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Thread ID: 46705 2004-07-02 23:11:00 Nasty Trogan Dialers Cymbalz (4460) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
249324 2004-07-02 23:11:00 Is it true that those dangerous automatic dialers that sneakily install themselves to use 0900 numbers can only be used on a "Dial-up" system and not through a Jetstream modem? Cymbalz (4460)
249325 2004-07-03 00:01:00 Yes, that is correct. As long as no dialup modem is connected to the computer it cannot be used to dial any numbers. Susan B (19)
249326 2004-07-03 00:28:00 A sensible precaution I reckon is to call Telecom on 123 and put an 0900 toll bar on yr phone line. Free. Don't have to fret about those nasty dialers no more.:D mark c (247)
249327 2004-07-03 00:49:00 Most computers have a dialup modem installed even if they are using ADSL so basically the answer is Yes, if you have an ADSL connection a porn dialer can activate. Jim B (153)
249328 2004-07-03 00:50:00 > A sensible precaution I reckon is to call Telecom on
> 123 and put an 0900 toll bar on yr phone line. Free.
> Don't have to fret about those nasty dialers no
> more.:D


Not so. An increasingly large proportion of these diallers are calling international numbers in places like Tokelau, Sierra Leone, Russia etc.
whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
249329 2004-07-03 01:02:00 >>Not so. An increasingly large proportion of these diallers are calling >>international numbers in places like Tokelau, Sierra Leone, Russia etc.

Duh! Another ray of hope hits the dust.
mark c (247)
249330 2004-07-03 01:35:00 > Duh! Another ray of hope hits the dust.

Yeah sorry about that - we dial with these a lot at work, while before they predominantly went to 0900 numbers (notably OneSeek http://www.0900info.co.nz) that trend has now changed to mostly international calls.

Telecom also have this great customer service policy for dealing with them along the lines of "No it's nothing to do with Telecom, call your Internet Service Provider, oh and by the way - Xtra block these things so you wouldn't get them if you were on with us"

I have had a number of calls that have had that load of cruft thrown at them by Telecom.

And unfortunately the restriction of international calls is a rather more difficult solution.

Unfortunately all the software, publicity and education in the world though won't stop people visiting dodgy sites, and won't dampen the "click yes" compulsion rife amongst users (just like attachments on e-mails - like this hasn't been thrashed in the news enough and it's still done).

A nice stop-gap is to use a non-IE browser without all the gaping activeX exploits, however it'll only be a matter of time before other browsers get exploited. Though at the moment with IE controlling 90% + of the browser market why write exploits for anything else.
whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
249331 2004-07-03 01:46:00 Thanks for that WTF, though I can't see why you can't contract one of these things just by clicking on links. Instead of having to click on a "Download this crud" box, coudl be all coded into the links so you wouldn't have a clue you got one.

And no, there's no way people will stay away from dodgy sites any more than some people won't stay away from dodgy sites around town.

cheers mc
mark c (247)
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