Category: spam issue

Why I do not click “Here” in emails and why you should to!!

Paul
 

tools4technow.com

That isn’t going to happen!!

It isn’t like I do not know what might happen, but before I even did anything I check out the link by looking up the domain which if you want to check out what I see you will see the there isn’t really a main site link at the top of the Google search.   Odd isn’t it, well I then looked at the urls that was after the domain name and I found:>

/-wqs-/generallaborer.com/Free/GetStarted.asp?aff=F7288B41-CC5D-4D08-B06C-FB03EF98DEFB

As you can see it looks to be a redirect to “generallaborer.com” with an Affiliate link that means someone gets paid for links that use that link.   You can tell that someone gets paid by the “AFF=”.   I also have my own affiliate links but you will know when I put a link on my site that pays me money when you use my link to buy stuff with.

Spam

It appears to be a scam or a way someone makes money when you sign up with a link to that site.   I do know know what actually happens because I did not click on those links.   I can only assume that it was a link spam and not a scam but I will never truly know and I am not really worried about that type of help from people who try to make money off you without telling you.   

You rarely know what the links really go to from emails.   They can be masked or hidden and you could even get a virus on your computer as easily as you can get one just surfing the net.   It could also make you think your are logging into a site you visit often but in truth you are giving your password away to someone who will use it for all sorts of purposes.   These are the main I will never click on links without some looking up of the domain in question.   You should never click links that your are not expecting or from people who you do not know!   Each one of these should be a first step to prevent something terrible from happening to you or your computer.

 

Ask the Readers: How do you fight text spam?

Paul

Text spam is a constant problem!

Lately I’ve been getting a lot of text spam for the Walmart spam in my text message box!  I’ve really gotten mad at AT&T because it seems that I’ve had nothing but spam from AT&T numbers.  I even tried to explain that to a local AT&T store but they kept trying to tell me what the customer does is their own problem.  In other words, we aren’t the problem type of deal.  I even suggested that they might have a Security Issue where as people have found my Number through their database and I got shot down at that one too.  I’m sure they think they are like Apple and nothing could ever happen to their network.  I’m sure that is far from the truth in their network but I will let the engineers figure that one out!

Nothing but the Truth!

I’ve been getting only AT&T numbers sending spam to me and I’m quite confused, if they don’t have issues then why are spammers using their network.  So far every number, that I’ve looked up in my little app has said that it was Cingular Network, LLC and thus I’ve not seen any spam from any other network since I’ve started using my HTC Android Phone on the AT&T network!  The local customer support said, that I wasn’t on their network but Straight Talk, but yet the APN’s that I used are ATT and not Straight Talk.  Boy, the people should keep up with other cellular networks.  

Don’t Text Stop!

When I went into the local AT&T store, the guy suggested that I reply with the word “STOP” but I’m telling you that is the worst idea possible.  I didn’t sign up to get this spam so I don’t know what the spammer will do when he realizes that I’ve read his message and also received it.   Will he tell other spammers my number and enroll me in even more spam without my permission.  I always encourage people not let the spammer know you read and received their spam message.  Your best bet is to report it and hopefully that will slow or stop the spam all together.  I can however forward the message to SPAM (7726) since I’m on the AT&T network and report the number  that way.  I found that out talking to the guy, so at least I found an easier way to report a number on the AT&T network!

So it’s your turn!

I’m wondering if there is an easier way to fight spam or is this going to be a constant problem.  I will be doing a followup blog post with people’s comments or if they have more questions than answers that they would like me to discuss in detail about.  If you’ve got a question that you can’t seem to figure out.  I encourage you to ask it here and I’ll be sure to discuss it in one of my following blog posts.  This post is all about you and what you want to discuss to me or others and maybe we can come up with some unique ways to fight spam or solve a problem that you have!  If you don’t ask, I can’t help.  So start typing and contact me directly or indirectly by leaving a comment. 

Paul Sylvester

 

How Fake Antivirus writers try to fool you

 

Three ways on how to NOT waste your Money!

 

Spammers defies Bill Gates ‘magic Solution’

Paul

Sopho’s published statistics and I thought I would talk about it here.   Bill Gates promised to have a Magic Solution 5 Years ago.   Sophos Also provide a Chart of the Dirty Dozen:

dirty-dozen-q408

Sopho’s also is claiming that “US retains its crown as spam king“.    I don’t think so because of the the Other 32.4%.   The US can’t be the main culprit to spam.    So What was this ‘Magic Solution’ that they promised 5 years ago?

Microsoft has two techniques in mind for solving the spam issue, both based on the premise of changing the economics of email to place a greater burden on the sender.

[Via CBR]

Microsoft did have some good ideas but they wouldn’t work for right now because the first part of the ‘magic Solution’ was to add  mathmatical question to each and every email we sent out.   I know that this wasn’t going to work because hackers have already created a systems to get around the captcha verification.

[ad#ad2-right]Spammers of course are the ones  who is sending out the spam but they have people who write virus software, which I consider a hacker.  You see they want to infect systems so they can easily send out even more email.  When a system becomes a Botnet they usually are used to send out email.  If your curious as to what a Botnet is Check out the Wikipedia entry for further details.  So they need these systems to be able to send out spam, and other types of email phishing.   Most of the time a spammers  spam just for money because they make money by spamming people.   I hate spam because it clogs up our email accounts with unwanted emails.

So Did Microsoft come up with a fix?  According to Sopho’s they seem to be dropping percentages from 2004 to now in the US.   I have to wonder if Microsoft proclomation made them worry and go outside of the US.   I don’t think it will stop in fact, I suspect with the economy like it is we will undoubtedly start seeing even more spam and even more computer infections.

In order to prevent yourself from viruses and computer infections, you will need to install Anti-virus software and a Good firewall, not just the Default Windows Firewall.  This will greatly increase your chances of not getting a virus and possibly help prevent some of the spam.   You should also tell your associates or customers the benefits of preventive updates.  You should also remind people about not clicking links in emails and also not everything you read is true.