Home › Forums › Archives › Instant Messaging › AIM Support › SECURITY WARNING: “We captured Osama” Link
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February 10, 2004 at 10:54 pm #11106AIM_UserParticipant
…Okay,
If you just read that no we didnt!
BUT Someone sent me an IM with a link saying we did, I clicked it, and now My screen name is sending the same links to other people, though I did not intentionally send that fake link, thats the same way it got to me. My profile also went blank, but when I restarted AIM it went back but everyone online on my buddy list has gotten this link (Oh OH! Gulp, sorry Mr.Hankley!)WHat is this? Somehow links are getting through IMs sent by someones buddy list, from the screen name, to other screen names but not by the person.
????????
Aimuser
February 10, 2004 at 11:06 pm #84810FallenOne97Memberi too have experienced this same problem, i clicked a link before…and then when i got back people were telling me i send them this osama link when i did not send anything? is this a possible virus threat? let me know, thanks.
Jeff
February 10, 2004 at 11:40 pm #84813kbryanParticipantWas the link anything like this? H “check this out: www.wgutv.com /osama capture.php?spCC” or something similar? Someone in our office opened it – looks like a game, then everybody in his address book gets the message to “check it out”. Can’t find any real reference to it on the internet, although there is a site www.wgutv.com. Any idea what this really is and does it have an evil payload. Thanks. Kay
Edit: Deactivated the URLs, that site is a potential danger.
February 11, 2004 at 12:12 am #84804CharlesMemberFrom the privacy policy, I think it is some sort of talkstocks, buddypicture crap thing.
Quote:quote:Note: This is not an actual news story. This is the prologue to a Flash video game.PSD TOOLS
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February 11, 2004 at 1:32 am #84812AIM_UserParticipantThat exactly it.
Does it infect our computers? Can we get it out if it does with the ways to get the profile viruses out?!
AimUser
February 11, 2004 at 1:52 am #84809oOoDMB41oOoMemberugh, i just fell for this damn link my friend sent me…
so the question is, if I click on the link do I definitely have the virus? Cause my profile isn’t erased like someone mentioned happened to theirs.
I tried running the Fix posted above, but it says its not located on their server…
so first of all i dont even know if I really have the virus, even though I did click on the link (btw the window that opened was just some strange letters and seemed as if the window failed loading properly)
can anyone that has the virus confirm what the window looked like when they first click on the virus link??to be safe I saved my buddylist and then deleted everyone off my buddylist for the mean time until i know Im virus-free so i dont spread the IM’s
please post if you have another Fix for this virus
thanks
~NicoleFebruary 11, 2004 at 2:49 am #84815defnshowMemberhey i posted about this a minute ago didnt realize someone beat me to it.. i got this analyzed the code in the website its downloading a java class from buddylinks.net which in turn is integrating itself into aol to start mass messaging people… buddylinks.net have some auto removal whatever under support… dont know how legit that is tho do a search for everything modified today and keep scrolling down until you start seeing the files that have been added at the same time that osama game is (because you have that in your start menu now under program files/buddylinks/) delete all the files that occurred during that time their go into msconfig and stop the files from attempting to load again (so you dont get an error message) and I also found it in my registery in local machine… buddylinks.net sorry i didnt document my steps real well when i ridded my computer of this crap today… i actually found this message board while researching this crap i gotta say tho I kinda like the place I think I’ll be frequenting more.
DeFnShow
“Freshman Girls… get em while their skinny”February 11, 2004 at 2:54 am #84803CharlesMemberHas anyone tried Add/Remove Programs? The statement by them says it can be removed by that. Just remove it and get back to your lives…also if you are like me just disable activex controls and java classes in websites.
February 11, 2004 at 3:03 am #84808oOoDMB41oOoMemberyeah, I tried the add/remove programs but it wasn’t listed in there.. thats why I think maybe I didn’t get the virus – even though I did click on the link.
I also dont have the program in my start folder like others have mentioned..
Can someone please confirm what happened when you clicked on the link? like did a game always pop up or did a window load?
Cause when I did it, the window just had gibberish typed out.
Im thinking since I did a windows update yesterday I got a patch that prevented it to load the virus.
anyone:confused:
I’d like to get back to my life now..
~NicoleFebruary 11, 2004 at 3:47 am #84814defnshowMemberi did a windows update too no dice… I go to penn state so once one of us had it we keep seeing it… For me I didn’t have the option to accept anything… and that thing was not in add/remove programs I checked their first… For me it just loaded some game and then after that i started messaging people some of my friends said they clicked on it and it gave them a security warning… better go check the iexplore properties for me i guess
defnshow
February 11, 2004 at 4:00 am #84802CharlesMemberOk…to me, it seems like we all need a basic lesson in safety from more of this BS.
Tip 1: Windows Update all the damn time! Run this crap all the time…new updates are released FREQUENTLY!
Tip 2: Go into your IE (or what other browser you are using, they all have these) security options and disable active x controls ENTIRELY. It may sound like overkill, but if a site needs to get through, add it to the trusted zone.
Tip 3: Don’t click on links that look suspicious. If a friend sends you a link that we caught Osama or some crazy other crap, check with them and make sure THEY sent the link.
Tip 4: Read the damn policy for this software. What lets these get away with this crap is that they notify you of it. It is all located in their privacy policy, terms, and/or license agreement. Something should be in there regarding information sent to these people or altering software you have on your computer. (in this case your AIM profile and messages)
Tip 5: Use common sense! If you get a link that is from someone that is away (as previously mentioned) or someone you don’t talk to about capturing Saddam…first ask why they would send you this. Why would you not have heard it anywhere else? Aplore, an AIM mass mailer, spread so easily and all it did was insert a link to an IP with ports open. So many people clicked on it without using any common sense whatsoever that it led to a spurt of crap.
Other extreme tips include: switching IM clients to GAIM, Trillian, etc., switching to Mac, and/or switching to a secure browser.
UPDATE: REMOVE THE SOFTWARE VIA DOWNLOAD
http://www.buddylinks.net/uninstall.exeThis is an uninstaller for their software as an alternative to using Add/Remove Programs.
UPDATE: REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THEIR “NETWORK”
http://www.buddylinks.net/support.phpFebruary 11, 2004 at 5:53 am #84811TrabMemberShinza is right, but u dont have to be so paranoid, soem ppl who click on the link dont get infected, just FYI (like if u have fun Windows Update and have a good AV prog) i know that i clicked on the link but i didnt get it, by pure luck though… we should always post new security threats here just so others dont get it (But make sure ur not reposting) anyways good luck to those who are infected (i recomend Bazooka spyware scanner, google it, it find EVERYTHING, ur safe with it) good luck!
latz
-TrabFebruary 11, 2004 at 6:23 am #84799SathallrinMemberWhen you click the link..it gives you the windows security thing..would you like to run it or not thing… If you click no, then you dont get the virus.. but if you click yes then you are basically agreeing to have the program installed on your computer and spamming everyone on your list. Many people i guess just click yes on those without reading them..which isnt good…those dialogs install something, so you have to make sure you can trust it before you install it.
February 11, 2004 at 7:48 am #84817sebj31MemberSo…. if I downloaded this, played the game, and then uninstalled it about 10 minutes later, is this going to screw up my computer? Is this an actual virus???? It didn’t seem like any answered that. thanks!
February 11, 2004 at 1:17 pm #84801CharlesMemberTHIS IS NOT A VIRUS. IT IS LEGIT AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF AVERAGE USERS LACK OF COMMON SENSE. Like Sathallrin said, you can’t just click ‘yes’ to everything. The dialogue should be changed by MS to say this will install potentially malicious software onto your system. The reason it isn’t a virus is as follows. Whether or not it takes advantage of a flaw in IE, it isn’t their responsibility to make sure the patch is installed on your system. They supply you with terms and a chance to opt-out. What is sneaky though is how they are doing it all. The fake news BS and such. Something needs to fix this crap up. Finally, a virus scanner might not work in this case as it is legit software. By clicking yes, you agree to the terms mentioned above. You will spam other users, you will have links sent out to others on your buddy list featuring fake stories. You agreed to it or didn’t have the patch. Unlike a virus, you can remove it also from Add/Remove Progs. THIS ISN’T A VIRUS, JUST A PAIN.
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