Missing e-mails, Sitemeter hacked, and the Israeli Goverment Network

[Miss Isness]

I installed sitemeter on my blog fairly recently. I discovered two hits by the Israeli Government Network in November. Since that time I've had an unprecedented number of e-mails go missing, sitemeter's stopped recording hits, and the details regarding the Israeli Gov. Net. visits have disappeared, while the details regarding other visitors have remained.

At a certain point, I changed my password on sitemeter, and it started recording hits again, but shortly afterwards it stopped again, except it continued recording the visits I make from two different work locations (it's set to ignore visits from my home PC). I know there have been visitors, because when I visit my blog I can see that there are sometimes other people on-line, and there is a counter on each article.

There's also the fact that I was a victim of on-line credit card fraud in November, which may or may not be related.

It seems as if I'm being told, "We know where you are, what you're doing, and we can interfere whenever we want."

I'm not sure what the appropriate response to this turn of events is, and would appreciate your suggestions. I wonder if my computer is full of spyware. I use spybot, avast, and some other programs for protection, but have had some problems recently. Should I get a new computer? If so, what steps should I take to avoid further problems?

Is there a way I can use e-mail without interference? Are there any other precautions I should take?

 

[RedFox]

Hi Miss Isness

Sounds like you've got a few things to deal with....I'll see if I can be of help

It seems as if I'm being told, "We know where you are, what you're doing, and we can interfere whenever we want."

A few thoughts come to mind. Firstly perhaps you need to re-evaluate your strategic enclosure? It sounds like a petty tyrant (a good learning opportunity), and

A: Lesson number 1: Always expect attack. Lesson number 2: Know
the modes of same. Lesson number 3: Know how to counteract
same.

So lets start with securing the weak points

1) Where you access your emails and blog (i.e. use your passwords) from. And perhaps in a related issue where you use your credit card info from.

Can you be sure that all the computers you enter sensitive info on are as clean and secure as you can make them? (this includes your work computer) If you cannot be sure, then don't enter anything important!

If you feel your PC may have been infected by something, the usual method I use is to start from scratch. I.e wipe all info off and start again.
If you have a system restore disk, or a XP disk you can use it to wipe everything (so backup anything you want to keep!) and start again. Also be aware that any software you have (including XP) will need to have there licence keys put in again, so find them before committing. Try not to backup programs as they can carry over infections. Also don't forget bookmarks!
_http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php

Now to make sure its as secure as possible.
The first thing I always install (and I go an get it from the internet from the newly installed PC to make sure it can't be infected) is a firewall
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(networking)
This means I can at the first step control what can and cannot come into/out of my PC.
My personal preference is for Comodo Firewall Pro (free), but it may be a bit techy/annoying to the average user. Zone Alarm free should be OK for most people.
_http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Next a good virus killer. You mentioned Avast here, which is pretty good.

Next thing to install is an Anti Malware tool, spybot is OK. An alternative (or you can use both!) is Comodo BoClean _http://www.comodo.com/boclean/boclean.html

Next I tend to set the computer downloading microsoft updates. This can take some time (and the firewall may well light up like a christmas tree as things get installed and want to access the internet).

Finally your web browser. Either use something other than Internet Explorer or make sure there is an anti phishing filter installed installed.
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing
_http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/securing_browser/

2) How secure is your website....

Now this may not be something you can do much about. But if you can, try and keep any software up to date.
Perhaps and alternative to sitemeter too?
_http://www.onestatfree.com/
_http://sitetracker.com/
_http://hitslog.com/
_http://www.shinystat.com/
_http://www.statcounter.com/
_http://www.websitetracker.com/

Perhaps have 2 or 3 trackers at once?

3) How secure is your password given you circumstances?

This is another weak point, if you feel your security is being breached.
You need to make sure you have a Strong password (i.e. not words, containing many symbols and numbers). And you probably want to have a rolling password scheme (change it every 2 weeks).
_http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/security/5-tips-for-top-notch-password-security.aspx#tipsfortopnotchpasswordsecurity

4) Emails...

Again I'm uncertain if you can do much to prevent emails 'disappearing' (how do you know they are?)....just make sure the password is secure, and perhaps have several with different trackers linked to them?


OK....so this would counter any 'attack' as you've presented it.
However there are a few things to consider. Do you really want to counter an attack of this presumed scale (Israeli government)?
To go from having free reign over controlling what data does and does not reach you (presumably just the fact there watching), to not being able to do so easily....would that not put a flag next to you?

Given all the above, hopefully you'll be able to work out a better way through it all. More than one tracker/email may be worth a miss. Perhaps just change to another email address for tracker info?
Always keep in mind your strategic enclosure, and watch how your reacting to the situation.

Perhaps its better to pretend you don't see the PTB sneaking in through your back door every so often, than to alert there suspicions that you do by putting too many security locks in place?
This is a tricky one....perhaps I see it wrong.

 

[Miss Isness]

1) Where you access your emails and blog (i.e. use your passwords) from. And perhaps in a related issue where you use your credit card info from.

Can you be sure that all the computers you enter sensitive info on are as clean and secure as you can make them? (this includes your work computer) If you cannot be sure, then don't enter anything important!

Thanks for the reminder. It's tempting to give myself free reign when I find myself with more time than I know what to do with.

If you feel your PC may have been infected by something, the usual method I use is to start from scratch. I.e wipe all info off and start again.
If you have a system restore disk, or a XP disk you can use it to wipe everything (so backup anything you want to keep!) and start again. Also be aware that any software you have (including XP) will need to have there licence keys put in again, so find them before committing. Try not to backup programs as they can carry over infections. Also don't forget bookmarks!
_http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php

I bought my PC on e-bay with XP already installed. When I had similar problems in the past and had to start from scratch, my husband borrowed the program from his friend. So, I don't have licence keys. My blog page was modified by this same friend when it got badly infected with a virus after getting a lot of porn links in the comment section. He installed a spam blocker, but took out the link log, and now I've discovered that I don't have the option to change the password either. I've been trying to solicit his help for the past few months, and initially he put it off because he was too busy, and then he just stopped responding. I'm still looking for someone trustworthy who can help me with it.

4) Emails...

Again I'm uncertain if you can do much to prevent emails 'disappearing' (how do you know they are?)....just make sure the password is secure, and perhaps have several with different trackers linked to them?

I have to rely on what the recipients tell me to know if my e-mails are disappearing, and so far I've had 3 e-mails disappear in an exchange with another forum member, one disappear to a company I ordered vitamin C from, and another one to 'Get Fitt'. Before that, I did have the occasional e-mail go missing.

In one case, I e-mailed a French colleague some info about dairy reforms that would be applied by the EU in France just before the French referendum on the EU constitution. That one disappeared a few times too, but when I e-mailed her just to say hello, it went through just fine.

At the moment, I have two e-mail accounts, and both of them have been affected.

However there are a few things to consider. Do you really want to counter an attack of this presumed scale (Israeli government)?
To go from having free reign over controlling what data does and does not reach you (presumably just the fact there watching), to not being able to do so easily....would that not put a flag next to you?

I'm glad you mentioned this, because I was thinking along the same lines. Thanks so much for your input. I have already acted on some of your advice, and will continue to consider how to improve my strategic enclosure.

 

[vinny]

it's worth considering that if you have an internet connection (or a phone line, or a bank account, etc...), you will be monitored. The PTB are looking to have wall to wall surveillance over every aspect of everyone's lives over the whole planet. It is the psychopath's paranoid mindset of "us versus them" clutching for absolute control over the global situation, and cannot be any other way. Attempts at securely encrypting emails (PGP) have been outlawed (it was classified as a weapon and so could not be exported). If the PTB really want to listen in, they will.

That's not to say 'don't bother' to defend yourself, instead I think it is useful to keep things in perspective, consider the wider situation, and act accordingly to not put yourself directly in the firing line. Also, the 'path of least resistance' seems to apply. The level of effort put in to hacking/listening in etc is likely to only be proportional to the significance of whatever you do (one way to look at this is that it is Gurdjieff's General Law attempting to put you back in your place). Hence SOTT being under continous attack, and having to resort to transmitting from a secret base in the depths of a live volcano (not really)

 

[Miss Isness]

That's not to say 'don't bother' to defend yourself, instead I think it is useful to keep things in perspective, consider the wider situation, and act accordingly to not put yourself directly in the firing line. Also, the 'path of least resistance' seems to apply.

I'm not sure what you mean. Should I take down my blog? Should I stop sharing what I know with people who are receptive? I don't think that's the answer. Maybe I should find a different way of sharing, but how? I don't think telepathy is a reliable form of communication for me yet.

The level of effort put in to hacking/listening in etc is likely to only be proportional to the significance of whatever you do (one way to look at this is that it is Gurdjieff's General Law attempting to put you back in your place).

Well, that's the thing. I don't see what I'm doing as being so significant, certainly not enough so to attract this particular type of attention.

Hence SOTT being under continous attack, and having to resort to transmitting from a secret base in the depths of a live volcano (not really)

That doesn't sound half bad - at least it's nice and toasty :P

 

[vinny]

That's not to say 'don't bother' to defend yourself, instead I think it is useful to keep things in perspective, consider the wider situation, and act accordingly to not put yourself directly in the firing line. Also, the 'path of least resistance' seems to apply.

I'm not sure what you mean. Should I take down my blog? Should I stop sharing what I know with people who are receptive? I don't think that's the answer. Maybe I should find a different way of sharing, but how? I don't think telepathy is a reliable form of communication for me yet.

ah no, I didn't mean to suggest that at all. I think a blog is a great thing, because everyone has the free will to read it or not, and it is kinda anonymous, so I don't think it constitutes putting yourself 'in the firing line' (unless you get into certain dodgy 'anti-semitic' territory of holocaust denial etc, in which case it could be a matter of breaking the law, so... NOT recommended)

The level of effort put in to hacking/listening in etc is likely to only be proportional to the significance of whatever you do (one way to look at this is that it is Gurdjieff's General Law attempting to put you back in your place).

Well, that's the thing. I don't see what I'm doing as being so significant, certainly not enough so to attract this particular type of attention.

Well I don't think that a few emails going missing, and a computer getting hacked is actually all that unusual. It happens to just about everybody, and yes it is always the most important emails that disappear. And modern PCs are temperamental at the best of times too, so perhaps best to not read too much into it in terms of 'specific attention'. Just be aware, and I suppose acclimatise yourself to the reality that you, me, everyone are being spied on at a kind of general background level, all the time, maybe without giving it too much attention. And don't let it stop you doing what you choose to do (eg blogging).

 

[Franco]

"I installed sitemeter on my blog fairly recently. I discovered two hits by the Israeli Government Network in November. Since that time I've had an unprecedented number of e-mails go missing, sitemeter's stopped recording hits, and the details regarding the Israeli Gov. Net. visits have disappeared, while the details regarding other visitors have remained."

This all might just be a technical problem, where are you hosting your blog at the moment? E-mails can and do not always end up at the recipient though if it is actually disappearing off your mail(pop3/imap) server, that would be a problem.

In regards to the hits by the Israeli Government, are you sure it was Israeli Government? How exactly did the hits disappear? Most of these free tracking programs just interpret the server logs on the server as apposed to say Google Analytics who actually use a snip of Java script on your site.

Anyone removing data from your logs technically would need to gain access to the server it is hosted on whether it's free or not, back doors are possible though if you are using say Joomla or Wordpress as many versions have security holes and need to be updated often.

"At a certain point, I changed my password on sitemeter, and it started recording hits again, but shortly afterwards it stopped again, except it continued recording the visits I make from two different work locations (it's set to ignore visits from my home PC). I know there have been visitors, because when I visit my blog I can see that there are sometimes other people on-line, and there is a counter on each article."

"I recommend installing something like Google Analytics and comparing the results, Google Analytics is more accurate anyway."

"There's also the fact that I was a victim of on-line credit card fraud in November, which may or may not be related."

This can happen for multiple reasons, Mastercard now has a secure3d feature where the person has to enter their name and password, I'd recommend using this feature"

It seems as if I'm being told, "We know where you are, what you're doing, and we can interfere whenever we want."

"I'm not sure what the appropriate response to this turn of events is, and would appreciate your suggestions. I wonder if my computer is full of spyware. I use spybot, avast, and some other programs for protection, but have had some problems recently. Should I get a new computer? If so, what steps should I take to avoid further problems?"

Spyware does'nt generally steal information, it's just usually to track what sites you go to, adware shows ads where there might have not been, there are some malware that could steal information but they are a lot more rare.

If you want to be safe though, re-install Windows XP, with the same exact version you have now, download "keyfinder" this will tell you your current windows cd key which can be used again.

Change ALL your passwords that you can, e-mail accounts, servers, blog, home router and anything else AFTER re-installing windows.

If you need more help PM me, I used to be involved in hacking/computer security when i was younger and i now do online marketing full time for clients through my own company.

Ultimately if a government agency would like to monitor you, there is probably nothing you can do aside from encrypting all your data, but these tips should help with everyone else.

Is there a way I can use e-mail without interference? Are there any other precautions I should take?

 

[seek10]

I installed sitemeter on my blog fairly recently. I discovered two hits by the Israeli Government Network in November. Since that time I've had an unprecedented number of e-mails go missing, sitemeter's stopped recording hits, and the details regarding the Israeli Gov. Net. visits have disappeared, while the details regarding other visitors have remained.

At a certain point, I changed my password on sitemeter, and it started recording hits again, but shortly afterwards it stopped again, except it continued recording the visits I make from two different work locations (it's set to ignore visits from my home PC). I know there have been visitors, because when I visit my blog I can see that there are sometimes other people on-line, and there is a counter on each article.

There's also the fact that I was a victim of on-line credit card fraud in November, which may or may not be related.

It seems as if I'm being told, "We know where you are, what you're doing, and we can interfere whenever we want."

I had a wordpress blog, I publish what I find interesting related to india's current crisis. Recently I got 3 comments to a article pointing mumbai attacks to Israel. Interestingly all the comments went to spam automatically. so zionist followers are keeping a watch very very closely.

Interestingly one comment says 'So you love to blame israel for every thing?' and other two comments simply appends [..] before the article anme and after the article name .

Last 2 comments seems to be automatic commenting program, rather than manual.

 

[Miss Isness]

This all might just be a technical problem, where are you hosting your blog at the moment? E-mails can and do not always end up at the recipient though if it is actually disappearing off your mail(pop3/imap) server, that would be a problem.

My blog is part of my website, which is hosted by aruba. How would I check to see if it's disappearing off the server?

In regards to the hits by the Israeli Government, are you sure it was Israeli Government? How exactly did the hits disappear? Most of these free tracking programs just interpret the server logs on the server as apposed to say Google Analytics who actually use a snip of Java script on your site.

I was waiting for that one. Sitemeter records the details of the visitors - the name of the server, location referring page, etc. There were 2 hits by the Israeli Goverment Network from Israel, Jerusalem, I think. I could hardly believe it myself, since I haven't touched on what's going on in the middle east at all, which is why I checked the details a number of times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I also mentioned it to another forum member. I don't know much about technical things, but Sitemeter does use a snip of Java script. Theoretically, the details of all visitors from day one of the sitemeter installation are still visible on my sitemeter account, but those two Israeli flags have vanished.

Anyone removing data from your logs technically would need to gain access to the server it is hosted on whether it's free or not, back doors are possible though if you are using say Joomla or Wordpress as many versions have security holes and need to be updated often.

My blog is powered by CMS dblog opens source software, which I believe was created by Olivetti

"There's also the fact that I was a victim of on-line credit card fraud in November, which may or may not be related."

This can happen for multiple reasons, Mastercard now has a secure3d feature where the person has to enter their name and password, I'd recommend using this feature"

I'll definitely look into that. Thanks.

If you want to be safe though, re-install Windows XP, with the same exact version you have now, download "keyfinder" this will tell you your current windows cd key which can be used again.

Change ALL your passwords that you can, e-mail accounts, servers, blog, home router and anything else AFTER re-installing windows.

If you need more help PM me, I used to be involved in hacking/computer security when i was younger and i now do online marketing full time for clients through my own company.

Ultimately if a government agency would like to monitor you, there is probably nothing you can do aside from encrypting all your data, but these tips should help with everyone else.

Thanks for the advice. It's probably about time I clean house IT-wise.

 

[Miss Isness]

It looks like the mastercard secure feature is being implemented to protect merchants, not cardholders. In any case, the fraud I suffered was perpetrated on my Postepay/visa electron card, which is not insured by the issuer. They say it's the same thing as having cash stolen out of your pocket. Never mind that they have all the details of the person who illegally paid for over 200 Euro in on-line train tickets with my card. :(

I had a wordpress blog, I publish what I find interesting related to india's current crisis. Recently I got 3 comments to a article pointing mumbai attacks to Israel. Interestingly all the comments went to spam automatically. so zionist followers are keeping a watch very very closely.

Yes, I've read that there is a very well organized, and active army of zionist internet trolls.