(I got this from a very reliable source this morning.)
There's a new email card company called "FriendGreetings.com".
When you get a card notification from them and click on the link, it will take you to their site.
You will be notified that you have to install an ActiveX control in order to view the card.
When you begin to install, the first thing that pops up is what is known as a "EULA" (End User License Agreement).
It is very long, and you will not read it. They're counting on that.
When you scroll to the bottom of it and click "Accept," you have agreed to the terms of the EULA.
Part of what you will have agreed to is to have monitoring/spyware software installed on your computer which will periodically report a vast array of data back to the card company.
The other part that you've agreed to is to have the software send mail to EVERY SINGLE ADDRESS IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK.
In short, you've voluntarily agreed to install a virus-type product on your machine.
Oh Dear...... I sent this along to my daughter. Normally, I check things out before passing them along. Well, she did some checking at the Urban Legends site, and found out that it is just that: a hoax, an urban legend - whatever you want to call it, it just isn't true. Now, I am NOT saying that ball pits are clean or anything like that, BUT, the story about the little boy dying from a needle of heroin is NOT TRUE..... (thank heavens!!!)
Hmmmm - could be. I did check the Urban Legends site for this and also for the Ball Pit thing and found nothing.
It came from someone in the IT department of a major USA corporation. She usually checks out everything before passing it on. Anyhow, it pays to be careful.
But you're absolutely right, it ALWAYS pays to be careful, and that's why I sent it to her in the first place!!! AND, I figure that if we are careful, we can avoid at least SOME of the avoidable heartbreak in the world! (did that make any sense??? )
The FriendGreeting.com is not a hoax. Or if it is, there's a real virus that's close in name. The President of our company accidentally opened a e-mail card on Monday from one of our Consultants and it then read his e-mail address book and sent out everyone in the firm the same "E-Card" Our IT guy says that it isn't the type of virus that destroys your hard drive, it the type that allows hackers to use your system as a hub and then send out spam from your system, using up your bandwidth. Does that make sense??? Anyway I now only open E-cards if its from someone I know would send one, or if it's my birthday and I'm expecting something like that.
Warning! Be Careful!
)
