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> So many of these scams start the same way: when the victim is contacted by a random person. Actually, they often start when a user gotes to a malicious webse

> So many of these scams start the same way: when the victim is contacted by a random person. Actually, they often start when a user gotes to a malicious webset that tells him his computer is "infected" and to call a number. These websites purport to have found a "virus" on your computer and you should call tech support. My 90 year old mother, fortunately, panics when she sees them and calls me. As she gets more and more confused, she may someday call the number. (Another fortuante thing -- she does NO online banking!) And these pages are very common--and on legitimate domains! If your local plumber or hair salon doesn't keep its wordpress website up to date, you can visit their site and see one of these fake warning pages.

domador 3y ago
How did that user get to such a website in the first place? Through a link in an email message? The ability to receive such messages from random people should be locked down, if a user or their IT security guardian has so chosen. Through a website? Maybe that user or their IT security trustee would prefer for their browser to be locked down so they can only access a website from a whitelist that's been customized for them. Maybe they can still access their local hair salon's website, but not the site linked to fake warning page that shows up on that site. Not every user needs to be able to go to any corner of the web on a whim. Maybe my elderly future self needs to have less freedom of inquiry, as much as it pains to think of that likely future.
- fortran77 3y ago
  > How did that user get to such a website in the first place? Through a link in an email message? Nope. Through an expired domain of a once-legit site that was taken over, or through a mom-and-pop legit business that had their website taken over because of a wordpress bug. My brother mentioned to me the other day that he got to a "computer has been infected -- call this number" website from clicking on a Facebook ad!

domador 3y ago

How did that user get to such a website in the first place? Through a link in an email message? The ability to receive such messages from random people should be locked down, if a user or their IT security guardian has so chosen. Through a website? Maybe that user or their IT security trustee would prefer for their browser to be locked down so they can only access a website from a whitelist that's been customized for them. Maybe they can still access their local hair salon's website, but not the site linked to fake warning page that shows up on that site. Not every user needs to be able to go to any corner of the web on a whim. Maybe my elderly future self needs to have less freedom of inquiry, as much as it pains to think of that likely future.

fortran77 3y ago
> How did that user get to such a website in the first place? Through a link in an email message? Nope. Through an expired domain of a once-legit site that was taken over, or through a mom-and-pop legit business that had their website taken over because of a wordpress bug. My brother mentioned to me the other day that he got to a "computer has been infected -- call this number" website from clicking on a Facebook ad!