Computer virus...dammit

[basilio]

Something to be aware of when opening attachments.

There is a very effective new piece of malware called Cryptolocker Ransomware. Short story is that if it gets on your computer (ie through an attachment) it encrypts all your data, tells you what has happened and then starts a 100 hour time clock for you to pay $300 to rescue your information.

If you don't pay up you lose your data forever.

Worth checking out and being very careful with your Malware security.

http://blog.malwarebytes.org/intelligence/2013/10/cryptolocker-ransomware-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[pixel]

The recent Heartbleed attack on eBay may have sparked some flow-on effect.
This morning, I received a genuine-looking confirmation email from PayPal, about payment for a purchase I (allegedly) made recently. It contained the usual link to the item I bought - except I know I didn't buy it.

In case anyone receives a similar "dodgy" message, please be careful and don't click on any link:

The email differed in at least three key features that gave it away as being fake:
The salutation just said "Hello:" whereas PayPal will greet their clients with the full name;
The paypal address, from which it was sent, has some extra characters in it;
Although it was sent to my correct email account, PayPal uses my client name as Alias; the fake didn't.

I forwarded the fake to spoof at ebay.com.au and hope it helps them catch the barstuds.

 

[Logique]

I do this too. My mate runs the IS system for a health organisation across multiple sites & suggested this. computer shop guy was very impressed that a typical user does this! I wouldn't do anything else now. If you do nothing else today, do this.
Word of warning - if you do this when you first setup then change a standard account to Administrator you "lose" the first account. I googled and found this out after the fact..

Oh yes all very technically clever.

Try starting up a computer with multiple account users. You'll need to be patient.

Not going to happen.

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Got an email and the sender is:

delays@ato.gov.au

And I can't tell if that address is legitimate. I don't want to have to open it to find out.

Any suggestions?

 

[MrBurns]

Got an email and the sender is:

delays@ato.gov.au

And I can't tell if that address is legitimate. I don't want to have to open it to find out.

Any suggestions?

Delete.

https://www.ato.gov.au/general/onli...line-security/how-to-verify-or-report-a-scam/

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Delete.

https://www.ato.gov.au/general/onli...line-security/how-to-verify-or-report-a-scam/

I was just reading that page! Thanks.

 

[pixel]

Got an email and the sender is:

delays@ato.gov.au

And I can't tell if that address is legitimate. I don't want to have to open it to find out.

Any suggestions?

Google the address or the subject line. I did and found this:
https://www.ato.gov.au/general/onli...line-security/how-to-verify-or-report-a-scam/

Generally, it's a safe bet to assume such an email is fake. Government agencies will never email you "out of the blue", unless you're registered with them for some specific purpose. And in such a case, the message will say something like "Log on to myGov and check your mailbox."

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Google the address or the subject line. I did and found this:
https://www.ato.gov.au/general/onli...line-security/how-to-verify-or-report-a-scam/

Generally, it's a safe bet to assume such an email is fake. Government agencies will never email you "out of the blue", unless you're registered with them for some specific purpose. And in such a case, the message will say something like "Log on to myGov and check your mailbox."

The subject line and emailer looked very legitimate. They will get a few, no doubt. My email is registered with the real ATO/my Gov and I was expecting a delay so I could easily have clicked it.

 

[pixel]

The subject line and emailer looked very legitimate. They will get a few, no doubt. My email is registered with the real ATO/my Gov and I was expecting a delay so I could easily have clicked it.

That's why it pays to know hoe myGov operates: They will not email anything sensitive, nor will they ask you to open any attachments or click on links.
Few people keep that in mind; many will quickly click. Spammers and scammers count on that and thrive.

 

[Logique]

Something to be aware of when opening attachments.

There is a very effective new piece of malware called Cryptolocker Ransomware. Short story is that if it gets on your computer (ie through an attachment) it encrypts all your data, tells you what has happened and then starts a 100 hour time clock for you to pay $300 to rescue your information.
If you don't pay up you lose your data forever.
Worth checking out and being very careful with your Malware security.

http://blog.malwarebytes.org/intelligence/2013/10/cryptolocker-ransomware-what-you-need-to-know/

I hope my security program has learnt to identify this horrible virus. Backup your data people.

 

[Logique]

The recent Heartbleed attack on eBay may have sparked some flow-on effect.
This morning, I received a genuine-looking confirmation email from PayPal, about payment for a purchase I (allegedly) made recently. It contained the usual link to the item I bought - except I know I didn't buy it.

In case anyone receives a similar "dodgy" message, please be careful and don't click on any link:

The email differed in at least three key features that gave it away as being fake:
The salutation just said "Hello:" whereas PayPal will greet their clients with the full name;
The paypal address, from which it was sent, has some extra characters in it;
Although it was sent to my correct email account, PayPal uses my client name as Alias; the fake didn't.

I forwarded the fake to spoof at ebay.com.au and hope it helps them catch the barstuds.

I received one of these also. Scarily authentic looking.