This page addresses a need that we have seen for a web page that contains information about current concerns of our customers, whether it is a rapidly spreading virus, scam, denial of service attack, or other important Internet related issue or issues. Phish Attempts One of the latest problems for many of our customers is an attempt to gain access to their account by tricking the user into providing the scammer with the users Centex username and password. The message may look something like this: From: "helpdesk@centex.net" Date: February 28, 2009 5:28:37 PM CST Subject: Verify Your centex.net Account Now Reply-To: supportt.team@scammersdomain.com Verify Your centex.net Account Now Dear centex.net Account Owner, This message is from centex.net messaging center to all centex.net email account owners.We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail account center.We are deleting all centex.net email account to create more space for new accounts.To prevent your account from closing you will have to update it below so that we will know that it's a present used account. *********************************************************** CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL IDENTITY BELOW E-mail Username : ........youraccount@centex.net ..... E-mail Password : ............... Date of Birth : ................ Country or Territory : ......... *********************************************************** Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or her account within Seven days of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently. Email:supportt.team@scammersdomain.com Thank you for using centex.net! Warning Code:VX2G99AAJ Thanks, Admin Team centex.net Team This type of e-mail identity theft scam is known as a "phish" See: OnGuard Online - Maintained by the Federal Trade Commission Central Texas Communications will never ask for your username and password or any other personal information via an e-mail. If you have given someone your account information please call our business office as soon as possible at 1800-535-8904 to change your password. Spyware Spyware is software that is installed on your computer, either with or without your knowledge, and tracks your Internet habits and reports them back to a third party. Spyware can be installed on your computer by downloading legitimate software that you want such as KaZaa, HotBar, or BonziBuddy... this type of software may provide a free service to the user, however there may be strings attached. Spyware can also be downloaded to your computer by clicking on the "wrong place" in a web page, pop-up ad, or e-mail or simply by viewing a web page. Here are some screenshot examples of pop up ads that may appear on your screen: Spyware Screenshots Do not click in these windows... clicking in the window will install spyware on your computer. Always close these windows by using the [x], right clicking the program button on the Start bar and choosing "Close", or by using the CTRL, ALT ,and DEL keys. Spyware may change your start and search pages, display pop-up ads, auto load pornographic web pages, and even place expensive long distance calls to 900 or International numbers using your computer Some names of software that are generally considered to be Spyware are KaZaa, HotBar, BonziBuddy, Gator, NewDotNet, Comet Cursor, Date Manager, Save Now, Precision Time and many others. This software can cause slow and failed web page loads and system crashes. Now what to do about it... you should install some type of Spyware removal such as Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, or SpywareBlaster. We have them available for download and links to the software manufactuer's web pages on the Centex Local Downloads page. We have also created some step by step instructions in Microsoft Word format on how to use Ad-Aware and Spybot. If you do not have Microsoft Word the Word Viewer is also available on the Centex Local Downloads page The spyware scanners all work similar to virus scan software and have features that allow updates, quarantine, backups, and realtime protection. Note that some Spyware infections may require manual removal and possibly even operating system reinstallation. These sites can provide you with some useful information about Spyware: LavaSoft's Ad-Aware Site PepiMK Software's Site Javacool's Spywareblaster Site MSNBC Spyware article BHO Demon Site Sandi's Bugs, Glitches, and Stuff-Ups Site PC Hell's Spyware Page SpyWareInfo Latest Concerns Archives Microsoft Windows Vulnerablities 915 Area Code Change Mytob and Zytob Worm MyDoom Worm Sobig Worm Welchia Worm Blaster Worm MiMail Worm Jeem Trojan Beagle Worm