Some Spammer Has a Crush on You

ewhac writes "Salon is running an article about how that cryptic email saying someone has a crush on you may not be what it seems. Portrayed as services to foster romance, some voice concern that some such sites -- two with falsified WHOIS records -- are preying on people's insecurities to build spam lists and directed relationship graphs (who knows who). One site in particular, SomeoneLikesYou, has the temerity to demand you subscribe to an affiliate marketing program or cough up $14.90 before it will hand over the email address of your alleged crush.

A friend of mine and I were bit by SomeoneLikesYou in the last week. The scam is elegant in its simplicity. The site teases you with an email claiming to know someone who likes you, then makes you guess who it might be by submitting their email address(es). Each of those addresses receives a teaser email just like yours. Rinse, repeat. I ignored the message -- obviously a fake; I couldn't possibly be anyone's crush :-) -- but my friend took the bait and fed it some demographic data and email addresses. Once she realized what was going on, she wrote to everyone apologizing for any spam they may have received. She also sent a nastygram to the site's operators.

It should be pointed out that there is no proof that SomeoneLikesYou is doing anything nefarious with the data they're collecting. However, their credibility is not strengthened by their faked WHOIS records and their meaningless doubletalk on privacy issues (the declaration, "We send precisely zero e-mail advertisements," says nothing about the behavior of their partners/affiliates.)"

Comments

RASTERMAN replies! No future for Linux/BSD desktop

[Anonymous Coward]

July 23, 2002

I just love all the people of this world who have opinions on things but never actually are willing to stick anything behind them.

Let me clarify some of the following: Interview and the wonders of Slashdot and the ability to look beyond the tips of their noses when reading anything on slashdot - most of the comments there are made before anyone has actually READ anything.

Anyway - for the few level headed enough to 1. actually have contributed ever to linux or any part of it and not just spouted out words but not had the guts to back them with code and effort, or 2. actually see more than their little world and are willing to actually understand "the enemy" so to speak, they might actually see where I'm coming from.

The desktop market share windows has isn't going away. It's entrenched. Everyone I speak to who devout isn't a linux head says "yeah - heard of linux - I know it's meant to be stable, but I can't use my apps on it". It's not a matter of if they will be happy with openoffice, or be happy with whatever equivalent there is - they want THAT PARTICULAR APP.

Also not to mention the ease of use windows has. You plug in a new usb device, or a new card or anything. It detects it - find the driver or asks you for the disk you got in the box, and bingo. On linux? HA! Good luck. Half the time I need to do endless reserach first to see if its supported - and even if it is, half the time I have to do some obscure hunting for code I need to compile and specially configure that more often than not only paertially supports it - and even then with moe bugs than you can poke a stick at. The average person doesn't want to do this - and rightly, shouldn't. I won't stop using linux. I still use it as my desktop. I know many others do. But linux isn't goin to beat microsoft. It isnt' going to take the majority share of the desktop markent. I never said it was dead. I said Linux has lost. It's not going to win. Just because you lose does not mean you re dead, but don't expect the masses of cheering fans. It's going to remain the minority holder on the desktop. In that respect I see it as a loss.

Also I haven't stopped working on stuff. I haven't stopped on E. I'm not bitter or have sour grapes. Just because someone asks me for facts and i give them without flowery words or soothing tones does not mean I'm bitter and am trying to extract my pound of flesh. I never really dodge the trusth or facts, and if people don't seem to be able to read something at face value - well that's their problem. Did I not say KDE and GNOME were doing a good job? Did I ever start Enlightenment with the aim to become an easy to use desktop for the masses? I never did. I never claimed such. Anyone who says so is putting words in my mouth. E was always a toy project. It is my toy. I get to push boundaires and explore ideas using it. It only ever made it open source for anyone elses desktop other than mine because people pestered me after seeing screenshots.

Also people just didn't get my point. I'm saying the future Isn't a desktop at all - the encumbent (windows) on the desktop will stay, but the future isn't a desktop computer at all - it isn't a nasty mess of a desktop with taskbar and a screen and a mouse and keyboard. I'm not the first to say this by any means - and I won't be the last. Devices (such as pda's and the likes) now have the grunt that desktops had years ago. They are what I see as the future. Devices you use for a limited set of things that fit in your pocket, have no wires and always work. Have a look at the i-mode and ketai phenomenon in Japan. Most people just want to do things - they don't care how - be it via windows or linux. Whichever way works. The techies like us care how - but what I'm saying is we are the minority. The mass market where linux can be on everyone's desk is not via the PC desktop - you want linux everywhere? Put it on their phones, in their cars, on their trains, on their watches. That's how you will get that.

I will continue to use Linux on my desktops because I like it. I will continue to develop for X because I like it. I will continue to use Linux on my laptop because I like it. I will do it because "I can" and because "I want to". But I will not go thinking that linux will take over the worlds desktop computers. There was a day years ago it might have had a fighting chance - if applications had started to be developed that people wanted, but that time has passed and all the apps are for the reigning OS and will stay that way mostly. The desktop isn't going to be a big thing for linux, but it has a fair go in other arenas.

So those of you who thought I'd given up - no way. I've just switched game plan. I never was a Linux visionary - never wanted to be, never asked to be - people just seem to have said I am. I am going to leave being a visionary and political activist to others. I say things how I see them. Take everything I say with a grain of salt - invariably it's me trying to make a point. I'm a realist and I'm into the practical of things. If I'm going to fight I want to make sure I have a damn good chance at winning.

RASTERMAN speaks!

[Anonymous Coward]

No future for LINUX/*BSD DESKTOP. Microsoft has won. Windows has CRUSHED you down. MS has slayed your dreams. You fought back hard but you lost it.

Here's Rasterman's message:

July 23, 2002

I just love all the people of this world who have opinions on things but never actually are willing to stick anything behind them.

Let me clarify some of the following: Interview and the wonders of Slashdot and the ability to look beyond the tips of their noses when reading anything on slashdot - most of the comments there are made before anyone has actually READ anything.

Anyway - for the few level headed enough to 1. actually have contributed ever to linux or any part of it and not just spouted out words but not had the guts to back them with code and effort, or 2. actually see more than their little world and are willing to actually understand "the enemy" so to speak, they might actually see where I'm coming from.

The desktop market share windows has isn't going away. It's entrenched. Everyone I speak to who devout isn't a linux head says "yeah - heard of linux - I know it's meant to be stable, but I can't use my apps on it". It's not a matter of if they will be happy with openoffice, or be happy with whatever equivalent there is - they want THAT PARTICULAR APP.

Also not to mention the ease of use windows has. You plug in a new usb device, or a new card or anything. It detects it - find the driver or asks you for the disk you got in the box, and bingo. On linux? HA! Good luck. Half the time I need to do endless reserach first to see if its supported - and even if it is, half the time I have to do some obscure hunting for code I need to compile and specially configure that more often than not only paertially supports it - and even then with moe bugs than you can poke a stick at. The average person doesn't want to do this - and rightly, shouldn't. I won't stop using linux. I still use it as my desktop. I know many others do. But linux isn't goin to beat microsoft. It isnt' going to take the majority share of the desktop markent. I never said it was dead. I said Linux has lost. It's not going to win. Just because you lose does not mean you re dead, but don't expect the masses of cheering fans. It's going to remain the minority holder on the desktop. In that respect I see it as a loss.

Also I haven't stopped working on stuff. I haven't stopped on E. I'm not bitter or have sour grapes. Just because someone asks me for facts and i give them without flowery words or soothing tones does not mean I'm bitter and am trying to extract my pound of flesh. I never really dodge the trusth or facts, and if people don't seem to be able to read something at face value - well that's their problem. Did I not say KDE and GNOME were doing a good job? Did I ever start Enlightenment with the aim to become an easy to use desktop for the masses? I never did. I never claimed such. Anyone who says so is putting words in my mouth. E was always a toy project. It is my toy. I get to push boundaires and explore ideas using it. It only ever made it open source for anyone elses desktop other than mine because people pestered me after seeing screenshots.

Also people just didn't get my point. I'm saying the future Isn't a desktop at all - the encumbent (windows) on the desktop will stay, but the future isn't a desktop computer at all - it isn't a nasty mess of a desktop with taskbar and a screen and a mouse and keyboard. I'm not the first to say this by any means - and I won't be the last. Devices (such as pda's and the likes) now have the grunt that desktops had years ago. They are what I see as the future. Devices you use for a limited set of things that fit in your pocket, have no wires and always work. Have a look at the i-mode and ketai phenomenon in Japan. Most people just want to do things - they don't care how - be it via windows or linux. Whichever way works. The techies like us care how - but what I'm saying is we are the minority. The mass market where linux can be on everyone's desk is not via the PC desktop - you want linux everywhere? Put it on their phones, in their cars, on their trains, on their watches. That's how you will get that.

I will continue to use Linux on my desktops because I like it. I will continue to develop for X because I like it. I will continue to use Linux on my laptop because I like it. I will do it because "I can" and because "I want to". But I will not go thinking that linux will take over the worlds desktop computers. There was a day years ago it might have had a fighting chance - if applications had started to be developed that people wanted, but that time has passed and all the apps are for the reigning OS and will stay that way mostly. The desktop isn't going to be a big thing for linux, but it has a fair go in other arenas.

So those of you who thought I'd given up - no way. I've just switched game plan. I never was a Linux visionary - never wanted to be, never asked to be - people just seem to have said I am. I am going to leave being a visionary and political activist to others. I say things how I see them. Take everything I say with a grain of salt - invariably it's me trying to make a point. I'm a realist and I'm into the practical of things. If I'm going to fight I want to make sure I have a damn good chance at winning.

Re:Nothing immoral about this at all

[Anonymous Coward]

well.. I disagree with you.

July 23, 2002

I just love all the people of this world who have opinions on things but never actually are willing to stick anything behind them.

Let me clarify some of the following: Interview and the wonders of Slashdot and the ability to look beyond the tips of their noses when reading anything on slashdot - most of the comments there are made before anyone has actually READ anything.

Anyway - for the few level headed enough to 1. actually have contributed ever to linux or any part of it and not just spouted out words but not had the guts to back them with code and effort, or 2. actually see more than their little world and are willing to actually understand "the enemy" so to speak, they might actually see where I'm coming from.

The desktop market share windows has isn't going away. It's entrenched. Everyone I speak to who devout isn't a linux head says "yeah - heard of linux - I know it's meant to be stable, but I can't use my apps on it". It's not a matter of if they will be happy with openoffice, or be happy with whatever equivalent there is - they want THAT PARTICULAR APP.

Also not to mention the ease of use windows has. You plug in a new usb device, or a new card or anything. It detects it - find the driver or asks you for the disk you got in the box, and bingo. On linux? HA! Good luck. Half the time I need to do endless reserach first to see if its supported - and even if it is, half the time I have to do some obscure hunting for code I need to compile and specially configure that more often than not only paertially supports it - and even then with moe bugs than you can poke a stick at. The average person doesn't want to do this - and rightly, shouldn't. I won't stop using linux. I still use it as my desktop. I know many others do. But linux isn't goin to beat microsoft. It isnt' going to take the majority share of the desktop markent. I never said it was dead. I said Linux has lost. It's not going to win. Just because you lose does not mean you re dead, but don't expect the masses of cheering fans. It's going to remain the minority holder on the desktop. In that respect I see it as a loss.

Also I haven't stopped working on stuff. I haven't stopped on E. I'm not bitter or have sour grapes. Just because someone asks me for facts and i give them without flowery words or soothing tones does not mean I'm bitter and am trying to extract my pound of flesh. I never really dodge the trusth or facts, and if people don't seem to be able to read something at face value - well that's their problem. Did I not say KDE and GNOME were doing a good job? Did I ever start Enlightenment with the aim to become an easy to use desktop for the masses? I never did. I never claimed such. Anyone who says so is putting words in my mouth. E was always a toy project. It is my toy. I get to push boundaires and explore ideas using it. It only ever made it open source for anyone elses desktop other than mine because people pestered me after seeing screenshots.

Also people just didn't get my point. I'm saying the future Isn't a desktop at all - the encumbent (windows) on the desktop will stay, but the future isn't a desktop computer at all - it isn't a nasty mess of a desktop with taskbar and a screen and a mouse and keyboard. I'm not the first to say this by any means - and I won't be the last. Devices (such as pda's and the likes) now have the grunt that desktops had years ago. They are what I see as the future. Devices you use for a limited set of things that fit in your pocket, have no wires and always work. Have a look at the i-mode and ketai phenomenon in Japan. Most people just want to do things - they don't care how - be it via windows or linux. Whichever way works. The techies like us care how - but what I'm saying is we are the minority. The mass market where linux can be on everyone's desk is not via the PC desktop - you want linux everywhere? Put it on their phones, in their cars, on their trains, on their watches. That's how you will get that.

I will continue to use Linux on my desktops because I like it. I will continue to develop for X because I like it. I will continue to use Linux on my laptop because I like it. I will do it because "I can" and because "I want to". But I will not go thinking that linux will take over the worlds desktop computers. There was a day years ago it might have had a fighting chance - if applications had started to be developed that people wanted, but that time has passed and all the apps are for the reigning OS and will stay that way mostly. The desktop isn't going to be a big thing for linux, but it has a fair go in other arenas.

So those of you who thought I'd given up - no way. I've just switched game plan. I never was a Linux visionary - never wanted to be, never asked to be - people just seem to have said I am. I am going to leave being a visionary and political activist to others. I say things how I see them. Take everything I say with a grain of salt - invariably it's me trying to make a point. I'm a realist and I'm into the practical of things. If I'm going to fight I want to make sure I have a damn good chance at winning.

Re:in Germany they do this on mobile phones

[hettb]

And I always thought 0190 was a secret Nazi code!

My 18th Birthday

[Anonymous Coward]

See my first legal pics taken at midnight on my 18th birthday. These would be illegal just 10 minutes ago, this is has far as anyone can go! See my freshly popped cherry today [18thbirthdaypics.cc]

SlashSnot

[Anonymous Coward]

who cares about some snottin' spammer, he/she can go fuck themself with their mamma's dildo right in their asshole...

I was the one!

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, I was the girl you kissed!

Mum??

[stere0]

Is that you???

Re:awwwww damn

[Anonymous Coward]

She will send you the nude pics and hardcore action! You just have to send her more money first. Didn't you read the spam she sent?

Re:Just block them...

[Anonymous Coward]

Was she hot?

Re:Huh? There's Never any News in August

[Anonymous Coward]

since the dawn of time man has urned to destroy the sun - C. Monty Burns

Re:Previous host was Rackspace

[DaveAtFraud]

Quote:

Hmmm...mm...uhh...I guess I'm not really as creative as I thought.


Damn. I don't have any mod points to mark this as "insightfull."