CHIT CHAT in VOLTVILLE

[SandySu]

I had a problem yesterday, but not this exact same one. My security software refused to let me even bring up ECF for about half an hour, the error message said the website was unsafe. I couldn't get ECF after refreshing or rebooting. Just lasted about half an hour - that I'm aware of. Then, everything was back to normal. However, my security software kept blocking my SSN from going out to someone, there were something like 45 or more messages for that, too, throughout the night. So, I'm wondering, was ECF hacked or did someone try to hack ECF? Today, no problems so far, and the computer seems ok.

Expecting 100+ for heat again today.

Thanks. I bet it was an ECF problem, since all other sites I tried still worked. Of course, when something like that happens, my first question is: "What did I do wrong?" I figured I inadvertently clicked on something I shouldn't have. I'm glad I got back on so easily. I was thinking of how you guys worry when you don't hear from the regulars, and I didn't want to worry anyone if it took some time to get back here again.

Also, I've been really enjoying and interested in Uncle's Gay Pride contests, and I couldn't Like any of the entries, though I could still read them. I've been reading all the entries and quotes, and it's educated me a lot. Meanwhile, and coincidentally, I took a book out of the library with 3 novels in it by E. M. Forster, just thinking I had never read his stuff and it was pretty famous literature that I should be acquainted with. I didn't realize he was gay and the 3rd story, which I had never heard of, Maurice, is about a gay man. It's sort of depressing and not as well-written as the other 2, but I'm plowing through it, since it really brings home how gays were treated in yesteryear. We may think gays have it bad now, but they are so much better off than then.

I'm nearly finished the book, so probably tomorrow, I'll return it and get something a little more upbeat to read. I sure hope Maurice finds himself by the end of the story!

 

[Konstantine]

NOW - You know the normal response for any such thing when someone say's they are going to do something like this . . .

"PICTURES" or it didn't happen . . .
(Especially for "Rave" - You know she doesn't get out much . . . )

"YOU" - Always need to prove "stuff", especially anything as provocative . . .

Can't, i don't "fit" inside a pic.

 

[FaniFox]

It's so nice, started raining and thunderstorms, wind and cold.
Finally a piece of winter.
Going outside to run naked.

Nah, just words!

 

[Semiretired]

I had a problem yesterday, but not this exact same one. My security software refused to let me even bring up ECF for about half an hour, the error message said the website was unsafe. I couldn't get ECF after refreshing or rebooting. Just lasted about half an hour - that I'm aware of. Then, everything was back to normal. However, my security software kept blocking my SSN from going out to someone, there were something like 45 or more messages for that, too, throughout the night. So, I'm wondering, was ECF hacked or did someone try to hack ECF? Today, no problems so far, and the computer seems ok.

Expecting 100+ for heat again today.

Kia - this was addressed a while back and what causes it is the sign in screen has Google ads and it is one of them that is causing the warnings - not ECF.

Uncle - I have not gotten any Spam emails since I joined ECF. I have gotten some from some of the vendors that I have bought from. I have separate emails for something that I am a member of and something that I am just ordering from. It is one of the reasons I am not a verified member - because they use matching emails to verify you and mine do not match. It allows me to tell who is causing the Spam and avoid them and I can delete / abandon that email address once the Spam gets heavy...

 

[Semiretired]

Hey, Rave did not post today... Where are you girl? Better stop in and say Hi...

 

[starsong]

I have not gotten any Spam emails since I joined ECF. I have gotten some from some of the vendors that I have bought from. I have separate emails for something that I am a member of and something that I am just ordering from. It is one of the reasons I am not a verified member - because they use matching emails to verify you and mine do not match. It allows me to tell who is causing the Spam and avoid them and I can delete / abandon that email address once the Spam gets heavy...

I was up til 2am dealing with this very thing. I have 5 email accounts: Family & Friends, Banks & Other Official Business, Casual Acquaintances & Safe Sites (like ECF), Online Retailers, and Plain Old Junk.

The Casual & Safe account started sending out spam using my address as the sender. (grrrr) I started to get numerous 'undeliverable' notices for people on whatever mailing list they were using. I had to put a temporary block on that address and change the password so they wouldn't be able to use it to send any more mail. Maybe after a week they'll find another victim and I can restore it.

The Banks & Official email started receiving lots of spam the past couple weeks. It had been pristine for a few years, but somehow my info got sold or hacked. (grrrr) So I created 2 new 'official' email accounts with different variations on my owner's name. Divided those between the banks, credit cards, etc. So if the spam starts again and it addresses me as "Hi XXX" or "Hey XYZ" I can narrow it down and change those.

Pain in the ..... The ones that get me the most mad are the obvious fraud mails - recently got a few from (fake) Amazon regarding the cancellation of a recent order. Except I hadn't ordered anything since Christmas. You gotta know there are lots of people that fell for it and clicked the link to see what that was all about. I know better, but people like my Mom are prime candidates for their evil.

 

[SandySu]

The Casual & Safe account started sending out spam using my address as the sender. (grrrr)

How does this happen? I got 2 e-mails recently from a friend. I'm sure I must be in her address book. Those e-mails weren't typical of the stuff she e-mails to me, so I was sure it wasn't actually her. Both times I e-mailed her and copied the message so she could see what was being sent in her name. The 2nd time, she e-mailed me back and said, "I haven't clicked on any suspicious links lately." I think they must get into your computer somehow without you having gone to a "suspicious" website.

 

[sherlockholmes]

If you get fake messages from a friend, then it is very likely their computer has been compromised. If all you are getting is undeliverable notices, it is most likely because some spammer is using your email address in their broadcasts. That is most likely to happen if your email address is somehow publicly available. I also have multiple email addresses, and I use one of them for all the places that require an email address, but that I do not trust. I very seldom get any useful email through that account; I just trash everything every once in a while. Even so, I have to make extensive use of my email client's rules and junk mail to screen out garbage.

 

[SandySu]

If you get fake messages from a friend, then it is very likely their computer has been compromised.

But I wonder how this happens. How did her computer get compromised?

 

[dr_al]

evening volties, we spent all day evacuating our house of belongings since my wife was sick and the car blew up we have had no real income so the bank got the house to, luckily we had already moved for her new job and were going to live with her parents for a while until we sold and could get a new place... 2 years later... thank God they are awesome inlaws, were all good for the most part all the time no big problems were very lucky, but we sure do need to get out and have our own space lol... i talk allot when i drink, 3 whole beers and i'm drunk lol

 

[starsong]

But I wonder how this happens. How did her computer get compromised?

It isn't always that they get a hold of your computer and address book, which happens with a virus.
Some of it depends on who hosts the email and how well they protect their users. Mine are AT&T via Yahoo. Yahoo gets hacked all the time. They get someone's account and their address book and start sending out mails.

Another possibility is some company has their customer database broken into or an employee sells the list for a quick buck.

 

[sherlockholmes]

Good point, Starsong. If your friend uses an online email service, it could very well be that the service was compromised, rather than your friend's computer. The key indicator is that email from your friend's email addy is being sent to people in her address book. That suggests that the address book was compromised.

 

[Uncle]

Also, I've been really enjoying and interested in Uncle's Gay Pride contests, and I couldn't Like any of the entries, though I could still read them. I've been reading all the entries and quotes, and it's educated me a lot. Meanwhile, and coincidentally, I took a book out of the library with 3 novels in it by E. M. Forster, just thinking I had never read his stuff and it was pretty famous literature that I should be acquainted with. I didn't realize he was gay and the 3rd story, which I had never heard of, Maurice, is about a gay man. It's sort of depressing and not as well-written as the other 2, but I'm plowing through it, since it really brings home how gays were treated in yesteryear. We may think gays have it bad now, but they are so much better off than then.

I'm nearly finished the book, so probably tomorrow, I'll return it and get something a little more upbeat to read. I sure hope Maurice finds himself by the end of the story!

Thank You - for the compliment and comment and that is why I really wanted to have this contest - not just to make people aware that it was "GAY PRIDE" Month, but the importance of why and to learn more . . . So I am very appreciative of what You and other's (like "Reptilr") have said here . . .

Now as for "Maurice" is an excellent story to read and there was also a Movie that was just as good (Maurice (1987) - IMDb ) you just may want to watch also . . . It is moving

AND - if you ever want to read a few other books that I actually read and kinda gave "Me" hope that there was something out there better in life for "Me" starting back in the late 60's early 70's . . . there is also a whole series of books by Gordon Merrick that started with a Trilogy - "The Lord Won't Mind", "One For the Gods" & "Forth Into Light" about Peter & Charlie's relationship together (and there were at least 5 more books about them and their growing family ) . . . Matter of fact, I had the first "Boxed" edition of these books that were stolen form me a long time ago that I wish I could find again, but I can't . . . The same thing happened with my copy of both the Book (1966 - the first book I ever read about Men loving Men) and Movie (1970 - The first movie I saw about Men) "Song of the Loon" by Richard Amory - The Movie was actually the very First "Gay" movie about Love between Men (with a western theme) that was rated XXX and could only be seen in XXX Movie Houses. (BTW: If anyone knows where I can get a copy of any originals of these - at a reasonable cost - please let me know . . . I would really like to get them again )

Now - If I may also be so bold to suggest 4 other books that are an absolutely GREAT READ . . . "The Front Runner" by Patricia Neil Warren, "The Catch Trap" by Marrion Zimmer Bradley, and if you happen to be into Sci-Fi - "Chrome" by George Nader and without a doubt "A Different Light" by Elizabeth A. Lynn . . . IMHO - THESE ARE GREAT BOOKS and even Greater READS . . .

BTW: Please be forewarned that some of these books are of an Adult nature and do have some - shall we say risqué passages in them . . . besides a couple passages that speak of violence and/or have very adult language

Now - If "You" (or anyone else for that matter) want any other suggestions, please feel free to just let me know - I use to have a personal library of over three hundred books and still have a lot of the books I feel in "love" with and those I don't have any longer I do remember most of them . . .

 

[Uncle]

@ Email / Spam . . .

Okay - like "starsong" and I am sure others here - I have more than 1 email account . . . Matter of fact, I have at least 8 Email Accounts and the Main 1 I have had for over at least 20 years . . . That account is very private and NO ONE, but Very Personal Friends I have known for years and Family have that Email address . . . AND - I use only one for ECF and all the Vendors and/or all "My" Buying On-Line . . . The others, 1 for Business emails, and the rest for other Groups I belong too, etc. . . . The account where I have been getting so much more spam in since I became a member of ECF is "My" One VERY PRIVATE ACCOUNT . . . The ISP people who run that account have been trying to find out where the spam is coming from - but haven't as of yet . . . That is the only reason why I mentioned it . . .

 

[Konstantine]

I'll send you a mail on your very private account with the text "i know what you did last summer"

Good morning Uncle

 

[sherlockholmes]

Whoops - duplicate post.

 

[Konstantine]

Uh There is a new type solar PCC on the market for eGO's that looks similar to the volt cases.

 

[Semiretired]

Good Morning Volties...

Since no one said anything during the night - I guess Rave is out - sure hope she is okay... She is not posting in her other favorite posting spot either...

 

[Semiretired]

@ Email / Spam . . .

Okay - like "starsong" and I am sure others here - I have more than 1 email account . . . Matter of fact, I have at least 8 Email Accounts and the Main 1 I have had for over at least 20 years . . . That account is very private and NO ONE, but Very Personal Friends I have known for years and Family have that Email address . . . AND - I use only one for ECF and all the Vendors and/or all "My" Buying On-Line . . . The others, 1 for Business emails, and the rest for other Groups I belong too, etc. . . . The account where I have been getting so much more spam in since I became a member of ECF is "My" One VERY PRIVATE ACCOUNT . . . The ISP people who run that account have been trying to find out where the spam is coming from - but haven't as of yet . . . That is the only reason why I mentioned it . . .

Now, you have my curiosity peaked on the EMail account... I have not started having it happen yet and hope I do not... While it is not my private one - the one I use for ECF would require some work to replace - not just one to delete and forget...

 

[CatLady007]

I have a dear friend with a Yahoo account--a couple of times, I started getting spam from her email address; I told her and it stopped. To my knowledge, my gmail acct has never been used like that, and it very rarely lets spam into my inbox. I've been very pleased with it, although recently it is taking longer and longer to load.