[net-gold] ALERT: INTERNET SCAMS: THE NEW 'GOOGLE SEARCH' SCAM

From: "David P. Dillard" <jwne@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: Temple University Net-Gold Archive <net-gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Temple Gold Discussion Group <TEMPLE-GOLD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Net-Gold <net-gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Educator Gold <Educator-Gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Educator Gold <Educator-Gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, K12AdminLIFE <K12AdminLIFE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Net-Platinum <net-platinum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Net-Gold @ Nabble" <ml-node+3172864-337556105@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, K12ADMIN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, net-gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:42:05 -0500 (EST)

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Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:49:51 +0530
From: Soundara Rajan <nssrajan@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: Net-Gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: David Dillard <net-gold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Net-Gold] INTERNET SCAMS: THE NEW 'GOOGLE SEARCH' SCAM

*Web users need to surf defensively in the same way they drive defensively
on the freeway. As Smith, spokesperson for MarkMonitor, put it, "Think
before you click, and keep your eyes open." Why, read on....*

**
*

The New 'Google Search' Scam
*

**
*

Lee Gomes, 02.24.10, 6:00 AM ET

BURLINGAME, CALIF. -
*

Small and medium-sized businesses depend on the Web perhaps as much as
anyone. They thus need to be mindful of the ever-evolving roster of Web
scams--like a new one involving news.

Most people know that search engines like Google are useful for quick
research on topics in the news. Unfortunately, the bad guys aren't far
behind.

A search for "Bill Clinton heart attack" performed last Sunday produced the
expected Google links about the former president's recent heart stent
procedure. There were stories from the *Los Angeles Times* and ABC News,
along with links to sites devoted to fighting heart disease.

However, it wasn't all what it seemed. If you clicked on the 10th item on
the Google page, headlined "Bill Clinton heart attack," you were directed to
another page of what appeared to be even more helpful Google results.
Everything about the page--the typeface, the design--was authentic. If you
looked quickly in the URL bar at the top of the page, you'd find what you
might think was conclusive evidence of it being a legitimate Google page,
since the URL seemed to be "googlesearches.com."

But in fact the URL had a "q," not a "g," as its first letter. The two
letters look enough alike that only the most eagle-eyed would have ever
noticed.

And what was this imposter Google page up to? The usual Web scams, notably,
trying to get users to download bogus "security" software that in fact
infects your computer with sundry malware that can be difficult and
expensive to get rid of.

Creating a Web site called "qooglesearches.com"--another of this ilk is "
qoogle.com"--is a variation of a practice known as "typo-squatting." In its
classic form, someone registers a domain that is close in spelling to a real
one. When Web users inadvertently typed the wrong URL, they're directed to
the typo-squatter's site, where they'd realize their mistake on account of
all the ads and other attempts at easy monetization. But typo-squatters
appear to be doing two things new. First, they are trying to fool you into
thinking you've landed on the Web page you wanted to go to in the first
place. Second, they are using tricks of "black hat" search engine
optimization to get the links to their scam sites included in genuine Google
search results.

Read the entire news report at

<http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/23/
google-bill-clinton-technology-business-intelligence-typosquattors.html>

_______________________________

N.S. Soundar Rajan
Mysore, India

ENGLISH SYNDICATE
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[net-gold] ALERT: INTERNET SCAMS: THE NEW 'GOOGLE SEARCH' SCAM

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