Web page warnings

[YetMoreTech]

We are aware that some people are receiving warnings when trying to open certain pages on Mumsnet. This is related to a problem with one of the ads that we serve on some of our pages. Whilst we investigate further we've stopped serving any ads. As such, all pages on the site are safe to visit. Once the problem is resolved the ads will return in all their glory and we will request to be removed from the blacklist which drives these warnings.

Apologies for any inconvenience or scaring anyone!

Tech: my infection was some months ago, probably not related to this attack. Although I will have been on MN that day, along with various other sites. I was amazed it was able to take such hold without me agreeing to install anything, made me wish I didn't have admin rights on my work laptop but unfortunately I need them.

My PC picked up the Disk Repair virus on Tuesday evening. I tried to sort it for a few hours, but McAfee and Malwarebytes weren't up to it. Ended up getting a friend to take a look at my machine, but it still doesn't seem overly happy.

mathanxiety - no anti-virus app is the "last word in protection" - only safe measure is a system with no connection (and no matter how many times people claim OS X is "invulnerable" there will no doubt sometime be a nasty which hits Apple kit too, so please don't feel too smug if you use OS X).

Problem is that when a new virus is released, and spreads, it can get to PCs before any anti-virus software specialist firm has encountered it, created a "fingerprint" to be able to identify it, or any way to protect against it.

No I don't use OS X.

Any anti virus app anyone has is only as good as the last problem it detected. But a little research can help a lot when you're trying to protect your PC.

I have a couple of anti virus programs (free ones i must admit). Nothing has come thru - yet.

I guess that in light if this we should all be reminded to update (or even install!) Anti Virus software and to perform regular scans.

Sorry mathanxiety - it was a general - ie "any OSX user who claims it is virus invulnerable" ...

Have little faith in most AV offerings, and find it worth doing a Trend Micro "Housecall" check now and then as well. Kaspersky is one I trust a bit more than most, while "AVG Free" is clearly worth having for what it costs :)

Find that Norton has become too deeply embedded into systems software and never been a fan of the 30/60/90 day trial of anything being put on systems by the PC makers to "help" customers.

In case anyone dosent know,microsoft now have a free anti virus prog.I was lucky the shop installed mine for me when comp went in for repair.I think its called microsoft essentials

Yes, I found the Norton renewal pop-ups incredibly annoying and persistent.

I wasn't thinking of any pop-ups (have not touched Norton for a while).

What I was thinking about was that Norton SystemWorks (which was great up to about 2004) then got to be awkward to uninstall. (A) it needed the original CD, which can cause problems if someone has misplaced it, and (B) it reached a stage where users had to download a special tool to get rid of the Norton software.

Once that happened it rang alarm bells. I had a few clients in London whom I supported remotely mostly by phone, but sometimes by remote control of their PCs. Norton internet security was blocking me from access, and blocking one from access to another PC in the same office (at the time one client had Sage accounts on two PCs, and needed LAN access to the 'master' machine holding the data.

Anyway, enough of my moans about Norton, just some software I now avoid and would tell others to if asked (in advance of them buying).

Right, I should have asked about this at the time, but you know how it is.

I'm on OS X and use Little Snitch, I'm assuming that the chances are that I'm OK, what do you reckon?

Something odd going on on my netbook - I click on a thread (not all of them, just intermittent), and another web address comes up in the address box at the top - 'www.results.google-analytic.com'; then it goes to another page - the last time it was 'ask jeeves'. Is this anything to do with the previous problems or have I got myself a special new one?
(ps - have just run AVG and no threats detected)

Since this problem started with Mumsnet my anti-virus (zone alarm) has picked up 2 trojan infections in the past week. Never had one before.

I am feeling it is something to do with mumsnet getting infected. Sorry if I'm wrong.

Pekkala - google-analytics.com is part of the way that Google offers tracking of visitors through web sites, as well as monitoring clicks for advertising.

Mumsnet uses a service called redirecting.at which seems to be used for any external links (so if I mention a link to a page on the Argos web site, there's some code inserted to if there is a way to get commission for clicking the link, MN gets that commission paid to them).

MN presumably has made use of Google analytics to track how people visit different pages, to see which parts of the website are popular and perhaps to find how people get to hear of Mumsnet too.

Lots of links will be included on some web pages (eg bits to do with adverts, Twitter, etc) and it can be awkward to know which are meant to be included and whether something is there because of hacking.

I tend to block lots of links which are not associated with a site I am visiting. If I see adverts I sometimes block domain names so there is just a blank space instead. Depends on how annoying the adverts are as to whether I bother.

HettyAmaretti, whilst it would be wrong to say that OS X never gets viruses, it is very much more resilient. Put it this way - when we were having the problems with malware, the first thing I did was visit the problematic pages (using OS X) so that I could see what was going on. MNHQ uses Macs and has done for years. Not one of them has any anti virus protection and not one of them has ever had a virus AFAIK. In over 10 years of using Macs I've never seen one download and execute something that wasn't requested. Again, not saying they're immune, but generally they suffer fewer problems in this regard.

Pekkala and Eurostar - sorry, it's impossible to say for sure either way whether your problems are related to Mumsnet.

Network Guy, YetMore Tech - thanks for your responses. There is definitely something wrong with my machine; I appreciate it may not be mumsnet related. Can you help or do I need to ask the following on geeky stuff? Sorry it's long but I am in a real pickle, I have never had a problem with malware before and I have no idea what to trust/how to fix it. Problem began when i clicked on threads, the tread would open up, but so would a second window. The address 'results.google-analytics' briefly flashes up, and then I am routed to other sites - random search sites, the eco-click virus site (eek!), or a dodgy website based in moldova (drvtrf.com).

I have just had warnings up from avg saying 'your avg is not working - click here to fix it' and I have no idea whether that is genuine or if I click it more malware is going to be loaded. A few minutes ago, none of the avg was appearing to work, now I am getting told that everything is ok but 'identity protection has been disabled'; and it is asking me to switch off to finish an update installation. Everytime I try to google to find fixes, it re-routes me to somewhere completely different!
I have run avg full scan (yesterday), malwarebytes and spybot s&d, and nothing was detected.
HEEEEEELLLLLLP!!!!

This post might be of use regarding checking your PC - eg Trend Micro's Housecall

I will have to double check www.savemybutt.com as the download section may have some other useful tools. However, phone is ringing and must deal with a client right now.

thanks again - am trying housecall

No go with housecall but I found a site called bleepingcomputer.com and their 'rkill' program enabled my own antivirus to find the malware. Fingers crossed thats the end of it! Thanks for your help NetworkGuy - much appreciated

was about to blame it on the new laptop or Windows 7

Pekkala,

Chances are that most messages that pop up saying you must do this or that are fake, particular if they say you must install a piece of software and even more so if they say you have to pay for it! You can often tell because they're either something you're not knowingly using (e.g. antivirus software you've not installed) or they look subtly different from what they would usually look like. It's not always that easy though.

Let's hope your problem is solved.

That site linked to earlier has this pretty comprehensive guide to getting rid of common malware:

www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/

Thanks Tech, that was my understanding too. Glad to hear I wasn't being deluded!