SomeSailor
06-28-2005, 07:20 AM
One of the reasons we were forced to use registered usernames in certain areas was do to a problem that is becoming more of an issue throughout the Internet. This problem stems from the "harvesting" of personal information, such as email addresses.
The problem is the root of most all spam we each receive everyday. There are robotic scripts, little snippets of code, running on computers throughout the world that are specifically designed to search through common areas and "harvest" personal information.
Here are some of the things they search for:
Proper names (John H. Smith)
Addresses (123 Mockingbird Lane, Seattle, WA 92653)
email addresses (joesmith@centurytel.net)
Phone Numbers (425-555-1212)
SSN Numbers (123-45-6789)
It's very simple to "harvest" these items. It a simple filter that the data from a webpage is run through and the valuable information is extracted.
I've taken steps to avoid some of our exposure to this on here by installing several security features that will block some of these efforts, and track the offending incoming sites. I won't get into them, but they seem to be pretty effective.
Each of us needs to do their part as well and be careful about posting information that might be of value to spammers on here.
If you'd like to read more. Scan through these.
EMAIL HARVESTING FAQ (http://www.secinf.net/anti_spam/Email_Harvesting_Techniques_FAQ.html)
PHISHING (http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/phishing)
SPAM (http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spam/)
The problem is the root of most all spam we each receive everyday. There are robotic scripts, little snippets of code, running on computers throughout the world that are specifically designed to search through common areas and "harvest" personal information.
Here are some of the things they search for:
Proper names (John H. Smith)
Addresses (123 Mockingbird Lane, Seattle, WA 92653)
email addresses (joesmith@centurytel.net)
Phone Numbers (425-555-1212)
SSN Numbers (123-45-6789)
It's very simple to "harvest" these items. It a simple filter that the data from a webpage is run through and the valuable information is extracted.
I've taken steps to avoid some of our exposure to this on here by installing several security features that will block some of these efforts, and track the offending incoming sites. I won't get into them, but they seem to be pretty effective.
Each of us needs to do their part as well and be careful about posting information that might be of value to spammers on here.
If you'd like to read more. Scan through these.
EMAIL HARVESTING FAQ (http://www.secinf.net/anti_spam/Email_Harvesting_Techniques_FAQ.html)
PHISHING (http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/phishing)
SPAM (http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spam/)