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New Weird LJ Stalking AIM-Bot

  • Feb. 11th, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Me at the Getty
A few months back, I heard about TheGreatHatsby, an AIM-bot which apparently stalked LiveJournal's Latest Posts [Possibly NSFW] page and sent messages to two random LJ users who had recently updated. The bot would start out by saying "I say, old bean, have you seen my hat?" and then send everything one person said to the other, and vice versa... inserting its own screen name in place of the each user's.

Well, just MOMENTS after I made my last post, I got an IM from devourablesalmon. Here's how it went:

devourablesalmon: Hi.
Me: hello?
devourablesalmon: hello
Me: do I know you?
devourablesalmon: who is this?
devourablesalmon: Guess not. Why?
Me: I was just about to ask you the same question. I'm Eric... and you just IMed me, didn't you?
devourablesalmon: No, not to my knowledge
Me: Hmm... that's weird. I've never seen your screen name before, but I got an IM from you 2 minutes ago that just said: "Hi."
devourablesalmon: yeah, that is strange. I've been idle for awhile on AIM now.
Me: A while back, I heard about some random IM-bot that IMs two random people who both have LiveJournals... and sends each person whatever the other person writes
Me: I just moments ago updated my LiveJournal.... so maybe that's it?
Me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheGreatHatsby
devourablesalmon: Wait, how did you know I had a live journal?
Me: I didn't know... I just guessed based on hearing about that Great Hatsby bot
devourablesalmon: ok
Me: I'm guessing we're not even seeing each other's screen names
Me: yours is showing up as devourable-salmon
devourablesalmon: Yours as well
Me: yeah
Me: some people have too much time on their hands!
devourablesalmon: indeed
Me: I'm glad I had heard about that bot a few months back.... otherwise, this would be entirely too creepy. Anyway, nice talking to you... whoever you are.
devourablesalmon: same here :) Later.


Of course, those words weren't from the bot... they were from some other random LiveJournal user. So much for citing my sources, eh? My Academic Writing professor would be very displeased!

Anyway, according to the Riced Out Yugo Hatsby Bot Verifier, devourablesalmon is NOT a Hatsby authorized bot. I guess it's a rogue Hatsby impersonating bot. Seriously? Don't people have other things to do with their time?

Comments

[info]dan4th wrote:
Feb. 11th, 2008 09:07 pm (UTC)
Ha! I just got a "devourablesalmon" IM as well, and it didn't appear in regular Google search, but did appear in Google Blog Search. Lookit you being all ahead of the curve.

[info]derspatchel wrote:
Feb. 11th, 2008 09:22 pm (UTC)
Oh, nifty, it's the AIM equivalent of setting up a three-way call between you and two unwitting participants (preferably competing businessess) and letting them talk to each other in an attempt to suss out who the hell called whom and why.
[info]sloopyla wrote:
Feb. 11th, 2008 09:51 pm (UTC)
you are so lucky.

maybe it's a matchmaker!
[info]bitterflesh wrote:
Feb. 11th, 2008 09:59 pm (UTC)
Thanks for writing this. I got an IM from DevourableSalmon too. It was quite confusing for a few minutes.
At least it isn't a malicious bot. I got one of those a few months back where they said my private lj entries were published publicly at a link that made my internet browser go crazy.
[info]rizumcbutt wrote:
Mar. 14th, 2008 11:59 pm (UTC)
Oh, that's what I just got! :D Found this entry via sweet, sweet google. Did it do any lasting harm to your computer/browser? After having ended the process of mine, it seems to be okay...
[info]bitterflesh wrote:
Mar. 15th, 2008 12:45 am (UTC)
Nothing malicious that I've noticed here on firefox.
[info]rizumcbutt wrote:
Mar. 15th, 2008 12:56 am (UTC)
Oh, okay, good. <3

I told my friend about it and he IM'd it a few minutes later, and we ended up talking to each other through it. Maybe that means it connects you with someone else based on the next person it talks to? It's amusing anyway, especially if it's not malicious.
[info]maradydd wrote:
Feb. 12th, 2008 12:17 am (UTC)
Freakish! I just got one as well -- here's the transcript:

2:11:17 AM devourablesalmon: Hey.
2:11:29 AM maradydd: Hi - who's this?
2:11:44 AM devourablesalmon: Aaron. Who is this?
2:12:13 AM maradydd: ...erm, you messaged me, and you don't know who you pinged?
2:12:35 AM devourablesalmon: No I didnt.
2:13:09 AM devourablesalmon: Who are you?
2:14:05 AM maradydd: Wait, so you're saying you received an IM from me? That's pretty bizarre, because I've never seen your screen name prior to three minutes ago.

And that was it; whatever was on the other end didn't respond past that. I passed the other user the link to this post, but didn't get any other response.

I think I shall try eliciting the bot's contact again with wireshark open, just for fun.

Edited at 2008-02-12 12:25 am (UTC)
[info]agent139 wrote:
Feb. 12th, 2008 06:44 am (UTC)
i'm always harassed by the aim bot "hatticusfinch." it took me a little while to realize it wasn't a caffeine-addled 13 year old, as for a while i used to get a lot of those randomly IMing me.
[info]covetous wrote:
Feb. 16th, 2008 02:21 am (UTC)
That explains "Sandwornsalmon", huh. Thanks for the info.
[info]xkesshoux wrote:
Feb. 16th, 2008 02:30 am (UTC)
Just today I received messages with the names "AwkwardSalmon" and "smolderingsalmon". A friend of mine pointed me to the Hatsby bot LJ comm, and I found this entry of yours through Google in a search for AIM bots including the word "salmon". Apparently it, like the Hatsby bot, isn't just limited to one screenname.

I was really weirded out by this, but now that I know what it is I feel kind of silly for overreacting. Glad to have run across this entry!
[info]dyingscene wrote:
Feb. 16th, 2008 10:24 pm (UTC)
I got it too and Googled the s/n. Thanks for the information. Here's my encounter:

ArmoredSalmon (5:11:47 PM): do i know you?
OMG a l i c e (5:12:15 PM): apparently not. you're not on my list.
ArmoredSalmon (5:12:25 PM): then why did you im me?
OMG a l i c e (5:12:42 PM): copy and paste what i sent? maybe i have a virus.
ArmoredSalmon (5:12:55 PM): ArmoredSalmon (4:17:26 PM): Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free. You are a pirate!
OMG a l i c e (5:13:23 PM): if i sent it, why is your sn in front?
ArmoredSalmon (5:13:51 PM): ...i just send you what it says
ArmoredSalmon (5:14:30 PM): w/e
OMG a l i c e (5:14:33 PM): http://buttercupsmiles.livejournal.com/43706.html
ArmoredSalmon (5:14:34 PM): you got a virus
ArmoredSalmon (5:14:42 PM): and you just send me a link
ArmoredSalmon (5:14:44 PM): enjoy it
OMG a l i c e (5:14:51 PM): yeah of you doing the same thing to other people
[info]egoiste wrote:
Feb. 17th, 2008 12:06 am (UTC)
HA! I was just a victim of this too. I'm quite sardonic so it didnt go so well.

armoredsalmon 5:55 who are you?
egoistetx 5:55 i am the only gay in the village
ArmoredSalmon 5:56 ok, bye

FYI "I am the only gay in the village" is a reference to Daffyd on Little Britain. Youtube it =]
[info]illuminesce wrote:
Feb. 25th, 2008 01:16 pm (UTC)
I found this by Google search. So that's what Dog-Eared Salmon and Favored Salmon were all about! Dog-Eared Salmon was none too happy to talk with me, and Favored Salmon asked if I was a bot. Now I know why. :) Thanks for this post!
[info]blankraven wrote:
Feb. 28th, 2008 09:18 am (UTC)
I got "NumerousSalmon."
It said "I do believe you misspelled 'nigger faggot' in your most recent post."
[info]rizumcbutt wrote:
Mar. 14th, 2008 11:56 pm (UTC)
I just got an IM from "section823areas", that just said, "Your private and friends-only posts have been stolen", and with a link. It hasn't said anything since then, and the link seems to have really screwed up my Firefox. It was okay after I ended its process, but... that's really worrisome. o_o

I searched 'aim livejournal virus', and here's were it brought me. ;_; (I did, actually, just update my journal.) I know it's not the same thing, but maybe there's a connection? Pretty weird, anyway.
[info]fragiletruth wrote:
Jun. 24th, 2008 02:51 pm (UTC)
You got an IM from a much more malicious bot - [yourljnamehere].on.nimp.org, I assume? Google 'on.nimp.org' for info, and be happy you are using firefox and not IE, I guess...

Edited at 2008-06-24 03:19 pm (UTC)
[info]rizumcbutt wrote:
Jun. 24th, 2008 06:38 pm (UTC)
Ah, thank you Urban Dictionary. XD Yeah, Firefox was pretty much cool with that, only slightly unnerved. I think I'd have been way more freaked out if I'd been using IE. (and, hey, looking back through the logs, that's exactly the address it gave me.)
[info]liviapenn wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2008 08:51 am (UTC)

I just got one the other day from "WeaponizedSalmon." The salmon seems to be getting stronger as it goes!
[info]netsearcher wrote:
Apr. 22nd, 2008 03:27 am (UTC)
Getting them via quirkysalmon - I finally found your entry on a search after the third time it happened.

[info]jestercard wrote:
May. 8th, 2008 07:59 am (UTC)
I just got sensiblesalmon as a random AIM. I think it's kinda neat myself. Connect two random users. Unfortunately, so far they've all seem quite perturbed instead of wanting to just talk.
(Anonymous) wrote:
May. 9th, 2008 07:39 am (UTC)
Nice quote

Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?
-- Charlie McCarthy


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://julianforemansl.easyjournal.com
(Anonymous) wrote:
May. 27th, 2008 08:31 pm (UTC)
I got a mesmerizedsalmon one. Took a while to figure out what was going on. This helped! Although I think the person didn't want to talk much.
(Anonymous) wrote:
May. 27th, 2008 08:34 pm (UTC)
Although the message we sent each other was "The government owns people, and can morally put arbitrary restrictions on them." so I was a bit concerned haha
[info]beaglej wrote:
May. 31st, 2008 06:27 pm (UTC)
I just got one from Aphasic Salmon myself. And then I accidentally closed the window and don't keep logs, so it's gone forever ;.;

I got a new Deviant Art friend out of the deal though, so that's pretty neat!
(Anonymous) wrote:
Jun. 3rd, 2008 02:17 am (UTC)
Noxious Salmon
yea apparently this can affect xanga too, cuz my gf had just updated her xanga when she got a message so she copy and pasted it to me so i messaged it and we spent 20 minutes trying to get good info out of each other(we are so damn secretive) until i said fuck it and logged off cuz i had a headache. Btw i dont have a blog at all so it connects whoever next ims that screen name that they connected someone to.
[info]hhyacinthhouse wrote:
Jun. 3rd, 2008 10:50 am (UTC)
AttentiveSalmon (6:39:37 AM): My ideal is a completely deterministic world, where everyone believes the same truth. Where everyone has the same morality and has the same decision making process for any situation. There would be no one that is wrong; everyone would be right. At any given decision point, everyone's happiness would be maximized to the best extent of human knowledge.

I just got this, and well, google led me to here. I'm glad that i wasn't the only one baffled by this.
[info]d15k0zach wrote:
Jun. 12th, 2008 05:27 am (UTC)
I tried to explain, and even used a helpful quote, but she was upset.

AttentiveSalmon: Hi.
DYNAMITE z x c h: Um. No.
AttentiveSalmon: ...
AttentiveSalmon: Great, now I'm being Salmoned.
DYNAMITE z x c h: I just found out all about you on LiveJournal. Lulziesss.
AttentiveSalmon: That's funny.
AttentiveSalmon: My LJ is f-locked.
AttentiveSalmon: So'smy contact info.
DYNAMITE z x c h: Do you know how the Salmon thing works?
AttentiveSalmon: No, and I don't care to.
DYNAMITE z x c h: Technically neither of us is the Salmon.
AttentiveSalmon: Blocjking younow, bye.
AttentiveSalmon: Well.
AttentiveSalmon: Not you.
AttentiveSalmon: The program.
DYNAMITE z x c h: "-it's the AIM equivalent of setting up a three-way call between you and two unwitting participants (preferably competing businessess) and letting them talk to each other in an attempt to suss out who the hell called whom and why."
DYNAMITE z x c h: It's not malicious.
DYNAMITE z x c h: It just connects you to another LJ member.
DYNAMITE z x c h: My s/n is DYNAMITE z x c h, but it's showing up as (Adjective)Salmon, Right?
[info]timberwuf wrote:
Jun. 14th, 2008 06:02 am (UTC)
QuirkySalmon just hit me up with an IM wanting to ask me a very important question. I responded with "Who are you?" and so did the other hapless sod. He turned belligerent fairly quickly, so I put QuirkySalmon into my Idiots Nassholes list and set "him" on ignore. Then I googled QuirkySalmon and found this thread. Yeah ... I just wrote a short essay on Dante's first circle of hell. Maybe the next time "QuirkySalmon" IMs me I should explain what's happening and then contact the person directly.

The authors of these bots, btw, are headed for the Ninth Pit of the Eighth Circle, reserved for Makers of Discord.
[info]oneohtwo wrote:
Jun. 16th, 2008 02:07 am (UTC)
Those Salmon things attack me all the time, on my list there is
Defaced Salmon, DynamicSalmon, InvalidSalmon, and TiredOutSalmon
I've never understood it.
[info]le_gris wrote:
Jun. 18th, 2008 06:07 pm (UTC)
I just had a moment with a user masked as incessantsalmon. It's kinda sad that it's a bot, cause thats a pretty awesome SN.
[info]heypancake wrote:
Jun. 20th, 2008 08:42 pm (UTC)
HOLY SHIIITTT. No way. i've been having salmon problems, thinking it's some douchebag playing dumb.

I feel played :[
[info]freedomforsmurf wrote:
Jun. 28th, 2008 07:58 am (UTC)
I got an IM from one "awkwardsalmon".
[info]tinylfcfan wrote:
Jul. 2nd, 2008 06:22 am (UTC)
I've gotten two from noxious salmon and didn't know what I showed up as the first time, but this time I was overlord salmon.
[info]schryari wrote:
Jul. 6th, 2008 12:21 am (UTC)
I just got an im from QuirkySalmon after updating my LJ. When he referenced me iming him, I remembered the Hatsby bot and figured it was something similar and found this thread. I use LJ and had just updated so it's obvious that is where they got my SN. He doesn't have a LJ, but I figure random SNs aren't that hard to find.
[info]giza wrote:
Jul. 6th, 2008 01:05 am (UTC)

I just got IMed by quirkysalmon too.

The funny thing is that I just wrote an LJ post about sardines, so my first thought was that someone was playing a trick on me.

Then I found this post from Google. :-)
[info]littosunsun wrote:
Jul. 7th, 2008 02:56 am (UTC)
Exact same with me, but with one certain Zombified Salmon.
[info]sinisterwilliam wrote:
Jul. 9th, 2008 07:21 am (UTC)
Damn Salmon Bot...
well, I looked up your post- as I again had the surreal moment of being messaged by it for like the 3rd of 4th time...and dammit all...I fell for it for a second.

This time, my sn- it turns out- was switched to ethnic salmon, and the unfortunate and ignorant schmuck at the other end was labeled with "TriangularSalmon"

essentially, random adjectives are applied to...Salmon. surely some are repeated from the list.
[info]aeyyyyy wrote:
Jul. 14th, 2008 01:34 am (UTC)
I have some salmon guy stalking me too. So far I've had "offendedsalmon" and "Defaced Salmon."
[info]nurispark wrote:
Jul. 14th, 2008 05:43 pm (UTC)
even more flavors
And if you're gay man who just posted on his LJ, you get an IM from FabulousSalmon. That's classy.

It connected me to a random college-aged chica. We both appear to have the same screen name to the other. When some Google searches helped me to finally understand/care what was going on and I explained to her that it was indirectly my fault because the bot finds recent LJ posts, she then started to ask me about myself *after* I explained I didn't IM her and she didn't IM me.

Que sera, sera.

I think what I'll do is remove my AIM name from my profile so as to stop the bot from contacting me.
[info]countrypunk13 wrote:
Jul. 18th, 2008 12:52 pm (UTC)
i noticed that when i blocked it (before i found this post) it signed off. i was curious and wanted to see if it would happen again, and unblocked it and it signed back on immediately. anyone else..?
(Anonymous) wrote:
Jul. 18th, 2008 01:15 pm (UTC)
I think that's pretty standard AIM behavior. They didn't really sign off -- blocking them made it so that you don't see them. Try blocking then unblocking anyone else on your buddy list and the same should happen.
(Anonymous) wrote:
Jul. 21st, 2008 01:49 am (UTC)
oh wow.
that's what it is? i don't even have livejournal tho. i get it after every xanga post. i also get from ppl named i first got a devourablesalmon IM then the sn kept changing but still had salmon in the name.
[info]fate_repeated wrote:
Aug. 3rd, 2008 01:35 am (UTC)
I get these too...and I didn't notice until now it was connected through LJ. O-o;; I have ones like MesmerizedSalmon, GeometricTrout, MorbidSalmon, OldestSalmon, PompousSalmon, TiredOutTrout, WindingSalmon, ZestfulTrout and others. Ack. Anyone know how to -stop- them? Besides "posting in LJ," because I'm not gonna stop that. :P
(Anonymous) wrote:
Sep. 21st, 2008 02:59 am (UTC)
I need good web hosting
Hello Members!

I'm looking for best web hosting where I could host many domains...
I also need big bandwidth and space.

Could you please recommend for me some good host? :)

Jeremy.
[info]sinwithagrin wrote:
Dec. 12th, 2008 07:42 am (UTC)
Hey, found this page on google. This thing seems to be doing it again except it switched from "salmon" to "coho", which I guess is a type of salmon. Odd.
[info]brittanys_place wrote:
Jan. 4th, 2009 11:14 am (UTC)
CorpsifiedCoho [5:58 A.M.]: I just totally read your post. I love it!
SJK0312 [5:58 A.M.]: Heyy
CorpsifiedCoho [5:58 A.M.]: hi, who is this, and why did you ask if i hung up?
SJK0312 [5:58 A.M.]: ...huh?
CorpsifiedCoho [5:59 A.M.]: ok, just start with the first question
SJK0312 [5:59 A.M.]: Im Brittany
CorpsifiedCoho [5:59 A.M.]: do I know you?
SJK0312 [5:59 A.M.]: I dont have any idea..who are you?
CorpsifiedCoho [5:59 A.M.]: Angel
SJK0312 [5:59 A.M.]: Doesnt sound familiar..
SJK0312 [6:00 A.M.]: Which post are you talking about?
CorpsifiedCoho [6:00 A.M.]: i had an IM from you that said "Did you hang up?
SJK0312 [6:00 A.M.]: Oh..I honestly dont have any idea...
CorpsifiedCoho [6:00 A.M.]: strange
SJK0312 [6:00 A.M.]: very..
CorpsifiedCoho [6:00 A.M.]: did you say that to anyone? or...
SJK0312 [6:00 A.M.]: No...thats the weird part..
CorpsifiedCoho [6:01 A.M.]: hmm ok, lol
SJK0312 [6:01 A.M.]: What post were you talking about
CorpsifiedCoho [6:01 A.M.]: what do you mean?
CorpsifiedCoho [6:01 A.M.]: i just had an IM from you
SJK0312 [6:01 A.M.]: CorpsifiedCoho [5:58 A.M.]: I just totally read your post. I love it!
CorpsifiedCoho [6:01 A.M.]: that's not me
CorpsifiedCoho [6:01 A.M.]: I'm Eternallyfree07
CorpsifiedCoho [6:02 A.M.]: it says you're OverriddenCoho
SJK0312 [6:02 A.M.]: Whoa ,what are you talking about...
SJK0312 [6:02 A.M.]: Is this a joke?
CorpsifiedCoho [6:02 A.M.]: not on my end
SJK0312 [6:02 A.M.]: Def. not on my end
CorpsifiedCoho [6:02 A.M.]: does it say you're talking to "corpsifiedcoho" or whatever?
SJK0312 [6:03 A.M.]: So..My name on here is sjk0312....the name your talking on is Corpsifiedcoho
CorpsifiedCoho [6:03 A.M.]: cause it says that I'm talking to overriddencoho
CorpsifiedCoho [6:03 A.M.]: whoa
SJK0312 [6:03 A.M.]: coho...wtf..
CorpsifiedCoho [6:03 A.M.]: OverriddenCoho
6:03:03
So..My name on here is sjk0312....the name your talking on is Corpsifiedcoho


SJK0312 [6:03 A.M.]: wtf?!
CorpsifiedCoho [6:03 A.M.]: weird
CorpsifiedCoho [6:03 A.M.]: hold on
SJK0312 [6:03 A.M.]: alright'
CorpsifiedCoho [6:03 A.M.]: lets IM on our real screennames
CorpsifiedCoho [6:04 A.M.]: i'll IM sjk0312
SJK0312 [6:04 A.M.]: ok
[info]fabulousss_xx wrote:
Apr. 18th, 2009 08:33 pm (UTC)
dang thats scary & weird.. CorpsifiedCoho imed me too.

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Me at the Getty
[info]ericjay
Eric Jay

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