Top 10 Tech Web Tips

Warning Spoof Email Notice from Ebay

Just wanted to share a warning about a Spoof Email pretending to be from Ebay that is re-circulating the net in a slightly altered form.  The email message pretends to be from ebay and like all these phishing emails encourages you to sign in and fix something on your account.

Other than the fact that ebay never sends these types of messages, I was tipped off by the fact that it was sent to an email address of mine that is not associated with an ebay account at all.

I have no idea who the FPA is supposed to be.

The actual link (if you click on it in the email and I definitely do not advise clicking on it in any situation not even to see what is on the other side) points to the following address:

http://fl-65-40-13-231.sta.embarqhsd.net/ws/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.php?MfcISAPICommand=SignIn&co_partnerId=2&pUserId=&siteid=0&page

Type=&pa1=&i1=&bshowgif=&UsingSSL=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com&pp=&pa2=&errmsg=&runame=&ruparams=&
ruproduct=&sid=&favoritenav=&confirm=&ebxPageType=&
existingEmail=&isCheckout=&migrateVisitor=

That sure does not look like an ebay address even though they disguise it to look like

https://signin.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?SignIn

The email message looks like this

Here is a link to an older version of this spooffing email dated from just a couple weeks ago, so it looks like the scammers are already adapting.

Reporting Phishing or Spoof Emails from ebay

Ebay provides the following site to accept reports from people around the world about spoofing and phishing attacks and other issues.  You can also do a google search on the keywords ebay report phishing and look for the Security and Resolution Center at ebay which is a couple clicks away.

These types of things typically appear to be sourced out of Russia, but it is just as possible that someone from any where in the world is just using a host that allows this type of behavior from within Russia.  It could just as easily be someone next door, in the next state or even a teenage prankster on a Kissimmee vacation with her parents just seeing what they can do. Regardless, of where they are or who they are it is very dangerous for a person to fall victim to this type of action. If you click on this type of link, contact the credit bureaus and take steps to protect your credit.  Then do a top to bottom spyware and virus check on your machine. 

Google Toolbar Update Review of New Options

I woke up today and cranked up my computer to find that Google had sent me an automatic Google Toolbar Update for Firefox.

I had not heard about a new update in the works so I felt like I was gambling when I accepted the upgrade (not like I had a choice, thanks Google for thinking of me.)

I plowed forward hoping for the best and setup some new options.

Here are the options I ultimately settled on from the above choices.

Then I wanted to test out the ‘Send To’ function with a mobile phone.

The choices here were kind of limited I thought, and I prefer having the blogger button in the toolbar instead of this drop down option.

Above is the interface for SMS messaging from Google’s toolbar.  This actually worked pretty good and I could see this being beneficial.  I can text my wife and save a nickel on my side at least. 

I could for example find some great deal on Jane’s Addiction tickets and send a quick message to my wife asking her if we should buy concert tickets.  The down side is that she cannot reply back to me from that message.  She would have to send me new separate message directly to my phone, but regardless it seems kind of handy for one way stuff.

I’m sure this would be even better if you send a message with a link to a person with an internet capable phone.