Gambling Federation Malware

[jetset]

Casinomeister News carried the story for two weeks running, and there are still many in this industry who want to see public action - and are pushing for it in their own ways.

It is disappointing that some of the more high profile online news media in the industry have also been guilty of ignoring this disgraceful behaviour despite having been alerted to it.

If there is any thought of sweeping this quietly under the carpet I don't think that is going to happen.

 

[jetset]

BTW Petunia, where did you find that news piece you have quoted? It looks suspiciously like an edited version of the InfoPowa bulletin?

 

[Casinomeister]

BTW Petunia, where did you find that news piece you have quoted? It looks suspiciously like an edited version of the InfoPowa bulletin?

Here maybe? Outdated URL (Invalid)

 

[jetset]

Thanks - I will be keeping an eye on that site LOL

They're over two weeks late with the story but better late than never and this story needs to get out wide.

 

[Petunia]

BTW Petunia, where did you find that news piece you have quoted? It looks suspiciously like an edited version of the InfoPowa bulletin?

** I did a search on google news, and this was ALL that I could find! I know it is somebodies rebuttle over this whole thing, but it said exactly what I was thinking. Yeah Bryan, you are right, that was EXACTLY where I got it from! **

 

[jmildstone]

You can be sure that as long as I'm around this thread won't stay far from the top.

bump

 

[jmildstone]

IGC we are waiting for your resolution.

 

[Casinomeister]

bump

No need to bump, since I'll be making periodical postings here; and there are enough happy campers (not) who I'm sure will be contributing to this thread every day or so until the smoke clears

The smoke hasn't cleared yet.

I've been in contact wiht the IGC - they are meeting this week to discus this. I've also been in touch with the iGGBA and they have just been made aware of this (perhaps by my email), and they are delving into this as well.

Like you, I would like some answers too.

 

[jetset]

Hot off the press....'Meister there's a press release out from eCOGRA this morning taking a position on this - let me know if you haven't seen it and I will forward a copy.

 

[Casinomeister]

Hot off the press....'Meister there's a press release out from eCOGRA this morning taking a position on this - let me know if you haven't seen it and I will forward a copy.

https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/search

 

[Petunia]

What is to happen?

** Hey everyone. It is good to see that some of the troops don't mind venturing out of the woods. I have asked this before,and would like to ask again:
It would seem very hard to come up with a suitable punishment for the GFED as a whole or even for The MISTER FAV himself. What (if anything) do you think should happen - and to whom? Ultimately, I am battling to come to a conslusion as to who really is responsible - let alone as to what would be a suitable punishment! ANy ideas? **

 

[jetset]

I believe Petunia asks a relevant question.

In a reputable company with a concerned Board of Directors the guy would probably fall on his sword. It happened on his watch, it is a very serious matter that brings the company into disrepute and probably harms its business and if he did not offer his resignation, it may be demanded.

After that a considerable house-cleaning would be in order, although how you would try and placate your players in this sort of really bad scenario I am not entirely sure.

Looking outside the company to its membership of outfits like iGGBA and IGC (and Fogli is a Board member at IGC) I would imagine there is the obvious choice of booting GFED out of the body, or of demanding some sort of atonement in monetary terms to go to GA or someone like that, accompanied by some serious inspection to satisfy the Board that all evil has been expunged from the GFED systems.

The powers of the body to do these things would be dependent on its Constitution, of course.

Concerning Fogli's involvement with the IGC as a director, I would say that the same options apply as at his company - he should tender his resignation or have his ass fired following an appropriate enquiry that should perhaps involve independents for credibility.

I would not imagine there is a criminal sanction available here, although there could be civil actions from those affected and - here's a thought - players could even mount a class action and go after GFED for damages.

Fogli's reputation in the industry has sustained severe damage, and that will have a personal cost for him, I'm sure. His judgement, and even his business ethics and efficiency have been shown to be flawed i.m.o. and that will not be easily forgotten.

 

[Petunia]

Jetset, very well said mate! The problem with the Class Action as per your suggestion is that pple do not want to get involved. I do agree with what you are saying - and how can one not when it is put in such a well-written manner! I guess we will not know what is going on behind closed doors (Gfed's) until someone let slip. Having looked at some, information the way I see it is as follows:
Is Mr Flav the only one to blame in this saga?
See, SOMEONE had to come up with the Idea, SOMEONE had to approve the Idea, SOMEONE had to developed this lot, SOMEONE had to be given permission to deploy this, and SOMEONE had to implement it, SOMEONE had to silence the lot, then Flav was 'caught!'

Now, how long ago did the person leave the company? How long have they known that this person had the data? Something like this takes planning - and then some. Considering that it took a good while before they were fingered, and considering that development would take no less than a month.. This was planned to the "T" - Does the time-span check out - from when the person left and this was implemented.

Now was he the SOMEONE in all of this, or was he acting upon instruction by someone else? - This is where I think your suggestion of an external and independent party should investigate on this. Although Flav admitted to GFED doing it, he might only be part to blame. Either way, they should make a public report available on who/what/when things are happening - I hope GFED would drop in a FYI soon!

Thanks again for that well put opinion jetset! **

EDIT: Spelling mistakes! *grin*

 

[jetset]

Much will now depend on the real integrity of the Boards of Directors involved in this matter, because it must be clear to everyone that this is not going to simply go away - feelings are running too high.

From what I see here, GFED hasn't really produced a solid case for this implication that their customer relations manager defected to Royal Dutch and is suspected of taking player database information. So we have their word, or rather *suspicions* for it, and the fact that it could be seen as a competitively motivated tactic - an unethical, dishonest and unacceptable thing to do notwithstanding that.

The way I see this, the boss (Fogli) knew it was happening and therefore presumably condoned it and he is therefore ultimately responsible. If he didn't know about it (and his statements suggest he DID know what was happening) then the mind boggles at the sort of corporate scenario that such behaviour might suggest, and he should go anyway.

 

[mary]

If GFed were operating in a regulated jurisdiction, the gaming commission involved would require all executives and employees with knowledge to be fired/let go, fine the company as an entity, and allow the cleaned up company to continue business.

You can see on GFed's web site a lot of statements about "integrity" and "trust" and supporting regulation. All this while knowingly using malware.

Obviously they would have continued to do so until caught. People with this attitude "The rules don't apply to me" can't be in this industry. If the leading organizations don't send a strong message of condemnation, you can expect to see a lot more of it in the future.

 

[Freudian]

So their excuse for modifiying system files is that they couldn't keep their players information safe in the first place?

 

[mary]

So their excuse for modifiying system files is that they couldn't keep their players information safe in the first place?

You are my new best friend. :notworthy

 

[Freudian]

Btw. When I run adaware I find malware from Microgaming also (must have come from a Prima poker room since I don't have any casinos installed on this computer). So it's not like Gaming Federation is alone in the belief they have the right to install more than the gambling software on thier customers computer.

I didn't bother to check what Microgaming installed. I suspect its tracking cookies or something similar. Didn't matter much to me since the Prima pokerroom got uninstalled in an instant. When there are great pokerrooms available that have bigger respect for my privacy the choice is simple.

 

[mary]

I need to do more research about this Microgaming thingie. I do know that many Microgaming casinos use Gator for marketing, i.e., Gator tracks the user's surfing and Gator throws popup ads.

I've read that what Ad Aware is flagging in a Microgaming download and installation is not malware but Ad Aware goofing up somehow.

This deifnitely needs clarification. Ideally, Microgaming and Ad Aware would come to some resolution on this.

 

[jetset]

If GFed were operating in a regulated jurisdiction, the gaming commission involved would require all executives and employees with knowledge to be fired/let go, fine the company as an entity, and allow the cleaned up company to continue business.

You can see on GFed's web site a lot of statements about "integrity" and "trust" and supporting regulation. All this while knowingly using malware.

Obviously they would have continued to do so until caught. People with this attitude "The rules don't apply to me" can't be in this industry. If the leading organizations don't send a strong message of condemnation, you can expect to see a lot more of it in the future.

Absolutely.

And as you commented earlier, their casinos don't appear to even pay lip service to jurisdictional control or regulation (however pathetic those concepts are in most *licensing* venues)

 

[jetset]

Btw. When I run adaware I find malware from Microgaming also (must have come from a Prima poker room since I don't have any casinos installed on this computer). So it's not like Gaming Federation is alone in the belief they have the right to install more than the gambling software on thier customers computer.

I didn't bother to check what Microgaming installed. I suspect its tracking cookies or something similar. Didn't matter much to me since the Prima pokerroom got uninstalled in an instant. When there are great pokerrooms available that have bigger respect for my privacy the choice is simple.

I'd be interested in seeing more detail on that accusation if you have it to hand, Freudian?

 

[Freudian]

I'd be interested in seeing more detail on that accusation if you have it to hand, Freudian?

I re-installed it again (this is Expekt's poker room www.expekt.com). And the same warning was flagged in ad-aware. Anyway, attatching some screenshots from ad-aware. I don't know exactly what the warning is about. It is of course possible that it is harmless, I'll leave that to those with more knowledge than me to determine. It could be something as basic as the auto-login while starting the pokerroom.

Btw. If any casino installs Gator or GAIN on my computer I consider it a much more serious violation than the modifications to the host-file that GFED did.

 

[bagofmaggots]

Ad-Aware flags a remembered username as spyware. Nothing to be concerned about,

 

[jetset]

Ad-Aware flags a remembered username as spyware. Nothing to be concerned about,

Good point. I think we have to be careful about what is truly offensive and dangerous MALware in the context of this particular thread, although my personal opinion is that nothing should be installed on your computer without your knowledge and permission.

Nevertheless, I will communicate Freudian's find to the people concerned.

 

[Casinomeister]

Hi Freudian,

Like nafanny29 stated in another thread: "Adaware will find "spyware" in nearly all microgaming sites but its not spyware, its a cookie that remembers your log in details. If you let adaware delete it, next time you log in you have to manually adjust all your user settings again."

I've deleted this a couple of times and regretted it - I have to dig through emails for my account numbers and try to remember passwords to log back in MG casinos.

If GFed were operating in a regulated jurisdiction, the gaming commission involved would require all executives and employees with knowledge to be fired/let go, fine the company as an entity, and allow the cleaned up company to continue business.

Just an admin note that GFed are "regulated" in Belize (what have I said about Belize?) Oh yeah, "Don't play at sites licensed in Belize, Venezuela, Eastern Europe."

...Obviously they would have continued to do so until caught. People with this attitude "The rules don't apply to me" can't be in this industry. If the leading organizations don't send a strong message of condemnation, you can expect to see a lot more of it in the future.

I'm still having a difficult time getting over the stupidity of this whole thing. It was only a matter of time before one would be busted out. Blows my mind.

Looks like the only leading organization that has stepped up to the plate and voiced their disproval is eCOGRA. The IGC as far as I know is meeting this week - and iGGBA is aware of the situation - but nothing.

Talk about sending a "real" message to the players. I am very, very diappointed.