NOTICEBOARD

A WARNING

I have been off-line for a while. This was due to a virus that affected my computer. This particular virus is called Smit-Fraud. This happened whilst I was on a well-known social networking site. The site (that originates this scam) looks exactly like a Microsoft site (complete with logo, design and layout).

The message read: "Your system has been infected with multiple spyware programs. You should consider installing the necessary heuristic module to protect other computers, as well as your pc has repeatedly tried to infect other computers via Internet, and to send spam.  The fact of spamming can result in criminal prosecution, despite the fact you are the victim of malicious software. For the safety of your system it is essential for you to install the necessary heuristic module and perform a full scan of your computer to exterminate malicious programmes from it".

It even asks you for payment and your credit card details etc.  Apparently there is a lot of these bogus sites out there. It disabled all my drives, so that I could not remove it, or access the internet.  There is a very good local computer shop who sorted this problem out for me, cleaned my hard drive and told me about the problem.  I did not lose any important files (because all of these are not stored on my computers hard drive).

But it cost me (in more ways than one). It is high time IMO that a tougher stance was taken with those who hack, infect and send spam to innocent people. Apparently it is two young European based males who are competing with each other, who are the culprits causing computer users this particular trouble.

So please be aware of this scam. Check your pc security on a daily basis, and be careful what you click on and what applications you use.

Yours sincerely

Trevor David Betts
22 November 2010.