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Internet Abuse

BEWARE of e-mail containing attachments with a ".vbs" extension! A variant of the "LoveLetter" virus is circulating that can severely damage the contents of your computer. Be on the lookout for the following:

E-mail with the subject US PRESIDENT AND FBI SECRETS =PLEASE VISIT => (HTTP://WWW.2600.COM)<=
E-mail from people known to you containing attachments with a four- to eight-letter file name ending with .gif.vbs, .bmp.vbs, or .jpg.vbs.
Having your Internet Explorer home page set without your authorization to a Web page at FortuneCity
For more on this destructive virus, visit www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/vbs.plan.a.html.

A Web portal called GoHip! is offering a "free browser enhancement" that modifies significant components of the user's computer, including their default Web page and e-mail signature, modifications authorized by acceptance of the user agreement but ones that are difficult to remove. (The download is an ActiveX control that places an executable file called winstartup.exe in C:\WINDOWS.) For more information, visit vil.nai.com/vil/ve98495.asp.
Perhaps due to to recent media scrutiny, the GoHip! site now admits the modifications created by the download and offers a GoHip! method for removal.
Removing the GoHip! freevideo browser "enhancement" manually

Locate the file called winstartup.exe in C:\WINDOWS. (If you're unfamiliar with locating files on your PC's hard drive, use the Windows Explorer program listed in the Programs menu accessible via the Start button.)
Delete winstartup.exe.
If you're using Windows 98, run Msconfig.exe (located in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM) and uncheck C:\WINDOWS\winsta~1.exe.

Once winstartup.exe has been removed, you can manually edit your e-mail signature and browser settings.

According to articles by Wired and USA TODAY, GoHip's management have made it extremely difficult to contact the people responsible for the site, surfacing briefly in response to Wired's queries to say, "We have only a handful of complaints, which we respond to immediately through our customer service department." GoHip! has made several changes in response to the media coverage, including the removal of all names and telephone numbers from the "whois" record for gohip.com, and removing site URLs linked in unflattering news articles.
Given GoHip's tactics, some people may be understandably reluctant to use its remove.exe program for deleting the browser enhancement. However, an alternative removal method at www.nohip.com simply replaces the GoHip! promotion with its own advertising. The programmer behind nohip.com calls that a "public service." Nice.

Advertising and Pop-up Windows News

Chat Rooms Online Fraud

General Internet Abuse Stalking and Harassment

Hoaxes and Urban Legends Usenet

Junk E-mail and Spam Viruses

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BEWARE of e-mail containing attachments with a ".vbs" extension! A variant of the "LoveLetter" virus is circulating that can severely damage the contents of your computer. Be on the lookout for the following: E-mail with the subject US PRESIDENT AND FBI SECRETS =PLEASE VISIT => (HTTP://WWW.2600.COM)<= E-mail from people known to you containing attachments with a four- to eight-letter file name ending with .gif.vbs, .bmp.vbs, or .jpg.vbs. Having your Internet Explorer home page set without your authorization to a Web page at FortuneCity For more on this destructive virus, visit www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/vbs.plan.a.html.
A Web portal called GoHip! is offering a "free browser enhancement" that modifies significant components of the user's computer, including their default Web page and e-mail signature, modifications authorized by acceptance of the user agreement but ones that are difficult to remove. (The download is an ActiveX control that places an executable file called winstartup.exe in C:\WINDOWS.) For more information, visit vil.nai.com/vil/ve98495.asp. Perhaps due to to recent media scrutiny, the GoHip! site now admits the modifications created by the download and offers a GoHip! method for removal.		Removing the GoHip! freevideo browser "enhancement" manually Locate the file called winstartup.exe in C:\WINDOWS. (If you're unfamiliar with locating files on your PC's hard drive, use the Windows Explorer program listed in the Programs menu accessible via the Start button.) Delete winstartup.exe. If you're using Windows 98, run Msconfig.exe (located in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM) and uncheck C:\WINDOWS\winsta~1.exe. Once winstartup.exe has been removed, you can manually edit your e-mail signature and browser settings.
According to articles by Wired and USA TODAY, GoHip's management have made it extremely difficult to contact the people responsible for the site, surfacing briefly in response to Wired's queries to say, "We have only a handful of complaints, which we respond to immediately through our customer service department." GoHip! has made several changes in response to the media coverage, including the removal of all names and telephone numbers from the "whois" record for gohip.com, and removing site URLs linked in unflattering news articles. Given GoHip's tactics, some people may be understandably reluctant to use its remove.exe program for deleting the browser enhancement. However, an alternative removal method at www.nohip.com simply replaces the GoHip! promotion with its own advertising. The programmer behind nohip.com calls that a "public service." Nice.


Advertising and Pop-up Windows	News
Chat Rooms	Online Fraud
General Internet Abuse	Stalking and Harassment
Hoaxes and Urban Legends	Usenet
Junk E-mail and Spam	Viruses