General Chat

Oh blimey. I got that one enjoyyoufeelings.. something like that, and because I didn't recognise sender I deleted.. Oh dear worrying .. Pat

I've just received a reply from GR about this - see my thread. Mandy

The disconcerting bit is that:- it could have been going on for some time we are unaware of the scope probably GR is too? Jay

There are several threads going about this, both on this site and elsewhere. Someone pointed out the small print in the GR T and C's. They will not divulge our email addresses to anyone - but they will share them with their sister sites, which of course now includes the ITV database. I was slightly concerned today to receive the usual GR Newsletter, in which it quotes me email address - ok - and then gives me a prompt for my password - my password is 8 letters long and they have substituted three letters with asterisks. Hardly a problem to reconstruct my password, is it, for anyone who happened to be able to use my computer? Other sites give a prompt as a clue - 'i'ts wet outside' or something, not h*l*d*ys. (Not my password!) Not as important as having my email addy passed on, or hacked, or whatever, but still slightly worrying, I think. I did wonder if it was ONE disgruntled ex GR member (not a gang) but on reflection, think the emails would have been much nastier than they are. OC

That's right Gillian - I'm sure that the percentage of GR members who actually use these boards is probably quite small, bearing in mind the total number of members. The email I received is a good example - my husband's GR account has never been used to post on these boards. Funny thing is, I use the same email address for my own accounts and I haven't received emails using either of those board names! It would certainly be interesting to try and find out just how many 'non board users' have received these emails. Mandy x

I don't say I have the answer Jay! It's just an idea. Until I recieve one I can't have a look at the headers to give an idea of where they are coming from. Bob

Bob I know what you're saying - but the mail I received is an exception to that rule. I've never made any secret of the fact that I have three accounts here on GR - my birth tree, my adoptive tree and my husband's tree. My husband's tree is in his name but as I'm the one doing his tree, we use my email address. My husband also has quite an unusual first name. The mail I received came to my email address but with my husband's first name in the subject header. Neither of us ever post under his account, so it can't be limited just to people who use the boards. Mandy x

Bob Wouldn't it take some time to work one's way through every GR member, which must be several thousand times greater than board users? And how do we know whether or not it is just restricted to regular board users? Surely they would be the only ones we KNOW about? Some members who have received them belong to another site as well, but do not have the same user name there - they have been approached with the e-mails addressed to the GR board name. If it was a 'disgruntled ex member', surely they would have had to have made personal contact with all those affected to have their actual e-mail address? Jay

I am not trying to cause an argument but if the GR site had been hacked then I think the problem would have been greater as only a small percentage of members use the boards. The effect of opening mail depends on your settings and e-mail client. A plain text mail is more secure than an HTML one. Most e-mail insecurity is based on opening attachments, clicking on links and allowing scripts to run. Bob

Re:'Is it possible there is a database of email adresses that are held by (disgruntled) ex GR members ?' I havent given my email address out to anyone on here, nor have I been involved in any of the fallouts. I still havent had a response from GR about this, has anyone?

hi, i have had email from someone...christine brooks..who ever that is,in my bulk folder..and they are using my user name on here. should i open it or not

Been pondering this for some time. If someone had 'hacked' into GR then why haven't I and others being affected? If some insider had sold the e-mails why use the GR IDs which would point to an insider? Is it possible there is a database of email adresses that are held by (disgruntled) ex GR members ? Bob

there was a post some days ago, regarding one gents percieved genius with doing more than colouring thread titles. seemed a little odd. who knows? haven't reciveds a reply yet. off for the morning so its goodnight to you all i suppose love Yvette x

Just discussed all this with hubby (he's in IT) and he is of the same opinion as Steve. Hacking is a possibility, but not very likely as the hacker would have to be extremely clever and have access to a very clever program. Far more likely is that someone at GR - legitimately or otherwise - has sold or passed on membership names and private email addresses. Mandy x

Thanks Steve. Am sending a more specific PM to GR. XX

Hi Gwen Pat and all all i can say is that this not a random spamming as you say they are using names including symbols ect that are only used on here. You can pass on all that info i gave you to GR but i dont know if they can or will act on it But the more that complain the better but give clear instructions on how you know it can only be from your GR account that will help them Sxx

Steve the name they used is the one on here with th symbols i still have the email,i am only dragonfly here not d/lady,and it is my yahoo account

Hi, i had one this morning,they had used my user name ' west ' from this site. the only way they could have got my email addy and user name is from gr. i have complained to gr but havn't had a reply. paula

Hi Gillian To be honest i dont, if GR security has been breached then its been a flaming good program thats done it. I dont know how Gr names are being harvested and used by spammers, unless someone has sold the list ????? But ITV need to investigate it now as all our details are in their data base's Sorry i cant help much more cep put a list of all the other companys that GODADDY are using and there contact details Sxx Waves to Janey ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh glad I am not the only one that received this mail..... mine came about two hours ago and went straight into scrap box. It was from a AnneReed telling me: Its Okay I am connected..... but also addressed me as Elizabeth...... but sent to my husbands mail box..... Elizabeth