Now pointlessly enhanced with AI
After taking down iforgot.apple.com following a serious vulnerability found earlier today. The security vulnerability allows Apple ID password to be reset with only email and birthdate. Accounts with two-step verification is not affected by this vulnerability. Apple took down its Apple ID password reset site to address the vulnerability.
Apple rolled out two-step verification for Apple ID on Thursday March 21, 2013.
UPDATE 4:
This spammer also related to wreese2013@hotmail.com.
The first spam reported to us is coming from ldirect.us domain
Definitely related to thegrapekiwi@gmail.com.
The phone number given as administrative contact 1.5037469135 seems to be used a lot for spam domain names.
UPDATE 3:
This spammer is also related to thegrapekiwi@gmail.com which is in the Register of Known Spam Operation (ROKSO).
Source: The Spamhaus Project
UPDATE 2:
Also related with Xcelerate
cherwo.co.uk (Registered on: 21-Mar-2013)
Domain name:
cherwo.co.ukRegistrant:
EvoMediaRegistrant type:
Non-UK CorporationRegistrant’s address:
PO Box 025250 #52990
Miami
FL
33102
United StatesRegistrar:
eNom, Inc. [Tag = ENOM]
URL: http://www.enom.com
UPDATE:
Based on recent findings, tslater@x-celerated.com spammer is related to admin@sevenquest.com spammer.
We’ve been getting requests to investigate a particular round of spam emails a few weeks ago. The spam seems to be using domain names with the same registration information.
Administrative Contact:
Xcelerate
Tom Slater (tslater@x-celerated.com)
+1.7733288013
Fax: +1.5555555555
1608 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
US
Partial list of domains registered with email tslater@x-celerated.com through enom.com / namecheap.com:
The domain x-celerated.com was registered through DreamHost:
Registrant Contact:
x-celerated.com Private Registrant x-celerated.com@proxy.dreamhost.com
A Happy DreamHost Customer
417 Associated Rd #324
Brea, CA 92821
US
+1.7147064182
We informed DreamHost of our findings on x-celerated.com, and we received a reply:
Unfortunately, we provide neither hosting services, nor email services, for any of these domains. The same is true for x-celerated.com, for which we are only the
registrar.
We looked into the address of Xcelerate’s Tom Slater. It is a mailbox service by Earth Class Mail in Chicago.
A Virtual Presence In Chicago
Street and PO Box addresses available:Street Address
1608 S Ashland Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60608-2013
Just $14.95 per month in addition to Monthly subscription fees
Will-call pickup not availablePO Box
PO Box 803338
Chicago, IL 60680-3338
Included in your monthly subscription fee
We cross referenced the phone number 773-328-8013 and the addresses from Earth Class Mail. We found a domain using Earth Class Mail service and the phone number 773-328-8013.
Administrative Contact:
TruTech
Mike Young (admin@techtru.com)
+1.7733288013
Fax: +1.7733288013
PO Box 803338
Chicago, IL 60680
US
The domain techtru.com was registered through enom.com / namecheap.com on August 27, 2012.
We called the number 773-328-8013 and we got the automated voicemail:
You’ve been forwarded to the voicemail for *text to speech voice* “xcelerate”.
It seems that Xcelerate is a shell company for the spammer to hide behind.
Spoofing the sender’s email address can be done. In this case Xcelerate / x-celerated.com is highly likely to be involved. Consider the following patterns:
If you would like to fight these spammer, use services like SpamCop.net and report them. SpamCop.net provides free service; we encourage you to subscribe to their service for a nominal fee. After all, they are providing a great service.
——-
Disclaimer:
We use SpamCop.net service.
The White House has released statement from President Obama on the passing of Steve Jobs.
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
…….
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.
Previously on Amazon.com and California:
Amazon.com terminates its Associates Program in California in response to Governor Jerry Brown signing the law that requires online retailers to collect sales taxes even though they don’t have any physical presence in California.
The New York Times reports that:
Amazon said this week that it would push a voter initiative in California that could eliminate sales tax for virtual sellers with only a modest physical presence in the state.
Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos supports the streamlined sales tax initiative, which should be legislated by the federal government.
Amazon.com sends termination notices to its California Associates program members as Governor Jerry Brown signed the law that requires online retailers to collect sales taxes even though they don’t have any physical presence in California.
Hello,
Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that we emailed you about earlier today. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program are terminated effective today, June 29, 2011. Those California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.
Would you still purchase products from Amazon if they were charging Sales Tax?
Two new Futurama Episodes, “Neutopia” and “Benderama” will air at Comedy Central at 10:00 p.m. tonight.
Neutopia (620)
The crew members encounter a bizarre alien with the power to change their sexual characteristics.Benderama (617)
Bender gains the ability to self-replicate, threatening to overrun Earth with vast swarms of copies of himself.
Be there because these episodes are going to be great, just like Bender, who is great!
