Just goes to show !

Post by **niggle** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:34 am

Acouple of hours ago I was sarching for information on Halifax (UK0. Several sites visited - tourist information etc.
Just checked my mail and lo and behold I've got a spam email from Halifax Building Society - coincidence ? I don't think so !!
Just goes to show whats tracking our every move on the internet

Post by **repsol** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:50 pm

How did they find out what your email address is?! That is not possible when you search for or visit websites...

Did you leave your email address with any of the sites you visited?

Are you from Halifax by any chance?

Sounds to me like you got some spyware running on you computer, and it supplied the vendor of the spyware with your email address and then sends over information about the websites you visited etc... SPyware is usually not found by virus scanners, as they are not viruses.

Post by **Hobiecat** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:10 pm

NNnnnoooo.....this is now being implemented on line, tracking consumers to see what internet sites they visit and them forwarding ads of that related site to them.

Been listening about it on BBC for the last couple of days. Scary really!

Post by **huahindolly** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:46 pm

Still, how do they get your email address? Just doesn't make sense. Do you have more details on how these spyware programs figure out where to send you an email?

Post by **buksida** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:23 pm

Quite easy to get email addresses and a lot more if your computer is infected with spyware and malware.

On the same note one of the major spammers in the last few years has recently pleaded guilty and will be charged:

Full Story : Asia Times Online

Post by **repsol** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:46 am

Nice article you posted there, lots of infos and I actually read it all the way to the end (ads)

Hobie, do not mistake ads on a website you visit being "customized" to your surfing behaviour with SPAM being sent to your mailbox.... there is simply no way you could receive EMAIL SPAM just because you visited a website, except if you left your email address OR have spyware and/or malware running on your computer, which would expose just about everything you are doing including your email address(es).

Like I said before, spyware and/or malware is NOT a virus and thus will not be detected as one by (pure) virus scanners. Internet security sortware doesn't always catch them as well... it;s basically the same as spammers themself, it is pretty hard to find out who they are

Post by **niggle** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:56 am

Is there a way to detect / remove spyware ?

Post by **Kilbirnie** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:16 am

There's a free program called AD-AWARE that you can download from the net.

It had reasonable reviews for it's effectiveness plus there are many others.

Run a search.

Post by **Norseman** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:33 am

You can download Ad Aware + find a lot of other useful programs here:

http://www.download.com/
http://www.shareware.com/

Post by **Toonmad** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:03 pm

I have found 'Ad Aware' to be very effective in detecting spyware. I would also recommend 'Spybot Search and Destroy' Finally make sure you have a good firewall to prevent most of the stuff getting on your machine in the first place. 'Zone Alarm' is an excellent example. All the above are free.