Just had a few days over the last week where the antivirus on more than one computer is flagging the forum as having bad things on it. Not just me either another fforumite was having the same issues. Any info on this?

Yes - my computer started blocking the site a couple of weeks ago. It seems to have got over it now though.

The fforum had been hacked and malware was implanted. (The page was trying to install a browser-exploit on the computers of visitors.) Within three days of the infection (at least after I noticed it, but I think I got it on day one), the page was blacklisted on pertinent sites. This was the reason why for example Google blocked all links to the fforum as "malicious". The malware has beeen purged, so it's save again to use the fforum.

If you look at the top of the page, you will see the lines "NEW USERS - TO HELP AVOID THOSE SPAMMERS" twice. This is the rest of the cleanup effort: the malware has gone, but its disguise - quoting a line that was already there on the page - has remained. At this point, this is harmless.

Lets's hope that the technical admins for the fforum took the necessary precautions to prevent future hacks. Those who are around for a bit longer may remember that already in 2007 there was a hack of the fforum, wich at this time remained undiscovered for several months.

It is an unfortunate fact of internet life that this happens. Even the best protected systems get caught out, sometimes. I believe tomorrow's "patch Tuesday" fixes 34 vulnerabilities (including 5 critical). Covering all versions of Windows and Internet Explorer among others.

Well, that explains where everyone went.

Anyone care to say if any malware could be on my computer, and if so, the name of the file to look for, or anything else?

I'd like to offer my IT guy some suggestions of what might be wrong, along with the plate of cookies I'll need to bribe him with, should I need to ask him to have a look at the computer...

All I saw was a note saying "Exploit kit". I am no specialist for these kind of things, but I think this means the software tried to gain some (temporary) control on your computer, but that "kit" is only a toolbox, and what it wanted to do with that control is completely open.

Best thing you can do is nudge your admin to install only up-to-date versions of browser, Adobe Reader, Flashplayer, Java, and the like.

Ah, I had begun to think nobody else noticed! Or that the subject was taboo...

I think I avoided the Time of Contagion with my carefully timed absence of weeks.

Violetmoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, that explains where everyone went.
>
> Anyone care to say if any malware could be on my
> computer, and if so, the name of the file to look
> for, or anything else?
>
> I'd like to offer my IT guy some suggestions of
> what might be wrong, along with the plate of
> cookies I'll need to bribe him with, should I need
> to ask him to have a look at the computer...

Assuming your anti-virus software is up-to-date and from a reputable supplier, you should be o.k. Try running a full scan after downloading the latest update. If you are using one of the university's computers, they should be checking anyway. It might be worth mentioning to you administrators, but they are probably aware of the problem already!

Thanks, Skids -

I think all is well with my little bit of the ether.

On what dates were we having these problems?

I noticed there was less traffic last time I was here but thought it was due to the ongoing Ffiesta...

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