BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?

Subject: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: Tiger
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 11:36 AM

I have, a few times lately, while in or just after visiting Mudcat.

It's one of those that claims your computer is infected and offers to fix it for you.

Rogue advertisers, perhaps?

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:01 PM

You won't have a virus unless you agreed to the "fix".

I have all ads blocked and have never had anything like that show up.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:07 PM

They tell you you have a problem and tell you they'll fix it - and if you're so silly ad to download their program then you are in a fix. There is a Russian one that wants to you call a number and pay a fee to get the fix. If you use Malwarebytes and are patient you can get it out on your own without paying the Russian Mafia to clean it out.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 04:50 PM

I clicked on once, not too long ago, and my usual, and reliable anti-virus, blocked the page(Mudcat) saying it had a threat on it. I then posted a notice to Joe (or Max) letting them know.....for what its worth......BUT, I have not had this happen since....that was about two or three weeks ago.

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 04:06 PM

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 07:41 PM

As with most phishing attempts, there doesn't have to be any virus on the site where you're invited to click.

The malware is on the site you click to. A link might appear at mudcat from some malicious spam, but the number one place stuff like this is found is currently FaceBook, where people think something sounds like a great deal so they post it to all their friends. There are far more stupid people than you can possibly defend yourself from, except by "eternal vigilance," and unfortunately we're not all Marine vets.

An AV that scans the site you're on might not be able to detect any threat, because there isn't any malware on the site you're visiting; so you'd have to rely on your AV to block what's there after you get there, somewhere else.

More advanced AV programs compile lists of known sites that do contain malware - or have recently distributed it, and can check the link, and warn if clicking it would take you to a questionable one; but since you can ignore the warning it still has to protect you at the link destination, if it can. Other advanced programs can quickly scan any site you arrive at, and warn you before you click something else.

Unfortunately, you're the boss, so if the site has disguised a download as something innocent (or even if it hasn't), if you click something that gives permission for any site to "run a program" on your computer, the AV has to let it run, because you told it to, even if what you clicked didn't tell you what was going to happen.

The only thing you can blame it on is the loose nut holding the mouse.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 08:30 PM

I got it also, I ran panda cloud antivirus and it nailed it but I got it right after I logged into mudcat to check personal messages. Maybe a good idea to virus scan the cat when you get time

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 09:25 PM

mudcat.org

Summary
Norton Safe Web found no issues with this site.
•Computer Threats: 0
•Identity Threats: 0
•Annoyance factors:   0
   
Total threats on this site: 0
   
•Community Reviews:   0

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The Norton rating is a result of Symantec's automated analysis system.

Checks out OK at my end.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 09:15 AM

I've been getting these too, the most recent about two minutes ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 02:13 PM

Lighter -

Not ALL advertisements for magical programs to save your computer from disaster are malicious phishing. The odds are not in your favor if you click on one that just pops up somewhere, though.

Most of the programs of the kind that intend to be helpful have been found to be ineffective, in tests by the competent labs; and a few have been found to be "inadvertently destructive," despite good intentions by those who create and distribute them.

If you really need a "help program" you should know it before you see the ad. If you haven't already decided you need help, you DON'T NEED IT.

If you think you really need something that you see advertised in a popup, you don't just click the ad. You check the web for information about similar products, and find one with an established reputation, and then you go to the site where authorized packages are available from someone with a known and verifiable reputation.

You'll hardly ever see an advertisement that doesn't tell you that you need the product they offer. If you aren't less than about 10 years old (or haven't learned anything since then) you know that's just BULLSHIT. All you need to do is IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE. You can't escape it, so just "don't even see it." If it offers you something free, you know it's BULLSHIT. Just ignore. If it claims that disaster will destroy you without it, YOU KNOW IT'S BULLSHIT, and you just DON'T CLICK IT.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Getting virus at Mudcat?
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:04 PM

I'm just saying that in the past couple of weeks I've been getting attacked by various viruses via Mudcat, today most recently.

It's never happened before.

My antivirus software thwarts them and reports them. It's been working - so far.