Headline: Osama Captured in Iraq!!!
Actually, no, not really. But, if you’re like many people, you’ve been seeing eMails coming into your inbox with attention-grabbing headlines like that. The body of the eMail will contain some other attention-getting line (often something which has nothing to do with the subject headline), followed by a link for (apparently) more information.
DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINK!
Best thing is to just delete the eMail entirely, but, whatever you do, do not follow the link.
Reportedly, what will happen is the link will take you to a page that will secretly install a spambot of some sort on your computer, turning your machine into a spam-cranking powerhouse. That’s definitely something you don’t want!
So, don’t click on those links! And, if you’re concerned about spyware, trojans and other malware sneaking their way onto your computer, you might want to take a look at SofScan. SofScan is a powerful adware and spyware detector and was awarded “Best New Product” for 2007 by Blengo Online Security.
Thanks for the heads up. Though I don’t click links in these types of emails I can warn the people I know that do.
The spammers are quite good. They have sent a few that made me look at my online news sites just to make sure the spam subjects weren’t true. I imagine these are way more effective then the ones that say I am the widow of so and so from Nigeria and boy do a I have proposition for you.
Great advice! Some days I wish I could get five minutes alone in a room with a spammer. It’s nice to dream, isn’t it?