Privacy :S ?

vickstur · 03-14-2010, 07:05 AM

Hi, I recently went to a website from a link someone sent to me. However, I'm not sure that it was safe. I tried to register, but it keep saying there was an error (on the site) which seemed sketchy. Anyway, now that they have my IP, what can they do with it? Can they hack my computer? Can they send me keyloggers/viruses? How much information can they get to and how can I stop them from doing anything? I'm really worried about my passwords and things... :S Thanks for your help!

wimiadmin · 03-14-2010, 02:56 PM

Just because they have your IP address doesn't mean that have an open invitation to the information that's on your computer. However, if the link you clicked on did install a keylogger, that's a different story. I'd scan your computer with Malware Bytes, or another reputable malware detection software just to make sure.

More importantly, the thing I'd be worried about the most is the fact that most people use the same login/password combo on many sites. Since you attempted to sign up for their site perhaps you used the same login/pass combo you use on other sites as well. I would IMMEDIATELY change all of my passwords where the same login/pass combo is used. We also recommend not using the same password at more than one site.

0siris · 03-15-2010, 10:20 AM

I don't know about Firefox, Opera, etc, but Internet Explorer 8 has one great feature that, all by itself, makes upgrading a must-do task in my opinion. It's called (I believe) URL Highlighting. One of the things that thieves count on is you simply scanning the Web address (URL) quickly. If so, then they might trick you into clicking on a link that *says* (for example) www.paypal.com, but the link itself is *actually* to (again, for example, with a random period thrown in to deliberately make the link invalid) http:.//www.paypal.com.somemalwaresite.tv

Too many people see the "paypal.com" and don't read on to realize that it's actually going somewhere else. URL highlighting would take the Web address in the Address blank of your Web browser, and make it look like (and, again, random period thrown in there to make a deliberately invalid link)http:.//www.paypal.com.somemalwaresite.com.
I see now that Firefox actually did this first. So that's Firefox (3.0 and up) and Internet Explorer (8, as far as I know). It's a terrific feature if you pay attention to it.

03-14-2010, 07:05 AM	#1
vickstur Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1	Privacy :S ? Hi, I recently went to a website from a link someone sent to me. However, I'm not sure that it was safe. I tried to register, but it keep saying there was an error (on the site) which seemed sketchy. Anyway, now that they have my IP, what can they do with it? Can they hack my computer? Can they send me keyloggers/viruses? How much information can they get to and how can I stop them from doing anything? I'm really worried about my passwords and things... :S Thanks for your help!

03-14-2010, 02:56 PM	#2
wimiadmin Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pigeon Forge, TN Posts: 858	Just because they have your IP address doesn't mean that have an open invitation to the information that's on your computer. However, if the link you clicked on did install a keylogger, that's a different story. I'd scan your computer with Malware Bytes, or another reputable malware detection software just to make sure. More importantly, the thing I'd be worried about the most is the fact that most people use the same login/password combo on many sites. Since you attempted to sign up for their site perhaps you used the same login/pass combo you use on other sites as well. I would IMMEDIATELY change all of my passwords where the same login/pass combo is used. We also recommend not using the same password at more than one site. __________________ Brian Please Search Before Posting

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03-15-2010, 10:20 AM	#3
0siris Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IL, USA Posts: 156	I don't know about Firefox, Opera, etc, but Internet Explorer 8 has one great feature that, all by itself, makes upgrading a must-do task in my opinion. It's called (I believe) URL Highlighting. One of the things that thieves count on is you simply scanning the Web address (URL) quickly. If so, then they might trick you into clicking on a link that says (for example) www.paypal.com, but the link itself is actually to (again, for example, with a random period thrown in to deliberately make the link invalid) http:.//www.paypal.com.somemalwaresite.tv Too many people see the "paypal.com" and don't read on to realize that it's actually going somewhere else. URL highlighting would take the Web address in the Address blank of your Web browser, and make it look like (and, again, random period thrown in there to make a deliberately invalid link)http:.//www.paypal.com.somemalwaresite.com. I see now that Firefox actually did this first. So that's Firefox (3.0 and up) and Internet Explorer (8, as far as I know). It's a terrific feature if you pay attention to it.