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DialGuard
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Version
2.20
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.
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