Virus trying to attach to my computer when I am on TDP

Yesterday and today, when I have gone to a few pages on TDP, a box has opened up stating "Viruses have been found on your computer" telling me to run this scanning attachment. My daughter told me to close TDP tab immediately when this comes up because it is a virus. I only get this when I am on various pages on TDP and it doesn't happen every time I go to that page. Yesterday it was when I went to "News" and now again this morning when I went to "Reviews".

Anyone else experiencing this? Is it my computer? Is it my internet or is it the site? I have run a scan of my computer (not the one it told me to of course) and no viruses are detected.

Most likely Denice you already have some malware / adware bug that triggers the pop up on certain sites.

Can you identify the application that pops up the "Viruses have been found..." dialog?
If it's related to your anti-virus, it might be something that's already there but gets activated somehow and detected.
If it's not, then I think it might be an adware that tries to get you click on the scan button to get you somewhere; a page where you can buy an antivirus for example.

In any case, a full scan seems required. If you can get rid of it a painful format/install might be required

The message "this scanning attachment" doesn't sound right to me and I'd be surprised that an anti-virus outputs a message like this.

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Anyone else experiencing this?

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Yes. It's happening to me, too. This exact phenomenon. When I am browsing the TDP. Time for me to investigate, as well.

Hi everyone - thanks for reporting this disturbing news. I too have seen the infrequent fake malware infection screen and have been working on the issue.

Interesting is that I am seeing this happen on other websites as well.

I have tested the site on several malware/virus scanners including those from McAfee, AVG, Comodo, Sucuri and Google. The site shows as being 100% clean in all of them.

Most likely this issue is coming from the Google ads running on the site. The manual third party ads that can ride over the Google ads have been removed - and did not appear to be the problem.

Not long ago, I turned off all of Google's own third party ad networks (600 or so of them). Please let me know if you see any more fake malware infection screens so I can insure that the problem has been eliminated.

Thanks for the help!

Bryan

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Originally Posted by Steph

Can you identify the application that pops up the "Viruses have been found..." dialog?
If it's related to your anti-virus, it might be something that's already there but gets activated somehow and detected.
If it's not, then I think it might be an adware that tries to get you click on the scan button to get you somewhere; a page where you can buy an antivirus for example.

In any case, a full scan seems required. If you can get rid of it a painful format/install might be required

The message "this scanning attachment" doesn't sound right to me and I'd be surprised that an anti-virus outputs a message like this.

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I don't really know what you mean by identify the application? All I did when it came up was click on the header "Reviews" and "News" at the top of the page. It only comes up when I am in TDP and it isn't the anti-virus that is putting out the message, at least it isn't my anti-virus. It is a fake to get me to do something that I most definitely shouldn't. Since I have clicked the page shut instead of doing what it asks me to do, I don't think my computer got infected from it. I have run a check on my computer and nothing shows up.

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Originally Posted by Bryan Carnathan

Hi everyone - thanks for reporting this disturbing news. I too have seen the infrequent fake malware infection screen and have been working on the issue.

Interesting is that I am seeing this happen on other websites as well.

I have tested the site on several malware/virus scanners including those from McAfee, AVG, Comodo, Sucuri and Google. The site shows as being 100% clean in all of them.

Most likely this issue is coming from the Google ads running on the site. The manual third party ads that can ride over the Google ads have been removed - and did not appear to be the problem.

Not long ago, I turned off all of Google's own third party ad networks (600 or so of them). Please let me know if you see any more fake malware infection screens so I can insure that the problem has been eliminated.

Thanks for the help!

Bryan

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Thank you Bryan! I will be sure to let you know if I see it anymore.

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

It is a fake to get me to do something that I most definitely shouldn't. Since I have clicked the page shut instead of doing what it asks me to do, I don't think my computer got infected from it.

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If anyone has to close a fake anti-virus scanning window, the best way to do this is from the taskbar (bottom toolbar in windows) and right click on the link in the bottom toolbar and choose close, or you can possibly close the malware in task manager. Most of the time, just clicking on the "X" on the pop-up window will trigger the malware app.

Also for others having this problem, make sure your operating system and browser software are up to date, as well as your Anti-Virus Software, Adobe Flash player, and java (if you have it installed). Most of the time, malware tries to exploit weaknesses in outdated software.

Rich

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Originally Posted by Bryan Carnathan

I have tested the site on several malware/virus scanners including those from McAfee, AVG, Comodo, Sucuri and Google. The site shows as being 100% clean in all of them.

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Not long ago I came accross a bug on my computer at work. It was a nasty little bug that would pop up the mock anti-virus continually, but it seemed to do it more on certain websites. It was doing other things that weren't to pleasant. Since all my computers are Mac's at home now, it has been 3 years since I had to clean up one myself. The work computer was sent in to the IT guys we use. They new what the bug was as it had been circulating for a few months, at the time the easiest cure was to wipe the computer. The bug wasn't showing up on any of the conventional AV we use. Interestingly the first time I noticed the bug, and the website I thought I picked it up from was Yahoo.com.

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Originally Posted by Richard Lane

If anyone has to close a fake anti-virus scanning window, the best way to do this is from the taskbar (bottom toolbar in windows) and right click on the link in the bottom toolbar and choose close, or you can possibly close the malware in task manager. Most of the time, just clicking on the "X" on the pop-up window will trigger the malware app.

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I have been doing this for as long as I remember.

But actually the "best way" to end this problem is when money permits, go buy a Mac :).

Those "Option" and "Command" keys are pretty expensive:)

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

Not long ago I came accross a bug on my computer at work. It was a nasty little bug that would pop up the mock anti-virus continually, but it seemed to do it more on certain websites. It was doing other things that weren't t0o pleasant. Since all my computers are Mac's at home now, it has been 3 years since I had to clean up one myself. The work computer was sent in to the IT guys we use.

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"Uh hi, IT guy? Can you please get a virus off my computer? It only pops up when I'm browsing photography websites instead of doing my job..."

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Originally Posted by Dr Croubie

"Uh hi, IT guy? Can you please get a virus off my computer? It only pops up when I'm browsing photography websites instead of doing my job..."

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LOL if only that were true.

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Originally Posted by andnowimbroke

Those "Option" and "Command" keys are pretty expensive:)

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The first computer I owned personally was given to me, it was a 286 with a virus on it that would make the keyboard skip. I spent 3 days messing with it and finally got the bug off of it. If you like tinkering and messing with your PC to keep it working, and give your time away free then the Option and Command key's are more expensive. However, for what has been spent the three times I have had the Dell cleaned up at work I could have bought two Mac Book Pro's. Those Keys are very affordable in that scenario.

I have a Mac at home and a PC at work too!

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Originally Posted by Richard Lane

I have a Mac at home and a PC at work too!

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Sad part is, I can't get away from the PC at work. I have to many programs I use that are PC only.

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Originally Posted by Bryan Carnathan

Hi everyone - thanks for reporting this disturbing news. I too have seen the infrequent fake malware infection screen and have been working on the issue.

Interesting is that I am seeing this happen on other websites as well.

I have tested the site on several malware/virus scanners including those from McAfee, AVG, Comodo, Sucuri and Google. The site shows as being 100% clean in all of them.

Most likely this issue is coming from the Google ads running on the site. The manual third party ads that can ride over the Google ads have been removed - and did not appear to be the problem.

Not long ago, I turned off all of Google's own third party ad networks (600 or so of them). Please let me know if you see any more fake malware infection screens so I can insure that the problem has been eliminated.

Thanks for the help!

Bryan

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Well it just popped up on mine to its still an issue

Nick,

I appreciate you letting me know. I completely replaced all of the code on the site today and recompiled. I'll now take the next step in narrowing this problem down.

I'm not noticing any other problems whatsoever so I don't think my computer is infected!? Keeping fingers crossed!!

I've never gotten virus warnings on TDP on either of my home PCs, or thee work PC, or the PC at my previous job... and I check the forums several times a day.

Does anyone have any insight as to why it pops up on some PC's and not others? Is it one anti-virus software stopping it better than another from happening? Or is it just so spontaneous that it can happen to anyone with a PC at anytime or not at all? Just curious as to what makes it "tick" so to speak.

Honestly, I think your computer still has somebody with their foot in the security door letting other things in. Viruses/malware or whatever you want to call them are built to infect specific targets with specific hardware and software. Some are easier to remove than others and some AntiVirus software work better at removing problems while others do better at keeping things at bay. Some just hog computer resources, keeping you from ever getting online thus keeping you safe from threats;)

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Originally Posted by andnowimbroke

Honestly, I think your computer still has somebody with their foot in the security door letting other things in. Viruses/malware or whatever you want to call them are built to infect specific targets with specific hardware and software. Some are easier to remove than others and some AntiVirus software work better at removing problems while others do better at keeping things at bay. Some just hog computer resources, keeping you from ever getting online thus keeping you safe from threats;)

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I'm not saying that isn't possible but I've never had a virus detected with anything that I have used to scan the computer (including crap cleaner and a few others) and the only thing that was hogging my resources that I could see was the anti-virus software that I was using. Since I switched, the speed has greatly improved.

I once had some malware on my comp. and the only thing that would find it and remove it was Malwarebytes.

I dont believe this is a real virus, Ive had viruses and malware on computers before and they were different to this. I had this pop up on my brand new work computer so I know the computer is clean. It only showed up the once and went away when I closed the window and hasnt popped up again. Its strange but I dont think its actually a virus or malware on our computers

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

But actually the "best way" to end this problem is when money permits, go buy a Mac :).

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Our company uses PCs. A few Mac users around, but the IT guy told us that they'd eventually "root them out." :)

But, I think the real reason Macs aren't targeted, is because no one cares, since there are so few of them around. ;)

I use the latest version of Firefox with several free add-ons: Ad-Blocker Plus (ABP), No Script, and Ghostery. ABP and Ghostery are set-and-forget. No Script takes a bit of getting use to and has a minor learning curve. But the 3 together pretty much prevent any ads from showing at all (sorry, Bryan) which speeds up browsing immensely. I also have no fear of any site as No Script will allow, well...no script to run without my giving it explicit permission. I've ditched the annoying, CPU hogging McAfee anti-virus in favor of Microsoft's Security Essentials (free) and Windows Defender, which come with Windows 7. Even if you use a Mac, Firefox and the add-ons work wonders. I allow the scripts on TDP to run, but I see no ads, so I've never seen the issue discussed in this thread. The malware is installed on your machine when you click on the offending ad. If you never see the ad to begin with, you have no worries. As a minimum, use Firefox and Ad-Blocker Plus. You'll instantly be surfing safer and faster.

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Originally Posted by shutterdown

Our company uses PCs. A few Mac users around, but the IT guy told us that they'd eventually "root them out." :)

But, I think the real reason Macs aren't targeted, is because no one cares, since there are so few of them around. ;)

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It should be obvious the IT guys don't want you to use Mac's. As long as you stay with PC's they have job security.

It just popped up on my screen again when I clicked on the "News" tab.

Forgot to mention that my daughter said it is the same thing that popped up on her computer awhile back and she had to do a complete restore to factory settings because she didn't know it was a fake and did what it says. It does look exactly like Microsoft Security Essentials screen behind the little box that wants you to click "ok".

Is anyone else still seeing the pop-ups? I've been using the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, and IE (although I think you can download IE 10 beta right now, I'm using the latest v9 build). I've never seen any of these pop-ups mentioned, and I'm on here quite a bit.

Puzzling, for sure.

Thanks for letting me know - still working on this. Not much hair left to pull out as I've replace/removed a very significant amount of the site so far.

Been lurking here for some time the last few weeks.

Never got any virus or malware message myself.

Me neither.

Has anyone seen this on a page other than the main news page?

I just tried it on the DSLR Camera & Lens Comparison link from the main page and got the virus message. After closing out of explorer, and reopening the page it seemed to work.

Brian.

Thanks Brian - I'm working on this.

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Yesterday and today, when I have gone to a few pages on TDP, a box has opened up stating "Viruses have been found on your computer" telling me to run this scanning attachment.

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I have not experienced this on TDP but not to long ago it happend on another site. A new window opened and I was told I had a virus on my computer and had to to download software. I got scared and thought my computer had been infected but after doing some research it turned out to be an SQL server injection called "Melissa" that had infected a database connected to the spesific site. I am not saying this has happened to TDP but I does not have to be a local infection. It could be as Bryan said, something connected to the ads.

Bryan is clever. I am sure he will figure it out. :-)