Spam originating from the Avast forum

General Topics
1

Lately i start to receive more and more spam through Pm’s originating from the Avast forums.

In those Pm’s people start saying: **** did this so I assume anyone’s allowed to. Well ill be honest about this, i am not a moderator, but this is spamming!!

Though the mails are not mentioned to be commercial, but its still is spam. Spam means unwanted mail, i did not register these forums to go receive mail about various projects that people are setting up, regardless if its commercial or not.

If you want to make note to people, you are starting new forums or technology sites and you ask people for this, than simply make a post on this forum itsself, so people have a choice to react on it or not.

Pm’s really are what they are: a private message to have personal contact, and not for creating bulk mails to people registered on these forums.

So the answer to their own questions: **** did this so I assume anyone’s allowed to.

Thats as far as i am concerned a big NO. Either contact the admins on this forum to add a new section for threads like that or just stop it. If not i will for sure delete my account here, and re register only if needed.

And assuming that Pm’s like that probably or maybe are allowed, you know better than that, because if you were not sure about that, than you should have asked the moderators on this forum to begin with, instead of going from the assumption someone else already did, so its probably ok. This off course also applies for the person that made that first PM and not only the people that followed him…
.
.
.
Diehard

2

Hi

I think when you sign up you need to uncheck the box for this so its not sending you notifications by default, however , if you don’t want this feature anymore, then click the ‘profile’ button at the top, then click ‘Personal message options’ on the left ahdn side, then uncheck ‘Notify by email every time you receive a personal message.’.

Have a nice weekend now. :slight_smile:

–lee

3

Diehard
I wouldn’t turn off the PM feature but, you can always add the offending party to your
ignore list in your PM settings.
That way you can still receive PM’s but would stop receiving them for the spammer.
I’ve also received one of those “Spam” PM’s and have pot the person on notice.
If you get any more, report them to Alwil and let them take care of the offending user.

4

The PM function is a very helpful part of the forums and shouldn’t be abused, I have not had one that I would consider Spam, but if I did I would be just a angry as you obviously are I would likely warn them off first that this is against the forum policy and report them to a moderator if repeated.

Extract of Policy:

do not send spam via PM (Personal Messages) to other forum users
5

Of course Diehard I won’t ask who are those individuals, but I’m just curious what are contents of those “Spam” messages as you call them. I’m hanging in these forums very long time by now, and I never ever received any single message that I could characterize as Spam. Of course, I’m not saying that you didn’t receive anything like that. Everything is possible, it’s just I am very interested in what was the topic of those messages… for example, was it something like someone tried to sell you something, or maybe someone harassed you or something third…

If it was something that was really inappropriate, I’m sure you should just report that to our moderators and I’m also 100% sure, it would never ever happen again, believe me… these forums are nothing like you described up there, nor forum regulars are bad guys, so if you can back up those words with some “hard” evidence, I’m sure Alwil or forum moderators will act as they should in situations like this.

Take care everybody !

6

Sash
The one I received had to do with a new forum this person was starting but the header must have had 50 addresses in it.

7

Thanks for all the replies :slight_smile:

About disableling the pm’s, i think that is a bad thing. If someone needs to disable that, it means that person doesn’t like what he is getting, so on itself its a bad thing if someone has to do that.

About the names, i decide in my posts not to give names, because i believe in giving chances to people to correct their mistakes.

I will give here all the topics and messages i got, again for now i will leave out the names, though you might find out lol.

Message number one:

You have just been sent a personal message by XXXXX on avast!WEBforum.

IMPORTANT: Remember, this is just a notification. Please do not reply to this email.

The message they sent you was:

Hi,

I hope this doesn’t break any forum rules, but i just wanted to let you know about a new forum i have created for general computer support, as well as overclocking and modifying of computers.

The address is: http://www.sysxtreme.com

Look forward to seeing you there.

Regards XXXXX

Message number 2:

You have just been sent a personal message by XXXXX on avast!WEBforum.

IMPORTANT: Remember, this is just a notification. Please do not reply to this email.

The message they sent you was:

Hi all,

XXXXX did this so I assume anyone’s allowed to.

I have started a new forum primarily for programming beginners (however we need some experienced people to help it along and possibly become moderators). It can be hard to start programming so if we all help each other along in a forum it would help and increase our productivity.

Just because there aren’t loads of posts yet - doesn’t mean you shoudn’t register and post now. Because otherwise, nobody will ever post. So don’t just worry about some code that you’re having trouble with - ask others.

Please view this post http://www.matteon.co.uk/index.php?topic=2.0 and then select register from the right hand menu to become a member of this community. Experienced programmers in whatever language - please PM (webmaster) me (on my forum) after registering.

Thanks

Message number 3

You have just been sent a personal message by XXXXX on avast!WEBforum.

IMPORTANT: Remember, this is just a notification. Please do not reply to this email.

The message they sent you was:

Hi all,

XXXXX did this so I assume anyone’s allowed to.

I have started a new forum primarily for programming beginners (however we need some experienced people to help it along and possibly become moderators). It can be hard to start programming so if we all help each other along in a forum it would help and increase our productivity.

Just because there aren’t loads of posts yet - doesn’t mean you shoudn’t register and post now. Because otherwise, nobody will ever post. So don’t just worry about some code that you’re having trouble with - ask others.

Please view this post http://www.matteon.co.uk/index.php?topic=2.0 and then select register from the right hand menu to become a member of this community. Experienced programmers in whatever language - please PM (webmaster) me (on my forum) after registering.

Thanks

Ok and this is the last one (Number 4), and this really is herrassing if i am correct, or maybe its just i missed the point:

Subject: New Personal Message: Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam.

You have just been sent a personal message by FreewheelinFrank on avast!WEBforum.

IMPORTANT: Remember, this is just a notification. Please do not reply to this email.

The message they sent you was:

Hi, just wondered if you’d be interested in some Viagra?

No?

How about a bigger penis?

No?

A bogus university degree?

Still not interested?

Would you like to give me your bank details so I can steal all your money?

Umm, how about my new program, it blocks 99.9% of all spam in forum personal messages?

As said, that last one seems a reaction on my post on this forum, unless someone tells me i missed the point, but i think someone just wanted to be an ass :-
.
.
Diehard

8

Diehard
I also got the first 2 but didn’t get the last one and like you that one would have made me get
a little upset. Maybe more than just a little bit.
Maybe the webmaster can trace that message back to see if it was an actual message or a SPAM.
Don’t know if that’s possible

9

Some users reported to me (as a Moderator on the Off Topic forum) about this. Pure Spam! >:(

Spam again. Violation of the forum policy >:(

:stuck_out_tongue:

10
Sash The one I received had to do with a new forum this person was starting but the header must have had 50 addresses in it.

Correct, the first two had had a whole bunch of names in it:

« Sent to: robby, bingy, jkjohnsontx, piotr, marieandgordon, Kayjo, Digga, alansito, Elaine, Trigonometer, northy84, ar12tsl, jacquie, xhirsch, russellcraiger, dylan, Janey, Recovery, winger43123, SilverKiento, heartitudes, ASSOCIATION MAF, Glyn, toria42, mestre5, Luxor, ayumi, williamcrooks, jmbrage, saxman_07, DickinsMCF, edsonwilliam, Lynn, terryh, anli, Loren, Rick_EE, Fraoch, robinhoodmjp, mule, snarflat71, lar, sonsgeekmom, compwiz1953, MICT, Clipper Ocean Spra, Donny05, BluewaterBridge, wams284, ripoffdk, bobw, niceguy, Airdack, bartona, vdo, woohoohere, klick, markiejd, Raven0815, darkdevil, Liza, anne9002, wjzi, Vuclatond, reverendj, Gestalt, david13anthony, nephridil, grog, krieky, DasAllens, bmark01, segeysuhov, skucku99, jreents, banda64, threedoves, JonM, michalrice, muskask8er, luckyk, Peterx, lostre, sinko, apohl, Kotimana, Tjajanja, rorschach, Diehard, arjunan, nestea5, leekb, Guezt_007, aron, tis, stevebbh, Technowiz, Erick55, Le Squale, LostinTranslation, Georgev, FastGame, satosi nisimura, Guinness, Ranger1151, tsui, julie, bbarrjr, bbobkins, gpage, comonsense, colin32, antmabis, susihess, EmDzei, Stormfalcon70, torp, Acco, runtotorun0121, candigirl, aykay_de, casey_48, wiz, chandru, Stampest, DR_Mick, rtomada, vjammu, bob10000, southpawsr, Clark, aci-retd, TTsboy, lin66731, tacoz, mineown, IGABIVA, charles_g, kal10bach, adennis, budds78, splash, negativ, dchuril, Haxthausen, ldrtech, mattmattmatt15, t_ball, patty fernow, rhammond84, oooji, valel, giamma70, lombrik54, tonycsa, Vicki, [Raven] Apocalypse, goubs, theriel, endorse, avuser13, cortesi fulvio, morrison, shyeyes, exlesia, mekeceze, gkiagia, Burnbow, Thumbler, uilop, yudi, robert_parker, ToiletDuck, sylvester2001, muhammed murtaza s, Musicman, motti, jmd, lderks, teegee, chrisaroz, Xpirex, richardb, peterx2, hendry wong, pcnewbie43, Libra, Ronny, bschemmel, hamus, clairesoup, filpinoy, emrahe, sirama, nm, taco78, gators, edouard, 6MONTAGE, khass, Lois Gatinho, polony, rab, ZYZYZY, peterchankim, fliphead, jcden4, sumerchandjain, katrinas79, lizzyhock, geekgal, ellandry, frauxm, cutchie, guitarzan, Fylyp, bendher, Vuyo, madzia, pajross, sims, bohica, jshawver, zuijlen, sdelisle, driftwood, hr_bill, TJGolf, WhatTeh, therese, dserkan, dragostefan2005, franjo, cissou, chris18, tigerangelo9, ionion_sea, Pancho, horafeliz, dmiller, Bob Orbin, Chris305, icemax, jayd21, styson, valerian, the samster, Ethryl, CLUB_SI, DFWMerlin on: March 19, 2005, 04:04:56 PM »

This was from one of them.

The last 2 were only directed to me. In any case i think it is abusing pm’s, its not what pm’s are ment for…
.
.
.
Diehard

11
bob10000
I found my other self in the address list. That's who that spam mail was addressed to. Was wondering why bob3160 was bypassed unless it's for the same reason that Technical didn't get one......(avoid moderators)???
12

While that may be Bob I also didn’t receive any of these spams, thank heavens.

13

A public apology to Diehard

Sorry. It wasn’t an attempt to harass you. I was just being an ass.

I entirely agree with your position on spam, I was just teasing.

The subject (Spam, Spam, Spam Spam!) was a reference to the Monty Python song and the body of the message was intended to be a humorous reflection of the nature of the spam we all get, as well as pull your leg.

Apologies again. I guess it was pretty juvenile.

FreewheelinFrank

14

Thanks God ;D
I hope there is a possibility of tracing back and canceling the user logon.

By the way, it will be very useful if the user should confirm its subscription typing what he/she sees into a picture, avoiding automatic filling the fields with false information, false email, etc.

15

It would definitely be possible to trace who sent them, the author is listed, finding them is not the problem as it is too easy to register on the forums to post (drive by posting) and to Spam if that is your intent.

So what you are suggesting on registration may reduce the potential future problem.

Or when you register you could be sent a forum registration link/key by email to complete the registration (like many e-newsletters) and ensure that the email address is good. However, with the ease of getting a free email address that may not deter a manual registration with a throw away email address. It just makes it a little more time consuming for the spammer.

This is the first major spamming by IM that I have heard of in nearly one year on the forums.

16

Diehard, you are completely 100% right. Not just last one, other 2 PMs are also pure SPAM, and nothing else IMHO. Why would anyone in the world PM anyone and inform him about his/her new forum or something regarding that matter ? There is no need at all, and this is outrageous.

If they need publicity, they should pay for their publicity somewhere on the internet (like those paid for banners if they are interested) or some other way. Not harassing people through their PMs, after all PM are suppose to be PERSONAL. Sure, I would not want to get one of those, and I would react exactly the same like you did.

Please, if you have original PMs, let our moderators (or Alwil members) know about those messages. I’m sure they will take some steps to stop that.

These forums were always pure forums with security (only) related topics, plus some wonderful breathe of humor and nice not offending jokes in relaxing Off-Topic forum. It should always stay that way, we shouldn’t let people come to these forums, make just 5 or 6 posts, and then starting to SPAM us with promoting of their business, and all of that for free. They think they are allowed to SPAM us, but they are wrong.

We all are here to help, and some are here just to ask for help, and that’s OK… that’s completely normal. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t say that no one is allowed to announce about some helpful security-related forum, but for sure, not through PMs and not to 50-100 people at once. They have Off-topic forum, they can announce that in there, so if anyone is interested, he/she will read it, or if not, they will just avoid reading it. Simple as that. If thread has offending contents, moderators will remove it as soon as they are aware of it. They have a lot of work in these forums, so sometimes they won’t see it, and that’s why we have to report these activities to them.

Cheers everybody !

17
so sometimes they won't see it, and that's why we have to report these activities to them.
And you usually do. ;D ;D ;D
18

Apologizes accepted FreewheelinFrank

Well i play the game Unreal, and i am one of the high ranking members of that community, all together we often have endured hack/DOS attacks to our servers or people trying to do an individual hack within the servers around.

The reason i didn’t report anyone was, i am always for a second chance, i do that in Unreal and in real life. I thought i make note of it first on the forums here and see what happens.

If the people involved learned their leasons, than i think i achieved the best out of it, no mass Pm’s anymore and no bans.

But sure, if it continues than i would go report them to the moderators, i always safe all mails i receive, so giving proof or who sended it is not big problem.

But as said, i hope it ends here, lol before this i only made one post ever here about a mishap i had with Avast in combination with a virus.

But in my opinium, spam is the worst thing around on the internet, it wrecks e-mail accounts and leads to hugh frustrations if you had to deal with it badly before, i rather have my computer infected with 100 viruses than to endure 10 spam mails to be honest.

For now i have had no more mail, so let hope it was the last of them i saw. And i didn’t check, but if theres indeed an off topic forum here, than that is the perfect place for people to announce their own projects and ask for members.
.
.
.

19
And i didn't check, but if theres indeed an off topic forum here
[b]There most certainly is.[/b] Ask almost any question about most subjects not related with avast! :)