Free Laptop Update
FREE LAPTOP UPDATE
This is a free laptop update to a blog I wrote back in April about an offer posted on Facebook for a free laptop if you signed up to do the case study. Many people took advantage of this but I was very hesitant because of all the personal information that was required to send, including a copy of your driver’s license plus your Gmail login information INCLUDING your password. I wrote a post letting my readers know to make sure they read all the requirements on ANY offer before accepting it. There are many studies that are legit but there are also many that scam you and since I wasn’t sure about this one, I just wanted to stress a word of caution. This is the blog I wrote on April 13, 2017 http://themarthareview.com/dont-fall-for-free-laptop-offer/
I received the most views and so many comments on this post, some thanking me while others blasted me saying it was all legit. I never said it was or wasn’t, I just wanted to warn people to do their homework, read the requirements and read them again. The study was about Google Ads but it was not sponsored by Google and it was to last about three months. The computer had to be left on 24/7 and logged into your Gmail account the entire time. It’s been three months and many have completed the case study and now they get to keep the laptop. Sounds like a good deal, do a three-month study and get a laptop in exchange.
I heard from one of my Facebook friends that received a laptop and when she ran a malware detection program she found the malware “Mefiaplex. After doing a factory reset, the malware was still there so then had to run a program specifically for removing Mediaplex but still found other viruses.
Mediaplex is not a malicious domain itself, however this website is used by cyber criminals as a tracking website for their affiliate programs. Before traffic is delivered to advertisers, Altfarm.mediaplex is used as a network referral ID to identify and qualify traffic sent by traffic partners.
The managers of mediaplex cookie infected computers may face serious questions when endeavoring to remove mediaplex cookie even with a worthy mediaplex cookie removal tool. Mediaplex cookie can ensure betrayware which reports that some malicious programs is uncovered on your PC and you need to kill that. Confidentiality-invasive applications whatever it is – mediaplex cookie, spjyware or tracking products is as harmful as infections and other malware, so serious mediaplex cookie removal procedures are needed.
NOTE: You will need to continue to run a malware check on a regular basis because there will be other viruses that continue to pop up after the removal of Mediaplex.
As with the earlier blog I wrote regarding this topic, these are my own opinions and in no way saying all computers are infected, I’m only sharing the information that I received from my friend who had her computer infected. With so many viruses lurking around, we have to be careful and I’m posting this to help others IF their computer is infected with Mediaplex. Hopefully your laptop didn’t have this virus but it’s worth checking just to be on the safe side.
I’ve agreed with you the entire time.
Thanks Carol, just trying to spread the word in case this happened to others that got the laptop. I would never give my gmail and password out for anything! Thanks for stopping by.
Sounds to me that they put that malware on so they could run their surveys. What they do with that info Who the heck knows.
I wasn’t about to fall for this Roy, especially when they wanted my gmail sign-in and password info. My friend that had this virus ended up throwing her laptop away. Thanks for stopping by.
One should always look into things before giving out their information. I learned that the hard way over the years.
It’s easy to be taken in on things like this Brenda. When I saw you had to give a copy of driver’s license and password info for gmail, that turned me right off. Thanks for stopping by.
Hmmm, the whole thing sounds fishy and it falls into the “too good to be true” category. I wouldn’t give out my gmail and password either.
Very fishy to me Alice! Giving out your password could lead to so many bad things. Nice to see you again and thanks for stopping by.
If an offer is too good to be true, there is a need to verify. We cannot be victims to offers that require us to give personal information. they can be used in a lot of frauds and scams. We cannot let our guards loose.
I salute you for sharing this information. Ignorance is not an excuse when we do many things using the internet.
That is so true Bing. I actually had some people who took the offer, get very upset for me posting the first blog. I just wanted to warn others to read and re-read, not just on this offer, but every one. And yes, your first sentence says it all. Thanks for stopping by.
Yikes! Sigh. If it sounds too good to be true… Informative and helpful update for a very serious issue.
Plus when someone asks for your password, to me that’s a HUGE red flag Savvy! Some say their laptops were okay while others weren’t. I wasn’t about to even go there! Thanks for stopping by.
That is exactly why I didn’t fall for it. It seemed like a scam in some way to me. To sketchy. Seems to be true. Sounds like no matter what the laptop is no good. ZSorry for those who were infected. now can those people who have infected computers infect others?
The one red flag was how secretive everyone was when talking about the study. I never saw anything definite posted, just through messages and I think that was because people got paid to get recruiters. I’m not sure if those that had infected computers can infect others, good question, I’ll see if I can get an answer! Thanks for stopping by Sandy.
Ahhh, life on the bleeding edge of technology. What is the phrase, “forewarned is forearmed”?
Thanks for the warning and follow up.
I would like to think my first post was a warning to others, not just for this one but for all the offers that ask for personal information. People have to read and reread to make sure they understand everything. Thanks for visiting Doug!
After careful investigation I found that the person (whom i thought I knew better) was getting $50 for everyone that they talked into signing up. They knew nothing about the Mediaplex malware & was defensive when I informed them how bad it could be.
Yes Linda, the ones referring others ended up with a good paycheck! I think that’s why everything was so secretive and they wouldn’t post other than saying they would text anyone interested. I even had someone I thought was my friend, block me on FB because I questioned them and told people to make sure they read, re-read and understand what personal information is required of them. When I saw how defensive all the ones trying to get people to sign up got, they was enough of a turn off right there. Thanks for stopping by.