Category: Programming

Programming, Security, Tech

Ducktails vs. Duck Tales

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Bye-bye Mr. Duck, Scriptingthewhy told my dad all about you.
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Ducktails is not going to have a good spin after you read about this one. So you may have looked at the title and thought that you are going to read a nice story about Ducktails and have those memories of being a child sitting in front of the TV on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings come rushing back to you.

Remembering the time sat through your watch list of favorite cartoons until you got to the main event. However, sadly, you’re not going to have that moment. We have come across some information that will have your head spinning including your tail.

So, as usual, we’ll be covering what the attack is, who is using it, the functionality, and effects upon release, and what are some ways to protect yourself from this being the last Saturday morning for your peace of mind.

We found a duck in your computer, it was ducking.
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The Attack

What has you spinning around like a record from the 80s? Great that you asked, the intruder in question is called “Ducktail”, and no, it’s not “Duck Tales”. As mentioned earlier, your sweet childhood is here to be exploited, not rewarded.

Ducktail is what is known as “adware”, adware for those who may not know is malware software that secretly installs itself on the victim’s device and pops up unwanted advertisements.

No, your YouTube account doesn’t have adware, that’s just YouTube being god-awful. Speaking of god-awful, did you know that ducktail was a hairstyle? I’ll take the adware, please.

Ed: You know they could give us more information as to who the scammers are.
Z-daddy: It’s not that simple, and most of the time it’s untraceable.
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Who Can It Be Now

As far as who has been making use of ducktails to make other people’s lives interesting, there have been no names. However, it is believed that its origins trace back to Vietnam a few years back.

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Sue: Ed, I thought you landed a job interview and was looking to get out of here.
Ed: It was a scam.
Sue: Oh, well, Scriptingthewhy could’ve told you about that.
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That Sinking Feeling

Are you confused about how something like this works? Don’t worry, I have you on that front. The Ducktails adware pairs with NodeStealer and targets Meta business and Facebook (also called Meta) accounts and for lack of better a term, hi-jack the accounts.

Once access is gained, social engineering can begin, where multiple victims can be approached through various platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp, even including freelancer platforms like Upwork.

So, yeah, once in, everyone is getting a spicy meatball, and no one is off the menu. Ducktail also has another way in due to performing what is called “search engine poisoning”, this is the dark art of tricking a search engine like Google into ranking webpages to appear number one so they can further distribute their malware.

The overall is you’re being lured into giving your information. These lures involve bogus posting on Upwork, Freelancer, Facebook ads, LinkedIn mailing, and even those “Disney is hiring for Data Analytics 100% remote position” ads you see on YouTube. Disney, like any other job, wants your butt in a seat on-site. Don’t fall for this.

Back on track, so once the adware gets onto your computer and begins to steal information, this includes items like saved session cookies from the browser to then tailor ads more personal to the victim. So basically, you have in your search history lawn mowers, it finds that and crafts you “lawn mowers for cheap or even free”, you click, and pop goes the weasel.

The good news is the rest of your collected information doesn’t go to waste however, it has been known to be sold on the dark web for about $15 USD to about $340 USD depending on who you are. You’re still worth something, whether you believe it or not.

You make one move on my owner’s computer and you’re gone with Tweetie. You got me?
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The Prevention

So it’s clear, you don’t want your tail like your life spinning out of control. Well, don’t worry, I have you on that one. Everyone thinks that cybersecurity is using cutting-edge technology to stop the bad guys when in reality, it’s just practicing some good fundamental habits.

A simple way of thinking about a form of protecting yourself is when contacted by anyone you don’t know and they request you visit a link, uh treat it like the front door of your house, and don’t open it. I hope you wouldn’t open the door all the way for a complete stranger so the same applies here.

Always keep a lookout when visiting websites as if you look in your browser search bar and to the left, if the little lock symbol is not locked then that means the site is not secure. This means everyone else can see your transactions and you don’t want that.

When downloading software, it is always best to download from the official site and not a third party as downloading from a third party may contain malware and other nasty software.

Having your operating system and anti-virus up to date is a must because patches for vulnerabilities are released often and further help protect your computer. Always remember, your tail is meant to twerk for a paycheck, not twerking because you lost one.

Whoa there lil duckie, we’re not saying all ducks are bad.
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Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, sharing this with whomever, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Do you feel like there is something I may have missed on Ducktail? Script a comment below.

AI, Cloud Talk, Programming, Security, Tech

I got scammed, here’s how.

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point of view of road with mountains in the distance
Either see how far you’ve come or how far you have to go.
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Beginning to an End

It has been a rough ride trying to look for a job in Information Technology (IT). All I want is to change careers and improve my quality of living. Is that too much to ask? Pouring countless hours into Bootcamps, completing online courses, and doing code-along projects.

Fixing up my resume to suit resume screening needs. At this point, things have been pretty interesting, to say the least. After months of facing countless piles of rejection, something came through finally.

I finally got my big break, and this was going to be my meal ticket into the big wide world of IT, and with studying areas such as cloud computing, Python programming, and machine learning, it was clear I was on my way to the big leagues. Someone reached out to me and offered me an interview.

My thoughts were, I finally made it past the computer screening. Someone looked at my resume and envisioned the potential.

light at the end of the tunnel
Not all lights at the end of the tunnel are created equal.
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Moth Set Ablaze

This company wasn’t to the likes of Microsoft, but it wasn’t too small either. I was determined to make this work, even if I stumbled, I was going to give it my all. Like Vin Diesel, I was doing this for “family”.

They gave me a bit of information about their company such as whom they were backed by and what role they are recruiting for. Day came to interview… which was an email by the way. Googled it (it’s a thing) but didn’t think too much of it.

The interviewer was late for the time we agreed to (didn’t think too much of that either), readily filling out this questionnaire. Some questions were easy, others had me trying to figure out how to word my responses.

Whatever the case may be, this was my light at the end of the tunnel, and I wasn’t going to let this slip by since I worked so hard to get here. Tried not to be too in my head. It’s not like I was sitting across from them where I could judge how the question is being asked.

Man in brown jacket sitting on couch thinking.
Despite the opposition, by determination I will make it.
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Promise with a Dash of Doubt

After filling out the questionnaire and sending it back. I anticipated,” thank you for your interest, despite the fact we are desperately hiring, we decided to go with other candidates”.

However, to my surprise, I received an email the next afternoon congratulating me on the interview and that the board wanted to move forward with my application and grant me the position of application engineer.

I was informed to keep an eye on my email because I would be receiving an offer letter for employment from human resources (HR) to fill out to start my hiring process.  My dreams were coming true, and I could finally and wholeheartedly say I was a part of the oh-so-coveted IT world. I could see greatness on the horizon.

businessman giving a contract to someone to sign
This offer may seem good now but give it time.
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Beware of The Hand That Feeds You

Later that night, something wasn’t sitting right. I kept reviewing the email that was sent which included that I was going to receive a check via paycheck or electronic deposit that was going to use for purchasing my soon-to-be home office equipment.

This had me promptly questioning with a; “Say what now?” But I quickly dismissed it with an “oh well, I need a job, and if this is going to be my foot in the door. I’ll take it”.

But something still didn’t sit right. I couldn’t just be given a job this quick, and it is a six-figure salary. After scanning the questionnaire several times and viewing there was a street address. I decided to go and see if my having the job was real.

I tracked all my way to this lovely building (which held Microsoft by the way), walked in, knocked on the door, and was greeted by an older fellow who had an AirPod in his ear. I explained my situation and asked if there were any hiring managers around, I could talk to, but before I could get the words out, he replied “It’s a scam, I’m sorry”. My suspicions were correct, how nice.

businessman on smartphone smiling.
When they’re trying to scam you, but they don’t know who they’re dealing with.
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Turning Tables

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to make the best of my situation. I waited for my offer letter to be sent to me, which I received right as I was being informed this was a scam. I took to LinkedIn to see If I could connect with these people.

However, turn out to be a dead end. The names did not match the faces. I decided to have some fun to offer up some good spirit and email them a proactive email. I sent the one (the interviewer) an email telling them how happy and hopeful I was to get this position and how I couldn’t wait to start working.

That I wanted to know more about him and how well he was connected to the company and the board. Also, I needed the requisition id number since I needed a list of my duties of what was going to be expected of me. And to the other (HR) email informing them that I would not be needing money for the office equipment since I already have the items.

It has been a while now, so I presume they cut their losses.

amazed man looking at laptop screen.
This guy must know his stuff, he asked for the requisition id number.
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Look Out!

When dealing with a situation like this there is a two-prong attack.

The Interviewer (attacker one)

-Will reach out for a role, you may or may have not applied to. This person will engage and offer an email interview or interview in some form of messaging service.

The hiring manager or human resources manager (attacker two)

-Will send the offer letter and request to purchase office equipment or mini-office equipment.

List of office or mini-office items

  • MacBook
  • Dual Monitors
  • External hard drive/backup system
  • Laptop Stand
  • A high-quality webcam
  • Comfortable desk chair
  • Hp LaserJet Pro M15w Printer
  • Computer Hardware and Software
  • High-Speed Internet Access
  • Stress Ball

Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Have you ever encountered what could be a scammer?

Script a comment about how you handled the situation.

Cloud Talk, Programming, Tech

Need to Improve? We’re the Improvement

Daily writing prompt
What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?
View all responses

Key Takeaways

Practice doesn’t make perfect.

Learning one programming language can make learning another easier.

Learn to improve from failure, don’t fail to learn.

Did you want cheese on the fries? We just wanted a simple answer.
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Perfect Chasing Pefect

Perfection, what is it? Is it something achievable? Do we want actual perfection or do we, at its core, want to be better than others? These are all questions we might ask ourselves at one point or another, but perfection is highly sought after, and that much is a fact.

Clearly, perfection is an idea, more of a motivational tool than anything. We can see it with a phrase like “Practice makes perfect.” We all know this phrase; we’ve all applied it. However, it becomes increasingly evident that practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes better.

So, today’s question and what are we getting at? Keep reading, you may find that you and we have a few things in common. Ah, there’s nothing like sharing common ground.

Getting out of the friend zone? Now, that’s something to consider.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio, please support by following @pexel.com

We were asked; “What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?” It’s funny how none of these questions we’ve been answering are computer-related, but we’re still going to answer them anyway.

We believe, and we think many others can relate to this one, that operating outside of our comfort zone would be a small improvement. Although, to some that might be seen as a large improvement. It all depends on where you fall in life.

We’re not saying being in the comfort zone is bad, but it has the same benefits as being in the friend zone. You still get to talk to the person you’re crushing on, but the downside is the rewards are little to any. We’re not speaking from personal experience, but from the stories we’ve heard, regret is something consistent.

Hey, did you know that a house is just an expensive prison?
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Why is getting outside of our comfort zone a small improvement? While yes, a comfort zone is a place where you find less stress, no one may harm you, and your skills do not require additional practice. You can become stagnant without realization.

Picture living in a nice house, there’s plenty of food, and relaxation is never a problem. This sounds great, ideal, everyone wants this. Now, on the other side of this coin. Picture the food begins to taste uneventful, night and day pass, and days begin to blend.

Adding weight to this side of the coin, are stories from your peers advancing in their careers, making a discovery, or coming up with an invention circulating in the media. These stories come from going outside to experience the weather and experiment with ideas.

In a computer sense, you knew we had to tie computers into this somehow, the beginning stages of when you’re learning to write code consist of staring at a black screen. We’re not joking, you can ask any person in programming, and they’ll tell you that most of your time consists of staring at a blinking line while you try to piece together what you want the computer to do.

With an idea at hand, you begin to type a line after some time spent staring into the void. Being a newbie, the number of syntax errors grains on your nerves, and builds frustration, but you stick with it.

You soon find yourself going from having difficulty writing one line of code to writing simple functions- one or two lines of code that perform a task, to building complex algorithms- are a set of instructions to perform a task. After which, go on to learn other programming languages.

A quick pro tip- it’s easier to learn another programming language after obtaining an understanding of one, they follow the same structure. Our point is that you can’t grow grey matter if you don’t challenge it.

Our comfort zone has been writing topics about IT (Information Technology), but we’re stepping outside of it by answering these questions. We’re seeing small improvements. How about you?

Click here if you want to read about our life direction.

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