Net Scams

[Chaos]

Dunno how many of you are aware of this, but a word of warning. I got a popup that said something about being connected to the net at a 'special rate of £1.50 a minute'...it said select yes/no. I would like to point out that if you get this popup, or a popup like it dont click ANYTHING. Alt-F4 does NOT work. Whatever you click connects you to this rate (broadband users, your ok, dialup beware) The only thing to do is unplug the modem, restart the PC and connect again. Turn the volume up on your modem so you can hear if it reconnects at all when your online, cos it means your being charged more. Its a malicious Scam, beware. This is true, was on the news the other day. I think I've already had it before, so Im dreading the time the phonebill comes through.

Any ideas for protection? I have almost no computor knowledge and Im poor, so I am really hoping this scam thing aint worked.

Chaos

[GrimmReaper]

running the internet through the opera browser. Blocks what you dont want to pop up, and use zonealarm to cover up your console i/o through the internet protocall, and it also provides a nice firewall.

[Meat Puppet]

I've had that before. Made several $52 calls to Germany. Next time I got one, I smashed the reset button on my computer.

btw block up blockers DO NOT work.
And when they're redialing, it sounds like a funny song 8-)

[bennator]

A) Get broadband
B) Maybe try closing the window with Ctrl + Alt + Delete
C) Get a better pop-up blocker
D) Switch Browsers

Actually, all of those options have their flaws. If you can't afford broadband, A is out, B might not work, C might not work, and D is a hassle... but that might help.

[crono_logical]

If you can't do stuff like alt-f4, then I think you've been virused :p Run a virus scanner, and change browsers as quickly as possible to avoid getting infected again :p Have a look around on www.mozilla.com for free alternatives, picking either browser on there will cover both points C and D for you too, so that's even better :p

[Meat Puppet]

CTRL+ALT+DEL might works but I was in panic mode. It's happened to me on many a browser, but mostly on IE with that big fat window that says wanna get laid or not actually it says ACCEPT, DECILNE, or MORE INFO, and if you click the red X it's even worse.

[Shlup]

You should be able to contest the charges. If you're under 18 (at least in this country) you're not liable to pay for anything. There were a couple of times when I was younger that people sent me things that were like "Here's a free gift, but now you owe us this money," and my mom just wrote "underage solicitation" on the envelope and sent it back unopened, and I got to keep the stuff.

[Big D]

when I was younger that people sent me things that were like "Here's a free gift, but now you owe us this money,"In my country, you get to keep the stuff, no matter how old you are, unless the company personally comes to reclaim it within two months.

The law's still a little behind the times where the net is concerned, since nerdmo hacker morons are finding new and more irritating ways to be a pain in our behinds... but the basic rules still apply. If someone tricks you into something, or gives you something unsolicited, they can't force you to pay for it.

[BrittyGoesMow]

if you are using msn messanger, reinstall, it installs a really really nice working pop-up blocker, even if you are just using explorer. I mean it, It's saved me so much time and hassle, not to mention, it's free.
Free is a nice thing.
I would suggest getting adaware, it's a free program you can get from www.downloads.com, and though people may say "oh there are much better free programs" it has worked best for me with the least problems. I had to totally revamp my computer after adware crashed it. And even though I've never been charged for something that has popped up, it is an annoyance far beyond what it should be.
I hope I've helped. :)

[Meat Puppet]

Using Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download) together is indeed a good idea, and try ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com) and AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php) too. And if you can, upgrade them to pro, I guess that gives you extra protection. Keeps away those nasty money stealing <del>STDS</del> viruses.

[Rainecloud]

Eleanor, when you look at pornography, these things tend to happen.


Using Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download) together is indeed a good idea, and try ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com) and AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php) too. And if you can, upgrade them to pro, I guess that gives you extra protection. Keeps away those nasty money stealing <del>STDS</del> viruses.

:)

[crono_logical]

Using Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download) together is indeed a good idea, and try ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com) and AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php) too. And if you can, upgrade them to pro, I guess that gives you extra protection. Keeps away those nasty money stealing <del>STDS</del> viruses.Sounds all good, except the ZoneAlarm bit :p To me, ZoneAlarm is the IE of software firewalls :D

[Baloki]

All you need is a firewall and it instantly blocks it if its kept upto date, nortons the best cos it asks you if you want to, and if thats bypassed it brings up this little globe accross the bottom of the screen telling you when the connections changed and what too.

[Rye]

Sounds all good, except the ZoneAlarm bit :p To me, ZoneAlarm is the IE of software firewalls :D

Exactly. I had ZoneAlarm installed last time my computer died and it was brought to the shop. In two weeks, it just got messed up and I had to uninstall it. My computer works better with just Spybot and Nortan Anti-Virus. Plus I don't really download things or go on IE.

[Chaos]

Thing is, I have next to no PC knowledge, so all your little programs sound pretty, I just have no idea how to get them running.

I can't get broadband as the area where I live cant recieve it, darn it. I'm under 18, yeah, but its my parents that pay the bills so any scam thing that affects our bill comes out of their pockets.

What is this popup blocker on MSN? How do you get it?

Chaos

[Rainecloud]

What is this popup blocker on MSN? How do you get it?

I prefer to use the basic "Pop-Up Stopper" that you can grab from here (http://www.download.com/3001-7786-10246779.html).

Trust me, it's much better.

[Meat Puppet]

Leave me alone. I'm sure ZoneAlarm is better than that firewall that you click okay to in the Windows XP modem settings.


BTW, I've lost my trust for Norton. After updating the loser and spending wads of cash on have the bastard fix (Because, somehow the update software 'broke'), I find there's no viruses on my PC. But then AVG finds 700 more than what Norton found.