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Thread ID: 44539 2004-04-22 07:03:00 Dialers Susan B (19) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
231132 2004-04-22 07:03:00 The thread (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) started by Promethius a little earlier today reminded me of a question that I had about these dialer things that get on computers. Since Promethius requested that he would rather discussions be posted in a separate thread, here goes....

If AVG, Adaware, etc detect a number of dialers on a computer, why is it that they don't always appear to activate themselves? I have cleaned three computers recently for family and friends and they all had half a dozen or more dialers detected. It puzzles me that no one said their phone bill had unusual charges listed on it even though I am guessing that the computers would have had them on them for quite some time.

Why?? What conditions do these dialers need to work?
Susan B (19)
231133 2004-04-22 07:16:00 It all depends on what number the dialler dials. Not all countries have the same numbers. ie NZ free is 0800 , USA is 1800.
The main problem you hear about is if someone registers a 0900 number with Telecom.
Pheonix (280)
231134 2004-04-22 07:57:00 I think everyone who has a Telecom account is automatically registered for 0900 numbers. You have to contact them and have it disabled.

Oxie (Lyn)
Oxie (1318)
231135 2004-04-22 08:00:00 yes its free to block 0900 numbers, but you have to contact Telecom to put a ban on your phone line for this one.


i have.


beetle
beetle (243)
231136 2004-04-22 09:29:00 I think you have hit the nail on the head Pheonix, regarding the phone number used. Obviously those dialers were for overseas numbers which won't work in NZ.

Fortunately for them. ;-)
Susan B (19)
231137 2004-04-22 09:33:00 The number that my girlfriends computer dialed was in the Cook Islands? promethius (1998)
231138 2004-04-22 10:17:00 Anyone devious enough to make a dialer (even if it's some script kiddie using a "Dialers-R-Us" program) should be smart enough to put the country/area codes in front of the number so it would work even from computers in different countries. agent (30)
231139 2004-04-22 10:37:00 Exactly,i have come across people whose computers have called all over the world.

I just allways presumed the ones that didnt work were just badly coded and unable to assert themselves as the default connection.

My experience with this is pretty much the same as others,maybe 1 in 100 actually work as designed.
metla (154)
231140 2004-04-22 10:45:00 dailer info
list of dialers (securityresponse.symantec.com)

dialers (www.spywareguide.com)
johnboy (217)
231141 2004-04-22 10:52:00 Well they dont do anything if the computer doesnt have a modem, or if you have a modem and are always online or the computer is off.... Growly (6)
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