacking program. <g> (From other hilarious site about "How You Know Your Son Is a Hacker")

For only $49 a year I can get this amazing product that will protect my computer security. It comes from a company with an amazing track record of programs like...Bonzi Buddy. Who wouldn't want to buy it? <g>" }-

oh my!!! javacool - i am in stitches here! i know i shouldn't be because this is truely sad as MANY people would actually click that "OK" box unknowingly....there in lies the crime of such false advertising. They have no right to assume what is good or best protection for a customer they have never met or know nothing about. But they mislead the the victim by using a scare tatics like this.

this seems so very close to another product i was reading about on another board (dslreports) involving an A/V program.

the only part here that made me laugh was your comments in between....you are quite the writer! LOL!

i think i'll print this out and pass it around a bit! ;)

thank you javacool!

snap

[Primrose]

Hey Javacool,
Besides the thread that Snap mentioned of the AV/AT product, here is a thread recently started by a member about this ad you have done a fine job of paraphrasing. The ad is deceptive and offers no real protection to the user. Security sells by virtue of the concerns everyone has at this point on the Internet.
These type of ads and groups that are getting into the business, at this point, to make a fast buck are a disgrace to legitimate Security and Privacy.

Were I a strong advocate of Privacy..I would not take these ads lightly..they undermine the whole process of what should be accomplished to obtain that goal for the Internet.


http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,4523399~root=security,1~mode=flat

[luv2bsecure]

This stuff is getting worse! Of course, the ridiculous piece of scareware that doesn't even work (Evidence Eliminator) is the King of the &^%$ pile when it comes to this.... Check out their latest page on the EE site. (Prepare to make a quick run to the bathroom) We could start a good collection of this stuff. Even though it's really all very sad and is a serious issue, that was a good post Javacool -- we all need a good laugh now and then and your commentary was hilarious.
Now, check this one out...
http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/d2w/intro/server.d2w

John
Luv2BSecure

[Checkout]

Warning! You are NOT broadcasting your IP address! Warnin...er, can you read this? Hello? Hello?

[Mike_Healan]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Checkout link=board=27;threadid=3873;start=0#25787 date=1033120168]
Warning! You are NOT broadcasting your IP address! Warnin...er, can you read this? Hello? Hello?
" }-

ROFL ;D

[discogail]

Got an idea for an ad campaign.............. ::)

[Tinribs]

I was called round to help out a work colleague last week.

He was surfing and his computer flashed up a window saying something about he was going to be hacked,or a virus, or similar....yes.... he clicked a similar banner.

I cleaned off his system;
Bonzi Buddy
Prody Parrot
Kak worm
Sub Seven
2 Dialers (one porn, one casino) and 27 (yes 27) programs in his startup folder, varying from Realtray (spit) to various forms of spyware, adaware alone cleaned out 1031 files.He had only had his pc for 5 weeks.

He had rang a 'pc doctor' who said he charged 25 quid an hour (£25, approx $30/35 ?)....... I'm in the wrong job.

[root]

Tinribs, sounds like he needed InternetALERT AND Evidence-Eliminator. ;D

[Tinribs]

He really needed me removing his modem!!! :D Still,he pays with beer! ;D

[Primrose]

WTG Tinribs :)

If the word gets out around your area you could have your wine cellar full by Christmas. But the beer is not to shabby for a start. In fact darn good these days.



Drinkers 'paying for pubs' hard year'

http://www.computercops.biz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=768
(http://www.computercops.biz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=768)



Can I tell all my friends where they can find you??? 8)

[Jooske]

Think with our experience and this forum as reference at hand many of us can make good jobs in helping people around.
We could set up the Wilders Security Team Help Desk and make it a nice company :D
Especially the working as a team with all the different experiences makes us all together very strong.
Right! First get us a nice tool to look online on people's screens and do the necessary stuff, like pcanywhere support (is there any and preferable a free tool? Don't tell me i need to turn to the blackhats for such a gem for free).

Looking forward to the next stories here. EE i removed carefully from my system time ago and i'm happy i did it manually and not automated, seeing which hundreds of files it had to do with; think i would have been left with a non-functioning system if i had the EE do it's self cleansing automated. BB is a nice ape, but i just keep to the msagent character of it only for some local scripts, the rest of his stuff i don't need. I'm not aware (nor is ad-aware) of any spyware inside the character animation files itself, even though it is easy to include some advertisements in them if a company wants.
The BB company has more bad habits, which the credit card companies can tell you all about, not to mention with installing or updating one of the products, it's hunting on the system for possible other products of them, no matter where else you might have got them from and disabling them if you did not buy them from them (my speech engines for instance, which are free from the microsoft msagent site and are not even allowed to be sold by third parties!)