Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Is this a scam?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Heidelberg, Victoria
    Age
    79
    Posts
    2,251

    Default Is this a scam?

    I've noticed recently, that in the text of a post, certain words are highlighted in red, and underlined.

    Clicking on the highlighted word takes you to a survey with the promise of free gifts.

    This smacks of a scam to me, so didn't take it any further.

    Anyone been sucked in?

    Ken

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Allendale East, South Aus
    Age
    33
    Posts
    240

    Default

    Never seen it on here. I know on quite a few forums and article-type sites that it's an advertising thing that picks up on certain keywords to do the same thing - but it's mainly just harmless spam in those cases. If you're seeing it on this forum I'd run a virus scan as you may well have a sneaky little bit of adware hiding in your PC.

  4. #3
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    39
    Posts
    4,467

    Default

    Hi ken,
    You have probably just installed a program that had installed some extras... Can't think of what it is called but it is a search engine that imbeds itself into your browser. Can't think of what it is called now.

    It's called Babylon....
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Heidelberg, Victoria
    Age
    79
    Posts
    2,251

    Default

    Negative on installing any programs recently. AVG scan reports no viruses.

    Tis a mystery, who knows what's out there.

    Ken

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    105

    Default

    Sounds like some sort of malware that is similar to EZula. Perhaps try Spybot?

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    3,260

    Default

    It will be a 'browser helper object' or some sort of additional toolbar that has been added to your web browser.

    Typically they ride along with some useful (but 'free') package that you have installed; they'll be the tick box in the install with words like "Click to not not install [blah blah blah] which provides you with a better, more relevant web experience" and a choice of three buttons confusingly labelled Install, Ok, I agree.

    They may not show up as viruses as technically, they aren't; they are just annoying spam which make me think of the Bill Hicks on Marketing skit.

  8. #7
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    39
    Posts
    4,467

    Default

    What browser do you use?
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Qld. Australia
    Posts
    417

    Default

    Heard of this on a couple of forums. My brother gets it on an aquarium forum. We both use Firefox. I have not come across it anywhere yet.

    Nev

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,470

    Default

    Avg misses lots of items I would upgrade to something else

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Bendigo
    Age
    72
    Posts
    1,986

    Default

    Free virus checkers on the whole do just that, and generally do ot well - the company's reputation is staked on it.
    To have protection against phishing code, worms, keyboard monitors, bots, malicious cookies and other code nasties, you generally have to upgrade to a pro version of some sort for an annual fee.
    Unless you are prepared to have serveral free specialised protection programs for the various attack codes running at the same time and regularly update them.

    I use the free Windows firewall, Windows defender, avast Anti Virus and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. I've not been caught out for a number of years. Finers crossed....

    Joe

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    65
    Posts
    11,997

    Default

    This thread has been moved to the computers forum instead of the metalworking forum. Please save us mods some work by checking for the appropriate forum before posting.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Sydney,Australia
    Posts
    3,157

    Default

    The technical term is 'PUP' - Potentially Unwanted Program - and yes, they come as dodgy parts of some 'free' software. It may not even have been a new install, some of them have started being bundled with 'upgrades' to existing packages.

    I've found MalWare Bytes to be the best freebie at finding PUP's. I also use Spybot S&D and AdAware when things are slow, plus Microsoft's free anti-virus runs all the time. I find that each of them can find things that the other's can't, and that goes for commercial programs like Norton's as well.

Similar Threads

  1. Domino on ebay!! scam-scam -scam
    By mrdustmaster in forum FESTOOL FORUM
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 24th July 2010, 02:36 PM
  2. Scam
    By rightuppercut in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 7th March 2007, 02:27 PM
  3. A real scam- no joke dead set scam read this
    By bricks in forum WOODIES JOKES
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 14th February 2007, 10:02 PM
  4. Yet Another Scam?
    By Ian007 in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 18th February 2006, 03:49 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •