Trickery and deception

Trickery and deception on the Internet

Virus is probably what most people associate with ”dangerous” things on the Internet. It can be bad enough to get a virus, but in most cases the damage is limited to annoyance or a couple of damaged files. A hopefully your anti-virus program will take care of that problem.

But something is out there, that can cost you money - a lot of money, that is!

Some Web sites tricks users into downloading software, a Dialer, in order to view certain material.

Unknown to that user, the downloaded software disconnects his or her computer’s modem and then reconnects it using an international long distance number.

This is known as International modem dialing, Internet Modem Switch Scam or Unintended Download depending on your where abouts in the world.

What is a Dialer?

In this context, a Dialer is a small program that may cause one of the following things:

Your Internet connection is disconnected and the Dialer programme establishes a new Internet connection via for example Sct. Helena, off the coast of Africa.

Your Internet connection is permanently altered, which means that you are surfing at the expensive rate until you detect the problem.

The Dialer programme hides on your PC and makes occational calls to for example India or other far-off countries where the price per minute is extremely high. Common to all types is that you and your family may end up with a ruinously huge phone bill. In Denmark there have been examples of bills of USD 5000 for a few weeks due to unintended downloading.

How can you get a Dialer on the PC without knowing it?

Typically, you are tricked into downloading the Dialer programme. Most often this happens on web sites with sexual content, or games.

There have also been examples of Dialer programmes hidden in funny files that are forwarded by e-mail. Typically - a small program, which promises showing a video clip or the like.

On almost every "free" adult web site links or pop-up windows will take you to other sites that use Dialer programs.

Most people who have been hit were either not aware of what they said ok to download, or they were not warned.

Especially children and young people are easy to trick, but also language difficulties or sheer deception can result in you being the next one to get a Dialer programme

Can’t my anti-virus programme handle it?

No. Anti-virus programmes do not stop Dialers!

Can’t my firewall stop it?

No. A firewall only works after the connection to the Internet has been established. And then it is too late. DialGuard monitors how the connection is established.

I have ADSL. Can I get problems?

If you have removed your old modem or at least unplugged the telephone wire the Dialer cannot do any damage.