Online Safety!

[ChefDJ]

After a recent experience, I urge all internet users to make changes to any and all passwords you may use online, check your online profiles carefully and be vigilant!

Saturday morning (16 Nov) I awoke and proceeded to log onto this forum. Upon log in I notice the message stating when last I visited, and it said that I was last online AN HOUR BEFORE I WOKE UP! I immediately changed my password and thought nothing further.

Sunday evening (17 Nov) I try log in the forum once more to find that I have been blocked and must wait 15 minutes before my next attempt, as I have tried to enter my details too many times. This message popped up on my FIRST log in attempt for the evening.

I wait the 15 minutes and try again, only to be blocked for another 15 minutes. This happens 4 times in a row, whether I enter my details or not.

Eventually I log in successfully, but three minutes later I get blocked once more, unable to browse the forum. I closed my browser, re-opened and tried to log in. Blocked for 15 minutes.

I sent a message by now to a fellow forum member, Flash-Gordon, informing him of my situation, and he quickly got the help of Jandre who then reset my password in order for me to log in and change it.

I have successfully changed my password and am now browsing fine.

During this time, I have done a Malware check on my PC and I have found that various malicious objects were detected. This after I re-installed Windows on my PC about 4 days ago, and have done no downloading or web browsing of any kind other than this forum, and installing of anti virus software.

I don't know how this malware was installed, but luckily I haven't done any internet banking since the re-install of Windows.

Thanks a million to Flash and Jandre for the swift help, I owe you both :thumbs:


Again, I urge everyone to do profile checks and updates, and change passwords where necessary :thumbs:

This was an invasion of my privacy and I am now really, really peeved :argh:

 

[S1NGH 001]

Damn hackers :argh:

It helps to use good Internet Security Software, I've been using Norton for the past 2years, it seems to work exceptionally well, Kaspersky is also effective, the Russians know their stuff raise:

 

[Josh-ZN]

glad its working. sorry i wasnt at my PC when i got the request from Flash

 

[RAArmstrong]

Damn hackers :argh:

It helps to use good Internet Security Software, I've been using Norton for the past 2years, it seems to work exceptionally well, Kaspersky is also effective, the Russians know their stuff raise:

+1 Kaspersky is brilliant! :thumbs::thumbs:

Dont like Norton myself, find its a bit of a resource hog :fencelook:


Glad you got sorted Chef :thumbs:

 

[lambchop]

Well first up this site uses HTTP so all traffic to the server is in clear text including the username and passwords. So in reality we all exposed to the same risk

 

[ChefDJ]

glad its working. sorry i wasnt at my PC when i got the request from Flash

No prob bud, as long as it's sorted :thumbs:

 

[Flash-Gordon]

Glad u sorted Chef :thumbs:

May I add , that I use Bitdefender Total Security 2013 and get lots of pop-ups saying port scan blocked when online :fencelook:

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

The first thing I spotted when joining was as lambchop states there is no SSL on the forum's login and post login content, so best word of advice is that your PW here should bear no resemblance to any of your other ones.. You should try using password generators and keysafes for them, way better :thumbs: just my 2c

 

[ChefDJ]

So how does one increase security for the forum, instead of personal security?

 

[ChefDJ]

Today I had another strange experience while trying to log onto the forum. It accepted my log in details, but before I could browse it asked me to please enter one of those weird looking verification codes.

New security feature?

 

[petrivanzyl]

:fencelook:

 

[RAArmstrong]

Maybe Chef is a robot :fencelook:

 

[ChefDJ]

:mmm:

 

[S1NGH 001]

Buddy you have some serious spy or malware by the looks of things :argh:

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

Glad to hear there is a Captcha - first line defence against auto logins.. :thumbs:

Back in the day tracking down a suspect service hook-in for abnormal network activity was easy but the code is quite more sophisticated and it's almost impossible to not have some back door somewhere.. I mean the simple Adobe plugin for Chrome has some easy hook-in points too..

My personal word of advice is to keep ALL your software up to date at least once a week.. Having Internet security packages help little if the software you are trying to protect has a vulnaribility.

I would format my PC if I were you Chef :thumbs:

 

[ChefDJ]

The PC was formatted around a week ago, or two weeks ago :dunno:

There is literally nothing installed on my PC...

 

[tivoli786]

lol malware spread alot by porn sites so stay away

 

[ChefDJ]

Porn, as in the NWS section of this forum? :bat:

 

[ChefDJ]

Just a reminder to be alert regarding your online security :thumbs:

I just learnt that the forum is getting attacked with around 15 fake accounts per hour and is keeping our mods and admins quite busy, so cyber attacks seems to be increasing drastically.

Be vigilant :thumbs: