I'm sure this post has me preaching to the choir as some of you readers are experts in computers...but for those that maybe aren't that comfortable or knowledgeable about these things (mom!), I thought I'd share a slightly different type of email that came in.
The world of spam and cyber-thieves and myriad viruses makes us all sick. Even with security programs, filters, and firewalls, this garbage gets through as new ways are found to circumvent 'blocks'.
If I didn't know better, I'm a billionaire with all the European lotteries I've won. There sure are a lot of cancer-suffering Christian women in Africa who want to give me part of their fortunes. I had no idea I was specially chosen to receive some unrelated person's death benefit because they had no other family and I seemed trustworthy (they didn't know I forecast weather...!!!). And I guess I'd forgotten about all these banking accounts I had across the country, all of which needed security code updating or simple questionnaires filled out....
Deep six 'em. Early when all this started years ago, I'd get mad and send a personal email back chastising them and saying I'd BCC'd the FBI - that's stupid because now I've verified an active email address they can try and screw with. Toss them all, folks, and never look back.
However, the charlatans do try and get fancier with a more 'harmless' look...and I bring to your attention such an email that came in yesterday, and show you a little step you can do to quickly and safely check it out if you have doubts. We all should know by now that rule one is you never open an attachment unless you know the sender and can scan it before opening. But what about a link that looks normal? Just because your computer is 'protected' is NO guarantee that you won't pick up a virus or spyware, etc.
The copied email's first 'warning' was that only 'a friend' sent you a card. Any reputable card site will list the sender. But instead of some weird site, this one, at first glance, looked more legit as it listed a common ecard company website, 123greetings.com, and a sponsorship by well known eHarmony:
The world of spam and cyber-thieves and myriad viruses makes us all sick. Even with security programs, filters, and firewalls, this garbage gets through as new ways are found to circumvent 'blocks'.
If I didn't know better, I'm a billionaire with all the European lotteries I've won. There sure are a lot of cancer-suffering Christian women in Africa who want to give me part of their fortunes. I had no idea I was specially chosen to receive some unrelated person's death benefit because they had no other family and I seemed trustworthy (they didn't know I forecast weather...!!!). And I guess I'd forgotten about all these banking accounts I had across the country, all of which needed security code updating or simple questionnaires filled out....
Deep six 'em. Early when all this started years ago, I'd get mad and send a personal email back chastising them and saying I'd BCC'd the FBI - that's stupid because now I've verified an active email address they can try and screw with. Toss them all, folks, and never look back.
However, the charlatans do try and get fancier with a more 'harmless' look...and I bring to your attention such an email that came in yesterday, and show you a little step you can do to quickly and safely check it out if you have doubts. We all should know by now that rule one is you never open an attachment unless you know the sender and can scan it before opening. But what about a link that looks normal? Just because your computer is 'protected' is NO guarantee that you won't pick up a virus or spyware, etc.
The copied email's first 'warning' was that only 'a friend' sent you a card. Any reputable card site will list the sender. But instead of some weird site, this one, at first glance, looked more legit as it listed a common ecard company website, 123greetings.com, and a sponsorship by well known eHarmony:
-----------------------------------
DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS BELOW!
-----------------------------------
Dear Friend , DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS BELOW!
-----------------------------------
Your friend has sent you an ecard from
http://123Greetings.com.
Your ecard will be available with us for the next 30 days. If you wish
to keep the ecard longer, you may save it on your computer or take a
print.
To view your ecard, choose from any of the following options:
--------
OPTION 1
--------
Click on the following Internet address or
copy & paste it into your browser's address box.
http://www.123greetings.com/view/GW10107105249120
**************** Sponsored By eHarmony ****************
>>> Who Do You Match With? <<< rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://softcity.hometowncomputers.com/icons/small/HappyEaster.scr">http://clk.atdmt.com/AVE/go/123gcehy0160000013ave/direct/01/
(note: spammer screwed this part up)
********************************************************
--------
OPTION 2
--------
Copy & paste the ecard number in the "View Your Card" box at
http://www.123greetings.com/view/GW10107105249120
Your ecard number is
GW10107105249120
Best wishes,
http://123Greetings.com
--------------------------------------------
END OF SPAMMED EMAIL
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END OF SPAMMED EMAIL
--------------------------------------------
If you are at all curious about ANY link anywhere, simply put your cursor on the link and RIGHT CLICK...at the very bottom of that pop-up window is "Properties"....click on that and then you can read the real website that link takes you to. It doesn't take you to the site or anything like that, just let's you assess legitimacy if you need to. I do it out of curiousity. FYI, the above links take you to some 'softcity' and 'hometowncomputers' site instead of the ones listed.
I'll put a couple of samples below if you want try the above. ALL links below are secure and safe, by the way:
News 14 Carolina
http://www.news14.com
The World of Disney
http://disney.go.com
UNC Tarheels
http://GoTarheels.com
eHarmony
So, always throw caution to the wind...better safe than sorry, all that jazz. By the way, that last link hidden behind eHarmony is about my late great aunt Margaret Law, from whom I surely get a lot of my artistic drive and fervor for being 'unique'. Quite the artist and trailblazer, she.
Seize the day and make it blossom!
I'll put a couple of samples below if you want try the above. ALL links below are secure and safe, by the way:
News 14 Carolina
http://www.news14.com
The World of Disney
http://disney.go.com
UNC Tarheels
http://GoTarheels.com
eHarmony
So, always throw caution to the wind...better safe than sorry, all that jazz. By the way, that last link hidden behind eHarmony is about my late great aunt Margaret Law, from whom I surely get a lot of my artistic drive and fervor for being 'unique'. Quite the artist and trailblazer, she.
Seize the day and make it blossom!
1 comment:
Hi. My name is Steve Anderson and i work for 123greetings.com. Have you guys checked out our website recently? ... It has gone through many changes ... I wanted to address your comments directly and assure you that 123Greetings does not attempt to install viruses, malware or any other software onto any user's computer. We have been on-line as a business venture since 1997. Our addresses have not changed. Our business is focused on providing free on-line greeting cards...Moreover as part of a new user experience initiative we are removing all pop-up advertising from the web site.
As part of a planned web site redesign scheduled to occur within the next 120 days, all pop-up advertising in the U.S. will disappear as contracts run out. 123Greetings is planning a number of new initiatives to increase the interactivity of the site, placing more choice in the hands of the visitors...Please visit http://www.123greetings.com for more informations....
Steve Anderson
PR Specialist
123Greetings.com
1674 Broadway, Suite 403
New York, NY 1001
Email: steve@123greetings-inc.com
website: http://www.123greetings.com
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