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Sure my bank wants to install software

It is time for me once again for me to roll my eyes at the spam mail I get. This the email is supposely from a bank (the reason I know that this is a phishing campaign is that I do not have an account with this particular bank).

Dear Sir/Madam

Due to the recent Malware and Phishing attacks encountered by our customers, First National Bank has made it mandatory to all Customers to download the Rapport Software that will help fight against it.

I am sorry, but I would promptly quit using any bank that required me to download any software. The bank should be happy with whatever anti-virus software I am already using. And I have no idea what Rapport Software does (even when it is not part of a phishing campaign).

The email continues, noting that the bank records indicate that I have not downloaded the latest version of the software. Then we come to the social engineering part of the email.

It is your responsibility to protect your account by installing this new patch as a precautionary measure.


If you do not log on to download this software now, Firs national bank will not be liable for any theft that may occur on your account.

(Note that the last sentence is exactly how they wrote it; spelling and capitalization errors are all theirs.) It is the threat that your bank is not going to make good on any fraud unless you do as they say. Ironically, the bank will probably not make good on your losses if you are dumb enourgh to actually download the software.

And the reason that I am blogging about this email here instead of my writing blog is the fact that this particular bit of social engineering reminded me of the consequences that recent election ads threw at us.

If so-and-so is elected, then dogs and cats will live in sin and America as we know it will become China. It is your responsibility to vote. If you don't vote to keep this Democrat out of office, then the Republic Party will assume no responsibility for the mess that the nation is in.

Social engineering in action---you got to love phishing and political campaigns.

Ready for election season to be over

I am so ready for election season to be over. The other night I was watching TV and there were several commerical (actually almost all of them) were I did not see a single non-political ad. I do find it highly amusing that you get an ad dissing on Ken Buck followed by an ad for Ken Buck.

My problems with the political ads?

1---too many, they are all blur together

2---they are all paranoid built on emotional hot buttons

3---most of the information is lies and/or taken out of context

4---we are screwed no matter who wins

For instance, the economy is still going to be in bad shape, no matter who wins. No matter what political solution is thrown at the economy, the effects are going to take forever to reach people like myself. And some things are next to impossible to do---for instance, Ken Buck talking about getting the federal government out of the student loan business. Good luck with that Ken (by the way, that is the biggest reason I dislike Ken Buck---I am a college student that is only able to go to college because I am taking out fereral student loans).

The good news is that the current election cycle ends in four days. The bad news is that the next electional cycle starts in five days.

Raising campaign funds with a cardboard sign

Earlier this year, I stated that the weirdest thing I saw this year was Ken Buck's statement about not wearing high heels. Then Ms. "I hang out with questionable people as a teen, including Wiccans" showed up. But that is not the most interesting thing I have seen in this election cycle.

The prize for most interesting thing seen this election cycle goes to Barbara (last name unknown), who was standing on a street corner with a cardboard sign that said:

Running for Governor. Trying to raise campaign funds.

Is there any way that we can force all politicans to raise their campaign funds this way? Seriously, can people begging on the street do a worse job, and screw me more than the professional politicans have? And given the loons that are running for office this election cycle, the guy pushing the cart up Colfax and talking to an archangel looks positively sane in comparsion.

(And yes, I gave Barbara a dollar. After all, one needs to support the better politicans. Don't tell my wife.)

QoD Douglas Adams on the role of loony politicans

Given the loonies that are running for office this electional season, one is reminded of Douglas Adams' theory about the role of certain politicians. C'mon you know that you think that Adams might be right.

The President [of the Imperial Galactic Government] is very much a figurehead---he wields no real power whatsoever. He is apparently chosen by the government, but the qualities he is required to display  are not those of leadership but those of finely judged outrage. For this reason the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it.

In another version of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the President is elected, though some voters may have thought that they were voting for the worst dressed sentinent being in the galaxy when they elected Zaphod Beeblebrox; the slogan of the other person running: Don't vote for stupid.

And if you are not registered to vote

If you are not registered to vote and are reading this, it is probably too late now.

Today was the last day to register for the upcoming November election. I know this because I was asked to register three times today while on campus.

My standard answer is that I have been registered to vote since 1984 (been voting since I was ninteen---gee, I am old).

Nevertheless, I did think about stopping and filling out a form...I am not exactly happy with the political party that I am affliated with.

Then again, I am not exactly happy with the other party either, so switching parties does seem pretty pointless to me.

Qod Not really a true Christian

[T]he tighty-righties don't actually believe in the Jesus who died on the Cross for our sins; they believe in the Jesus born in Bethleham, PA, who wore the American flag as a cape, used superpowers to conquer the world for democracy, built Jerusalem in Texas, made northern Europeans the Chosen People, preached old fashioned American values and warned that the gays, blacks and women would take over unless the values were followed to the letter and, before ascending to Heaven, promised to send his prophet Ronald Reagan to restore us to the way of righteousness.

---Matt Robare (a friend of a friend over on Facebook)