.I was wondering if anyone (else) thinks it's a good idea to add a "User News" or "Pub Notices" or even "Misc" forum? As people come across new projects, products, books, threats, scams, and generally relevant stuff, it could be a place to note them. Recreating the nonsesne of /. is not the intent but I think it would be nice to have a place other than "Brainstorm(s)" to post such things.
This thought was prompted by a very distubing email I received. As some know, I've worked as a volunteer for the Leukemia Fund for number of years, helped with it's founding and served on its' board for one term. I did all of the tech/site/database work and even wrote all the php framework for the new site that's will being going into production as soon as the new "web development" company that's been highered figures out how to use php.
None the less, some horribly maligned and twisted person created a nonsesne cancer site with basically useless information and covered it head to toe with google adds on every single page of the site. Now, they're sending out bulk emails (via whois lookups) asking for linkage from other cancer sites to improve their search engine rankings (and thereby profit).
I've never seen a scam like this before and I'm not sure the average happy-do-gooder volunteer trying to help out with good causes would even realize the scam for what it is. The possible vaiations on the theme of this scam are also very disturbing.
Is this particularly relevant to RCE? -no, not really but on the other hand, the infosec crowd tends to keep up with scam de jour because at times it can be tied to malware de jour as the profit motive.
At times I wonder how you guys in infosec deal with spending every day looking at and fighting against the maligned "work" of sick individuals without becoming hopelessly jaded.
JCR
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