Microsoft chief hit by rogue dialer

[hesperus]

Hmmm . . . prn or wrez ?? Or maybe just utlook . . .

Ed Gibson, Microsoft UK's recently appointed chief security advisor, has admitted to being
hit by the rogue dialler.

A rogue dialler recently cost Gibson £450 in phone bills, which BT is insisting he pay. Gibson told attendees at London "eConfidence: Spam and Scams" conference that more must be done about the rogue dialler problem.

It isn't clear how Gibson, a former senior FBI officer specialising in financial crime, was infected with the dialler software. Microsoft wasn't able to immediately comment.

http://www.xatrix.org/article4090.html

[rcgreen]

Somebody should've warned him not to click that link
that promised naked pics of Britney Spears.

Or, do you think maybe it's dawned on one Microsoft exec
that they have a problem with their OS?


And WTF is a big M'soft guy doing on dialup anyway?

[Agent_Steal]

It isn't clear how Gibson, a former senior FBI officer specialising in financial crime, was infected with the dialler software.

Humm ... Humans do make mistakes from time to time ... Curiosity maybe ??

And WTF is a big M'soft guy doing on dialup anyway?

Although these scams are primarily aimed at the internet newbies, that clearly isn’t so. It seems like many broadband users can also be affected via back-up modem connections.

Hummm ....

[hesperus]

I know everyone is human, but he is a 'security chief', and its funny -- especially when he makes a speech saying that more needs to be done about it. Don't suppose anyone suggested 'use firefox and thunderbird' . . .

Not to say these are perfect, but in this case they would have helped him.

From what I have read, this type of dialer uses an activex exploit. They doen't require clicking on anything (except a regular link) -- they are drive-by infections. Some are configured to monitor for inactivity on a broadband connection (indicating someone is away) and then after a certain amount of time, start up the backup diaup link -- and then watch the money roll in. Dirty, dirty.