New scam or virus spreader?

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:26 pm

OK-- today my wife and I received some "free" software in the mail. These were totally unsolicited.They arrived in plain white cardboard mailers, no return address. Hers was Microsoft Works 9, and mine was VersionTracker Pro. Looks like they were burned on home burnable CD (blue backs). The labels look fairly good, but I really don't know.
With postage and the cost of CDs, this seems like a pretty expensive way to try to spread viruses and malware, but I'm afraid to put them in my CD drive. Anyone heard of this?

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:31 pm

I've not heard of it, but there's no way I would ever put those in your CD drive.

No return address and unmarked envelope?

Somebody is trying to do you dirty.

Throw 'em away.

--James

jsluder · Post by **jsluder** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:15 pm

peeplj wrote:Throw 'em away.

Break 'em first.

Tyler · Post by **Tyler** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:33 pm

jsluder wrote:
peeplj wrote:Throw 'em away.
Break 'em first.

naw thats the stupid way!
put em in the microwave for three or four seconds!

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:36 pm

I have an old computer that is 'way out of date and of no use to anyone. I may delete all personal info on it , then try one of the discs

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:10 pm

brewerpaul wrote:I have an old computer that is 'way out of date and of no use to anyone. I may delete all personal info on it , then try one of the discs

Take it loose from the network first.

--James

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:47 pm

Agreed! Keep your machine off the grid. And install and activate your on-access virus/malware scanning SW before even popping them in. Maybe you can sniff out where they're from.

gonzo914 · Post by **gonzo914** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:17 pm

I always open suspect emails on one of the client's machines. The same would apply to a suspect CD.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:09 pm

If you received these through the US Mail, and they are carriers of intentionally malicious code, it is a Federal offense. Keep the mailing packaging.

I would not put them in any machine, personally. You didn't request them, or expect them, and you are suspicious of the product legitimacy. Don't use them at all. The likelihood of them being anything you actually want or need is tiny, and the chance of damaging your system or of installing a gateway for spam is too much.

Lambchop · Post by **Lambchop** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:53 pm

?lichen?

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:07 am

Yeah, maybe return them to the post office and explain your suspicions...let them deal with it.

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:29 am

Nah! send 'em to Microsoft!

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:36 am

Mitch wrote:Nah! send 'em to Microsoft!

That gets my vote. They're itching for someone to pulverise. Let'em expend their energies on something worth pulverising.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:59 am

anniemcu wrote:If you received these through the US Mail, and they are carriers of intentionally malicious code, it is a Federal offense. Keep the mailing packaging.

I would not put them in any machine, personally. You didn't request them, or expect them, and you are suspicious of the product legitimacy. Don't use them at all. The likelihood of them being anything you actually want or need is tiny, and the chance of damaging your system or of installing a gateway for spam is too much.

I realize that they're probably bogus at best, dangerous at worst. I was
thinking of using them in a "sacrificial" computer mainly out of curiosity, not hoping to get some useful software. And yes, this particular computer I'm talking about is definitely NOT attached to any network.

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:44 am

brewerpaul wrote:
anniemcu wrote:If you received these through the US Mail, and they are carriers of intentionally malicious code, it is a Federal offense. Keep the mailing packaging.

I would not put them in any machine, personally. You didn't request them, or expect them, and you are suspicious of the product legitimacy. Don't use them at all. The likelihood of them being anything you actually want or need is tiny, and the chance of damaging your system or of installing a gateway for spam is too much.
I realize that they're probably bogus at best, dangerous at worst. I was
thinking of using them in a "sacrificial" computer mainly out of curiosity, not hoping to get some useful software. And yes, this particular computer I'm talking about is definitely NOT attached to any network.

Nah - send 'em to microsoft and make those fat cows work for the first time in a decade!

Demand a comprehensive report!

And write back pretending you understand it (use made-up acronymns - the bets lie in the book ... they use them too, but they don't think anyone else is in-the-loop with the made-up-acronymn thing.) <dot>

If they ask for definitions of your acronymns - refer them to their acronymns (one of their letters is one of yours) - ask them to gguess which one!!! <ha ha ha > they will rise to the bait and start getting technical - send their reply to someone you know who is truly technical and get the "priesthood" at war with each-other ... I swear - they willl offer to settle out-of-court!!!

They will privately thank you for the first time they had an oportunity to use their formidible brains for s-o-o-o-o-o long. And invite you to spend summer at their spaaaaa. (got to have reliable character-witnesses at their next indictment).

It's easy. You just got a golden ticket in your letterbox

(BTW - unstamped unaddressed? Your perp lives 2 doors away - extort the basmati

)