In article <bob-801C84.17344931102007@news.supernews.com>,
Bob Campbell <bob@bob.bob> wrote:

> This is *exactly* how most Windows malware works - a Trojan Horse that
> tricks you into installing it.

Officially the method used to psych you into installing the crap
is called:

Social Engineering

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_(security)>

It has become an incredibly elaborate field. The manipulation of
DNS services to send suckers to Phishing sites is new to me.

Most of us have heard of the ultra-stupid come ons: The Nigerian
refugee who has mega $millions he wants you to help smuggle out
of the country, at a price. Or the 'You won the Slobovian
Lottery! First send us the tax payments." But consistently there
are ignorant, and I must say dim-witted, people who fall for this
garbage.

Now the con-jobs are coming thicker, with added cunning and
malice. The perpetrators are the bottom scum in the bucket of
humanity. These are people at their absolute worst, short of
murdering you, which they probably would do if they could make a
buck and do it anonymously over the Internet.

So it pays to keep up on the latest methods being used and to
learn how to tell what is a con-job and what is not. Example:
Anyone who has a basic knowledge of HTML can sniff out phishing
email in 10 seconds flat.

Equally: Installing some unknown piece of software, without
investigating it beforehand for reputation and source reviews, is
incredibly dopey. But we are all very dopey at one time or
another.

Vigilance sadly is required these days, even on Macs.

:-Derek

--
Fortune Magazine 11-29-05: What's your computer setup today?
Frederick Brooks: I happily use a Macintosh. It's not been
equalled for ease of use, and I want my computer to be a tool,
not a challenge.
<http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/12/12/8363107/>
[Frederick Brooks is the author of 'The Mythical Man Month'.
He spearheaded the movement to modernize computer software
engineering in 1975.]