Page 1 of URGENT -- SECURITY DANGER --- `MAX ALERT. `

A post here for the "web police" or anyone else who can advise.

I`ve just replied to a thread on credit cards..

Upon submiting I got an immediate window advising me that `.. my computer is currently broadcasting an IP address and anyone can begin `attacking` my computer unless I download something called Max Alert.

Is this kosher and if so do I go ahead ??

Help, help....

Everyone`s computer broadcasts an IP address. A lot of websites won`t let you in unless it can read one.

It`s just preying on the paranoid. No offence :)

Dunno I`m afraid. I did have a couple of `alerts` when I submitted on another thread but zonealarm stopped any access. I`d get zonealarm in any case if you don`t already have something similar.

Do you mean a popup ad? There was a banner on the top of this page earlier today with that wording. Get Zonealarm installed and you`ll be safe.

Depends how you define "kosher", really.

This supposed "alert" is actually an advertisement for a commercial software product, called (as you`ve probably guessed) "Max Alert". It`s almost certainly a load of rubbish, or they wouldn`t have to resort to such desperate marketing tactics - so I would advise you not to go anywhere near it.

Mike

P.S. (Update): Max Alert is made by Bonzi Software, which is notorious for including intrusive spyware in its products. Far from increasing your system security, it`s very likely to compromise it! If you haven`t done so already, you should download and run AdAware from http://www.lavasoft.de/ to sweep any spyware from your system, and give Bonzi a very wide berth.

Here`s an article about Bonzi`s tactics:

http://accs-net.com/smallfish/bonzi.htm

Mike

This item was edited on Tuesday, 5th November 2002, 21:42

this is quite a common tactic used by pornography sites, a freind of mine runs quite a few, there is also a small javascript that will print on screen the contents of your c drive in win 98. this is of course only visible to you and is increasingly being used instead of this. if people wanted to mate, then they could find alot of information from your ip number. it`s just a pop-up add that takes advantage of peoples paranoia on the internet and i`d avoid any company which tries to advertise its products in this way.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 5th November 2002, 22:03

Doubt that popup came from our site, you sure your not running a spyware type product like save.exe installed with many peer to peer file sharing utilities?

They monitor sites you go to, words you type into boxes, etc, and then popup adverts based on what you typed.

I saw the ad on here today too.

The ad is here alright,it`s at the top of this page as i am writing this.

Ah, its a banner ad, I was under the impression it was a popup. I`ll try and find out more about this, as personally I find this kind of scare mongouring distasteful.