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5th February 2005

READERS WRITE
SCAMS AND SECURITY

Various


 

I have had two e-mails recently relating to security issues while on the web. They are unconnected, but do raise some interesting points.


The first item is specifically for Americans at the moment. It comes from my correspondent Berbar and highlights how what might seem like a good idea at the time can be viewed in a different light when the law of unintended consequences take over.

Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's (American) telephone number into the search bar and hit enter. You will then be given a map to their house.

I tested it by typing my telephone number in google.com. My phone number came up and, when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where I live. Quite scary.

Think about it. If a child, ANYONE, gives out his/her phone number, someone can actually now look it up to find out where he/she lives. A stalker could also use it, if one overheard you give out your phone number.

The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. Please look up your own number and check it out.

In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to:
http://www.google.com/ncr

Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit enter.

If your number does come up, if you hit map it will show you a direct map to your house - Just in case you are ever someplace lost and need to know where you are and have to get home.

This would work well if someone has been taken in a car jacking, then dropped someplace without knowing where they are. By this service they can get home.

Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on the telephone icon or the "Phone results" link next to your phone number. Removal takes 48-hours.

If you are unlisted in the phone book you might not be in there, but it is a good idea just to check.


The second item comes from Mary Blount. She says:

A friend of mine sent me this message earlier. It was sent to her via IM, (Instant messenger), and I received it in my IM from her. I did not forward it as it requested. I wanted to check with Yahoo. Here is the message:

mobetter29040 (2/2/2005 10:26:16 PM): dj6969_01 (2/2/2005 10:05:53 PM):

Hey its Andy, director of Yahoo, Tim Buiski, sorry for the interruption but Yahoo is closing down the system because too many booters are taking up all the names, we only have 57 names left, if you would like to close your account don't send this message, if you want to keep your account, send this message to everyone on your list. This is no joke, you'll be sorry you didn't send it. Thanks Tim Buiski, WHOEVER DOESN'T SEND THIS MESSAGE YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED AND WILL COST $10.00 A MONTH TO USE IT , TO SEND TO EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST RIGHT CLICK ON YOUR GROUP, THEN SEND IT TO YOUR GROUP

Mary tells me that there were no attachments to the original message. There appear to be no links to web sites either. That rules out the spread of viruses, trojans and worms, so the purpose of this obvious scam is a bit unclear. The only thing I can think of is that it is a crude way of overloading the IM system! If everybody forwarded the message to everyone else in their buddy list I guess the servers would have some fun - and I guess some people would get an awful lot of messages! What a jape!

As Mary's friend sent her the message it shows that some people take these things seriously. It is another example of how spamming works.


 

 

 

 


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