All this talk about new ao's that will steal your infomation and drain your Lindens when worn?

[Carl Thibodeaux]

Do they exist? It's going around and claims to be a "free ao".

Sounds more fake in my opinion, since something like this happened in past, and nothing came to it.

Anyone know anything?

[Melita Magic]

Well, if it is the same one as this, apparently there is some truth to it.

Bad AO.

 

[Incoherendt Randt]

Money stealers definitely happen, that's why the debit permission prompt is BIG AND SCARY AND ORANGE now. And for sure there've been AOs and things with sort a of "virus" deal, they give out copies of themselves to everybody in range.

They can't do anything at all if you don't wear or rez them, and they can't steal money without that debit permission. They can do obnoxious stuff like shout lewd chat and run stupid deform animations.

[Abigail Longmeadow]

Unless there has been a security failure, attachments and rezed objects can not drain your Lindens without your permission. This means the object can't do it unless you give permission by clicking yes on a popup. Never click Yes on the pop-up that asks permission for an object to debit (unlimited $L) your account, except in a few cases:

You are a dancer, and your tip jar must split all your tips with the club owner.

You are a land lord, and your rent boxes must be able to give refunds to your tenants.

Even in those cases, be sure the tip jar or rent box is scripted by someone you really can trust.

I don't know much about objects messing with your inventory, but I don't think it is possible. Viewer software is completely different. Viewer software can do anything with your inventory. So only use trustworthy viewer software. Don't be tricked into using "hacked" griefing viewer software. 

[Dilbert Dilweg]

it's like the boogey man, stalking you in the night. Just waiting for that one unsuspecting click.

[KarenMichelle Lane]

To all,

I just posted this response to a similar question over in SL Answers...

This is a Resident to Resident forum. Linden employees do not frequent SL Answers.

As for anything that can "Steal Your ID and Lindens" Yes, no matter if you rezz a prim in-world with this kind of script in it or you choose to wear an AO with this script in it, a "permission Notification about Granting Access to your Funds dialog prompt will be displayed.

Message Format: Warning: The object "object name" wants total access to your Linden Dollars account. If you allow access it can remove funds from your account at anytime, or empty your account completely, on an ongoing basis with no additional warnings. Do not allow access if you do not fully understand why it wants access to your account - [ Allow total access ]  [ Deny ]

An AO will only work at stealing your Lindens & Acting as You when you are online and rezzed in-world.

A rezzed prim object can continuously steal Lindens & Act as You once given permission to do so. This can continue even if your account is logged off.

I am unaware of any specific warning from Linden Research other than the normal note and instructions  to pay attention to the prompts you are offered when in-world that affect access to your account funds.

Merchant fraud and other scams

In addition to in-world griefing, be on guard for shopping fraud and other scams, both in-world and in Second Life Marketplace. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

See also:

• Tips for safe shopping
• Scams
• Phishing FAQ
• Transactions and disputes between Residents

 

Unfortunately, those who want to help will use a vague reference to "An Official from Linden Research" said... To make sure you act on the warning but all this does is color the valuable warning with doubt. It also elevates the believability of  False warnings as well.

If Linden Research is going to publish any warning like this they have channels already in place to accomplish this via email, via your login process and/or via the account page when you log into your web page.

P.S. You'll love this Blog Entry - http://slsnopes.blogspot.com/2012/04/life-ao-notice-scare.html - I have no Idea who maintains this blog but this is an old "social network" notice making rounds. This is the ONLY post in this blog

[Nyll Bergbahn]

This is last year's thread on the same topic. Maybe we should just repost it every year about May/June. :smileywink:

http://208.74.205.111/t5/General-Discussion-Forum/Where-is-the-Brief-notice-from-Linden-Labs/td-p/1471439/highlight/true

Those of us long enough in SL know these rumours go viral through the groups every so often

[Perrie Juran]

---

Nyll Bergbahn wrote:

This is last year's thread on the same topic. Maybe we should just repost it every year about May/June. :smileywink:

http://208.74.205.111/t5/General-Discussion-Forum/Where-is-the-Brief-notice-from-Linden-Labs/td-p/1471439/highlight/true

Those of us long enough in SL know these rumours go viral through the groups every so often

---

What I find even worse is that sometimes they get passed on by people who should know better.

[Nova Convair]

Don't wear or rez unknown stuff. If sent by a friend it's still unknown until you expect it or talked about it b4.

There is nothing for free in this world - except in SL - but as you see, you can never be sure.

On land where you CAN NOT rez it can cause only some minor annoyance as long as you are not stupid enough to give debit permissions.

On land where you CAN rez you probably need some knowledge and experience to get rid of possible critters if the object rezzes some.

 

[Melita Magic]

The thread I linked to was about the avatar being animated and controlled. Had nothing to do with debit.