Tech question

[JackDidley]

Earlier I did a google search of someones name. I searched quite a bit due to the fact that they had changed their name many years ago and I did not know or forgot that fact. Anyway 1/2 our later I get an email from what looks like that persons email address. Similar but not the same. My question is, why and how did I get this bogus email. It contained this link but I know better than to click it. I added a letter just so it should not work in case someone accidentally clicked it.
http://bit.ly/2XghHIE4

[HardDrive]

That's an address translator link, so who knows what's on the other end without clicking on it. You are quite right to not do so. Could potentially be a local infection on your computer, but I would think more likely one of the sites you hit is using your search params and a cookie to figure out who you are and send you an email. If your antivirus is up to date, i wouldn't sweat it.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

That's an address translator link, so who knows what's on the other end without clicking on it. You are quite right to not do so. Could potentially be a local infection on your computer, but I would think more likely one of the sites you hit is using your search params and a cookie to figure out who you are and send you an email. If your antivirus is up to date, i wouldn't sweat it.

Thanks for the info. . Never heard of a translator link. I guess I can google that. So many crazies out there sending out malware.I do not normally go to questionable sites. I am wondering what the link really is. This is the first time something like this has happened. No antivirus. Using linux. If I really cared I can boot from a flash drive and search but I do not care that much.

[HardDrive]

I think the actual term is url shortening. It's simply a way to post a more concise link if you are trying to send someone to a really long, deeply embedded URL. Not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case, yeah, untrustworthy source.

What flavor of linux? I spend my work life on an Ubuntu box.

[masraum]

The translator link is not the problem, everyone uses them. If you try to share a youtube video, you get a shortened link, something like youtu.be/asdfasdf.

My guess is that in the process of searching you hit a site that was able to get enough info out of your browser and saw what you were searching for that they are now targetting you for SPAM or scam or something. It may not be anything worse than some irritating link to sell you dick enlarging pills, or it could be a phishing scam or it could be something worse or altogether different - “are you lonely, big boy, me love you long time.” Who knows without clicking the link. Just don’t click it, report it as junk or spam and block it and ignore it.

[JackDidley]

Tahrpup 64 bit. Its a GNU linux. Very light weight. Fast, easy to use and has more capabilities than I will ever use. I cant describe how user friendly it is.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by masraum

The translator link is not the problem, everyone uses them. If you try to share a youtube video, you get a shortened link, something like youtu.be/asdfasdf.

My guess is that in the process of searching you hit a site that was able to get enough info out of your browser and saw what you were searching for that they are now targetting you for SPAM or scam or something. It may not be anything worse than some irritating link to sell you dick enlarging pills, or it could be a phishing scam or it could be something worse or altogether different - “are you lonely, big boy, me love you long time.” Who knows without clicking the link. Just don’t click it, report it as junk or spam and block it and ignore it.

I am thinking serious malware due to the misuse of my friends email address.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

I am thinking serious malware due to the misuse of my friends email address.

Or even a combination of a couple of them.

[stomachmonkey]

While searching you came across several sites pro-porting to have the info you wanted but when you clicked the link and went there you discovered they would not give you diddly squat without paying first.

The site got enough info from your browser to figure out who you were and sent you the email as a follow up "sales call".

FWIW, in a couple of months my new project will deploy tech that will, as long as your cell phone is on, be able to figure who you are and address you by your first name.

We only need a fraction of a second to do it.

Be very afraid.

And that's not even the scariest thing we have in the pipe.

We actually may have the genesis for Skynet.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by masraum

Or even a combination of a couple of them.

The worst part of this is, it started when i learned my buddy passed away 3 weeks ago. He lived in another state. We would talk on the phone from time to time and catch up on things. Its been about 6 months and thats not unusual. Today I heard through a 3rd party of his passing so I decided to see what happened. I google his name and location and search. Got the story and then 30 minutes later i get an email from him .

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

While searching you came across several sites pro-porting to have the info you wanted but when you clicked the link and went there you discovered they would not give you diddly squat without paying first.

The site got enough info from your browser to figure out who you were and sent you the email as a follow up "sales call".

FWIW, in a couple of months my new project will deploy tech that will, as long as your cell phone is on, be able to figure who you are and address you by your first name.

We only need a fraction of a second to do it.

Be very afraid.

And that's not even the scariest thing we have in the pipe.

We actually may have the genesis for Skynet.

Tell me more. Can it do this with my Tracphone that I have not even registered an account on? Its a smart phone with only a few apps that it came with.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

Tell me more. Can it do this with my Tracphone that I have not even registered an account on? Its a smart phone with only a few apps that it came with.

Yes.

Edited as my first response said too much.

I will say, it's already done, tested and proven to work.

Just been sitting "in the can" so to speak.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yes.

Edited as my first response said too much.

I will say, it's already done, tested and proven to work.

Just been sitting "in the can" so to speak.

Wow. I do not doubt it and it is impressive. Still not going down the normal road with an Iphone and all the social media aps. I think you have some scary technology at hand. I guess it is a good thing that I am a nobody with nothing to hide so it does not make much difference.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

Wow. I do not doubt it and it is impressive. Still not going down the normal road with an Iphone and all the social media aps. I think you have some scary technology at hand. I guess it is a good thing that I am a nobody with nothing to hide so it does not make much difference.

The fact that you have a cell phone and have posted here means it's already too late.

But your state is not in our target demographic so you can chill, for now.

[JackDidley]

I think it is time to put on my tin foil hat. BRB.