Free iPad
Catch your attention?
It seems that the (cyber) criminals have concluded that the two words most likely to get you to click on their links are “free” and “iPad”. The two combined must be a sure winner – “free iPad”.
And the likelihood is pretty good that those doing the clicking (and thinking they just won an iPad) will be chumps, suckers and rubes. Their favorite demographic.
I have received text messages, emails, and seen links/ads all using this ploy.
While it would be nice if someone, or some company, decided to just hand me an iPad – no strings attached – that ain’t never going to happen. No how. There is an old adage I would like to remind people of: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
I’ll go further: if you see it via the Internet, it definitely is too good to be true. Do not click.
Let’s be careful out there folks. Exercise a little, healthy, “paranoid common sense” when online. Don’t be a victim of cybercrime.
Something for nothing??? Hmmm… It could happen..
Are you kidding me???
Folks, I just updated Java on one of my machnes, and something now has my blood boiling. Sun/Oracle – two giant names in the tech industry – “We recommend installing the Ask toolbar” (and helpfully check the checkboxes to get that spyware installed.. [note: because you willfully install it, and they come from ‘legit companies’, the industry does not generally refer to browser toolbars as “spyware”. But that’s what they are, so I do. You should too.])
Folks, let me be perfectly clear: the Ask toolbar is the very last thing you want on your computer.
To the *good people* @ Sun/Oracle: This practice is vile and stinks. We all hate it. Shame on you.
Come on, guys — you’re better than this!
Recommend? Wow!
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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Tech - for Everyone 
An absolutely shameful “sellout” act on the part of Sun Microsystems/Oracle. Flog and keel haul ’em sez I. Arrrrrrrrggggg.
You are right TP, they were better than that, but apparently aren’t anymore. Very sad state of affairs!
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kstinman,
I could not print what I really wanted to say.
You came rather close…
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Here I thought you were giving out iPads/iPods..whatever (because I finally got my PC back. The Sandbox got a work out this past week.) So..you mean ALL those ads I clicked on and i filled out all the forms and sent to 20 friends as they requested..It was all a LIE too? NO!!! :)
I noticed that about Sun too.. :(
Here is a good read on “Bundled Software” and why I Love CloudEight(Don’t always agree but do love ’em.) Why Does Almost Everything You Download Have Hidden Software in It? | Cloudeight Information Avenue
Best line in the letter…”I cannot imagine why anyone would use an AOL Toolbar. Does AOL even have any customers anymore.”
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delenn13,
Yesterday, alone, I won 4 iPads. So I didn’t even bother with this “opportunity” to “test and keep” a 5th..
And yes, people still do use AOL.
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You definitely caught my attention… I was wondering, “now how did Tech Paul get his hands on an iPad giveaway”… You are right, this stuff draws us right into the snare.
Have a great one brother!
Rick
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Well, even though Apple HQ is not too far down the road from me, they have not knocked on my door with a box of iPads to give away.
Yet.
But.. it could happen…
(Somewhat interesting: no.. the title did not increase my ‘pageloads’)
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