Unrelated Pepper-Spray Question

[impalator]

So I have this question nagging... and although it is really only very very remotely related to the Delica, I am going to ask it anyway (please forgive me).

A few weeks ago I posted a topic on "getting yelled at due to smokey start" in front of our place in North Van... and some of the responses suggested that it would not be a bad thing to have a can of pepper-spray in the car... Well, I don't have a can of pepper spray and so I googled "pepper spray" and came up with literally thousands of results.... I clicked on a few links for curiosity and (now here is where it gets really weird)... about 15 minutes later, my phone rings and somebody from a "safety and security gear" company (whose name I unfortunately didn't register in my perplexity) suggests that "since I am looking for safety and security products to protect myself and family, they would have some interesting offers for me..." needless to say that I hung up... if I wanted to buy a pepper spray I would go to a hunting or fishing store and buy a can of bear spray...

But this got me thinking - as, several months before, I tried to find an inkjet refill place close to my office in the downtown core. To aid in my search, I googled "inkjet refills, vancouver" and came across a few sites... amongst the dozens of hits, I located an independent small stationary store that is a mere two blocks from my office - and this is where I went to have my cartridges refilled.... Sure enough, in the afternoon I received an unsolicited email on my work email from "island inkjet" advertising their services...

Now, can this just be coincidence? I mean... the security company... could just be a freak thing... and the island ink-jet thing on its own could also just be a weird coincidence... but both of these... just minutes after I googled that stuff?

It wouldn't surprise me if there was some kind of way that somebody could track hits from google users that are related to their business or industry... but how the heck can they find out my phone number and my (work) email?

Anyway... maybe some IT-guys amongst the Delica-crowd knows more about this...

Cheers,
Chris

[FalcoColumbarius]

Just a thought: Do you use Gmail? If so ~ when registering for it could you have given your work email & number as references?

Falco.

[impalator]

Hi Falco,

To answer your question... no, I don't have a gmail account and I never registered any work phone or email. The webmail service I use is based out of Switzerland or Germany (@gmx.net) and I signed up for this account well over 10 years ago - all my phone and email co-ordinates would have changed multiple times since then...

Really weird...

Cheers,
Chris

[BCDelica]

Chris, I'm way outta date as it's been 2 years since working for an internet provider. What your describing can happen with Spyware installed on your computer, or maybe just the websites mentioned using ISP look up. I would recommend running Trend House calls (free and safe) to find any Spy ware or Male ware on your puter.

Was always amazed at the lists of personal information that can be generated, AND resold, by a spy ware program that runs unknown on your puter - and others. The boys, Telus and Shaw, track ports that different programs use and the numbers of infected (not a word we used when working for the boys) computers was way crazy high. And yes, the boys throttle down torrents and newsgroups plenty, they just can't say they do.

Regards,
Kevin

[Mr. Flibble]

I agree with BCDelica. Go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com go to the free scan. Download the component for the scan. But, don't run the scan yet.

Reboot your computer, and hit the "F8" key repeatedly, when the menu comes up, select "Safe mode with Networking"*. Then windows will continue to start in save mode. Start your browser and go to the website listed above, and run the free scan. This will take a long time. I usually start it then go to bed.

In the morning, delete any bad stuff the housecall scan has found, then reboot your PC. :)

* In safe mode, fewer bad programs can auto-load to hide from scanning software.

[mararmeisto]

As BCDelica suggests, it sounds like your computer is infected with spyware, and I would suggest you're using a Windows-machine. If you don't remember installing something, it may have installed by itself unbeknownst to you, and that is 1000-times more likely on a Windows-machine than a Mac.

[electrik_jester]

There is a chance that it is coincidence but I would tend to agree that you would have some form of spyware on you machine. Malware is getting quite complicated these days. Fake security/AV software being a very popular one. Key loggers and screen capture is on the list of some malware as are rootkits ,wingman processes and other forms of stealth and countermeasures. The phone call sounds like it may have been an additional phishing perhaps. How many apps are you running on facebook? Check you privacy settings recently?

This is not to make you paranoid but its possible.

By all means run some scans, Trend micro is a good online one. I would also recommend downloading either spybot S&D and/or lavasoft adaware. Always run an AV client of some sort. Run a firewall. download from trusted sites. Dont execute from your web browser. Keep adobe flash and acrobat up to date as these are becoming for popular for exploits than MS office now on the application side.

My personal approach to so suspected Malware infection is to format my machine and start from scratch. If the OS has been compromised then even cleaning can leave it in a weakened state. At work I have the machine reimaged. Then Hardened the machine then reimport your stuff after a scanning process.

If you really feel like getting paranoid check out this.
http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight ... ideoid=359

dude is an expert

[electrik_jester]

And I forgot never run your standard desktop as an administrator. Need to install somthing Shift-right click and "run as" then admin your creds

[loki]

And I forgot never run your standard desktop as an administrator. Need to install somthing Shift-right click and "run as" then admin your creds

X1000

:)

I find myself having to say this a lot, and people usually don't listen, but it makes it easier for me to tell them to go find someone else to fix the problem that they wouldn't have if they listened to me the first 5 times

[Profister]

Chris, I live a few blocks away from your place and can help you out. Give me a shout at 604-728-0191 if you want.

[after oil]

And I forgot never run your standard desktop as an administrator. Need to install somthing Shift-right click and "run as" then admin your creds

X1000

:)

I find myself having to say this a lot, and people usually don't listen, but it makes it easier for me to tell them to go find someone else to fix the problem that they wouldn't have if they listened to me the first 5 times

could you guys elaborate please?

[mararmeisto]

Chris, I live a few blocks away from your place and can help you out. Give me a shout at XXX-XXX-XXXX if you want.

Also, don't share your phone number "in the clear," only through back channels like emails and PMs. A BB or forum or social networking frontpage (Facebook, etc) is fertile hunting grounds for advertisers.

"Administrator" is the top-level, widest-access type of account you can create when installing Windows, and it is the one which has the direct access to the operating system. Best practice is to install Windows, change the Administrator password, create a new user account (it can even be Administrator) with a different password, and use that second account while on the machine (especially when on the 'Net). Here is a good article (there are many but this one is good) describing the whys and wherefores of what I've written.

[loki]

And I forgot never run your standard desktop as an administrator. Need to install somthing Shift-right click and "run as" then admin your creds

X1000

:)

I find myself having to say this a lot, and people usually don't listen, but it makes it easier for me to tell them to go find someone else to fix the problem that they wouldn't have if they listened to me the first 5 times

could you guys elaborate please?

the account you use for everyday activities should not be a member of the administrators group, this will stop 99% of malware or at least make it much easier to remove it. if your surfing as an administrator and click the wrong thing or go to a page that tries to install maleware the malware has the same permissions as the account your using, if your surfing as just a normal user the bad software only has user permissions so it can't do much damage.

[Profister]

Hey guys, I could write and post my own article on Impalator's issue but I am just trying to make it easier for him. As for my cell phone number it is not a secret for at least a thousand of people locally and overseas for many years already. I know the drill and I have a good backup system
BTW we are talking about 'malware' here. 'Male ware' or 'maleware' has a different meaning.

[loki]

BTW we are talking about 'malware' here. 'Male ware' or 'maleware' has a different meaning.

spelling is not my strong suit :) Chrome thought I was right with maleware but wikipedia likes malware.