June 24, 2005
On this day:

Virus alerts

If you use MSN Messenger the be aware. There is a virus being spread around. Be on the lookout for a message from one of your contacts with the text:

hahaaaa you are in the weebs picture!!

Followed by a link in the format
http://www.weebsworld.com/weebspictures.php?email=your_sing_in_address

If you click the link it will download an executable to your pc. I haven't found any more info on what happens next.

Another virus is a phone virus, probably only sent around the UK. Here is the e-mail from BT.

PHONE FRAUD - WARNING FROM THE POLICE 11 MAY 2005

We have been advised of a telephone fraud currently in operation - this applies to home and work telephones, landlines and mobiles. If you receive one of these calls, upon answering the telephone you will hear a recorded message congratulating you on winning an all expenses trip to an exotic location. You will then be asked to press 9 to hear further details. If you press 9 you will be connected to a premium rate line that costs approximately £20 per minute. Even if you disconnect immediately, it will
remain connected for a minimum of 5 minutes costing around £ 100.

The final part of the call involves you being asked to key in your postcode and house number, which has other serious consequences. After a further 2 minutes you will receive a message informing you that you are not one of the lucky winners. The total bill by then will be £100.Since the calls are originating from outside the UK, BT and other telephone companies are left relatively powerless to act. The only safe solution is to HANG UP before the message prompts you to dial 9, even safer HANG UP on any unsolicited 'free offer calls'.

There is another scam operating on mobile phones as well. A missed call comes up. The number is 0709 020 3840, the last four numbers may vary, but certainly the first four will remain the same. If you call this number back you will be charged £50 per minute. People have complained about their phone bills, once they have realised the cost of the call, but apparently this is completely legal. So beware, do not call back numbers beginning with '0709'

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