PayPal Virus Got Me - Honda Pilot

Ziploc · 11-18-2003, 09:21 AM

I'm normally VERY careful with email, always being cautious in regard to opening any message I'm uncertain about, especially attachments. But spam is getting increasingly devious. I fell for the PayPal Virus yesterday; thankfully, McAffee flagged it, and I THINK I got rid of it. So this morning, I see that Yahoo carried the below story:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...pcworld/113478

Wish I had seen that just a little sooner!

Anyway, a word to the wise!

**colorider** · 11-18-2003, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ziploc
I'm normally VERY careful with email, always being cautious in regard to opening any message I'm uncertain about, especially attachments. But spam is getting increasingly devious. I fell for the PayPal Virus yesterday; thankfully, McAffee flagged it, and I THINK I got rid of it. So this morning, I see that Yahoo carried the below story:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...pcworld/113478

Wish I had seen that just a little sooner!

Anyway, a word to the wise!

Thanks for the "heads-up"!!!! Several people on my motorcycle list have received it too. Scary stuff!!!

sfhondapilot · 11-18-2003, 10:32 AM

I received a similar email in connection with my Yahoo Wallet. Didn't bother responding to the email cause I figure if the credit card's expired, I'll simply renew the next time I use my Yahoo wallett and I am sure that I am on the right site.

kadiir · 11-18-2003, 10:39 AM

Never trust an html email - always look at the source html before clicking on any links. Also, you shouldn't open attachments until you know what they are (even if they come from people known to you). Also, beware of eml (Outlook Express mail message) attachments. I refuse to open them. I still get one occassionally at work (forwarded by an internal employee from a vendor or partner company usually) and I tell the sender to either copy paste the text contents of the message or read it to me. Everyone acts surprised that I take such precautions.

I've been using a PC since '91 and have only gotten 2 viruses - the first time my wife (then girlfriend) infected my system (she was working on a word doc at a friends house & brought it over to work on at my place without telling me - I would have scanned the floppy first). At least it was only a word macro virus.

The other time I broke my own rule - don't run new executables for a week or two (giving AV definititions time to catch up) and I got a "zero day" virus.

Thankfully, in the latter case, my other precautions prevented any damage or further spread of the virus (I don't normally logon to my system with admin privledges, so the virus wasn't able to fully infect the registry and that stopped it in its tracks).

Of course, you could also avoid getting an email-transmitted virus by not using a buggy, hole-ridden email client (for example, Outlook or Outlook Express). I use Pegasus, fyi (it's free). Also, if you use yahoo or other web-based email, turn off html in the emails if possible. Those sites usually catch viruses but not always.

kad

N_Jay · 11-18-2003, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kadiir

I've been using a PC since '91

A Newbie, I see!

ramirami · 11-18-2003, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by N_Jay
A Newbie, I see!

missed the entire first decade

SteveLuman · 11-18-2003, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ramirami
missed the entire first decade

He didn't get to play with the Apple IIe.

jay · 11-18-2003, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SteveLuman
He didn't get to play with the Apple IIe.

My first PC was an Apple IIc, which I bought in '84.

N_Jay · 11-18-2003, 12:07 PM

My first computer was a PC/XT Clone I built in '84.

Before that was playing with friends "Super Board Apple 1", and stealing time share access.

kadiir · 11-18-2003, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by N_Jay
A Newbie, I see!

Yes, just a pup, but I have been using personal computers (by using the term PC earlier I meant x86 architecture) since about 1979 (when I was 10).

kad

kadiir · 11-18-2003, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SteveLuman
He didn't get to play with the Apple IIe.

Actually, I did - that was the first computer my parents bought me

But, we didn't have the cool looking floppy drives - we had to original shoebox-sized ones

My next door neighbor's step-dad was a computer nut & had an Apple II and II+ (where I started this frustratingly rewarding hobby).

kad

kadiir · 11-18-2003, 12:20 PM

Oh, I was a late-comer to the internet, though - '94 (just as mosaic was being released). I was "online" (via CompuServe) starting in 91, though.

kad

mcardle · 11-18-2003, 12:27 PM

With a casette player instead of a floppy. My dad is an old-school computer guy and he told me I could learn about computers better with a Trash-80 than an Apple. Of course, I just wanted to play games and use the cool programs like we had at school, so I wanted an Apple and rarely used the TRS.

I really wish I would have listened... and then cashed out my stock options about 2000.

robrecht · 11-18-2003, 12:28 PM

I must be pretty old! I tought myself how to use an abacus when I was a kid and my Dad taught me how to use a slide rule. I also remember when simple 4-function calculators started to replace adding machines and were considered cheap at $100. When I was in college, word processing was simpler--just find a girlfriend who could type late at night. For computers, we punched out and stacked up those cards for Fortran--God forbid if they fell on the floor and you had to reorder them. My slide rule never got a virus, but it didn't get me many dates either!

ramirami · 11-18-2003, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kadiir
Actually, I did - that was the first computer my parents bought me But, we didn't have the cool looking floppy drives - we had to original shoebox-sized ones

My next door neighbor's step-dad was a computer nut & had an Apple II and II+ (where I started this frustratingly rewarding hobby).

kad

aah...the 8.5 inch floppys (which where actually floppy

)...wernt to 5.25inch to 3.5in and now floppies are going away...

11-18-2003, 09:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ziploc Super Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Damascus, Maryland Posts: 2,199 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	PayPal Virus Got Me I'm normally VERY careful with email, always being cautious in regard to opening any message I'm uncertain about, especially attachments. But spam is getting increasingly devious. I fell for the PayPal Virus yesterday; thankfully, McAffee flagged it, and I THINK I got rid of it. So this morning, I see that Yahoo carried the below story: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...pcworld/113478 Wish I had seen that just a little sooner! Anyway, a word to the wise! __________________ '03 Pilot Starlight Silver EX ~ Towing Package ~ Fog Lights w/ Lower Trim & Garnish ~ Running Boards, Rear Mud Guards ~ All-Weather Mats ~ Wheel Locks ~Cargo Area Accessories: Cover Tray * Organizer * Net* ~ Honda Pilot.org Accessories: License Plate Frame Sticker*

11-18-2003, 10:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
sfhondapilot humanum est errare Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 1,846 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I received a similar email in connection with my Yahoo Wallet. Didn't bother responding to the email cause I figure if the credit card's expired, I'll simply renew the next time I use my Yahoo wallett and I am sure that I am on the right site. __________________ David 2003 #48853 EX-L RES Sage Brush Pearl [sold 3/10/09] 2009 Sienna XLT Limted AWD 2006 A4 2.0 CVT 2004 X3 3.0 2003 M3Cic 2003 325i (gone) 2003 Matrix XR (total loss) 1996 Landcruiser (gone)

11-18-2003, 10:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
kadiir Super Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SFBA, CA, USA Posts: 496 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Never trust an html email - always look at the source html before clicking on any links. Also, you shouldn't open attachments until you know what they are (even if they come from people known to you). Also, beware of eml (Outlook Express mail message) attachments. I refuse to open them. I still get one occassionally at work (forwarded by an internal employee from a vendor or partner company usually) and I tell the sender to either copy paste the text contents of the message or read it to me. Everyone acts surprised that I take such precautions. I've been using a PC since '91 and have only gotten 2 viruses - the first time my wife (then girlfriend) infected my system (she was working on a word doc at a friends house & brought it over to work on at my place without telling me - I would have scanned the floppy first). At least it was only a word macro virus. The other time I broke my own rule - don't run new executables for a week or two (giving AV definititions time to catch up) and I got a "zero day" virus. Thankfully, in the latter case, my other precautions prevented any damage or further spread of the virus (I don't normally logon to my system with admin privledges, so the virus wasn't able to fully infect the registry and that stopped it in its tracks). Of course, you could also avoid getting an email-transmitted virus by not using a buggy, hole-ridden email client (for example, Outlook or Outlook Express). I use Pegasus, fyi (it's free). Also, if you use yahoo or other web-based email, turn off html in the emails if possible. Those sites usually catch viruses but not always. kad __________________ 2004 Honda Pilot EX-L SS Air deflector, auto-dim mirror, cargo stuff (cover, liner, organizer, & tray), crossbars, full-size spare, Garmin StreetPilot 2610, Husky floor mats, lower trim w/ fog lights, rear back-up sensors, rear splash guards, separation net, side steps, tow package, wheel locks, and most of wwong's great 3M products

11-18-2003, 12:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
N_Jay Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Chicago, NW Burbs Posts: 13,443 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My first computer was a PC/XT Clone I built in '84. Before that was playing with friends "Super Board Apple 1", and stealing time share access. __________________ However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results. Sir Winston Churchill

11-18-2003, 12:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
kadiir Super Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SFBA, CA, USA Posts: 496 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Oh, I was a late-comer to the internet, though - '94 (just as mosaic was being released). I was "online" (via CompuServe) starting in 91, though. kad __________________ 2004 Honda Pilot EX-L SS Air deflector, auto-dim mirror, cargo stuff (cover, liner, organizer, & tray), crossbars, full-size spare, Garmin StreetPilot 2610, Husky floor mats, lower trim w/ fog lights, rear back-up sensors, rear splash guards, separation net, side steps, tow package, wheel locks, and most of wwong's great 3M products

11-18-2003, 12:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
mcardle Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 78 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	TRS-80 With a casette player instead of a floppy. My dad is an old-school computer guy and he told me I could learn about computers better with a Trash-80 than an Apple. Of course, I just wanted to play games and use the cool programs like we had at school, so I wanted an Apple and rarely used the TRS. I really wish I would have listened... and then cashed out my stock options about 2000.

11-18-2003, 12:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
robrecht Super Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: East Amwell, New Jersey Posts: 4,139 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I must be pretty old! I tought myself how to use an abacus when I was a kid and my Dad taught me how to use a slide rule. I also remember when simple 4-function calculators started to replace adding machines and were considered cheap at $100. When I was in college, word processing was simpler--just find a girlfriend who could type late at night. For computers, we punched out and stacked up those cards for Fortran--God forbid if they fell on the floor and you had to reorder them. My slide rule never got a virus, but it didn't get me many dates either! __________________ Thanks, Robrecht! Charcoalishlygreenishbluishyrealpink&tealfleck metallic EXL-RES with Rumble Seat, Foglights, Chrome Bumper Garnish (of course!), and Merrywang Transport Netting. And an RX-8 or Miata for my twice daily hill climb.

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