Friend or Foe

[dusty]

We must be entering into a time frame when, a couple years back, the forum was inundated with spammers.

I say this because the home page is beginning to show 'Congratulations to:' persons who have never posted since the first time. Part of that first time post included a link to a site that appears to me to be nothing more than an advertisement (unrelated to Shopsmith or wood working).

The fact that they come in small groups all on the same day is suspicious. There are six there today (Dec 31).

They appear harmless and maybe they are but they posted for reasons that are suspicious and unwanted. I identify them immediately as "FOE". If inclined to click on them, I do so with a different computer and from a different IP.

Good Luck

[algale]

I've seen three or four posts by new members extolling a certain brand tool as "the best known to man" that also include a link (I haven't clicked any of the links). Is that what you are referring to?

Admin seems to be deleting these as they pop up but it is like a game of Whack-A-Mole.

[dusty]

I've seen three or four posts by new members extolling a certain brand tool as "the best known to man" that also include a link (I haven't clicked any of the links). Is that what you are referring to?

Admin seems to be deleting these as they pop up but it is like a game of Whack-A-Mole.

Yes, I think you are referring to the same classification of members. As I stated, there are six on the list today. Right now.

This is one of those six. uH7nP8tA6j

I put them on the FOE list so as to increase my chances of not clicking on them. Yes, I may be paranoid but I believe I have reason to be.

[JPG]

If your 'FOE" list is not public info, why are you so paranoid? Better to be safe(r) than sorry, but, is there really any reason for concern?

[rjent]

If your 'FOE" list is not public info, why are you so paranoid? Better to be safe(r) than sorry, but, is there really any reason for concern?

Yes, there is concern, because most viruses and malware are transmitted via the web (HTML scripts) these days. It is never wise to click on an unknown or suspicious link ....

[forrestb]

I agree that it is best to not click on 'suspicious' links. I now and then get spam purporting to be from Wells Fargo (that one is easy: don't have business with Wells Fargo) or from a bank with whom I have an account.

They usually have some catastrophe about to occur unless you click on the link in the email. The name of the link is innocuous, but if you hover (don't click either button!) over the link, the actual url will be seen and has nothing to do with the purported sender. I don't think the spammers/hackers have learned how to disguise the link - yet.

Forrest

[JPG]

Question was, is there any reason to NOT add a suspected spammer to one's FOE list.

Unknown links are fer sure a back door.

[dusty]

Take a look at today's list of Birthdays. Does this list look a bit suspicious? Click on a couple of them. Many of them offer links to nonwoodworking websites. I consider these to be spam.

The foe list grows in leaps and bounds.

[algale]

I must not be looking in the right place. Do you mean literally a list of birthdays? Where would I find it? I went to the member list and sorted by join date and didn't see a bunch of websites among the new members.

[dusty]

I must not be looking in the right place. Do you mean literally a list of birthdays? Where would I find it? I went to the member list and sorted by join date and didn't see a bunch of websites among the new members.

This may be a feature available only in prosilver. I was unable to find it using shopsmith or shopsmith1. In prosilver, simply scroll down to the bottom of the main page. You can't miss it.