Gambling Federation Malware

[Aldebaran]

Okay, GFed got caught. From a players point of view its fairly innocuous, (although I was, and still am, spitting mad-furious at the invasion) as opposed to the casinos affected by the block. I seriously thought Royal Dutch had folded. How many people still don't know?

However, my main concern now is what else is lurking in my files?

I was not amused when I found out that a microgaming casino was happily downloading files whenever I went on line, whether I wanted those games or not. (I finally found out what the problem was by using Spybot and finding the offensive creature in the start up. This was AFTER I threw my toys out of my cot with the ISP and telephone line provider.)
Now this G-Fed thing, up to now how many people checked their hosts files regularly? Until the 18th I wasn't aware it existed- never mind what its function was.

What can the computer savvy among us suggest I do to check to see exactly what has been put onto my pc after download and install. I've taken to searching for files altered within a set period of time, and if it looks dodgy-out it goes. But I can't help feeling very vulnerable.

[spearmaster]

Aldebaran, I'd like to hear more about the Microgaming casino - whether it was downloading regardless of whether you had started the casino up or not, or only if you started the casino... feel free to PM me this info if you don't want to mention publicly.

I already had a word with Microgaming about this last month and I am expecting to hear further developments shortly.

[BigBill]

I have been having alot of trouble with my computer freezing and shuting off
so yesterday I downloaded a Ad/spyware finder and found the following:

Malaware- Mircogaming--Reg Key entry

Reg value/Reg key - 78 entrys by Golden Palace

6 tracking cookies- Golden Palace ( not in Cookies/Temp Internet files)

I quarantined all and my comuter shut off amd would only start in safe mode
and I had to restore thru XP restore.

I have played 60 casinos and those are the only offenders so far.

------------
So many Billion$- so little time

[GrandMaster]

I have been having alot of trouble with my computer freezing and shuting off
so yesterday I downloaded a Ad/spyware finder and found the following:

Malaware- Mircogaming--Reg Key entry

Reg value/Reg key - 78 entrys by Golden Palace

6 tracking cookies- Golden Palace ( not in Cookies/Temp Internet files)

I quarintined all and my comuter shut off amd would only start in safe mode
and I had to restore thru XP restore.

I have played 60 casinos and those are the only offenders so far.

------------
So many Billion$- so little time

Don't mess with the registry unless you know what you are doing. Anti-spyware programs are not perfect. Ad-Aware will flag the Microgaming registry key as a spyware and any Playtech as Golden Palace. There is a PTech registry key containing some serial number, which you can delete without any problems I think. The Microgaming key contains lots of information, including your user names and settings for each casino. If you delete it, your computer won't recognise the Microgaming casinos.

[dominique]

I agree with Grandmaster. Be careful in the registry.

All the items you mentioned are harmless, including the one your spyware remover found.

They are all to make life online easier for you - they allow the casinos to remember you and let you in.

Lately the spyware removers have gotten very competitive and are flagging things that are harmless, to outdo the next guy. They all use the number of items they recognize as advertising tool - bad idea. The microgaming and playtech entries are definitely not malware.

[maxlevine]

Just a note: despite deleting the lines in the host file about casinoxo and blackjacktable, Hijack This has just found them again. I guess deleting those lines wasn't enough.

Max

[Dutch]

Casino Meister Members,

We want to thank you for the opportunity to show our point of view in the Gambling Federation Malware Issue.

We had never put heads down but We won't use this forum to attack or judge the actions of Gambling Federation or

Mr. Fogli. We will deal with it in a different field.

We just want to make clear that We haven't bought any player databases, this practice is abusive and unethical

against the company of origin (disloyal competition) and individual (player integrity security) and the industry in

general.

Affiliates are more than welcome to distribute Royal Dutch Casino banners and links through out the net.

Royal Dutch Casino have a strong anti-spam policy, we don't encourage this practice in

any way shape or form. Actually if an affiliate spam, affiliate relationship will be terminated, referrals will be

wiped clean from our system and the affiliate in question will be forever banned from Royal Dutch Casino.

Since our first day of operations on january 5th, 2005, We haven't been contacted or notified by no one regarding

this affiliate/spammer that is supposedly spamming with a stolen player database. Otherwise we would taken proper

actions against the perpetrator.

Respectfully,


Angelo Vitorino
PR Manager
RoyalDutchCasino.com

[jetset]

Royal Dutch Casino - always good for a laugh, LOL!

More seriously, that was a good find, Caruso. Particularly "14) "Breaches of code: Any proven breach of this code by a member of the GGBA will result in the termination of the company membership from the association and shall be reported to the UK regulatory authority. To prove any breach the Association shall provide for an investigation into the alleged breach before terminating the membership."

That is pretty specific, and Fogli's admissions would seem to put GFED squarely in line for dismissal. The silence from the trade associations is still very conspicuous.

[Casinomeister]

Casino Meister Members,

We want to thank you for the opportunity to show our point of view in the Gambling Federation Malware Issue.

We had never put heads down but We won't use this forum to attack or judge the actions of Gambling Federation or

Mr. Fogli. We will deal with it in a different field.

We just want to make clear that We haven't bought any player databases, this practice is abusive and unethical

against the company of origin (disloyal competition) and individual (player integrity security) and the industry in

general.

Affiliates are more than welcome to distribute Royal Dutch Casino banners and links through out the net.

Royal Dutch Casino have a strong anti-spam policy, we don't encourage this practice in

any way shape or form. Actually if an affiliate spam, affiliate relationship will be terminated, referrals will be

wiped clean from our system and the affiliate in question will be forever banned from Royal Dutch Casino.

Since our first day of operations on january 5th, 2005, We haven't been contacted or notified by no one regarding

this affiliate/spammer that is supposedly spamming with a stolen player database. Otherwise we would taken proper

actions against the perpetrator.

Respectfully,


Angelo Vitorino
PR Manager
RoyalDutchCasino.com

Hi Dutch,

Please don't use this Malware issue to try and drum up some traffic and to show how benevelant your casino is. It's not. There was no mention of "buying" a database - just public implications that it was stolen. I know GamFed's CEO and have spoken to him over the phone about this. Sure, he made a stupid mistake - and he's paying the price for a major screw-up - but to think that Royal Dutch is going to walk away from this unscathed - I have some unpleasant news for you - it's going to expose the unethical underbelly of your establishment even more.

Please continue to post your propoganda. It's quite amusing.

[caruso]

I hope Dutch don't unwittingly derail this thread by shifting focus onto their own dirty dealings.

I know GamFed's CEO and have spoken to him over the phone about this. Sure, he made a stupid mistake - and he's paying the price for a major screw-up

No mistake, Bryan - this was malicious and intentional. Their "mistake" was thinking they'd get away with it.

The rapist makes a "mistake" when he gets caught on a security camera.