Spam from Guest Venka

Subject: Spam from Guest Venka
From: stallion
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 03:01 AM

Just opened the thread to do with memories of NYC and the last post was a load of gobbledegook which even had a different thread title similar nonsense from someone posting as guest Venka, when I posted to ask what it was about the spam disappeared from the thread and my computer hadn't responded, usually if i open a thread it comes the writing is darker, when I post it comes up bright again, this time it stayed dark although my post was there the one from guest Venka was missing. can anyone explain what is going on and has something nasty downloaded on to my computer?

Subject: RE: Spam from Guest Venka
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 04:10 AM

We do see fairly frequent "garbage" posts here, that are mostly removed promptly by the mudelves, so it could be just a matter of the junk post having been deleted from the thread while you were preparing your post to ask about it. If you don't get a response from mudcat indicating that the post was removed, (or even if you do) a fairly thorough check of your own machine probably is a good idea.

A common scam currently is to set up a "copycat" page of a legitimate site that's used to make some one believe they're on the usual one when a malware "redirect" infection sends their computer to the scammer's own server instead of to the real one.

I can't imagine what "profit" would be expected from replicating a mudcat thread page, but an amateur copy might have left links in the page intact so that a "post" could still go to the real page, and perhaps even be posted normally(?).

Getting a person to a phony page is sometimes used just for getting additional malware on the person's computer.

Assuming you have a good antimalware program and have scanned your machine, note that some malware of this kind can disable the local AV programs or "hide from them." Some stuff of the kind also blocks connection to common AV sites, but even if you scan of your computer shows "clean" it is strongly to be recommended that you go to one of the good AV maker's sites and get a "remote scan" by them if in doubt.

Watch carefully for any further "unusual" behavior, and write down (but DON'T TRY TO COPY or PRINT, since you don't want to "click" anything on a page that doesn't look right) any unusual popups/messages you might see.

John

-------------- Yes - the offending message was deleted. Mudelf---------------------

Subject: RE: Spam from Guest Venka
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 04:26 AM

JohnInKansas

Any recommendations on good free remote scan/fix sites? I may have a need - and am no longer familiar with the area.

Regards

Subject: RE: Spam from Guest Venka
From: stallion
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 04:27 AM

thanks