What, exactly, is "modem hijacking?"?
The Latest Net Scam—Modem Hijacking
PCs the world over are being hit by a new breed of software known as a
dialer. These programs are far more malicious than spyware, which merely
keeps a record of your online behavior. Dialers use your modem
surreptitiously to dial long distance telephone numbers, running up
enormous charges on your phone bill. Some operate while you're surfing
the Web, dropping your dial-up connection and reconnecting you through a
new number. Others operate when you're away from your machine, dialing
numbers after the system sits idle for long periods of time.
Typically, dialers are loaded onto systems via an ActiveX script. At the
very least, you should make sure your Internet browser is set to reject
Active X code or warn you when such code attempts to run. If you're
unsure whether your browser is protected, SpywareInfo.com provides a
dialer test that can tell you whether your browser is vulnerable.
