Phishing - what is it?

**Freedom** · 07-08-2009, 06:10 PM

I 've used various virus protection over the years.

McAfee - didn't help me much, I kept getting into trouble!

Norton - used that for 3 or 4 years, then bought Norton 360 by mistake. It took up so much memory my computers slowed WAY down.

Just loaded Windows Live One Care today . . . and discovered that the anti phishing ONLY works on Internet Explorer 7.0

I use Firefox

Am I in trouble? What IS phishing? Do I really want to know? Any way around this now that I bought and installed the Live One Care on BOTH computers???

Thanks for comments, help, ideas.

**blue** · 07-08-2009, 06:28 PM

Firefox 3 has built in anti phishing.

**Karen** · 07-08-2009, 06:45 PM

Phishing is when software or programs or people "phish" for email addresses they can then sell to spammers as legitimate addresses. Nothing you want to be a part of!

**Hellow** · 07-08-2009, 07:34 PM

From Wikipedia (I couldnt explain it better):
"In the field of computer security, phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT Administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging,^[1] and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. Even when using server authentication, it may require tremendous skill to detect that the website is fake. Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users,^[2] and exploits the poor usability of current web security technologies.^[3] Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical security measures."

**Freedom** · 07-08-2009, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by blue

Firefox 3 has built in anti phishing.

Whew! Safe.

That stuff sounds nasty; well, I KNEW it was. Glad to know I am "covered!"

Thanks everyone.

**Medusa** · 07-09-2009, 05:37 AM

I was phished last year. A site claiming to be one of my credit card companies said that they needed me to update my account. The logo and everything was identical to the cc acct. I almost fell for it until questions such as "What is the account number where you finance your car?" and "What is your debit card account number?" etc. appeared. No way my cc company needed that info. I didn't know if this was taking place in real time or not so I immediately clicked out and went to my bank, let them know what happened and I closed the account. It could've been disastrous.

**smokey the elder** · 07-09-2009, 10:54 AM

YOU are your own best defense against a phishing scheme. If someone sends an email asking for stuff like that, it's best to contact the REAL bank, creditor, etc. and let them know. This kind of thing adversely affects their business, as well, and they like to know aboutit.

**Cataholic** · 07-09-2009, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by smokey the elder

YOU are your own best defense against a phishing scheme. If someone sends an email asking for stuff like that, it's best to contact the REAL bank, creditor, etc. and let them know. This kind of thing adversely affects their business, as well, and they like to know aboutit.

I am amazed that people still fall for this stuff. You can count on one news article a week, or comment on the TV about people giving out all their personal information because of an email request! ACK!

**Hellow** · 07-09-2009, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Cataholic

I am amazed that people still fall for this stuff. You can count on one news article a week, or comment on the TV about people giving out all their personal information because of an email request! ACK!

People like that shouldn't be online in the first place.

**Medusa** · 07-09-2009, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Reggie

People like that shouldn't be online in the first place.

Oh for Pete's sake! "People like that" are average people, not some dummies who can't read or write. Phishers are so good now that they make the phony websites look like the real thing, which is why people can be fooled. It's easy to be judgmental when you're perfect, eh?

**pomtzu** · 07-09-2009, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by Medusa

Oh for Pete's sake! "People like that" are average people, not some dummies who can't read or write. Phishers are so good now that they make the phony websites look like the real thing, which is why people can be fooled. It's easy to be judgmental when you're perfect, eh?

Reggie the Revered knows all - didn't you know that???

**kokopup** · 07-09-2009, 10:37 PM

It is Phishing but it takes on a different tone. I get at least 3 or 4 different versions of the Nigerian scam a week. I can't tell you how much money i can receive if I just send them all my email and address information so the trustees will know where to send the necessary paperwork. Now these are the ones that I don't know how people can be taken in. You
would really have had to just gotten off the "Punkin truck" if you fall for these.

**blue** · 07-09-2009, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by kokopup

You would really have had to just gotten off the "Punkin truck" if you fall for these.

Yor're not siding with the Rev Reggie on this are you?

**kokopup** · 07-09-2009, 11:32 PM

There is a difference in an email that looks like it is from your credit card company and one from some Barrister in Nigeria promising Millions for no apparent reason. He doesn't know my name and half the words in the Email are misspelled. I would not fall for either approach but if you fall for the Nigerian scam you are either very stupid, greedy or both. If phishing did not work then phishers would be out of business. It appears the folks in Nigeria know us Americans are a bunch of stupid greedy people. They make millions off of their scams every year. Some of their scams are very well conceived and hard to detect, however the Email
millions is not one of these.

On this one I am not agreeing with Reggie.