Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Facebook Prayer Request for a 5-year-old Girl Harly/Harley A. Andrews Hit by a Car - - Reality or Hoax..??

Beware! It’s a Cyber World – Prayer Request for a 5-year-old Girl Harly A. Andrews Hit by a Car: Summary

A prayer request message circulating on social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter, about a 5-year-old girl Harly A Andrews severely injured after hitting by a car and currently being treated in intensive care.  



Prayer Request for a 5-year-old Girl Harly A. Andrews

Before jumping to the conclusion about the reality of this message; let’s have a look the contents of the messages circulating on Facebook.

The message posted on Facebook on August 29 looks like below:

Facebook Message: Prayer Request for a 5-year-old Girl Harly A. Andrews


And read like ….

ATTENTION ALL MY FRIENDS. TODAY I NEED YOU. I NEED TO SEE THIS MESSAGE ON YOUR WALLS!!! URGENT!!! I ASK FOR A PRAYER FOR HARLY. A. ANDREWS (5 YEARS OLD), SHE GOT HIT BY A CAR IN INTENSIVE CARE. PLEASE POST THIS ON YOUR WALL FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR; I WOULD DO IT FOR YOUR BABY GIRL . LET'S GO FOR A MIRACLE!!! IT'S A PRAYER YOU MAY LOSE OUT ON.

Another version of Facebook message read like below:

ATTENTION ALL MY FRIENDS, TODAY I NEED YOU. I NEED TO SEE THIS MESSAGE ON YOUR WALLS!!! URGENT!!! I ASK FOR A PRAYER FOR HARLEY A ANDREWS (5 YEAR OLD), SHE GOT HIT BY A CAR IN INTENSIVE CARE. PLEASE POST THIS ON YOU WALL FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR; I WOULD DO IT FOR YOUR BABY GIRL .LET'S GO FOR A MIRACLE!!! IT'S A PRAYER YOU MAY LOSE OUT ON .I'm always praying for a child in need, hope you feel the same way REPOST FOR A FRIEND

Beware! It’s a Cyber World – Prayer Request for a 5-year-old Girl Harly A. Andrews Hit by a Car: Details

This is the latest prayer request message creeping up on social media networks, like Facebook, Twitter and many others, about a little girl Harly A Andrews, 5, who is in intensive care due to severe injuries she sustained after hitting by a car. The message further asks the recipients to repost the message on his/her wall so that the collective prayers can save Harly A Andrews miraculously.

For those who has came across such ‘prayer request’ hoaxes in the past it is like a ‘Reborn Hoax’ with just change of the name and description of accident which caused to send the child into intensive care. The latest we share here about a 5-year-old boy DiegoMendez who claimed to be sustained severe head injuries due to a TV fell on him.

In fact it is the latest of a growing list of equally unverifiable messages circulating on social media website pleading people to change their statuses in support for a chain prayer.

Like before in such cases; in this specific incident there’s no such credible information available that the incident described in the message bears any kind of reality. Moreover, the message itself didn’t mention that where actually this accident happened and no further details about the hospital are given. These facts making this specific message suspiciously a HOAX.




Therefore; as a final conclusion, it is not appropriate to spread any kind of such message which bears ambiguity and vagueness. One would think that it doesn’t cost him anything (in monetary terms) to re-post the message on his wall; but just think it can cost you your precious time and many others who follow you.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Reality of Facebook Health Warning Message about Black and White POISONOUS Caterpillars

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Facebook Warning About Black and White Venomous Catterpillar: Summary



Black and White Fluffy Hickory Tussock Caterpillar
A health warning message circulating via emails and through social networks, including Facebook and Twitter, asks the recipients to be cautious about little black and white caterpillar which is POISONOUS and many children have been affected by touching those little creature. 

Before jumping to the final conclusion based on our research; let’s go through the contents of the warning message which look like below on the Facebook:

Caterpillar Health Warning Message on Facebook


And reads like this …
FYI!!! Little white and black caterpillars are all over and are POISONOUS. They are apparently new to the area.... Doctors say there have been numerous kids having reactions to them. The rash spreads fast. The caterpillars have long white hairs that embed in skin and send poison throughout the body.… DO NOT TOUCH!!!! They look cute and fuzzy, BUT THEY ARE NOT!!!! Please re-post to anyone with little kids!!
Few messages are read with a bit different in the end adding their own experiences … like below:
FYI!!! Little white and black caterpillars are all over and are POISONOUS. They are apparently new to the area.... Doctors say there has been numerous kids having reactions to them. The rash spreads fast. The caterpillars have long white hairs that embed in skin and send poison throughout the body.… DO NOT TOUCH!!!! They look cute and fuzzy, BUT THEY ARE NOT!!!! Please let every one know, my aunt had to take her boy to the hospital because of it.

 Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Facebook Warning About Black and White Venomous Catterpillar: Details and Explanation



This warning message is being circulating on internet via emails and social networks, including Facebook and Twitter, since beginning of August 2011.  The health warning message about dangerous black and white caterpillar, which can spread severe rashes and reactions, is actually a blend of facts and fiction. 

Let’s analyse the facts inherent in this health warning message:

Fact No. 1                   Existence: Actually the little creature do exist in the real world and is called ‘Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar’. The caterpillars, identified by their black and white furry exterior prefer hickories, walnuts, and related plants for food, but accept most any shrub or tree.

Fact No. 2                   Effects: The hairs of the Hickory Tussock caterpillar, which has black tufts on its back and black spikes, can cause an allergic reaction or rash for some people who make contact with the insect.

Fact No. 3                   Medically: Doctors say that the caterpillars are usually harmless. Children and others with a skin sensitivity/allergy to the caterpillar's hairs could develop an itchy rash.

Now just see below the fiction conveyed through this health warning message:

Fiction No. 1               New Creature: The message states this little creature as ‘new to the area’; but actually it’s giving a wrong impression. According to famous entomologist Charlene Donahue; the caterpillars are being seen in abundance pretty much throughout the different states of US including, Maine, New York and Ohio. Experts say that the insects are fairly common, and there may be more of them than usual in the area this summer. The last large-population year was 2002, told further.

Fiction No. 2               POISONOUS: The message states this little creature as ‘PISONOUS’; but again it was tried to establish a wrong impression based on the fact that they might cause rashes and allergy in rare cases. However, according to officials at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Oriskany, the little critters, known as the White Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar, are not actually POISONOUS.

Fiction No. 3               Embeddable Hair: The warning message further states that the caterpillars leave their white hair on skin that can infuse poison to the whole body. Totally rubbish claim it is; as it is stated earlier that the caterpillar are not poisonous at all.

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Facebook Warning about Black and White Venomous Catterpillar: Conclusion



After all the discussion above; it might be concluded that the severity and the tone of the black and white caterpillars related health warning is just exaggerated. But even then it is advised people not to touch these caterpillars and be cautious when cleaning up leaf litter on the ground since any hairs left behind by the caterpillar also could cause problems with some people.

The black and white caterpillars look interesting, inviting people to pick them up. The problem is, they have a defense mechanism, and they could leave you with an itchy rash. Children should specifically advised to get away from caterpillars as they have more sensitive skin that can be affected easily than any adult.    

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Social Media Protest Message for Ignoring First Responders to 9/11 Disaster in 10th Memorial Ceremony at Ground Zero

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - First Responders Overlooked for 9/11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero: Summary

A message is circulating on Facebook and other social networks to protest the double standards of the organizers of 10th anniversary of 9/11 memorial ceremony for not inviting those who were among the first responders to the 9/11 disaster 10 years back.



First Responders to 9/11 Disaster Overlooked in 10th Memorial Ceremony

 The protest message looks like given below:

Facebook Message Protesting for Not Inviting First Responders to 10th 9/11 Memorial ceremony

 And reads like ..

NYPD, FDNY AND EMS OFFICERS WERE NOT INVITED TO THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY OF 9/11... MAYOR BLOOMBERG CLAIMS THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THEM... 10 YEARS AGO, THEY WEREN'T INVITED, BUT THEY SHOWED UP WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS RUNNING OUT!!! RE-POST IF YOU AGREE THEY SHOULD BE THERE

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - First Responders Overlooked for 9/11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero: Details

The protest message rapidly being passed on and on through social media networks including Facebook and twitter states that present New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has stated that there is no room at the event for first responders in the 9/11 memorial ceremony.

According to details; President Barack Obama, former president George W. Bush and former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the current mayor Michael Bloomberg, will attend the memorial ceremony. 

According to reports; the fact mentioned in the protest message being circulated is absolutely correct. Yahoo News mentioned it as:

9/11 first responders left out of 10th anniversary event

But Sept. 11 first responders, the emergency workers who helped with the rescue and recovery efforts 10 years ago, will be denied entry to the 9/11 National Memorial on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

The 90,000 or so firefighters, police officers, and civilian volunteers who rushed toward the burning twin towers are not invited to the ceremonies on Sept. 11.

Another website Rawstory.com mentioned it as:

The decade anniversary will likely come and go without an emergency first responders network, however.

The news of overlooking to invite those rescue workers who responded to the disaster without taking care of their own lives a decade back is generating much of controversy.

Prayer Request for 5-year-old Diego Mendez Injured Due to Fall of TV on His Head - Reality or Hoax

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Diego Mendez Prayer Request: Summary

A ‘prayer request’ message is rapidly penetrating on Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks asking for re-posting and prayer for a 5-year-old boy, Diego Mendez, who is in intensive care due to head injury caused by falling of TV.



Prayer Request for 5-year-old Diego Mendez - Reality or Hoax


 Before jumping to the final conclusion whether the message has any kind of reality in it; let’s see the contents of the message below:

The message being posted on walls of Facebook users looks like ..

Prayer Request for Diego Mendez: Facebook Wall Message



And read like ..

ATTENTION ALL MY FRIENDS.
TODAY I NEED YOU. I NEED TO SEE THIS MESSAGE ON YOUR WALLS!!! URGENT!!! I"M ASKING FOR A PRAYER FOR DIEGO MENDEZ (5 YEARS OLD), A TV FELL ON HIS LITTLE HEAD AND HE'S IN INTENSIVE CARE. PLEASE POST THIS ON YOUR WALL FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR; I WOULD DO IT FOR YOUR SON. LET'S GO FOR A MIRACLE.

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Diego Mendez Prayer Request: Explanation

The recent message asking to pray for Diego Mendez, 5, is spreading on most of the social media networks including Facebook and Twitter. The message further asks the recipients to report the message so that the collective prayers can save Diego Mendez miraculously.

For those who came across such ‘prayer request’ hoaxes in the past it is like a ‘Reborn Hoax’ with just change of the name and description of accident which caused to send the child into intensive care. 

In this specific case; there’s no such credible information that the incident described in the message bears any kind of reality. Moreover, the message itself didn’t mention that where actually this accident happened and no further details about the hospital are given. These facts making this specific message suspiciously a HOAX.

Therefore; as a final conclusion, it is not appropriate to spread any kind of such message which bears ambiguity and vagueness. One would think that it doesn’t cost him anything (in monetary terms) to re-post the message on his wall; but just think it can cost you your precious time and many others who follow you.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Scratching Recharge Card Coating (Silver Nitro Oxide) with Nails Causes Cancer - - Reality or Hoax ..??

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Summary: Scratching Recharge Card Coating (Silver Nitro Oxide) with Nails Causes Cancer



Scratch Card Skin Cancer Warning
A warning message started spreading first on Facebook, through re-posting and request for re-posting, and then it spread like a jungle fire via mobile text message/SMS; which warns recipients not to scratch the recharge mobile or phone cards with nails as the material used for scratch card coating i.e. Silver Nitro Oxide, can cause ‘SKIN CANCER’.

The mastermind behind this warning message used the name of Medical research Authority of the US to authenticate this message and in the last it is requested to re-post and forward the same to your contacts and friends.

Let’s have a look to the contents of the message before we start post-mortem of the reality of this ‘Scratch Card Coating Causing Skin Cancer’ warning message.

  1. Facebook version looks like the shown below:
Facebook Message: Scratch Card Coating (Silver Nitro Oxide) Causing Skin Cancer
It mentions, “ATTENTION! !!!!!!! Medical research Authority of the US have found that new cancer in human beings caused by 'Silver Nitro oxide'. Whenever u buy recharge cards or calling cards don't scratch them with ur nail as it contain 'silver nitro oxide' coating and can cause skin cancer. Copy and paste this status and spread awareness please”

  1. SMS/Mobile Text Message reads like this mentioned below:
Fwd as rcvd
Medical research authority of us have found new cancer in human being caused by silver nitro oxide..
whenever you buy recharge cards dont scratch wid nail as it contain silver nitro oxide coating and can cause skin cancer…
share dix msg to ur frndx…




Monday, August 8, 2011

Cyber Attack on Smartphones Increasing - - Google's Android Under Hackers' Threat After iPhone

LAS VEGAS — Hackers are out to stymie your smartphone.




Last week, security researchers uncovered yet another strain of malicious software aimed at smartphones that run Google’s popular Android operating system. The application not only logs details about incoming and outgoing phone calls, it also records those calls.

That came a month after researchers discovered a security hole in Apple Inc.’s iPhones, which prompted the German government to warn Apple about the urgency of the threat.

Security experts say attacks on smartphones are growing fast — and attackers are becoming smarter about developing new techniques.

“We’re in the experimental stage of mobile malware where the bad guys are starting to develop their business models,” said Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder of Lookout Inc., a San Francisco-based maker of mobile security software.

Wrong-doers have infected PCs with malicious software, or malware, for decades. Now, they are fast moving to smartphones as the devices become a vital part of everyday life.

Some 38 percent of American adults now own an iPhone, BlackBerry or other mobile phone that runs the Android, Windows or WebOS operating systems, according to data from Nielsen. That’s up from just 6 percent who owned a smartphone in 2007 when the iPhone was released and catalyzed the industry. The smartphone’s usefulness, allowing people to organize their digital lives with one device, is also its allure to criminals.

All at once, smartphones have become wallets, email lockboxes, photo albums and Rolodexes. And because owners are directly billed for services bought with smartphones, they open up new angles for financial attacks. The worst programs cause a phone to rack up unwanted service charges, record calls, intercept text messages and even dump emails, photos and other private content directly onto criminals’ servers.

Evidence of this hacker invasion is starting to emerge.



Want to Read More ....... Link Given Below:



Thursday, August 4, 2011

Reality of the Warning Messages Regarding Bottle BOMBs Containing Drano (Drain-o)

Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Summary:




A message is circulating which claims that plastic bottle containing Drano, tin foil and specific amount of water can be found anywhere in unsuspecting people’s houses where any stranger can access without the knowledge of residents like court-yards, lawns, mail-boxes and driveways. According to message this is not a mere plastic bottle but it is a real ‘BOMB’ which can explode once picked up by anyone causing serious injuries.

Let’s have a look to the screen shot of the message below; but remember the message contents might be different with the same intent:





Beware! It’s a Cyber World - - Explantion:

The warning in the message is based on few real incidents in United States after which police have to issue the warning to the residents of York Township. This is happening in the USA and in the other parts of the world, but the chemistry is very simple and, no doubt, will spread. Friends, please be very, very careful. Such bottle BOMBS are also known as MacGyver bombs, acid bombs, works bombs and soda bombs.

Few youngsters are putting Drano or Drain-o (sodium hydroxide), a common household item, and a little water in soda bottles and capping it up - leaving it on lawns. When you go to pick up the trash and the bottle is shaken just a little while you pick it up - in about 30 seconds or less it builds up a gas and explodes with enough force to remove some of your extremities. The liquid that comes out is boiling hot as well.

Don't pick up any plastic bottles that may be lying in your yards or in the gutter, etc. Pay attention to this. A plastic bottle tightly capped with a little Drano in it along with a little amount of water is really dangerous because when anyone shakes it or moves it then just BOOM!! No fingers left and other serious effects to your face, eyes, etc.


See it in action in the video clip below:





Youngsters are doing this for just fun.

This is evil in its purest form. Violence for the sake of violence. Destruction for its own sake. No goal. No point. No purpose. No way to negotiate. A step beyond political terrorism.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Identity Theft: The Latest Groing Cyber Threat - - Doubled in Last 4 Years

Latest Cyber Threat: Identity Theft Doubled in 4 Year to 10%
A recent survey revealing online identity fraud has doubled in 4 years to 10%, demonstrates the need for people to fast track their education on the ways they can be swindled, and what the effects can be should they become victims of identity theft, a national credit repairer says.



Director of MyCRA Credit Repairs, Graham Doessel says there is a host of information for internet users about how to stay safe online, but many people don’t learn about identity theft until they or someone they know becomes a victim.

“Often it is not understood how easy it is for criminals to steal peoples’ personal information or bank details online, and then use that information to take out credit in the victim’s name,” Mr Doessel says.

The survey, conducted by Galaxy Research and released by VeriSign Authentification Services showed how 10% of the 2510 Australians surveyed have lost money to online fraud in the past year, with those losses reported to total $1.286 billion.

This figure appears to have doubled from Australian Bureau of Statistics data which surveyed over 16,000 Australians for its Personal Fraud Survey in 2007.

The data showed 5% of Australians or 800,000 people had been the victim of personal fraud. These figures were across the board, including but not exclusive to internet use.

Mr Doessel attributes the increase in identity fraud to a growth in general use of the internet, with more people socialising, banking and conducting shopping and business online than ever.

“With the increase in internet use is the potential for criminals to mastermind a profit from that use. What is not known from the recent figures is how many of those identity fraud victims have had the crime impact their credit rating. Certainly more of our credit repair clients than ever are claiming to be victims of fraud,” he says.

Continue reading on the link given below:



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