"Bad" Stuff (Links) Here

I am always surprised (and disappointed certainly) whenever I link to something "bad" from MG.

The first screen-shot is of the thumbnails I linked from, on a download page here, and the 2nd shot is of the resultant warning from WOT, AND MBAM.

Is it just me, or should this not be...?

 

It wasn't from MG's, it was from a Google ad.

Some generic stuff about adverts/offsite links, I've used Google as an example but it could happen to any site hosting adverts from 3rd parties - like your local online newspaper for instance:

Scenario: Mr Badware Merchant asks Mr Google if he can buy a slot in his advertising network for a legit software/service/product. Mr Google checks it out and, as it means money and the advert is clean and wholesome, he says, "Sure you can". Some weeks later, Mr B Merchant then switches the ad to the malware ridden monster.

Alt. scenario: Mr B Merchant has a team of hackers inserting the malware into unsuspecting and under-protected legit sites, Google still 'sees' the correct image but clicking on it now gets redirected - Mr B Merchant has potential new buyer(s) for his ransomware.

Bottom line: No matter how well Google, MG's et al try to protect their users, nothing can protect someone who clicks random links that are obviously nothing to do with the reason the user went to that page.

 

Three words:

Firefox. Adblock Plus.

 

Nah - CHROME Adblock Plus

 

Even on the most safe websites such as MG this can happen. Best to change your click habits.

I noticed that your Avast has a warning sign on its icon in the taskbar. Why having WOT and Avast Webrep since they are similar? Since you're having so many bookmarks in Fx's bookmarks toolbar, why not having an addon such as Roomy Bookmarks Toolbar or similar? Oh, I could go on and on but won't go any further. :-D

MG depends on advertising because otherwise they'd go broke.

 

Well thanks, but I'm still not sure I really get it.

I suppose it's ALL about money, and the inherent evil (and/or potential for evil) "associated" with money.

I suppose I'm too much of an optimist, too naive' too, whatever, but definately not skilled in figuring-out tech-bad guys, as I have NO use for them, other than perhaps as targets at my firing range (which is "NOT", by ANY stretch of the imagination, ANY SORT of a "virtual" thing).

Seriously. If they can't be "protected against" (that is, if "ordinary, "average" users can't be protected) I think these maggots should be quckly arrested, afforded a speedy trial, and, if found guilty, very simply shot in the head.

Humour me here, please...what if the URL begins with: https... (http"S"), what's the deal there, please? No money to be made in that, or, can't use (sell) links there?

I really don't know, and do NOT have time to try to keep up with ALL the GABAGE (evil, really) on the www...my 70 year-old mother says she is "afraid" to use her computer any more...where does this all end - everyone wishing to "surf the net" will need to become some sort of "Internet Security Engineer???

 

Sit down with your Mother for a few hours and install and learn how to use NoScript as part of your collective defenses (which already gave you more protection than most people have).

Make a point of reading a Security blog regularly: try krebsonsecurity, where you might see photos of some of the bad guys you can use on the targets on your range .

https = secure, encrypted connection.

 

Re: "Bad" Stuff (Links) Here?

I "HAD" Adblock-Plus...apparently didn't make it in my switch-over from Firefox 3 to FF 4.

I was also using Chrome, with Adblock (didn't th9ink they had an Adblock "PLUS" for Chrome), but, well, I just didn't "feel" as secure in Chrome, yet I have switched BACK to FF, recently, also just recently accepted a "Trial" offer of MBAM, and now I've GOT (picked-up) ... "something" (??).........................................................................................................................................................this PC is now FREEZING-UP so bad, I literally lost my train of thought after walking-away for a smoke, to WAIT for it to GO again...this is pathetic.

My undestanding has always been - "don't click on links from unknown senders", and; "don't go to "bad" sites".

Oh and don't click-on "Sponsored Sites" such as those seen in google, etc.

So now I'm adding don't click-on ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, at the "good" places I visit, EXCEPT FOR "whatever" I can gleen to be "DIRECTLY RELATED TO MY REASON FOR GOING THERE"???????????

It's all getting to ba a bit much, really.......if I wish to "stay" (on the www), I reckon I need to get some sort of "Security Certification" - or go to 123xyz.com, to get a daily briefing on what NOT to do when sufing the net?

I used to get online to relax ... explore, search and research subjects ... now it's becoming a NeRvE-WrAcKiNg experience...!

 

Ok...I can't keep-up with the replies (in great part due to my screen/keyboard freezing-up).

have long used NoScript, but it's no use with mom...she will never get it, because she just wants it all "simple", so that won't work for her.

I'm basically just trying to stay in this game myself at this poiint...was hoping to start selling some things on ebay/amazon, wherever, but I don't know now...I think I'll need to get a dedicated laptop or notebook or whatever just for that (?).

And oma, please..."changing click habits" is really not much of an answer...I DID (just now) eliminate avast Web Rep...not sure why I added it, was a "too quick" decision whenever I last came-across the offer for it, I suppose.

Thanks to all for the help, recommendations, etc.

I guess I'm headed for the (dreaded) malware forum, or yet another (dreaded) reformat..........(I think that's what it's called - complete wipe of the hard drive, and reload/reinstall of the OS?).

 

The icon on avast is due to one shield ("IM" - "Instant Messenger") being turned-off ... I usually have the "P2P" shield off as well, as I don't do any of that P2P stuff (that I KNOW of???)

I didn't know about "Roomy Bookmarks", but I'll look into it...I have TRIED to simplify/downsize, etc., based-on recommendations here in the past (used to have lots of add-on's - now trying to keep it in the 5-10 range)...

 

I just ran a quick test to see what my PC would do when Firefox (actually PaleMoon) tried to go directly to the site that triggered your detectors

What I saw was a "Unable to connect" message, my hosts file (modified by Spybot's immunize and SpywareBlaster) had blocked it.

I then checked back with my DNS service, OpenDNS, to find that the classification of that site is as a News/Media service (others have tried to class it under 8 other categories), therefore my current settings there would have allowed access to the site.

Starting to see some of my layers of protection yet?



It probably is a good time for you to carefully go through the R&R over at Malware now, there may have been some dregs that crept in.

 

Go into Add/Remove programs and click on Avast Remove/Change. Click on Change when it shows. Then untick the IM and P2P (peer to peer) boxes. That will uninstall these 2 and your avast icon will not show the alert in avast icon anymore.

I've got 12 extensions and so far no loss in speed. You'll like Roomy. There are others that you can have more than 1 bookmark toolbar but forgot their names.