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Login/Join to ParticipateSILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Posted:
Hi everyone,
I've got a new computer, and really, I have no idea what I'm doing...
but, I am a bit concerned that HoP has some spyware on it (not that I
really know anything about this sort of thing).
When I click on HoP, or links within, it seems to bring up an adware address before bringing up what I have clicked on on the HoP page.
I have only noticed this today, so it may or may not have been
happening before. I also have a new computer that is only a week old
and when running my malware program on it, I was suprised to see so
many things come up, then noticed the stuff on Hop.
Now I have no idea if it's related, or if I'm even typing sense, so
thought I'd mention it and you can see if I'm completely mad and if
it is even possible.
So, I wrote to Malcolm and this is what he suggested (posted with his permission):
"I believe this is because we source our images from another server. So It thinks someone has secretly embedded other stuff into our code. This is a bit sad as many large sites have to split information across several servers. We are running 3 severs now because of the traffic and bandwidth. One for the database, one for images and videos and one for php and html coding.
Plus many users use Avatars or link to Youtube which are all held on other servers too.
This has happened previously and the user just had to change a setting in their adware program. I have no idea what that setting is but maybe your "pop - up" may have a link to more informations and the setting it uses. Maybe the security level is set too high??
Let me know when you fix it. It is good to know how many people this could be affecting."
So, do I actually have anything to worry about?
Does anyone on the board who knows anything about computers have some comments?
Hi everyone,
I've got a new computer, and really, I have no idea what I'm doing...
but, I am a bit concerned that HoP has some spyware on it (not that I
really know anything about this sort of thing).
When I click on HoP, or links within, it seems to bring up an adware address before bringing up what I have clicked on on the HoP page.
I have only noticed this today, so it may or may not have been
happening before. I also have a new computer that is only a week old
and when running my malware program on it, I was suprised to see so
many things come up, then noticed the stuff on Hop.
Now I have no idea if it's related, or if I'm even typing sense, so
thought I'd mention it and you can see if I'm completely mad and if
it is even possible.
So, I wrote to Malcolm and this is what he suggested (posted with his permission):
"I believe this is because we source our images from another server. So It thinks someone has secretly embedded other stuff into our code. This is a bit sad as many large sites have to split information across several servers. We are running 3 severs now because of the traffic and bandwidth. One for the database, one for images and videos and one for php and html coding.
Plus many users use Avatars or link to Youtube which are all held on other servers too.
This has happened previously and the user just had to change a setting in their adware program. I have no idea what that setting is but maybe your "pop - up" may have a link to more informations and the setting it uses. Maybe the security level is set too high??
Let me know when you fix it. It is good to know how many people this could be affecting."
So, do I actually have anything to worry about?
Does anyone on the board who knows anything about computers have some comments?
GOLD Member
Rancor
253 posts
Location: Right Here, USA
Rancor
253 posts
Location: Right Here, USA
Posted:
I think you are going to have to be a bit more specific... Spyware is an application that sits in your computer and relays information about what sites you visit, among other potentially harmful things, back to a host that created the spyware.
If you are running a check, it is likely that what you are seeing are "cookies." While generally harmless, some cookies are malicious. The cookies from this site, I can only assume, are saved on your computer so when you visit your password and user name are automatically generated to keep you from re-typing everything. Cookies are also what allow you to see what posts you have not read, or new things since your last login - harmless. A lot of scanners will not know if a cookie or app is good or bad, only a pattern in the coding/name. Deleting it will not hurt anything, however you will have to re-type your information during your next "session."
I doubt anything is coming from media linked through this site, as it would be hard/impossible to encode something malicious in something like an image hosted somewhere to execute on a page load.
Many times images and videos are stored on your computer when you view them, even if you don't save them. This is so pages load faster and easier, again deleting them will not hurt anything - but like before, your next session will be slower as those things will need to be saved to your cache again.
Delete your cookies, delete your cache. Internet Option >> (There will be things in here to do both automatically)
Or you can START >> Programs >> Accessories >> Disk Cleanup
I advise erasing everything the anti-virus software tells you to.
EDITED_BY: doppelGanger (1231892782)
I think you are going to have to be a bit more specific... Spyware is an application that sits in your computer and relays information about what sites you visit, among other potentially harmful things, back to a host that created the spyware.
If you are running a check, it is likely that what you are seeing are "cookies." While generally harmless, some cookies are malicious. The cookies from this site, I can only assume, are saved on your computer so when you visit your password and user name are automatically generated to keep you from re-typing everything. Cookies are also what allow you to see what posts you have not read, or new things since your last login - harmless. A lot of scanners will not know if a cookie or app is good or bad, only a pattern in the coding/name. Deleting it will not hurt anything, however you will have to re-type your information during your next "session."
I doubt anything is coming from media linked through this site, as it would be hard/impossible to encode something malicious in something like an image hosted somewhere to execute on a page load.
Many times images and videos are stored on your computer when you view them, even if you don't save them. This is so pages load faster and easier, again deleting them will not hurt anything - but like before, your next session will be slower as those things will need to be saved to your cache again.
Delete your cookies, delete your cache. Internet Option >> (There will be things in here to do both automatically)
Or you can START >> Programs >> Accessories >> Disk Cleanup
I advise erasing everything the anti-virus software tells you to.
EDITED_BY: doppelGanger (1231892782)
Human
SILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Posted:
thanks mate, I think that made sense to me
so essentially I shouldn't be too panicked about it
cheers!
thanks mate, I think that made sense to me
so essentially I shouldn't be too panicked about itcheers!
Internet Hate Machine
10,530 posts
Location: They seek him here, they seek him there...
10,530 posts
Location: They seek him here, they seek him there...
Posted:
https://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html
Do you have this ^ ?
Use it if you do (I guess you already will have done :embarrassed: ), but if not get this. Its good for that sort of thing I think.
https://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html
Do you have this ^ ?
Use it if you do (I guess you already will have done :embarrassed: ), but if not get this. Its good for that sort of thing I think.
The existance of flamethrowers says that someone, somewhere, at sometime said "I need to set that thing on fire, but it's too far away."
SILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Posted:
Thanks FRD - I did have spoybot til the lastest version kept crashing my computer. I now use Clamwin which seems pretty good - not as funky as spybot though!
Thanks FRD - I did have spoybot til the lastest version kept crashing my computer. I now use Clamwin which seems pretty good - not as funky as spybot though!
SILVER Member
there's no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness
3,764 posts
Location: limbo, Australia
there's no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness
3,764 posts
Location: limbo, Australia
Posted:
or... you could just move to linux and not have to worry about all this silly nonsense...
or... you could just move to linux and not have to worry about all this silly nonsense...
--pogo (pat) [forever and always]
SILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Posted:
yes that would be lovely to back on linux again...
instead I have the evil MS Office 2007...
yes that would be lovely to back on linux again...
instead I have the evil MS Office 2007...
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
Go dual boot perhaps?
Xp and Ubuntu for me
Like the Fred said, get Spybot (www.spybot.com) and AVG anti virus (https://free.grisoft.com) and keep smiling.
Go dual boot perhaps?
Xp and Ubuntu for me
Like the Fred said, get Spybot (www.spybot.com) and AVG anti virus (https://free.grisoft.com) and keep smiling.
BRONZE Member
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic
Posted:
LINUX, or:
-xp profesional
-xp service pack 2
-xp service pack 3
-wipfw
-about 20 tweek to windows (regedit, services.msc, control, system -> [PM] )
-Firefox
no antivirus, no antispyware..
(standart practise for user 'lame' = anti-thingz )
-------------------------------------------------
Quote:Bloody(24):
What system is fully secure?
None.
lightning,
:R
LINUX, or:
-xp profesional
-xp service pack 2
-xp service pack 3
-wipfw
-about 20 tweek to windows (regedit, services.msc, control, system -> [PM] )
-Firefox
no antivirus, no antispyware..
(standart practise for user 'lame' = anti-thingz )
-------------------------------------------------
Quote:Bloody(24):
What system is fully secure?
None.
lightning,
:R
POI THEO(R)IST
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
I would need more space to dual boot sadly. I quite like linux, except that my laptop has sound issues with most distros.
Ade: If you run a good antispyware and anivirus program often, they should catch most problems before they do much/any harm.
I would need more space to dual boot sadly. I quite like linux, except that my laptop has sound issues with most distros.
Ade: If you run a good antispyware and anivirus program often, they should catch most problems before they do much/any harm.
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
SILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Posted:
Thanks Richee, UCOF and aston - much appreciated!
Thanks Richee, UCOF and aston - much appreciated!
SILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
Posted:
Originally Posted By: AdeHi everyone,
Malcolm...suggested :
This has happened previously and the user just had to change a setting in their adware program. I have no idea what that setting is but maybe your "pop - up"
The other user was probably me, as reported [Old link]
I use FIrefox so I went into preferences and closed 'pop up windows'
Originally Posted By: AdeHi everyone,
Malcolm...suggested :
This has happened previously and the user just had to change a setting in their adware program. I have no idea what that setting is but maybe your "pop - up"
The other user was probably me, as reported [Old link]
I use FIrefox so I went into preferences and closed 'pop up windows'
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
SILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia
Posted:
thanks newgabe
thanks newgabe
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
Incidentally, I am running an archaic (ok, October 2005 so not as bad as it could be) version of Ubuntu on an old box as a fileserver now. Lots of fun.
Incidentally, I am running an archaic (ok, October 2005 so not as bad as it could be) version of Ubuntu on an old box as a fileserver now. Lots of fun.
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
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