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502 EPA WARNING
I received this message on the internet. It tells me what my IP address is, what service I am using, and the y know what I am connected through.It also says that all that I do on the internet is being stored and is being "watched". "Further investigation is very high"
It says I should download a 150$ program to remove files on my computer. Should I buy this program ?
What should I do ? I read the other 502 posts and everyone says its a scam. so how do they have all this information about my computer ?
msgale
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September 27th, 2005 04:00
Midnight Star
4.8K Posts
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September 27th, 2005 11:00
That's absolutely correct. :)
All servers (those computer doling out webpages), even the windows operating system on your computer, knows exactly what an ip address from a "connecting" computer is, otherwise it wouldnt be able to sent any data back to the originator. With that address, a WHOIS can be performed, which will give out information, such as the ISP and general location for the system. Also, web browsers will also share information about themselves to a server. It helps webpage designers deliver you content that stands the best chance of working with the browser your using. The problem, is they've turned this "apparent" invasion of privacy into a tool of "anxiety" to promote and sell their protection products, when in actuallity, those pieces of information have been freely shared since the inception of the internet - it's just most people don't know that, or really understand the limitation of the information that's given. So they are "shocked" or "scared" into thinking they've been "found" out, which can't be farther from the truth in this particular instance.
Now on the other end, an ip address from a visiting computer (like a desktop to a webpage) could be used to track it back to the computers owner (with, and only with, the direct help and cooperation of the ISP assigning the ip address, since they know whom they assigned it to). This action would be taken, for instance, by law enforcement officials, who are trying to track down someone who's doing something potentially dangerous or illegal.
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Mike.
RKinner
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September 27th, 2005 23:00