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Massive spyware-based identity theft ring uncovered
arstechnica.com ^ | 8/5/2005 11:13:24 PM | Clint Ecker

Posted on 08/06/2005 10:23:17 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

click here to read article


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Serious stuff!
1 posted on 08/06/2005 10:23:17 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: HAL9000; ShadowAce; rdb3; Salo

fyi


2 posted on 08/06/2005 10:24:11 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

We use the Sunbelt product, "I hate Spam" for Exchange, at our office. Been pretty happy with it, funky name, good software.


3 posted on 08/06/2005 10:26:28 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

bump


4 posted on 08/06/2005 10:29:30 PM PDT by Walkingfeather
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To: TC Rider; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; BurbankKarl; Brad's Gramma; onyx; backhoe; SunkenCiv; blam; ...

I am glad I moved most of my browsing to Linux.


5 posted on 08/06/2005 10:30:01 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; HAL9000; ShadowAce; rdb3; Salo

Protect yourself...

http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html

The only way I have found to remove all of coolwebsearch.


6 posted on 08/06/2005 10:31:03 PM PDT by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Interesting, but this has been known for a long time and
there are already removers available.

Just do a google search "coolwebsearch" and you will
find over 158,000 hits. Its been known to be an exploit since 2003.


7 posted on 08/06/2005 10:34:59 PM PDT by konaice
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

"Cool Web Search" is one of the most evil and toughest to kill forms of spyware. There are about a bazillion versions of this, because they (the programmers behind CWS) were actively working to stay ahead of those working on "Cool Web Shredder," and the load finally got so heavy that they gave up.

While most variants can be removed, I did have a client with a computer that was so heavily compromised with virus and spyware infections that I told them that the only safe thing to do was wipe the system and reinstall everything.

Mark


8 posted on 08/06/2005 10:46:39 PM PDT by MarkL (It was a shocking cock-up. The mice were furious!)
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To: DelphiUser

Cwshredder is a good start. Your best protection, I swear, stop using IE, find another browser.


9 posted on 08/06/2005 10:46:53 PM PDT by TheHound (You would be paranoid too - if everyone was out to get you.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Nat'l security project disquised as a scam operation?


10 posted on 08/06/2005 10:57:16 PM PDT by Waco
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

That's ugly!


11 posted on 08/06/2005 10:58:24 PM PDT by Chili Girl
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To: Chili Girl

What's Ugly, my posting?


12 posted on 08/06/2005 11:09:11 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: konaice

This is a new variant of CWS that is designed to flat out steal information. Prior version just kept tabs of what you did and went from an ad standpoint.


13 posted on 08/06/2005 11:54:37 PM PDT by Bogey78O (*tagline removed per request*)
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To: Waco
Nat'l security project disquised as a scam operation?

That thought did cross my mind.

14 posted on 08/06/2005 11:59:14 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

The scary thing is, this could be a government operation.


15 posted on 08/07/2005 12:05:01 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

my favorite line is: "What follows is more or less the exact"


16 posted on 08/07/2005 12:13:57 AM PDT by isom35
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Since the FBI was so lax about going after this and has been for so long then how do we know that they have not been the recipiants of any of this information...As in a secret patriot act.


17 posted on 08/07/2005 12:17:22 AM PDT by Revel
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I've read horror stories about CWS.

Spybot S&D can be set to innoculate against a huge amount of malware---including CWS.

And it's free!

:)


18 posted on 08/07/2005 12:20:23 AM PDT by TFMcGuire
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
We have notified the FBI, but of course no response (too busy doing other more important things.

I'd be surprised if the FBI didn't care.  I've had the exact opposite experiance.

 

 

19 posted on 08/07/2005 12:21:08 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Every evil which liberals imagine Judaism and Christianity to be, islam is.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I am glad I moved most of my browsing to Linux.

You know my address. Get thee hence to my house. Now!

YOWZERS this is horrible!! Thanks for the ping!

20 posted on 08/07/2005 12:28:48 AM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Lord, we need a Logan miracle for Simcha7 and Cowboy. Please.)
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