OT - Scam on this site

[AccuRater]

I allow popups on this site. The click-throughs produce revenue and help keep the site going. So far so good. However, there is at least one popup that is a scam:

Please Install Flash Player Pro To Continue (Required)
Top Video Sites Require The Latest Adobe Flash Player Update.
Updating takes under a minute on broadband - no restart is required

It looks like an Adobe product. It is not. This leaves the impression that the product is required for optimal internet performance. It is not. I get this about every other time I access this site. The only way to get rid of it is to exit syracusefan.com and try again. I once made the mistake of clicking in response to this. Malware is installed. It takes several minutes to extricate yourself from the resulting mess.

Admins, is there any way you can block this.

 

[oldpinepoint]

adobe flash is crap ill never install it on my mac

 

[bballbeadle]

Last night (?) when I came on the board there was porn up on the side bar there.

 

[rrlbees]

The issue is addressed on the suggestions and support board.

 

[CaptainJ]

The issue is addressed on the suggestions and support board.

Maybe it will be addressed there, but in the meantime might it not be a bad idea to make folks aware of this scam? We know darned well most of them wouldn't see it in there.

 

[rrlbees]

Maybe it will be addressed there, but in the meantime might it not be a bad idea to make folks aware of this scam? We know darned well most of them wouldn't see it in there.

Well first, if I had a problem with the site, I think the first place I would look is the support board. Second, according to Temery, it's not a scam.

 

[Czar]

Well first, if I had a problem with the site, I think the first place I would look is the support board. Second, according to Temery, it's not a scam.

Temery is full of crap then because it is definitely adware. It's running programs without authorization and doing other sneaky crap.

It's not even good adware either, but that's beside the point, it's adware dude.

 

[rrlbees]

Temery is full of crap then because it is definitely adware. It's running programs without authorization and doing other sneaky crap. It's not even good adware either, but that's beside the point, it's adware dude.

Tell him in that thread then. It's the only board where every thread and post gets read by him and the admins. I personally have no idea cause I haven't had the issue.

 

[Czar]

Tell him in that thread then. It's the only board where every thread and post gets read by him and the admins. I personally have no idea cause I haven't had the issue.

Yeah I brought it up. If Google index catches crap like that it could flag the site.

 

[omniorange]

Maybe I wasn't clear. What I meant is a number of less savvy computer users could fall for this without realizing the board had an issue to address.

For the record, I was one of those less tech savvy user who mistakenly hit download. It added like 14 different programs to my control panel the same day, my virus protector almost immediately started sending me phishing warnings and I quickly realized something was wrong. I went to my control panel to remove all of the programs that were downloaded that day (that's how I knew it bundled like 14 program downloads in one) but the next week I noticed that I had lost my Norton toolbar and it was replaced by search.conduit.com which apparently was hidden in one of my older files somewhere so I had to reset my Chrome advanced settings to get rid of the downloaded search engine.

Not sure if that helps anyone else or not. And I am still not sure I did everything I needed to do to protect myself or not. One techy at work said I should take the computer in to be totally cleaned regardless and should do that annually anyway. So I called around, but most of the estimates I was given said it would cost me $1000 or more. Screw that. I can get a new computer for that kind of money.

So I just keep a regular watch on my on-line checking and credit card transactions. Luckily I am a relatively poor state official.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Czar]

For the record, I was one of those less tech savvy user who mistakenly hit download. It added like 14 different programs to my control panel the same day, my virus protector almost immediately started sending me phishing warnings and I quickly realized something was wrong. I went to my control panel to remove all of the programs that were downloaded that day (that's how I knew it bundled like 14 program downloads in one) but the next week I noticed that I had lost my Norton toolbar and it was replaced by search.conduit.com which apparently was hidden in one of my older files somewhere so I had to reset my Chrome advanced settings to get rid of the downloaded search engine.

Not sure if that helps anyone else or not. And I am still not sure I did everything I needed to do to protect myself or not. One techy at work said I should take the computer in to be totally cleaned regardless and should do that annually anyway. So I called around, but most of the estimates I was given said it would cost me $1000 or more. Screw that. I can get a new computer for that kind of money.

So I just keep a regular watch on my on-line checking and credit card transactions. Luckily I am a relatively poor state official.

Cheers,
Neil

If it's really a serious problem, just reformat the drive.

 

[temery]

Temery is full of crap then because it is definitely adware. It's running programs without authorization and doing other sneaky crap.

It's not even good adware either, but that's beside the point, it's adware dude.

Then don't visit this site. It's that simple.

 

[temery]

Maybe it will be addressed there, but in the meantime might it not be a bad idea to make folks aware of this scam? We know darned well most of them wouldn't see it in there.

There is no scam. Anyone who thinks there is, can leave.

http://scanurl.net/?u=Syracusefan.com&uesb=Check This URL#results

Once in the history of this site has there been a problem with an ad that turned out to be a problem. The rest have been false positives and can be chalked up to stuff that happens on the Internet. And yes, it is being caused by an ad - I looked into this a week or so ago and was told it was not malware of any type. Annoying, yes, but not malware. Historically, the problem goes away after a day or two.

If someone can tell me what ad is causing them problems, I'll block the ad.

Ads pay the bills. That's a reality.

I'll look into this current problem. But I don't want to read anymore suggestions that I am running, or allowing scams to be run on this site.

I won't be able to get to this until after work.

 

[CaptainJ]

There is no scam. Anyone who thinks there is, can leave.

http://scanurl.net/?u=Syracusefan.com&uesb=Check This URL#results

Once in the history of this site has there been a problem with an ad that turned out to be a problem with an ad. The rest have been false positives and can be chalked up to stuff that happens on the Internet.

Ads pay the bills. That's a reality.

I'll look into this current problem. But I don't want to read anymore suggestions that I am running, or allowing to be run, scams on this site.

I won't be able to get to this until after work.

I appreciate your work here and it was not myself who made any such suggestions that you mention. The OP said "scam", and it may or may not be a fitting term, but it was not myself who used that word originally.

Whatever I said was out of genuine concern to help prevent more folks from having the problems that a couple of folks have come forward and shared. I have no interest in blaming the site or any staff, as I agree with you that these things happen on the internet. I'll even go out of my way to publicly apologize for what I said to you in PM last week. I was frustrated and not sober, although i recognize that doesn't justify it. I hope that helps demonstrate my sincerity.

In turn, please recognize what I have said here is not about a vendetta or anything silly like that. *I* was not the person who mentioned your name, nor do I necessarily condone whomever did. I try to be thoughtful and realize that if I were in your shoes I wouldn't enjoy feeling that someone was attempting to besmirch my name. You saw how fired up I was last week when I felt my name was on the brink of being besmirched, and I do attempt to follow the Golden Rule and encourage others to do the same. Anyhow, my point is I don't want you to associate my screen name with everything other folks have said in this thread. I hope that is a fair enough request.

Please note that I even took that time to mention a product I bought that I saw in an add on here last season.

 

[Jamesvillecuse]

what I don't understand is why when I had the problem it was only on this site seems like if it was a problem not from this site it would be on other sites I go to as well? I don't have the problem anymore because I took precautions to stop it.

 

[CaptainJ]

No problem. Yours just happened to be the reply I was reading when I decided to chime in.

I know these incidents happen from time to time. I spend hours looking into it, then the problem disappears on its own. Bottom line - because there was a problem once that was potentially risky, I have to look into all reports. I'll do so with this one once I get home from work.

Thanks. And do you ever sleep?

Thanks, I appreciate you replying and recognize you're often busy. As for sleep, I'm in Colorado, so the time zone plays a factor but indeed my sleep pattern is a bit abnormal currently.

 

[temery]

what I don't understand is why when I had the problem it was only on this site seems like if it was a problem not from this site it would be on other sites I go to as well? I don't have the problem anymore because I took precautions to stop it.

Mostly because you and others spend hours a day on this site. Also - there are pop-ups, malware, etc that don't kick in on the site they are delivered from. I have the option of delivering pop-ups after someone exits this site. I think it's wrong, so I don't do it. But I can understand why it would be an attractive revenue source for sites - they'd get the money, and the next (or future) site visited gets the blame.

As for the "measures" you've taken ... I need to pay the bills, and have the option of preventing such measures. But, in my mind, anyone who posts on the site, makes the site, and should be allowed to block ads.

 

[Jamesvillecuse]

as I have said many times I am a vet with medical issues and this site helps me get through the day.

 

[AccuRater]

There is no scam. Anyone who thinks there is, can leave.

http://scanurl.net/?u=Syracusefan.com&uesb=Check This URL#results

Once in the history of this site has there been a problem with an ad that turned out to be a problem. The rest have been false positives and can be chalked up to stuff that happens on the Internet. And yes, it is being caused by an ad - I looked into this a week or so ago and was told it was not malware of any type. Annoying, yes, but not malware. Historically, the problem goes away after a day or two.

If someone can tell me what ad is causing them problems, I'll block the ad.

Ads pay the bills. That's a reality.

I'll look into this current problem. But I don't want to read anymare more suggestions that I am running, or allowing scams to be run on this site.

I won't be able to get to this until after work.

Tom,

I certainly didn't mean to imply that you or any other of the admin's on this board are running or deliberately allowing a scam, or malware. You all do a terrific job and are greatly appreciated. My point, perhaps poorly stated, is that I regularly get an ad for something that looks like Adobe Flash Player which includes a suggestion that it is "required". I couldn't find the "X" to click off of it. To lose it, I need to exit the site then re-enter. If you click on the link, malware is installed. It occurs often. That's all.

 

[temery]

Tom,

I certainly didn't mean to imply that you or any other of the admin's on this board are running or deliberately allowing a scam, or malware. You all do a terrific job and are greatly appreciated. My point, perhaps poorly stated, is that I regularly get an ad for something that looks like Adobe Flash Player which includes a suggestion that it is "required". I couldn't find the "X" to click off of it. To lose it, I need to exit the site then re-enter. If you click on the link, malware is installed. It occurs often. That's all.

I've set it up so you shouldn't see ads. If it happens again, please take a screen shot, or copy the source code for me.

And I am sorry for the snark on my end ;-) If it's happening to visitors, it's a problem. But it drives me nuts. I do know the last time this happened, going to the adobe site (or whatever) directly and downloading the update, solved the problem.


Thanks.

 

[tee1222]

This needs to be said:
Tom, I appreciate all that you do for this site. No knock on anyone here. I just feel that it's nice for people who work hard to feel appreciated now and again.

 

[Czar]

Then don't visit this site. It's that simple.

I'm just trying to help you out. You have adaware using your homepage to go after users under a certain set of parameters, it's plain as day. I'm not accusing you of doing anything, just that it exists.

Also be careful with url scanners. They're generally good, but they only scan for an index of a hundred programs or so. If you have adware or malware that's not in the index it might not recognize it.

 

[HoustonCuse]

For the record, I was one of those less tech savvy user who mistakenly hit download. It added like 14 different programs to my control panel the same day, my virus protector almost immediately started sending me phishing warnings and I quickly realized something was wrong. I went to my control panel to remove all of the programs that were downloaded that day (that's how I knew it bundled like 14 program downloads in one) but the next week I noticed that I had lost my Norton toolbar and it was replaced by search.conduit.com which apparently was hidden in one of my older files somewhere so I had to reset my Chrome advanced settings to get rid of the downloaded search engine.

Not sure if that helps anyone else or not. And I am still not sure I did everything I needed to do to protect myself or not. One techy at work said I should take the computer in to be totally cleaned regardless and should do that annually anyway. So I called around, but most of the estimates I was given said it would cost me $1000 or more. Screw that. I can get a new computer for that kind of money.

So I just keep a regular watch on my on-line checking and credit card transactions. Luckily I am a relatively poor state official.

Cheers,
Neil

Also for the record, if anyone notices something like the above has happened (from any source), a quick and easy thing you can do is perform a system restore to a date sufficiently in the past where you are sure things were hunky-dory on your computer. A system restore will not affect your data, so you won't lose grandma's apple pie recipe or the term paper you just wrote in a Jolt Cola fueled frenzy, but it will eliminate all vestiges of installed applications. It's not a bullet proof answer to all problems, but it will help you out in many situations.

 

[temery]

I need a screen shot and the source code. All users having the trouble should set their chrome to auto update.

 

[SWC75]

Tom,

I certainly didn't mean to imply that you or any other of the admin's on this board are running or deliberately allowing a scam, or malware. You all do a terrific job and are greatly appreciated. My point, perhaps poorly stated, is that I regularly get an ad for something that looks like Adobe Flash Player which includes a suggestion that it is "required". I couldn't find the "X" to click off of it. To lose it, I need to exit the site then re-enter. If you click on the link, malware is installed. It occurs often. That's all.

Happened to me a couple of times, too, maybe a couple of weeks ago. Not since.