Re: Windows File Which Records Credit Card Numbers, SSN, etc.

From: Gene K (genekRE_at_MOVEolivianc.net)
Date: 08/06/04 

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 21:55:01 -0400

D.Currie wrote:
> "Gene K" <genekRe@MOVEolivianc.net> wrote in message
> news:O%23wuaaweEHA.3732@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> I have Norton Internet Security 2003. Occasionally, I get an Norton
>> Anti-Virus pop up which states that there is an attempt to forward
>> credit card numbers or my SSN to someone with out my permission. I
>> have made attempts to prevent storage of such information in order
>> to stop these furtive attempts to steal such information.
>> My specific questions:
>> a. Tell me, if you can, everything I should enable/disable to prevent
>> storage of such information in Windows.
>> b. What File/Folder is it stored in so I can remove the information.
>> If you feel this is sensitive information and should not generally be
>> revealed to the public, please E-mail me direct. To do that, check
>> Properties of this posting and remove the obvious to obtain my real
>> E-mail address.
>
> Are you sure this pop-up is from Norton and not something that's
> trying to convince you that you should buy some security program?
> Some of them look pretty legit.
>
> As far as where the files are stored, it depends on where you put
> them, although I can't imagine how Norton could tell the difference
> between a credit card number from any other string of numbers you've
> saved on your computer. You might have entered the numbers in some
> financial program, or some profile that you saved, or maybe a copy of
> a web site where you entered the info to buy something or apply for a
> loan, or for banking purposes.
>
> But once again, I can't see how Norton would know what the data is --
> Or, are you using that Norton password manager, or whatever it's
> called. It has specific fields where you enter the data for credit
> cards. But I'd imagine Norton itself would keep that safe.
>
> What's the exact text of the message?

The Window is from the Norton Anti-Virus Program. The text, as I remember
it, simply states that an attempt is being made to send private information
over the Internet, identifies the information as being a credit card number
[several times] or my social security number [once] and gives the last four
numbers of the number (has not been wrong once, at least not yet) and
recommends that the attempt be blocked [my choice though]. I do not use
Money or Quicken or any other similiar program to record financial
information. My version of Nortons Internet Security [2003] does not have a
Password Manager. That, I believe, was added to the 2004 version. I do have
A1 Roboform Pro as a password tool and it is regarded by PC World and PC
Magazine as probably the best of these programs and is very secure. It does
have a provision for storing credit card numbers but I have never chosen to
use it.
I do use credit cards occaisionally to purchase items via the Internet plus
I use online bill pay at my bank. Some places require your SSN. I do look
for the padlock at such sites.
I have found no option in Norton to check/uncheck to require such blockage
but I glad it is there. What I do have checkmarked in Outlook Express is
Tools/Options/Security "Warn me when other applications try to send mail as
me". At the suggestion of another, I have gone to Internet Explorer/Internet
Options/scrolled down to Security and placed a check mark by "Do not save
encrypted pages to disk".
I have noted approximately three time that this warning/action has occurred
during or just after a visit to a Forum site (I will not name it for fear of
legal action and/or the fact that Hackers can stick such files on their
servers/sites without the Webmasters knowledge). I intend to visit said site
before the PM is over to see if I have solved the problem with you folks
help.
It is not, as you think, a virus since I keep mine updated and scans reveal
no problem. It is apparently spyware since I find stuff every time I run
AddAware, Spybot, and SpySweeper.
The point: yes, Windows does store this information somewhere and someone
apparently knows where and what it is and is planting something in an
attempt to retrieve it. I personally believe that it may in those encrypted
files which I believe are stored as Internet History for the number of days
you allow (I am going to change my setting to 0 if possible). EITHER those
files are not encrypted or someone has found the key. 

-- 
Gene K

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