Careful doing that blog-clicking... be careful of trojans

... and other nasty occurences

from JoeUser Forums
I don't want to besmirch the fine name of blog traffic exchanges like BlogExplosion, BlogClicker, or one of the newest on the block, Blog Mad, but I do want to take a few seconds to remind anyone that visits such sites to be careful during your blog surfing and make sure you have a good antivirus program with up-to-date definitions in place.

Several times while clicking and surfing through all of the above traffic exchanges I've had my AntiVirus software sound alarms about buffer overflow attempts, and just a short while ago, through one of the sites on BlogClicker, had the AV software block an attempt at installing software that it clearly labelled as a trojan. Of course I know enough not to let such software get installed on my system, and I do not surf the web 'unprotected', but I wanted to take the opportunity to remind others to be careful in their use of the web as well.

I do report sites like the ones I mentioned above to the traffic exchanges and hope they weed out such garbage along the way, but I don't count on them doing so without some tips from us (the users of the exchanges).

Again, the best defense is a good antivirus program and an intelligent surfer (you!).
blogging
3,469 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
A fairly important forum bump to help get the word out and remind everyone to 'lets be careful out there' when surfing!
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was at work the other day and read a posting on JU about MySpace. So I went over there to see what all the fuss was and clicked on a blog featured on the home page - instant virus that our anti-virus software couldn't remove automatically.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
How did you block the site? I've been having the sam problem!


You can't necessarily block the site, at least not that easily at first. If you are using BlogExplosion, you can review your surfing history and use that information to *report* the site.

If you know what site it is as you are taken to the site, you can normally make use of the 'don't show this site again' type features on the blog traffic exchange site, but it's hard to know immediately, and you may wind up having your web browser closed automatically as soon as you hit the bogus site.

If you are running a good AntiVirus program it should block the trojan attempt and good pop-up blocking software can also come into play and help as well.

The best answer would be, perhaps, a good smack in the chops and across the buttocks of the idiots that try to manipulate the system and ruin things for others, but in the meantime, reporting the sites should help, and perhaps putting out a little press (like this article) to put more pressure on the support staffs of the blog traffic exchanges to monitor the sites they are sending us to is order. They can't be responsible for everything, but they should be vigilant about checking the sites that they are linking to.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
This is a good article and reminder to all Windows users who surf the web that malware can come from anywhere. Strong firewall, AV, and spyware protection is a must.

I make a bit of side money from time to time correcting problems on people's computers and 90% of the time it's just a matter of removing malware and repairing the damage done by this malicious software. In almost every case the person either isn't running protection, has inadequate/out of date protection, and/or hasn't installed the security updates to their OS.

While Linux is my OS of choice, a Windows box can be made reasonably secure if the user takes the time to install the proper software and makes a point of installing the security patches as they are released.

Great article Terp.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
While I have not had a single problem of malware i have had a few popups and sis not consider reporting the offending site. - I will from now on. Thanks -

P.S. I got here from BE and did not find it necessary to report you.. - 8-P
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, I have half the problem licked.  I have a great AV program.