Posts tagged as:

WOT

Consumergain.com spamvertise’s at Photobucket

by certifiedbug on August 30, 2008

in Security

So there I was at Photobucket looking at images when this popped up.


I clicked No and was redirected to the site anyway. In other words my browser was Hijacked.

WOT edged in to say no no no.

http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/consumergain.com

Site Advisor also flags consumergain.com
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/consumergain.com

Press release January 30, 2008 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Online Advertiser Settles FTC Charges. “Free” Products Weren’t Free; Settlement Calls for $200,000 Civil Penalty

According to the FTC, Member Source Media LLC, doing business as ConsumerGain.com, PremiumPerks.com, FreeRetailRewards.com, and GeatAmericanGiveaways.com, and the company’s principal, Chris Sommer, used deceptive spam and online advertising to lure consumers to its Web sites. For example, Member Source Media used e-mail subject lines such as, “Congratulations. You’ve won an iPod Video Player”; “Here are 2 free iPod Nanos for You: confirm now”; “Nascar Tickets Package Winner”; “Confirmation required for your $500 Visa Gift Card”; or “Second Attempt: Target Gift Card Inside.” The company’s Web-based ads contain similar representations: “CONGRATULATIONS! You Have Been Chosen To Receive a FREE GATEWAY LAPTOP.”

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/01/media.shtm

The FTC should take another look at Consumergain.com.

Of secondary interest, Photobucket uses the ASK searchbar.

The searchbar can be used to perform an internal search of the website, and as with the ASK pre-checked toolbar that is offered for one’s browser during the installation of certain programs, a search still comes with plenty of sponsored results.

http://certifiedbug.com/blog/tag/ask/

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What is WOT

by certifiedbug on August 24, 2008

in Security

Well it isn’t the Brit slang for what, WOT stands for ‘Web Of Trust’.

WOT is a free Internet security addon for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT provides you an extra layer of security by warning you before you interact with a risky website. It’s easy and it’s free.

I added WOT to my browsers Firefox and IE. The rogue program ‘XPAntivirus2008′ gave this alert.

Why is Site Advisor still rating XPAntivirus2008 as a ‘Green Site?


Really I give up on them.

Edit
Video and podcast: WOT colorblind accessible version.

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