posted on March 26, 2003 06:51:41 PM new
I have Norton personal firewall. Just today when I click on some of the topics in the Ebay discussion board Norton comes up saying AW is requesting my SS # and if I don't permit this information to be sent I can't load the requested page. On most of the topics I can't enter now! What is the deal? Is anyone else having this problem?
I have all my personal info blocked unless I allow it to be sent. Sometimes on AW I also get the message from Norton FW that Tribal Fusion is requesting my SS# and I only get this when I am on AW's site. Don't know what the deal is but it is irritating!!!!!!
posted on March 26, 2003 07:50:37 PM new
Ouch... I don't have a clue what is going on with your computer but I sure wouldn't give out your SS# to anyone online. Only the government is entitled to your SS# and even then not online.
There are so many scams going on now over the net that I am amazed how creative some of the theves are getting.
sure hope someone can give you an answer, it sure sounds suspicious. Don't give out your SS#
posted on March 27, 2003 07:23:03 AM new
This isn't asking me for it to log in or anything. If I didn't have the firewall I wouldn't even know they are requesting it. It is like they are going through the back door or hacking into my computer. The firewall alerts me anytime the website I am on is requesting information from my computer. I have the firewall set to allow for cookies but it has to alert me when any other information is requested from my computer without me knowing.
I just think it is odd that after 4 years AW's site is asking for my SS# when it never did before. Many sites ask for cc # or bank # but not many ask for SS#. If you don't have a personal firewall program when you visit websites they are getting personal information you have on your computer without you ever knowing it.
posted on March 27, 2003 08:28:03 AM new
They've never asked for mine, and that's good, because they'll never get it.
I Really doubt that they are asking for this. Maybe you should try clearing your cookies. Also check the URL of the page that's asking for the SS#- does it actually and with auctionwatch.com?
I think you've got a problem here- if it's not just a cookie bug, could be some kind of hacker attempt.
posted on March 27, 2003 08:43:43 AM new
It isn't a virus or anything. It is a common thing with a firewall. Before your computer will send any information to the website requesting it a window will come up and ask if you want to allow information to be sent.
When I am trying to get into some of the topics posted on the discussion board when I click on some of them a window comes up that says "An attempt to send the information you specified as "Social Security Number" over the internet has been made to Auctionwatch.com. You must permit or block this information in order to fully load this page. If I block the information it won't let me enter the clicked topic.
If you don't have a firewall on your computer you would be surprised at the information websites ask for. I
I have deleted the cookie that Tribal Fusion put on my computer but they have my URL? address and keep asking for information. I don't know.......I am just glad I have Norton personal firewall because there are hackers out there.
posted on March 27, 2003 01:37:00 PM new
I have a McAfee firewall and it has NEVER told me someone is asking for my SS#. I have it on Standard security, not tight. Interesting...
posted on March 27, 2003 01:41:43 PM new
I have Norton FW, and it's never asked for anything like that either, but like the previous poster, mine is not on the tightest security.
posted on March 27, 2003 01:43:05 PM new
Mine IS set on the highest security. You might reset yours and see what comes up. I think you will be surprised.
posted on March 27, 2003 01:49:02 PM new
Becasue of this thread, I setup Norton PF with some security blockings. I noticed that everytime I swtich threads, it wants my Email address. I can block it and do, but it asks. Not for the SSN though.
posted on March 27, 2003 01:54:48 PM new
There is a way to resolve this. Just email aw customer service and ask them. I do not think that they would ask for that kind of info.
Do come back and let us know what they say.
posted on March 27, 2003 05:46:25 PM new
This is the reply I got from AW. I guess I'm not explaining myself very well because they didn't get it. The window that comes up DOES NOT ask me to enter ANYTHING. It says a computer from a specific website is requesting information from my computer. Guess I opened a can or worms......mutant worms at that.
Even when I am on eBay sometimes mediaplex.com requests my SS# or CC# before it will load certain auctions. If I don't permit the information to be transmitted it won't load the auction and says the auction is no longer valid.
Here is the letter from AW:
Hello,
We do not ask for social security numbers for anything -- you might want
to run a virus check on your computer, delete your cookies, and clear
your cache. If you are being prompted to enter that information, it is
definitely not coming from us.
posted on March 27, 2003 06:32:50 PM new
Sounds like a harvester to me. I would try to tweak your program as there is no real reason that any program should ask for your S.S. number.
posted on March 27, 2003 10:36:32 PM new
I think we're all unclear. Have you ever entered your SSN# into your computetr? Have you entered it on the webpage? I strongly doubt that this is a case of AW asking for your SSN#. If you don't type the number onto the webpage, it can not be sent across the net.
It's possible you have a trojan on your computer, and it is sending out info when you're at the site. If you're really worried, find the place in your browser where you have entered your SSN# and delete it.
You can only send info to AW that you have entered into your computer. Websites don't grab info from your computer, unless you've downloaded a really nasty trojan/ ActiveX component, and you ignored the security warnings when installing it.
If you want any real help on this situation, please provide a complete description of the webpage where this is happening, and what the message is.
posted on March 28, 2003 07:48:01 AM new
In one of my other posts this is what I said.
When I am trying to get into some of the topics posted on the discussion board when I click on some of them a window comes up that says
"An attempt to send the information you specified as "Social Security Number" over the internet has been made to Auctionwatch.com. You must permit or block this information in order to fully load this page.
If I block the information it won't let me enter the clicked topic.
It is just a window with a warning that a computer is asking my computer for information. That is what firewalls are for. When another computer is trying to get information, just like reading a cookie, Norton alerts me by showing what the other computer (website) is asking my computer.
If anyother here knows anything about firewall PLEASE help me explain it.
Yes I have had to enter my SS# on a few secure websites so the information is on my computer but I have specified it as confidental and for Norton to block it. Just as I have my Bank #, CC#s, mailing address, phone # etc. all blocked.
Norton also alerts me to Trojans trying to hack in even when the computer is idle and online. That is what firewalls do as I have said before.
Maybe the when the warning pops up about AW it is someone else requesting the information but it only happens when I am on AW's site. Same with eBay it is always mediaplex.com. All I know is I have my FW on highest security and I get warnings. I do have my computer to except cookies and without Norton asking first.
I also had to reset it to allow my email to be sent without a warning because of AW. When I am writing auctions everytime I click to go to the next page whether it be to save or ebay preview or whatever it AW asks for my email address. NO I DO NOT have to enter it or type it in. The same window I mentioned above pops up and says the same thing except subsitute email address for SS#.
In the box (window) there are two choices permit this information to be sent or block this information. I have to either block which is always already checked or check on permit.
I do not have a virus or anything like that, I also have Norton Anti-Virus for that, it is just part of the fw program. Isn't that what a firewall is to warn you of other computers trying to "read" your computer?
I don't know how to explain it any different. Maybe someone out there who has Norton FW will reset theirs on highest security and surf for awhile and come back here and try to explain it better.
posted on March 28, 2003 08:45:48 AM new
Thanks, I understand now. But it still doesn't make sense. The web browser itself will NEVER go into your computer, dig up info, and send it back to any requesting site. A separate program that is running in the background (so-called spyware) may do this. Some of these spyware products have "wallet" features that store important info for you and pre-fill forms. But, they may do other things as well. You may want to download ad-aware, or another similar program, and see if you have any such programs spying on you. They are also called "trojans" because you install them on your computer without realizing they are harmful, kinda like a Trojan Horse.
Finally, try this. Using another browser (Netscape, Opera, etc.), go to the site and do the same thing. Preferably this would be a browser you haven't used before, so it can't have any of that info in it. Then see if you get the same warning.I think it's much more likely that you have spyware on your computer than AW is asking for your SSN#. Either that, or they have one of the fields on their form mis-identified.
