StumbleUpon info needed...

Greetings.

I've got a machine coming in today that has apparently been hit by a rogue antivirus (Windows XP Antivirus 2012), and the user said she caught the infection while visiting StumbleUpon.

My questions:

1. What exactly is StumbleUpon? Yes, I've read the Wiki articles, and I read the old threads by BILLMCC66 and Oooops!, but if anyone can give me a concise description in MajorGeek-speak, I'd appreciate it.

2. Should I recommend that the user (and any other users) not visit this StumbleUpon in the future?

Thanks in advance.

 

Hey Caliban

Not my area but does StumbleUpon utilise shortened URL's? If so, I'd look into adding an 'unscrambling' bookmark or context menu add-on alongside plugins/add-ons like WebRep, WOT etc. to prescan the corrected link if the user really 'must' use a risky 'social' networking feature like that.

Perhaps setting a safer DNS server would add some blocks, as would a regularly updated hosts file. Anything recent is still gonna hit hard

There may be more specific fixes but, as I said, it's not my area + it might give you something to research

At the end of the day, it's probably about user education vs user manipulation and that's another ball-game entirely.

 

Thanks, Satrow.

The machine in question has yet to make an appearance - when it does, and if I can't handle it, I'm sure y'all will see it in the Malware Forum.

As far as the SU service, the whole issue probably falls within the realm of one of my favorite mantras: I've been working with computers for over 40 years, and I've never seen one make a mistake...

 

I like this! Will have to remember it!