Some Translation Agencies Now Try to Install Spying Software on Our Computers

This morning I had two emails from an “LSP” in China in my email folder:

” Hello,

I need translation of a ~30,000 english [sic] word PATENT application PCT/IB/2016/051969: [link to a patent application]      

 This highly technical patent application relates to computer memory protection units, memory management units, and translation look aside buffers. 

Immediate start. 

Deadline for English to Japanese Translation is 12th of November, 2017.
We need to ask the following questions of the translator assigned to that job: 

          Do you have experience translating low-level computer architecture patents?
          Do you have experience translating digital electronic patents?
          Are you familiar with computer memory architecture?
          Are you capable of translating this document accurately? 
          Are you available to complete this translation in time? 

          How much would you charge for this translation?

          Please provide an example of your earlier translation work, in a field as close as possible to this patent application. 

Thanks, 

(Please confirm receipt of this email.)

Judy

——————————————————————————————————–

Project Manager

Xiamen Butterfly House Translation service Co., Ltd”

Right below the email inquiring about my availability for patent translation to Japanese was another email from the same outfit in China about my availability for translating the same patent to Korean:

Hello,

“I need translation of a ~30,000 english [sic] word PATENT application PCT/IB/2016/xxxxx69:

This highly technical patent application relates to computer memory protection units, memory management units, and translation look aside buffers. 

Immediate start. 

Deadline for English to KoreanTranslation [sic] is 12th of November, 2017.        

We need to ask the following questions of the translator assigned to that job: 

          Do you have experience translating low-level computer architecture patents?
          Do you have experience translating digital electronic patents?
          Are you familiar with computer memory architecture?
          Are you capable of translating this document accurately? 
          Are you available to complete this translation in time? 

          How much would you charge for this translation?
          Please provide an example of your earlier translation work, in a field as close as possible to this patent application. 

Thanks, 

(Please confirm receipt of this email.)

Judy

——————————————————————————————————–

Project Manager

Xiamen Butterfly House Translation service Co., Ltd”

Out of curiosity, I tried to go to the website of the Xiamen Butterfly House Translation Service for more information about them …. but fortunately, my anti-virus prevented me from falling into the attack page trap when the following warning was displayed:

“Reported Attack Page!

This web page at v3041164.11123.28la.com.cn has been reported as an attack page and has been blocked based on your security preferences.

Attack pages try to install programs that steal private information, use your computer to attack others, or damage your system.

Some attack pages intentionally distribute harmful software, but many are compromised without the knowledge or permission of their owners.”

Translators, beware!

Even if you are only interested in obtaining more information about a translation intermediary, to use the terminology of one of the frequent commenters on my silly blog, it is quite possible that a shady translation agency just wants you to click on their email to install an attack page to steal your private information, such as information about your clients, rates, and who knows what else.