FALSE Virus alert [there is NO malware on your computer]
Jul 28, 2012, 1:35 am
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
IB seems very reluctant to do anything that will cost them any money. Heck there are many folks from their TopFlyer contest that finished at the end of last year who still haven't been given their small prizes. Amazingly bad form for a company that relies on its members to thrive.
Jul 28, 2012, 1:53 am
#152
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 16 Miles From ABZ
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 526
Flyertal Website Security Threat
Over the past few days my Internet Security has picked up and blocked a number of security threats. From the information available these appear to be emanating from Poland. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
Jul 28, 2012, 2:26 am
#155
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LGA/JFK
Programs: DL Silver (aka, Delta AmEx PLUS), Starbucks Gold :)
Posts: 463
I, too, have been redirected to "Fake AV sites" for the last couple of days and thought there was a virus on my computer until I found this thread.
I just got a redirect and noticed something different: In previous instances, I was redirected to another website entirely without control. Just now, a pop up occurred that informed me that I had viruses on my computer and I should scan my computer, yes or no? Not sure if I did the right thing or not, but I just x'ed out the box and resumed.
Perhaps something in the offending ad has changed?
Also, is it an ad that's causing this issue? I only get the redirect when initially coming to FT. But once on FT, it doesn't matter how many pages I go through, I don't see the issue again. If a particular ad is an issue, wouldn't I get redirects on multiple occasions rather than just the initial connect?
I just got a redirect and noticed something different: In previous instances, I was redirected to another website entirely without control. Just now, a pop up occurred that informed me that I had viruses on my computer and I should scan my computer, yes or no? Not sure if I did the right thing or not, but I just x'ed out the box and resumed.
Perhaps something in the offending ad has changed?
Also, is it an ad that's causing this issue? I only get the redirect when initially coming to FT. But once on FT, it doesn't matter how many pages I go through, I don't see the issue again. If a particular ad is an issue, wouldn't I get redirects on multiple occasions rather than just the initial connect?
Jul 28, 2012, 3:12 am
#156
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
The warning pops up when you open an FT page. In my case regularly on the FT BA page. I get it for no other site I visit. It is an FT imbedded asdvert.
Jul 28, 2012, 4:09 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 237
Had the same fake AV message again today.
Disappointing that it is taking flyertalk so long to locate and block the offending add provider.
This has been going on for over a week. How long do they need...?
Seems to me that this isn't being addressed as a priority and that security isn't high on their agendas.
Disappointing that it is taking flyertalk so long to locate and block the offending add provider.
This has been going on for over a week. How long do they need...?
Seems to me that this isn't being addressed as a priority and that security isn't high on their agendas.
Jul 28, 2012, 8:47 am
#159
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,824
This is getting pretty annoying. I seem to get this pretty consistently every morning when I first hit the FT web site. Happens immediately and I always go to flyertalk.com/forum first and not just flyertalk.com.
If this is happening on other web sites then I havent hit any of them......only seems to be affecting FT so far for me.
If this is happening on other web sites then I havent hit any of them......only seems to be affecting FT so far for me.
Jul 28, 2012, 11:47 am
#161
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Onepass Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver, Starwood
Posts: 54
The Flyertalk people just don't seem interested in fixing this. I wonder how many people have been scammed by the fake virus alert so far. Gonna stop visting Flyertalk for awhile.
Jul 28, 2012, 1:09 pm
#163
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 517
If an ad is the source of the problems, then shutting the ads off CERTAINLY would solve the problem.
IB seems very reluctant to do anything that will cost them any money. Heck there are many folks from their TopFlyer contest that finished at the end of last year who still haven't been given their small prizes. Amazingly bad form for a company that relies on its members to thrive.
IB seems very reluctant to do anything that will cost them any money. Heck there are many folks from their TopFlyer contest that finished at the end of last year who still haven't been given their small prizes. Amazingly bad form for a company that relies on its members to thrive.
Jul 28, 2012, 1:35 pm
#164
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
The ads can be turned off for all users EXCEPT for IB staff that are investigating the problem.
Gives them a little more "encouragement" to find the issue faster too, since it's impacting their bottom line.
Many people have reported in this thread that it's only happening 1x per day. So for their testing purposes, they'd basically need to do this:
1) Launch browser
2) If you get the bogus message, investigate
3) If you do not, close the browser, clear all cookies, go back to step 1.
Jul 28, 2012, 3:22 pm
#165
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 154
Why does everyone think the problem is caused by the site advertisements?
I've have tried running the MVPS/PGL host files and I am still getting the redirects - this should be strong evidence there is some flaw in vBulletin/vBSEO which has been exploited.
I've have tried running the MVPS/PGL host files and I am still getting the redirects - this should be strong evidence there is some flaw in vBulletin/vBSEO which has been exploited.
Last edited by cblaisd; Jul 28, 2012 at 5:13 pm Reason: Merged poster's two consecutive posts