Yahoo
Some people have nothing better to do than start rumours and/or cause
users to do weird things. In most cases, the user who starts the rumour
or hoax gets nothing from it.
Below I discuss some of people's hoaxes
and/or rumours.
Note: You may receive the text as a room message, a Private Message or
in E-Mail. It doesn't matter where, they are all false. The sample text
below may not be the exact text, but similar, as the messages vary
between users.
General Points to remember about Yahoo!
Yahoo! NEVER: * Communicate to its users via Private Messages. *
Communicate to its users via Chat Room Text. * Send files to its users
via File Transfer, E-mail, or any other way. * Ask via any form for
users to re-submit their information. * Use geocities pages for logins,
or use geocities pages to transfer files. ONLY: * Submit your
information to Official Yahoo! Websites.
Reinstate User Rooms
Instant Message:
After many month of deliberations, Yahoo has decided to reinstate the
ability to create user rooms. This will be permitted only in areas
marked as "adult content" areas. You must be 18 years old or over to
access these areas. To be eligible for this service simply right click
on the group name of your buddy list and select "Send Instant Message
to All in Group". Paste this message into the box that appears and
click the "Send" button. This will allow you to continue to view them
on your buddy list once the new user room system upgrade takes place
This is yet again another hoax where the aim is to just flood the
system with unneeded messages. The only thing you will gain from
sending on such a message is angry friends who want to know why their
user rooms still don't work! - Thanks to o_fri3nd_o for passing on this
hoax!
Hard Drive Killers
Instant Message:
if somebody by name dvorak@yahoo.com adds you. dont accept it. Its a
virus.
Tell everyone on ur bulletin because if somebody on ur list adds
them, u get the virus too. Tell everyone on your list not to open
anything from angell11, tewwtuler, and sassybitch. It is a hard drive
killer and a very horrible virus.pass this letter to everyone on your
buddy list. We need to find out who is really using these accounts.
Sorry for the inconvienience. Sincerely, Director of Yahoo Services,
tanwir2001
Yet Another Hoax
Somebody adding you to their list, or you adding them is not enough for
them to harm you. You'd have to download from them, and you should
NEVER do this unless you know the other user, and have communicated the
file transfer with them in advance.
Only 57 Names Left!
Instant Message:
the director of yahoo, Tim Buiski, Sorry for the interuption, but Yahoo
is closing the system down because too many booters are taking up all
the names, we only have 57 names left, if you would like to close your
account, don't send this mesage, if you want to keep your account, send
this message to everyone on your list. This is no joke, you'll be sorry
you didn't send it. Thanks, Director of Yahoo, Tim Buiski, WHOEVER
DOESN'T SEND THIS MESSAGE YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND IT WILL
COST $10.00 A month to USE IT TO SEND
It's exactly that, a Joke
You won't be sorry for not sending it, you'll be sorry for sending it
because all you will do is annoy your friends! Ignore all e-mails like
this, there are too many variants to state here, but they are all
hoaxes.
Email:
Dear user of Yahoo.com,
Some of our clients complained about the spam (negative e-mail content)
outgoing from your e-mail account. Probably, you have been infected by
a proxy-relay trojan server. In order to keep your computer safe,
follow the instructions.
Advanced details can be found in attached file.
In order to read the attach you have to use the following password:
21685.
Best wishes,
The Yahoo.com team
FALSE: Ignore this e-mail, do NOT open the attachment, and delete
immediately.
Email:
Sample Text: DEAR YAHOO _User_, This* ema!l !nform You That your_ YAHO0
User ID (USERID@yahoo.com) _will_ be BL0CKED _after_ 23 days` (_as_
_after_ autoomateed reegisttration) _if_ You _will not s1gn up _on_
_Yahoo_ wh1te List (T0 signup - click HERE: http://USERID.yahoo.com/)
This_is done beecause we` update _now_ _Yahoo_ N0T autoomateed
reegistered account`s. 5J7Io4oFp I cannot suggest what the aim of this
email. It's certainly not real. The spelling and grammar is awful.
Delete the e-mail immediately, don't click the links or download any
attachments.
Rumour 1: Yahoo! are to Charge $10 a month for Yahoo! Messenger
Sample Text: "Yahoo! is planning to charge Yahoo! Messenger as of . If
you want to keep Yahoo! Messenger free of charge, please send this
message to everyone you know. Each person who receives this message
counts as one 'signature' of which Yahoo! requires 1,000,000 to stay
free".
Achieved: This is an old rumour, and has existed for other Instant
Messaging platforms. The user who starts such a rumour gains nothing
other than seeing gullible people going out of their way to send every
user and every room a message like the above. It's also possible that
Yahoo!'s servers get slightly more busy as people are trying to send
everyone else the same message.
Danger: NONE
Rumour 2: A new type of buddy list! Just send a group message to 10 or
more users!
Sample Text: "Right click on your group name of your buddy list and
check send this message to all the people in this group Copy this and
send it to your friends in the group. If you send this msg to 10
people, a new type of buddy list will appear! It will tell you where
someone is, who they are talking to, and if they have more than one
screen name."
Achieved: This is false, there is no such thing, even though the person
sending you the message probably precedes the text with a statement
such as "it actually works!". Again like the above, the user just hopes
that the message somehow floods Yahoo! servers, and enjoys watching
people unknowingly contribute more messages into the Yahoo! system.
It's also possible under some conditions, sending such large amounts of
messages could cause a temporary block on your account.
Danger: In extreme circumstances, a temporary account lock.
Rumour 3: Yahoo! recently lost your password, reply with your new
password ...
Sample Text:
Achieved: If you fall for it, the user now has your username and
password. They can log into your account, change the password and use
it. A few things to note:
1. Yahoo! never ask for your password.
2. A Yahoo! employee has an email address in the form @yahoo-inc.com
3. You would never be approached by a Yahoo! Employee in a chat room.
Danger: If you fall for it, you will lose your account to the users.
Rumour 4: Variant of Above - Resource limits, all accounts deleted
Sample Text: "Yahoo! resources are being stretched and many of our
users no longer use their accounts. If you still use your account, you
must reply to this message immediately will up to date information. If
you do not reply, your account will be deleted by "
Achieved: They hope you will reply to them with such information as
password, secret question/answer, location etc...
Danger: High if you submit your information.
New
Virus in Messenger - Must send all buddies an IM
Thanks to 'Andrea' who sent us this one.
Sample Text: Yahoo now has a virus in its 'yahoo messenging' system and
it is now active on this server ...... By default if you don't send
this message to everyone on your list......as soon as you delete this
message a worm hole virus will enter your hardrive and slowly eat away
at all of your files.
Achieved: Another method by which they wish for users to send
numerous messages to each other. Although virus transfer is possible
over messenger, only if you accept files (or other extreme
circumstances).
And another resource issue
Thanks to 'Darlyne' who sent this one.
Sample Text: Yahoo Alert: Yahoo is shutting down on August 17,2003
because they are running outta space and all the names are getting took
up, so pass this around if you don't want your name to be deleted from
Yahoo. If you don't pass this on, then your Yahoo will be shut down for
good. Those that don't send, your name will be deleted August 17,2003,
thanks, Yahoo Board Leader, Tom Buslowski So the Yahoo! leader speaks
with words such as "outta" now in official correspondence? He also
misses the ! off the Yahoo! name? No. Just another weirdo's idea of
fun!
Competition to Win a Laptop, Just $1
Sample Text: Hello, My name is Melissa Birch. Im a live rep here @
Yahoo! We have a contest going on where we give away a brand new
Toshiba Laptop fully loaded which retails for over $4,999.95 Plus
includes over $2000 in free software to one lucky chatter every 24hrs.
Would U like to enter? If so, click here now & Send $1/per entry
requested . UNLIMITED ENTRIES!..GOOD LUCK..u could be our next winner!
We have your info on file If you're the winner we'll notify you via
email! Achieved: They get $1 each time you fall for it - each time you
think you are adding an entry. Yahoo! do not have reps in their rooms,
nor do they run competitions using unofficial mediums such as Paypal
and PMs.
In fact, Yahoo! and HSBC are partners for the financial services
offered to users, hence Paypal would not be used!
I also draw your attention to the "Non Refundable Donation" item type
in the link!
If you fell for it, you will only lose what you paid, there is no risk
of your CC details being transfered, or more funds being withdrawn.
Danger: You lose $1 every time you submit your cc number via paypal.
1000 Questions
Some users wont come out direct and ask for your password like in the
rumours above, instead they pretend to be your buddy, asking you all
sorts of questions. There aim is to get your location, date of birth,
and answers to the secret questions. Why? If they have this, they have
enough information to apply for a new password, when they click the
"Forgot My Password" links.
By pretending to be your friend, and have common interest, they hope to
get the details they require by working down the list of possibilities.
I will help you - what's your password?
A user either pretends to be from Yahoo! or just states that they need
your password to help with your problem. Find this type of user in help
rooms. They will look for users needed problems, offer help, then take
your password.
You
will receive no further help. You will most probably find your account
taken after you logout too.
AOL USERS
AOL 8.0/9.0 appears to be causing you problems with profiles and links,
here is the fix (if you want to use Internet Explorer or Netscape,
ignore this post, and move to the appropriate method).
AOL 8.0 and before
(1) Goto the AOL keyword "preferences" ie, type preferences in the
address box in AOL.
(2) Select "association" in the next window.
(3) Select yes, to allow it to associate.
(4) Restart Yahoo! Messenger, it should be fixed!
AOL 9.0
(1) Click "Settings" at the top of the screen.
(2) Click the "A-Z" Tab.
(3) Click "Aol As Default"
(4) Select "OK", to allow it to associate.
(5) Try a profile, it should be fixed, restart Yahoo! Messenger may be
necessary!
Like ALL the other Yahoo! profile fix methods, You saw the AOL 9.0
profile fix here First. With thanks to Lyrricist.
If this didn't fix it, that's ok, 20% of the time it doesn't, just do
Method 1 instead below:
To Top
Method 1 - All Users - This will reset any custom settings to the
programs tab.
(1) Goto start>>settings>>control panel>>Internet
Settings. Select "reset web settings"
(2) In the confirmation box, Uncheck "Also Reset My Homepage", and
select ok.
(3) Start a new Internet Explorer session, if prompted to make default,
select yes or ok. AOL: Skip step (3)
(4) Restart Yahoo! Messenger, it should be fixed.
If you previously had customised which e-mail client or other program
you use, you may have to select these from the boxes at the top of the
programs tab. This applies mostly to AOL users who need to set e-mail
client as AOL.
Method 2 - Internet Explorer users
1) If you use Internet Explorer, goto tools>>internet
options>>programs and at the bottom, place a check by "Internet
Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser".
2) Open a new internet explorer window in the normal way, if it asks if
you want to make internet explorer the default, select "yes".
3) Restart Yahoo! Messenger, try and view profiles, if it works, stop
Method 2 - Netscape users
1) If you use Netscape, please follow the instructions on this page
carefully:
http://wp.netscape.com/browsers/using/ieusers/start/default.html
2) Open a new Netscape window in the normal way, if it asks if you want
to make netscape the default, select "yes".
3) Restart Yahoo! Messenger, try and view profiles, if it works, stop
he
Method 3 - Advanced users.
(1) The file association is for URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol
(2) Go to , Start-Settings-Folder Options
(3) Go to , File Types
(4) Find "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" in the list, and select it.
(5) Select edit.
In the box at the bottom, you should see "open". If you don't:
(1) Click new...
(2) The action is "open"
(3) The program is your browser. Click browser and look for it, they
will be in the program files. if it's internet explorer, it will be
"C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\iexplore.exe" -nohome
(4) Check "use dde"
(5) DDE message is "%1",,-1,0,,,,
(6) Application is "IExplore" - for internet explorer
(7) next box is blank, last box is "WWW_OpenURL"
Now click OK apply all changes, and reboot.
If you do see "open" click "edit..." and ensure all the boxes match the
data above from step (3) onwards.
Why does this work?
This part of the registry deals with the API calls a programmer makes
to launch a link, instead of launching a browser with a paramater, they
send a command to launch a URL, windows then deals with this using the
specific information a
Adult Profiles
Compiled based on information from BigBlueBall/TechGuy forums
To view an adult profile you must be,
(1) An Adult - Over 18
(2) Not in the UK
The Yahoo! UK & Ireland stopped access to User rooms, Adult rooms
and Adult profiles to its UK accounts. If you have a UK Yahoo! account,
adult profiles will not work. If you have a USA Messenger with a UK
Yahoo! account you will be able to access User rooms and adult rooms.
Possible Fix Go to chat.yahoo.com, sign in, and select "Account Info"
in the upper right. Look for "Member Information" and click the "Edit"
button to the right of it. Now under "General Preferences" you will see
the current language, click it, then update your language to another
English version, NOT uk or u
URL Not Found On Server
To read about transparent proxies, click Here.
This error appears to lie in a cached error, possibly Yahoo! was in a
state of error, and something has been cached by proxies.
For Shaw Cable follow Fix1. For NTL follow the NTL fix. For NetZero
follow the NetZero Hispeed fix.
Fix1:
If you use DSL/Cable: Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options.
Select "connections". Then click "Lan Settings...". In that box,
uncheck "automatically detect lan settings".
This
option automatically sets up a proxy on your connect if your ISP has it
set up like this, unchecking this will stop a proxy being used.
Fix2:
If the above fails, it's possible your ISP, especially smallers ISPs,
route all traffic through a proxy as default, even when you haven't
selected one. Press the "refresh" button in your browsers when you get
the error, this should send a header telling servers not to receive
from a cache.
Fix3:
If all those fails, use tty's lookup page: Here
If that fails, use this Proxy Profile Viewer produced by myself: Here
Fix4:
If your ISP proxy cache is outdated, it might have the wrong IP. You
can fix this by adding it to your hosts file.
Go to start, run, and type "notepad c:\windows\hosts". You might
already have entries. Scroll right to the bottom, add a new line.
Enter 66.218.75.148 then a tab, then profiles.yahoo.com
Fake Yahoo! Login Forms
If you came here to recover a lost password, click here for info
ID Stealing
For too long, people have been creating clones of Yahoo! Login pages,
and changing the page to send YOUR password and username, unencrypted
to their e-mail addresses. Once they get your username and password,
they change your password, and lock you out of your own account.
Unfortunately, this appears to be on the increase.
What the pages look like
The pages are an exact copy of Yahoo's Log in pages. From looking at
the page, no difference, all the links link to valid Yahoo! Pages. It
uses the official Yahoo! Logo (Which is a registered trademark of
Yahoo! Inc.)
If in doubt, go to http://edit.yahoo.com/ and log in there, this sets
your cookie for all Yahoo! Services. You should not be requested for
your ID again.
How to tell a bad page
There are a number of ways to tell, first, look in the address bar of
your browser.
Browser Address Bar
Safe Login
If it is something like the above, and starts with edit.yahoo.com or
login.yahoo.com then it's safe.
Unsafe Login
If it's something like the above, its BAD. Only the main page
geocities.yahoo.com is a valid login page for Geocities.
Right Click Properties
As an extra check, right click on the page, select properies.
Look for address(URL):
xxxxxxxxxxxx. Where xxxxxxxxxxx is the URL.
Again, it should be one of the good ones from above.
If you right click, and (1) Nothing happens, OR (2) You get a no right
click message, this is a sign it's BAD.
Form Submission
Edit>>View source.
Now look for the
What to do if you find a bad page
Report it to (1) Yahoo! and (2) The
website host. If you don't report
it, remember someone else may be fooled by the page in question!
Yahoo!: http://help.yahoo.com or chat-
help@yahoo.com or
cc-
advoc@yahoo.com
If it's a Yahoo!
Geocities Page:
http://geocities.yahoo.com/v/alert.html to report it.
Edit Profile Pictures
Editing Profiles
To find out how to edit other profile entries, or how to get to the
picture area, see our editing profiles page.
Choose a Yahoo! Picture
You can use one of Yahoo's cartoon type pictures. Once you have clicked
"Edit Picture", you are presented with a gallery of them. Select the
picture you like, by placing a check in the circle and then selecting
"Change Picture" to save changes.
Upload From Your Computer
This lets you take a picture from your computer you have saved earlier,
and put it onto your profile. For Animated
GIFs, see below!!! File
Types: Only .
jpg is accepted for upload File Sizes: Don't make your
images too large, large images take too long to download. Save your
image at 72dpi.
Once you have selected "Upload From Your Computer" you are presented
with the box to enter the file name, such as c:\
myimage.jpg . If you
don't know the exact location, select "Browse" and find the image, and
select open.
Enter the confirmation code into the box, and click "Upload" this may
take some time.
Link to an image on the web
Yahoo! removed this feature in June/July 2003 for security reasons. If
you have a profile that currently uses an image on the web, it will
still work though!
Animated
Gifs
If you upload an animated GIF to your profile, it will not animate.
Yahoo! stopped this.
Yahoo! photo Albums
Select "Yahoo! Photos" to use an image in your Yahoo! Photo Album. You
will be taken to your album, find the picture you wish to use, and
select "Use Photo". This will set your profile picture to that photo.
Yahoo Messenger
For a long time, Yahoo! Messenger (or Yahoo! Pager as it was called),
was simply another contacts list program, similar to that of MSN.
It
didn't feature any extra features like Chat Rooms or
WebCams, but has
had voice chat for a while. Over the last year, Yahoo! Messenger came
with it's own chat client for accessing Yahoo! Chat Rooms, and since
version 5.0, it comes with
webcams, more
smileys, and
IMVironments!
How Yahoo! Messenger works
Yahoo! Messenger works on the Yahoo! ID. This is the same for your
Yahoo! Email, your Yahoo! Profile and Yahoo! Chat etc... You simply log
into the messenger service using your existing Yahoo! ID and password.
Since version 5.5, users can be known as anything they like, through
the nickname system. What this allows is for you to use any name you
like, but please remember your real ID is sent along with it, and is
visible to all users.
The Yahoo! ID
The Yahoo! ID must contain only letters, numbers and underscores and
nothing else. My ID for example, is freddy18uk. Although you might sign
up with capitals in the ID, it will only show as lowercase. It may not
start with a number, begin or end with a _, or have two or more
consecutive _s. Abusive terms, and words like Yahoo are also not
allowed within the ID. The nickname practically allows anything.
The Nickname
You can use a nickname instead of your normal ID in Yahoo! Chat. Users
of the chat2.0 and Messenger service will see your
nikcname rather than
your Yahoo! ID. The nickname is not as strict as user
IDs, and you can
use the same name as somebody else.
How it differs from MSN, ICQ, AIM etc...
There are many ways in which it differs. Firstly most of the above
don't have chat rooms integrated within the messenger software. Also,
Yahoo! Rooms do NOT have moderators of any type, user or official. And
although users can create their own rooms, they have no authority over
who can and cannot chat in their room.
What is an
IMVironment
IMVironments are like interactive scripts within the Instant Messenger
windows. They provide backgrounds, and features, such as throwing
snowballs, some even contain games, such as chess. They come with more
smileys and sounds.
Where to download
If you haven't already, Yahoo! Messenger may be downloaded from
http://messenger.yahoo.com (for US users), replace the .com with your
international code for other users. Please note international versions
are usually behind.####Thanks to:
helpbytes for the
information.http://www.helpbytes.co.uk/
YahELite - http://www.yahelite.org
YahEh - http://yaheh.chat-help.co.uk/
My!Chat - http://mychat.fxscripts.com
Yah-Too - http://www.geocities.com/trolling_around
Y!Chat - http://www.ekriirke.com/YChat
YaZak - http://messy.zak.2ya.com
