Message to forum members from Ralph

[ralpht]

I believe my hacking problem originated on Facebook. I was never really fond of that site in the first place. I went to delete my account there and found my password was no longer valid. I guess I'll just let things flounder there.

I was unable to retrieve my old Gmail account. Talk about jumping through hoops with those people trying to prove I was who I said I was, so I'm letting that one go also.

I can be reached at the usual SD email addy of ralpht@soulfuldetroit.com or my new email addy which is ralph.terrana@yahoo.com.

Thanks all for your concern in this matter.

Ralph

[pshark]

How to Fix a Hacked Facebook Account

By Patricia Voldberg, eHow Member

I want to do this! What's This?

Hacked!
photoxpress.com



User-Submitted Article
Facebook, a social networking website, allows users to add friends, send messages, share photos, and join networks. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard. The website's name stems from books given at the start of each year by the administration to help students get to know each other.

The size and popularity of these sites has made social-networking objects of interest from hackers and spammers. The site, at first glance does not seem like a gold mine for cheats and swindlers. Unlike financial websites, which offer access to bank accounts, the bad guys know we are lazy, forgetful and use the same password on multiple sites.

Earlier scammers used email. People were trained not to click on suspicious emails; however, they do not operate with this caution on social-networking sites. That is another reason why phishing attacks in which people are fishing for account information has increased.

Facebook monitors user activity. When an account moves from a few wall posts a week to multiple messages in minutes, the security team assumes that your account has been hacked, and moves in quickly. They will notify you to reset your password, and the whole issue is usually resolved within a few hours for you. Unfortunately, few scammers get caught, and this part may take a very long time.



Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions

1. 1
   If your account has been hacked and there is access to your login email address, reset your password by selecting the "Forgot" link that appears above the Password field on the Login page. When you have done this, an email is sent to you with steps for this process.
2. 2
   If your login email has been compromised or changed, and your account has been hacked, then you need to send Facebook a status update. This will allow them to look into it further. http://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=15838
3. 3
   If your email account has been compromised, please take the following steps:
   • Think of a unique and complex password and keep it unavailable to everyone. You can accomplish this from the Account Settings page of your account or by using the "Forgot" link on the login page.
   • Do step one for every email address associated with this account. Make sure to avoid using the same password for any other account.
   • Verify all email addresses associated with your account on the Contact Email section at https://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php
   • From your Facebook Account Settings page, complete a unique security question to your account, if you have not already done so.
   • Report to Facebook any and all suspicious material at http://www.facebook.com/security
4. 4
   If money transfers were sent from your account, and you did not send them, cybercriminals could be using your social network in an attempt to trick your friends into sending them money. These criminals gain control using Chat or Status features and claim that you are stuck far away and in need of financial assistance or even worse dead. Malicious software could have been downloaded to your computer or your password could have been stolen by a Facebook phishing website look alike.
5. 5
   If you suspect malicious software could have been downloaded to your computer do the following steps:
   • Never click on suspicious links: It is possible a Frenemy could have sent you spam, viruses, or malware. Do not run ".exe" files on your computer without knowing their origin.
   • Be sure you are using the most current version of your browser, which contains important security warnings and protection features.
   • Run a current version of anti-virus software. If your computer has been infected, you will need to remove the harmful programs to keep your info secure.
   • From your Facebook Account Settings page, reset your password. Always choose a different one than you use for other sites. Make up a password with a complex number string, unusual letters, or a combo of punctuation marks. It should be at least six characters long. It is not advisable to use common words from the dictionary.

Read more: How to Fix a Hacked Facebook Account | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5807957_fix-...#ixzz0zo3BDhhC

[phil]

Ralph, I think it's the SDF site that's been hacked, I'm not on Facebook !

[pshark]

I didn't get an email.
Now I'd like to know from everybody who did get a mail, is can your email be accessed
by clicking your user name on the old forum
And Ralph were those user's email addresses and your facebook info stored in your gmail acct?
I'm thinking that your gmail got hacked and then your FB.

[ralpht]

Shark,
I suppose some of the email addys came from SD members that were on Facebook. Thanks for posting the tips on how to deal with the problem. Gmail has given me nothing but a run-a-round trying to resolve the email situation. Maybe facebook will be a little more understanding.

[ralpht]

I can't seem to get anywhere with Facebook either. What a joke........

[pshark]

Ralph, check with your bank acct and make sure nothing fishy is going on there.
And btw, earlier this yr my computer was attacked with some serious trojans. My
desktop icons were gone and in place of those were porn icons. After I fixed the
the problem I installed Norton anti virus. It's seem to do a great job on stopping all
kinds attacks. So I would highly recommend Norton.

[ralpht]

Shark, I have been using Spy Sweeper for the last couple of years and it does a good job for me, regarding viruses.

[ltlftc]

I got one of those emails and I believe my email address was accessible on the old forum.

[jobeterob]

I was wondering..............for the people that might have donated on the Forum using a Credit Card, are they at any risk? Perhaps, it warrants them keeping watch on their credit card accounts???

Maybe someone could consider this point.

[1382hitsville]

I did not get an email. I've donated via creditcard but it seems fine. But I will continue to monitor. Thanks for the warning.

[oldiesmusicfan]

Sorry you're having such a hassle Ralph.

I did receive two emails, yet I've never been on Facebook, so I'm thinking your email account has been hacked first since you did have my email address in there. Then they moved on to Facebook.

When I made my donation last week, I sent a check to Lowell's address, so at least I don't have to worry about the credit card issue.

It sounds like no one has been taken in by the scam which is wonderful news. And my email account hasn't received any other spam messages since. Hopefully the loser has crawled back under his rock.

Oldies

[pshark]

When you put out your email address on a forum you're inviting trouble.
I'm betting it's just the people who allowed their email to be viewed are the only ones
who are receiving these phishing scams.

[jobeterob]

I have been in touch with Ralph via email and Facebook, both just before the trouble. And I have not got any spams or anything via email or via Facebook. And I didn't do the credit card thing either.

So PShark might be right.

What a hassle.

[oldiesmusicfan]

Pshark - I forgot to mention that my email has never been viewed on SDF, no highlighted username on the old forum. Also, it was years ago that I sent an email to Ralph, so it doesn't have anything to do with sending a recent email. The fact that Ralph was unable to access his email sounds like it's a problem with his email account being hacked.

Ralph, please let us know if you find out anything. Who would do this?

Oldies

[robbert]

Ralph, I didn't get an e-mail from "you". Hackers can't find Holland on the map... I hope.
I found on and via your Facebook account a bunch of nice pics of you and you & Russ though, from the early sixties on untill recent days. Gladly I downloaded them for keeps, Facebook account or not!

[ralpht]

Robbert,
I hope the pictures aren't toxic.

[bankhousedave]

One thing's for sure, you can make some interesting friends on Facebook. Usually they don't have any other friends.

[bankhousedave]

Oldies:

It sounds like it was the security services. They still can't find any actual terrorists, so they're reduced to arresting street-sweepers and pretending to be Ralph. The street-sweeper s were from Nigeria, so they'll enjoy being imprisoned. The Ralph thing will only work out if they have the masters to Abe's album.

[oldiesmusicfan]

Bankhousedave - hahaha! Thanks for the laugh on what has been an otherwise lousy day. I finally finished my Andantes book, thinking about reading Tommy Hunt next.

Oldies

[ralpht]

Right now, I don't even have the masters to Abe's album.

[bankhousedave]

Tommy's great, Oldies, and his book is a really good read. Of course, I can't recommend Russ Terrana's Motown highly enough either.

You don't, huh, Ralph? After all this confusion, maybe we need to be sure we wound up with the genuine article. Please answer this security question:

If an anonymous tipster called you to say the various streetsweepers hired to tidy up after the Pope were planning to sweep him to death with their brooms, would you:

a) Arrest the sweepers and tie up half of London's police all day and night inspecting their rubbish carts, or
b) Have a beer and suggest the caller did the same?

[splanky]

and people tell me facebook is so great...

[ralpht]

Dave,
Do you even need to ask the question?

[bankhousedave]

I'm opening mine now and drinking to the sweepers, Ralph.

[ralpht]

And the world continues to right itself, Dave...........