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Posts with tag voicemail

Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend

Phishers Hit the Phones, Start VishingHopefully we've covered enough tales of phishing woe that you're now cautious of clicking on links and entering in your personal info. We've also talked about the process of whaling, and how modern phishers are getting sneakier with their fake e-mails. Now, though, some are giving up on flooding your e-mail inbox entirely and instead heading for your voicemail inbox.

The process has been dubbed 'vishing' (which we don't think rolls off the tongue quite like 'phishing') and often entails a scammer using bogus services to trick the caller ID system on your phones into making you think your bank is calling you. You'll then be redirected to another number and prompted to enter in information like your Social Security Number, bank number, or PIN -- and you can guess what they'll do with that. Some scammers haven't quite given up on e-mail -- they're sending e-mails (instead of phone calls) and then expecting you to dial them up and enter all your personal info!

You'd never do such a thing, though, right? [Source: USA Today]

Hackers Rack Up $12,000 Bill on Homeland Security Phones

Department of Homeland Security Can't Secure Own Voicemail SystemWe never miss an opportunity to remind you to secure the devices you rely on at home, things like your wireless Internet connection or your e-mail password. Sometimes, though, we take for granted that government officials are doing the same. That, unfortunately, isn't always the case. At least, it isn't when it comes to FEMA, a part of the Department of Homeland Security, which recently discovered its phone systems had been accessed by an outsider who used them to make calls to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, among other places.

Embarrassed FEMA officials aren't sharing many details, but apparently its phone systems were left unsecured after a recent voicemail upgrade. This allowed an outsider to dial in, access the phone system system, and then place outgoing calls to wherever he or she liked. A total of $12,000-worth of calls were placed total to a number of countries in the Middle East and southern Asia before the hole was discovered and closed, all because someone probably forgot to put a password on somewhere. You, at least, know better when it comes to securing your own stuff -- right? [From: CBS News]


Verizon Saves Voicemail Recording of Man's Late Wife

Every so often it's nice to cover a story with a happy ending. Here's a new one: When Verizon upgraded the phone system in his hometown of Irvington, NY, 80-year-old widower Charles Whiting lost the outgoing message -- recorded by his late wife Catherine -- on his voicemail system. Whiting would call his voicemail everyday just to hear her voice, and feel like she was still with him.

Charles said it was the only recording of her that he had.

But lo-and-behold, Verizon had actually archived all of its customers messages, and, after a couple of days of searching, was able to locate and retrieve Catherine's voice message. The message was restored as Whiting's outgoing message and, according to AP, Charles is "very happy."

From AOL News

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Al Qaeda Voicemail Recipients Warned By Saudi Government

Al Qaeda Voicemail Recipients Warned By Saudi Government

Chances are you've received some unwanted calls, text messages, and even voice messages in your day. But, we're guessing you've never received voicemail quite like the sort that is under watch of the Saudi Arabian government. Should any Saudi citizen receive a message from Al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri, the government is warning, you must report it by Saturday or face arrest.

Apparently Al Qaeda is attempting to ramp up its attacks in Saudi Arabia and is going on a bit of a recruiting spree. A recording of Zawahri is being sent around requesting either personal or monetary support for the group's terrorist actions. That the Saudi government is aware of the voice messages and is taking action to prevent recruiting is good news.

From textually.org and The Gulf Times

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Google Gives Free Phone Numbers and Voicemail to Homeless

Google Gives Free Phone Number and Voicemail to San Francisco HomelessGoogle's one phone number for everything service, GrandCentral, is getting a new trial of sorts. Google is taking its 'Do no evil' mantra to the streets of San Francisco -- literally. A partnership between Google, the San Francisco city government, and Project CARE (Communications and Respect for Everybody) is offering a free phone number and voicemail box to every homeless person in the city for life.

The philanthropic program is aimed at helping the homeless not just communicate with friends and family, but also land jobs. One of the big stumbling blocks for the downtrodden is their inaccessibility. When emerging from job training programs, folks need a method of contact, preferably a phone number. By calling from any phone, including pay phones, the homeless will also be able to get a phone number and set up the voicemail box.

Project CARE also sees the voicemail box as a doorway to proper medical testing and care. If the project is successful, Google will expand it through the rest of the state, and hopefully the country.

From MSNBC

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