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ExecNight · Greenhorn Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 9

[Alert]Can we trust Metacortechs.com?

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:53 pm

Marauder · Veteran Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 123

Interesting point... I think we would have noticed viruses by now, but not necessarily spyware...

*runs Spybot S&D*

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:56 pm

joebrent

The Metacortex screensaver is a web portal. Seemed fishy at first, so I ran a very thorough virus and trojan horse scan on the screensaver and wallpaper, but it turned up nothing. Probably nothing nefarious going on there, they just want to know who's following the plot carefully so they can keep us updated.

I thought perhaps it might have something to do with who would be selected for beta testing on the VRX console, but we haven't heard anything about that that for some time, so maybe not.

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:05 pm

bakntime

I was also thinking that they would end up selling our e-mail addresses, phone numbers, etc, but I realized that there are much easier ways to go about that, as well as the fact that the number of people that play this game is relatively low compared and wouldn't be worth it to them. Bandwidth is more expensive that e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

The same is true of viruses. There are simply much easier ways to spread them than to go through all the work they go through. Think about all the work they've put into this. They're clearly talented individuals, and whatever their motivation, you can probably bet it's not anything underhanded.

While we may eventually find out that they are either advertising for something or trying to "spread the word" about a company that they are forming, or maybe even an internet hosting service, they are not up to anything duplicitous. Wink

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:07 pm

XtRaVa

Do you think they will actually choose people for the beta test...I mean, I think its pretty safe to assume that the makers of the game havnt programmed an advanced piece of virtual reality gaming for us to test lol

Maybe they are making a program in C++, or VB or something, where it looks like you can test the VRX, but for whatever reason you cant yet, and instead the program is filled with clues etc...but that would be lame, because I cant see a good reason they could use as to why the VR doesnt work, because why else would they release it as a beta?

So anyone got any ideas as to whether or not we will become "beta testers" and if so, what will we be "testing"?

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:15 pm

ExecNight · Greenhorn Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 9

Indeed they are talented..That makes me more afraid..Let me tell you that if you crash yahoo.com their loss in U.S. $ 1.000.000 at least,only for 1 hour downtime..And that can't be compared with the money spent on this project..

So what i am trying to say is this may be something big and we have to check all the files there is and there will be until the Individual or the organisation reveals itself..

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:16 pm

taniwha · Boot Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 40

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:23 pm

BrianEnigma

Re: [Alert]Can we trust Metacortechs.com?

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:43 pm

ExecNight · Greenhorn Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 9

Good point,unfortunatly quite outdated..You can infect any file with viruses these days...This includes .jpg etc..

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:54 pm

bakntime

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:03 pm

Diandra · Unfettered Joined: 27 Sep 2002 Posts: 390

Distributed Computing Theory

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:10 pm

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taniwha · Boot Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 40

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:10 pm

ExecNight · Greenhorn Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 9

I was gonna infect a .jpg and put it here for an example first then i thought it might get me in trouble..So i am just gonna give a link which you can see it is possible..And this link won't tell you how to do it sorry that would not be legal...

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_607293.html

**Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:31 pm

AnthraX101 · Entrenched Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 797

Azathoth666

Sorry Exec... that link is also your downfall.

This "new strain" drops a payload in the data file, but unless you actually run the virus executable file, the infected .jpgs do butkiss.

I think I'll wait for the SARC announcement on this one before I get all paranoid about viewing pictures on the internet...

Don't get ne wrong, a good dose of caution is always handy, but you don't have to worry about this one for a while, I'd say.

[EDIT] Quicker on the keys than I am again, Anthrax... Wink

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