Fake Message From Microsoft about Pirated copies.

[SpywareDr]

Was the update for your video card considered by Microsoft to be a *critical* (i.e., a necessary Windows security) update?

[jonnyb]

I don't think so it was just one listed with the whole bunch. I wouldn't think so though.

[rbc1100]

I did not have these problems with my computer. I bought a copy of XP Pro from a thug on ebay a few months ago. I knew as soon as I opened the PKG. that I had been ripped off. The CD looked valid with the exeption of the hologram back ground, there was none. It was to late the dude got my money and the money of a few others and was gone. I wanted to get this system up and running so I installed it and down loaded all the critcal updates and SP2. I wanted to try IE7 beta (got busted) and ended up spending another 149.00 plus shipping for a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit. I don't have a problem with that, but the cost of getting screwed by a ebay seller(110.00) plus the cost of making it legal upsets me just a little. So when you buy on ebay beware. My question now is should I go a head and reinstall windows? After I went through the validation thing I am able to download anything I want from MS. I think they made some registry changes and validated my not so valid copy, I had to go to the link they sent to me by email and type in the numbers they emailed me and all is fine now. My new XP Pro CD came in the mail yesterday. My other two computers are cool because they have OEM versions bought from Newegg. I was just trying to save 20.00 and ended up spending another 169.00 with shipping and handling. The only thing ebay seems good for any more is ink and anti virus software. My fault!!!!!!!!!

[jonnyb]

Great story, thanks.

[ProfessorU]

Turn the bugger in to MS. http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/Reporting.mspx
These guys prey on good people.

[rbc1100]

Turn the bugger in to MS.

I would have if I knew who he was. His feedback at the time of purchase was about 95% positive so i should have known. When the copy arrived there was no return address. I tried to find out who he was threw ebay and filed a complaint. Ebay wanted 20.00 to continue on with the complaint. He in the mean time lost his ebay account. So i just took it on the chin, lesson learned. Newegg is almost as cheap as 99% of the OS hawkers by the time you figure in the $5.00 to $19.00 or so shipping charges. I have bought alot of copies of XP Home and Pro from Newegg for myself and other builds and have never had a problem yet.

[SuperSparks]

This has inspired me to update my thread in the SpywareDr forum:

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...11#post1054011

[rbc1100]

Good read SuperSparks, like I said I should have known better and I do know better. I have seen some strange things on ebay. There are a couple of sellers in my favorites that I buy ink from and NIS/System Works. That is about all I buy on ebay these days. In the long run buying from places like Newegg or comparable online stores is cheaper/ safer and much faster. It makes me wonder when i am watching a bidding war in progress and the buyer ends up paying more than retail for the product plus BS shipping cost.

[scarecrowdr]

Been There, Done That, etc., etc.,....Good Bunch of Peeps on here that have given me Good Advice in the Past (still giveing it) but Unfortunatly, I can't Agree on doing these Updates to Update the Updates that NEVER END!...I Learn through my Misstakes n I've learnt that Provided you do the Sencible things n got the programs to Help you out, ie. Ad-Aware, XoftSpy,etc., Mcaffee Security Centre then you should be Safe enough on Internet...I Am Safe, unless I go were i should not Go!!.Full Stop!

As regards the Member who wants to see my Desktop n Wants to know what I need the Hard Drives for-----PHOTOGRAPHY My friend..I do a Lot of Photography so need the Large Hard Disks...Easier to Access my photos..Also backed up to DVD-R.
Don't show Desktop these Days..Sorry.

[SpywareDr]

... Unfortunatly, I can't Agree on doing these Updates to Update the Updates that NEVER END!...

Vulnerability updates will cease when hackers quit trying to discover vulnerabilities.

[usil]

Scarecrow, I can't say I agree with your decision making. Not updating Windows "on principle" is tantamount to crossing the street without looking both ways. I mean, why do they need all those cars!?
While Microsoft probably are at fault for leaving security vulnerabilities in their software, the fact is that they are there, and that hackers are looking for ways to exploit them. So what good will it do to turn a blind eye?
You are not as safe as you think. Security is not neccesarily being "Safe, unless I go were i should not Go!!". Vulnerabilites most often have nothing to do with where you go. You can stay put and still be vulnerable. Take a look at the Sasser and Blaster worms, for example. You didn't need to go anywhere to get them. All you had to do was connect to the internet for an instant, unprotected, and you could get them.

There is a reason for MS to release the patches and updates. I don't think they are working on the security issues because they have nothing better to do. These are important updates that are neccesary for your operating system to stay secure.

You may not like the situation, and blame MS for a poor operating system. But it won't help you very much if you don't update, and your system gets hacked into. My opinion, start updating.

[SuperSparks]

And it's worth mentioning that the fix for Sasser was released some months before the worm actually hit. Those of us that had kept our machines fully updated were completely unaffected by Sasser.

And as for being careful where you go, a simple typo can take you to a dodgy site - in fact many of those sites deliberately exploit common typos. I'd prefer to be fully patched and not have to worry about where I end up. And I might point out that I've never had any kind of malware infection in 8 years of Internet use.

[jonnyb]

How did you implant the Animator into the web signature?

[usil]

Click on it.

[jonnyb]

Click on it.

I did make one and got it to stick into my yahoo mail signature Just by opening it up with Internet Explorer and pasting into my Yahoo mail signature. Can't do that with Gmail though. Ok so I read the website but it did not tell you how to do any inserting into anything. I just figured it out myself.
So there are no directions there.
I think they should tell others how to actually imbed the animation into whatever you want. They are not very helpful.

Not all of us can do that. I will try it with Virtualdr and see what happens. I can only try.