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By John, on November 4th, 2004
The Register has a report on a new, dangerous type of phishing attack that has just emerged:
Fraudsters have developed phishing emails capable of automatically stealing bank log-in details without requiring users to click on a website link, email filtering firm MessageLabs warns.
Over the last two weeks, MessageLabs has monitored a small number of these dangerous new emails, which are capable of sidestepping the need for user intervention in phishing attacks. Users who only open maliciously constructed emails to be exposed to risk. These emails contain scripts that rewrite the host files of targeted machines. This means that next time a user attempts to access their online banking account they will be automatically redirected to a fraudulent website instead, enabling their log-in details to be stolen. So far, MessageLabs has only intercepted copies of emails targeting three Brazilian banks, but if the technique catches on it could have potentially serious consequences…
From the spam that we get at home, it is noticable that the quality of phishing exploits is continuously improving – better grammar, less spelling mistakes and quite plausible mails requesting you to log on to (fake) bank websites. Although banks in Europe generally claim that successful phishing attacks have been stopped before money has been transferred to phisher’s accounts, it looks as if they urgently need to introduce more secure methods of online banking.
Update (2004-11-05)
More links on phishing and spam:
The Guardian, reporting the same story with a little more detail
Again, the Guardian reporting on spam – 82% of e-mail is now spam and a spammer in the USA has just been jailed for 9 years for sending some of that e-mail.
Update (2004-11-09)
Eudora adds “ScamWatch” – The popular e-mail client from Eudora has been enhanced to flag potential phisher-links in mails:
How ScamWatch works:
Locating the cursor over an embedded email hypertext link produces a URL check. If the link served in email is different from the landing page URL or is an IP address rather than a hostname, a yellow pop-up window points out the difference…
By John, on November 1st, 2004
Having had quite a lot of comment-spam on the blog in the last 2-3 weeks, (none of it has got through to the blog, thanks to Kittens Friendly Comments (migrated into the core of WP 3.0, but necessary for earlier versions), but dealing with the mails informing me about new postings and moderating the comments that were put on hold was becoming a hassle). Yesterday I closed all comments older than 21 days and installed an additional plug-in – Three Strikes as well – this should stop most of the spam even hitting the moderation list.
If you have any problems now commenting on the blog – and you are not posting spam – drop me a line, to let me know, and I will see what I can do to help.
By John, on October 31st, 2004
Cats suffering from stress often suffer from bladder infections.
What should you give such a cat? Continue reading Stressed-out cats
By John, on October 31st, 2004
Everyone wants a bit of the action:
- Debt-laden Eurotunnel to slash costs and capacity
Eurotunnel’s revenues have never met its own projections because usage of the tunnel has been far below its expectations. Its trucks business continues to be hit by competition from ferry operators, while many potential car users take the ferry or leave their cars and use low-cost airlines instead.
- P&O to slash workforce by 1,200
The group announced the closure of four of its 13 ferry routes and cut eight ships from its fleet…
…The company has been losing business in the face of rising competition from no-frills airlines and Eurotunnel
- Ryanair reiterates budget ‘bloodbath’ warning
Ryanair, Europe’s largest discount airline, today said there were already signs of the “bloodbath” it had predicted for the winter months as budget airlines cut their fares.
By John, on October 31st, 2004
Researchers at Perdue University can identify what model of laser printer produced a particular printout. The researchers have discovered that the intensity of the print produced by a particular printer varies in a unique manner (banding) as the page is printed. This is because printers are made from parts manufactured to a relatively low accuracy, in order to keep costs down.
The discovery resulted from research done for printer manfacturers to find ways to reduce the banding, which is often not visible to the nacked eye. At the moment, the characteristics of the banding change when a toner cartridge is replaced, but it would be possible to add deliberate imperfections to their printers, to allow the authorities to identify exactly which printer that was used to produce forgeries or documents presented as evidence in criminal cases. The American Secret Service is now working with the researchers, giving them guidance as to the “right direction” for the research, which they hope will provide better methods for tracing documents and counterfeit bank notes.
By John, on October 25th, 2004
Talk about incompetent (again)- despite several warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that they needed to keep an eye on the Iraqi nuclear installations, the USA has let 350 tons of high explosive be stolen from under their noses. The explosives can be used in powerful conventional weapons or to detonate nuclear devices.
Never mind: Bush junior tells us that the world is much safer now, than it was before he initiated the invasion of Iraq, so everything must be OK. I hope.
By John, on October 24th, 2004
We use a lot of olive oil in our cooking, so it is nice to hear that olive oil helps prevent colon and breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and other aging diseases as well as leading to healthier bones and fewer heart disease problems. Of course, ideally, the oil should be complemented with a glass of red wine for optimal health!
By John, on October 23rd, 2004
Has the latest voting machine program code been leaked ahead of the election?
By John, on October 21st, 2004
This week, a British government report on the dangers of passive smoking was leaked. The report cites passive smoking is a “substantial public health hazard”. Yesterday, Liverpool city council voted (57 votes to 7) to become the first city in the UK to ban smoking in all public enclosed spaces (such as shopping malls, restaurants or pubs), with fines of up to Ł1000 for offenders.
In the mean time, German politicians have been continuing their debate, which has already lasted 30 years, as to whether over-16′s should be allowed to continue to smoking in the breaks at school. Unfortunately, I fear this debate, and the lack willingness to take action, is symptomatic of the general lack of will by the politicians here to make reforms in other more important areas, such as labour laws and taxation – the ship is sinking as the band, or in this case, the politicians, continue to play.
By John, on October 17th, 2004
… No, I’m not talking about the latest and greatest sub-notebook PC, I’m talking about a top of the range sewing machine.
(And, yes, we are back online. We took a two week break to visit some friends in Javea and then spent the rest of the time in Extremadura and Andalusia – trying out everything from Paradores to B&B at casas rurales (privately run houses, which you can find listed on several web sites, including this one). We had a great time – what a pity to have to return from a sunny 18 – 25°C to a rainy 4.5°C back in Schmitten. Pix will follow when we have sorted them out).
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