(no subject)

[arcanetrivia]

Stuff about the mysterious random friendings by Russian-language journals. Apparently there is a rash of bots. See http://nympholept.livejournal.com/tag/russian+bots.

Comments

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

This has happened to me SO many times! A Russian will friend me, then de-friend me a day or two later. I even wrote a journal entry about this subject, 'cause it was weirding me out! I just assumed that Russians were really into Snape drawings, so they were checking me out. Then they'd get into my gallery and see the really smutty stuff and leave in indignation. There were so many of them that if they had stayed friended, they would outnumber the English-speaking people on my friends list. What the hell is the PURPOSE of these bots, anyway? Does anyone know?

[elethian.livejournal.com]

Briefly, aside from annoyance, the purpose seems likely to be identity theft. If you friend the bot, then it can get your friends-locked entries, and people often post personal information under lock thinking it's safe.