Another Virus attack here via PM - Page 2

Richard Flanders · 01-25-2010, 08:41 AM

Sounds like it piggy backs in on a PM somehow... I'll be watching. Thanks for the heads up Pete...

John D. · 01-25-2010, 08:47 AM

Hi folks,

Pete - great catch! My thanks! As well - even if you have an e-mail about a PM as Pete indicated, that PM has been deleted from all your PM boxes, the user banned and the IP address and mail domain banned as well.... Anyway, while I'm trying to get sorted to leave tonight/tomorrow - I'll try to get some code in place that:

Since it appears these are SPAM bots joining - and then just sending out PMs - what I'll do is set it up this way....

Folks can register.....
Folks need to make at least one post in public (which the SPAM bots don't seem to do);
After one post - then they can PM....

However, that being said - it WILL effect a number of legitimate and currently active users who are registered, have not posted - and are sending out legitimate PMs with their questioins.

Soooo - I sort of need to be around (and not in Haiti) when I do this, OK??

Not sure why - out of all the forums I run (and most are much larger) what is attracting the SPAM bots to only this forum??

Have a great day!

John

J.B. Books · 01-25-2010, 10:24 AM

Thanks John, glad you are on top of it. I am a bit virus shy after spending $150 last week to get my computer cleaned up (They had to eventually reload the operating system). The shop told me I got a new virus that came through Google and only days before Microsoft released an unscheduled patch in response to the new threat (lucky me, not). If they catch somebody creating and spreading these virus' I would be happy to be part of a 21 gun Parker firing squad errr I mean salute.

Bob Jurewicz · 01-25-2010, 11:12 AM

Got Lester's alert after I had already opened the message. I immediately deleted and ran my Norton. The virus scan only picked up a tracking cookie.
Bob Jurewicz

J.B. Books · 01-25-2010, 11:28 AM

I would rather add another Parker to my arsenal than anti spyware. According to the computer shop two of the best free anti virus programs are MalwareBytes and Super Anti Spyware. I'll let John give us his opionion of them but the store put those on my puter and suggested I update them and scan with them regularly in addition to Norton.

Labowner · 01-25-2010, 01:09 PM

Pete, you have to try and stay off those risque web sites.

Wild Skies · 01-25-2010, 02:36 PM

I got one too, but it wasn't from Pete Lester, but rather from someone I'd never heard of. After reading this thread I went back to see who it was that sent it and it was gone. I believe my message said the same thing as reported above: "Hey, I'm new here, how's it going?

"The most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently" - Pema Chodron"

Bruce Day · 01-25-2010, 03:23 PM

Although I am no web guy, this Spam Bot stuff puts all those who use this forum at risk. These spam bots use a single sign in name and it seems to me that they could be stopped by the program requiring first and last names. Obviously it doesn't now and although the instructions clearly state that is required, many people just blow that off and believe that is not serious. So, if we had first and last names required before the program would let them in , this kind of spamming would cease. Also, we could do like other sites do, and require a person to request in and type in a random code. That's exactly how these other sites protect themselves. There is apparently money in data mining and we are being data mined.

If a person is concerned about them being known for participating in high end gun collecting, information that can be gathered through this site tells others of their participation. Kind of wonder whether the whole forum member list is now on somebody's else's list.

Dean Romig · 01-25-2010, 04:45 PM

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