Stay Safe Out There (1 Viewer)

[Cotswold]

Apparently scammers have infiltrated Google’s security to place fake adverts for Notepad++ in its search results. Malwarebytes the scam adverts have been online for months. It is thought by clicking them leads to your PC being infected by ransomware.

The adverts all appear under Google’s sponsored heading and have several different long titles designed to make you click. These include “Notepad++ for Windows – Notebook text editor Download” and “Download Notepad Text file editor”. The scammers hope the length of each title will distract people from the fact that the URLs above don’t mention Notepad++.

Clicking the URL takes you to Notepadxtreme which accurately impersonates the real Notepad++ site.
Apparently fake adverts are rife on Google. So be advised to typing the program’s URL correctly.

If you don’t know the URL. Search for the software on a service that doesn’t show adverts. Try BRAVE Search (https://search.brave.com) within BRAVE’s browser, or duckduckgo.com after turning off “Advertisements” in settings.

From Microsoft
As a free and special treat from Tuesday at a PC near you, Windows 11 is to receive the supadupa, or notsupadupa, depending upon your opinion. The Moment4 update. If you want it earlier it apparently is on KB5031455, or www.snipca.com/48094
After installation build should be 22631.2506 of Windows version 23H2. Those are optional but the Patch Tuesday update is compulsory.

Enjoy, or not as the case may be.

 

[CJ_London]

There is one I am aware of for a curry house in Newbury. It comes up on trip advisor as well. Click on it and you are taken to what looks like the real site where you can order a takeaway (and pay) or book a table (which appears to work but doesn't actually book a table) and the phone number just rings out. Fortunately I was trying to book a table so didn't part with any money.

one fake (also on trip advisor)
www.redpeppers-newbury.co.uk

one genuine
https://www.red-peppersnewbury.co.uk

owners have been trying to get the fake site taken down for ages, but it just pops up again.

Advice - don't order takeaways online unless you are sure you have the right website.

@Uncle Gizmo - you're local, are the locals aware of the fake site?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I'll let them know.

Thanks

 

[Cotswold]

Judge rules it’s fine for car makers to intercept your text messages

Judge rules it’s fine for car makers to intercept your text messages - Cyber Security Review

A federal judge has refused to bring back a class action lawsuit that alleged four car manufacturers had violated Washington state’s privacy laws by using

www.cybersecurity-review.com

Further proof, if were needed, that everyone from your Anti-Virus, to Google, to Amazon, to Paypal etc. Is storing and scanning your emails.
Are they just doing it because they can? Or is there some sound business reason for doing this?

Soon in the UK landline phones are to be abandoned and replaced with broadband digital phones. Is this because then the FAANG or MAMAA companies, along with governments can then download all your calls? Then using AI software will they scan and listen to them? If you have a private call with your bank or solicitor will the guy down the street who works at the local authority or for government listen in to your calls? There was a time when permission was needed but not any more. From the above the judge has basically ruled that it is the "right" of any company to store and read your emails.
Every year when you start another anti-virus contract you agree to them taking and storing anything they want to off your computer. As well as every program used, for how long and for what purpose. Including your emails, which you give permission for them to read.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Are they just doing it because they can? Or

Judging by the demise of Donald Trump bought about by the democrat Party, (should that be demon crap party?)

My guess is that the government, "junta" is recording everything they can about you so that if you became a problem to them at some stage in the future they can drag it up and, at minimum, cancel you. And at worse, destroy you and your family totally.

 

[Cotswold]

@Uncle Gizmo

My guess is that you are right Uncle. Frightening....When we started using the PC back in the 1980s who'd have thought this would happen?

 

[NauticalGent]

who'd have thought this would happen?

George Orwell...

 

[AccessBlaster]

George Orwell...

George Bush and the Patriot Act.

"Hastily passed 45 days after 9/11 in the name of national security, the Patriot Act was the first of many changes to surveillance laws that made it easier for the government to spy on ordinary Americans by expanding the authority to monitor phone and email communications, collect bank and credit reporting records, and track the activity of innocent Americans on the Internet. While most Americans think it was created to catch terrorists, the Patriot Act actually turns regular citizens into suspects."

Quoted from the ACLU

 

[NauticalGent]

Quoted from the ACLU

And Dead-On-Balls accurate. The fact that neither Obama, Trump nor Biden un-did it made them just as useless. Yet, it you try to convince the vast majority of Americans of this, they will vehemently insist that it was necessary. Republitards and Democraps = Two sides of the same shitty coin.

 

[Steve R.]

Quoted from the ACLU

That the ACLU would acknowledge the evils of the Patriot Act is quite astounding. The ACLU has long ceased being an advocate for civil rights and has become a provocateur "agent" of left wing causes, which means eliminating the free-speech of conservatives. If the ACLU was doing its job of protecting civil liberties it would be representing those arrested for their patriotic rally on Jan. 6th and would even be representing Trump in the face of the current politically inspired Kangaroo persecutions of Trump.

Based on current anti-liberty ACLU practices, when was this quote written?

 

[NauticalGent]

I agree with your assessment with the ACLU. They DID manage to nail this one though...