Is my computer bugged?

[old gypsy]

For two days now I've had an odd thing happen, but only when I log in to Stratics, and it doesn't happen every time. A page pops up with "Good Housekeeping" and different ads, always replacing the page I was on. It looks kind of like the following (I've purposely removed the http stuff and most of the coding that is contained in the address I copied from the address bar because I'm afraid to put the entire thing in since I don't know what it might do):

(deleted the http stuff here) lemode-mgz.com/fd/10145/special-report.html? (deleted over a dozen or more lines of code and other garbage that means nothing to me) = (again, deleted the http stuff here) community.stratics.com&dtd=1313

I don't know if the above will make sense to anyone, but does anyone know if my computer may have been compromised? When I do a scan nothing shows up. I never save passwords. After I clear everything including cookies and history and leave the internet, it works normally for a while, then starts up again while I'm on Stratics.

I'm one of those technologically-challenged folks, which is why I figured I'd ask about this here. Any assistance would be welcome.
_____________________

RATS, I thought deleting the http info would keep it from making links. DON'T click on the links, folks. Just tell me what to do to get rid of this problem if you know how. Thanks!

 

[Lythos-]

It does it to me on occasion after Taylor or whatever his name is sold out. It's a problem with the website not your end.

Never a bad idea to run a full virus scan either but you won't have one from here.

 

[HoneythornGump]

What Browers are you using?

Do you have ADblock plus installed or any Ad blocking plugin installed ( I would advise doing so)?

I would run Malwarebytyes and see if it detects anything. You can download the free version here Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes will often catch things Virus scans won't.

 

[Nexus]

Thanks for bring this to my attention, I'll get with the Owner about this, as I've went and confirmed it is happening.

 

[Ron Bron]

For two days now I've had an odd thing happen, but only when I log in to Stratics, and it doesn't happen every time. A page pops up with "Good Housekeeping" and different ads, always replacing the page I was on. It looks kind of like the following (I've purposely removed the http stuff and most of the coding that is contained in the address I copied from the address bar because I'm afraid to put the entire thing in since I don't know what it might do):

(deleted the http stuff here) lemode-mgz.com/fd/10145/special-report.html? (deleted over a dozen or more lines of code and other garbage that means nothing to me) = (again, deleted the http stuff here) community.stratics.com&dtd=1313

I don't know if the above will make sense to anyone, but does anyone know if my computer may have been compromised? When I do a scan nothing shows up. I never save passwords. After I clear everything including cookies and history and leave the internet, it works normally for a while, then starts up again while I'm on Stratics.

I'm one of those technologically-challenged folks, which is why I figured I'd ask about this here. Any assistance would be welcome.
_____________________

RATS, I thought deleting the http info would keep it from making links. DON'T click on the links, folks. Just tell me what to do to get rid of this problem if you know how. Thanks!

Please provide the full URL via personal message for me to investigate. I am assuming this is a particular ad or are you having the difficulty with multiple ads? Are they redirecting you to their website, or are you observing a blank screen with an ad?

 

[Lythos-]

Please provide the full URL for me to investigate. I am assuming this is a particular ad or are you having the difficulty with multiple ads? Are they redirecting you to their website, or are you observing a blank screen with an ad?

It's redirects.

 

[old gypsy]

Yes, it appears to be redirecting rather than a pop-up. And it only happens when I go to Stratics -- connecting to Stratics seems to activate it. I've had no other problems on other sites I visit. I'm also extremely careful about what sites I go to and go out of my way to make sure I don't download anything other than my automatic Windows updates.

 

[old gypsy]

Thanks for bring this to my attention, I'll get with the Owner about this, as I've went and confirmed it is happening.

Thank you! And thanks to everyone who responded!

 

[old gypsy]

Please provide the full URL via personal message for me to investigate. I am assuming this is a particular ad or are you having the difficulty with multiple ads? Are they redirecting you to their website, or are you observing a blank screen with an ad?

I'm sending you the codes in a PM. Thank you!

 

[Ron Bron]

It seems this has been an issue across many forums other than Stratics over the last two days. Google has looked into the redirect and provided the following: http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=lemode-mgz.com

 

[old gypsy]

It seems this has been an issue across many forums over the last two days. Google has looked into the redirect and provided the following: http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=lemode-mgz.com

Thank you so much for following up on this!

 

[Ron Bron]

That website has now been added to our ban list for ads and spam. Thank you for reporting. I recommend you delete your website cookies, make sure your browsers are up to date, and that you have a firewall/virus scan to ensure there are no vulnerabilities on your PC.

 

[old gypsy]

That website has now been added to our ban list for ads and spam. Thank you for reporting. I recommend you delete your website cookies, make sure your browsers are up to date, and that you have a firewall/virus scan to ensure there are no vulnerabilities on your PC.

:snoopy:

 

[Wenchkin]

Depending what web browser you use, there should be some plugin for blocking adverts. Or, if you're not afraid to get a bit more geeky you can block many advertisers in your hosts file which stops them before they start loading. I know that means less advert revenue for sites like Stratics, but you can whitelist sites if you want to see adverts on them. Some browsers will let you block redirects and pop-ups too, and of course cookie blocking can be set on most browsers now. If you browse a lot it's really worth taking time to check all your settings protect you as you need them to.

Wenchy

 

[Ellistan]

I found this because I was having the same redirect. I just wanted to jump in here because someone suggested using ad blocker as a viable response.

My wife makes her living providing internet content (game reviewer actually). Ads are certainly annoying, but that's what pays for content (even loading the ad pays site owners... not just clicking)... the posts you read, the data you can mine, the memes you laugh at.

Ad blockers kill websites. At the very least they greatly decrease their revenues.

Please, please reconsider the use of ad blocking programs. Even those that allow "whitelisting" have effectively handicapping restrictions placed on ad sizes and locations.

Use a good anti malware program... many are no cost, keep your cookies clear, and software updated, but please don't make it harder for sites like this one to exist and thrive. Bandwidth costs are incredible. Sharing information just isn't free.

I've contended to my wife that like me, most people aren't aware of the issue, and would just let the ads do their thing if they knew how critical the ads, annoying or not, were to the operation of any given ad supported website. Report any ads that are offensive or obnoxious to the webmaster, but tolerate the ads in general.

I hope I'm right.

Cheers all!

 

[Gidge]

:snoopy:

*steals snoopy*

 

[Lug]

Just got redirected to a site (edited) after coming to stratics. Pretty lame, please fix. *I've tried smart pills before... they don't work!*

 

[Flagg]

^ Please don't provide hotlinks to these sites though. : ) All too easy for people to click without thinking/reading.

If this is some wider and larger occurrence it seems shady enough to say the least..

 

[Lythos-]

^ Please don't provide hotlinks to these sites though. : ) All too easy for people to click without thinking/reading.

If this is some wider and larger occurrence it seems shady enough to say the least..

Nothing to get all wound up about. This isn't the only message board it's happening with (to me) and so far it seems to be nothing but legit adds. No biggie just annoying.

 

[Wenchkin]

I found this because I was having the same redirect. I just wanted to jump in here because someone suggested using ad blocker as a viable response.

My wife makes her living providing internet content (game reviewer actually). Ads are certainly annoying, but that's what pays for content (even loading the ad pays site owners... not just clicking)... the posts you read, the data you can mine, the memes you laugh at.

Ad blockers kill websites. At the very least they greatly decrease their revenues.

Please, please reconsider the use of ad blocking programs. Even those that allow "whitelisting" have effectively handicapping restrictions placed on ad sizes and locations.

Use a good anti malware program... many are no cost, keep your cookies clear, and software updated, but please don't make it harder for sites like this one to exist and thrive. Bandwidth costs are incredible. Sharing information just isn't free.

I've contended to my wife that like me, most people aren't aware of the issue, and would just let the ads do their thing if they knew how critical the ads, annoying or not, were to the operation of any given ad supported website. Report any ads that are offensive or obnoxious to the webmaster, but tolerate the ads in general.

I hope I'm right.

Cheers all!

You're absolutely right, ad blockers do deprive sites of revenue if they use advertising. But this is 2015. Adblock has been around a long time. Site owners are well aware that users do not like adverts and block them. It's unrealistic to hope users will suddenly embrace ads after years of rejecting them. That just won't happen. It's harsh, but I think it's time to adapt and move away from reliance on ads. I just can't see revenue increasing from that direction. It looks unsustainable.

Every time an advertiser pulls a stunt like a redirect or a bit of malware, it encourages another user to block ads for their own safety. So IMHO, if anyone ruined ad revenue for websites it's the advertisers themselves, not users with adblock. Adblock was a reaction to some pretty horrible ads and behaviours, and I doubt ad networks will change their behaviour after all this time. So blocking is going to remain. I sympathise with sites who struggle to cover hosting, I have paid for my own sites for years so I know how costly it gets. But those sites need to secure other funding sources so they aren't reliant on an unsustainable income.

Wenchy

 

[The Zog historian]

On a forum I moderate, I don't block ads for two reasons. First, it's a disservice to a forum that I like and where the owners (who after all are trying to make a buck) granted me responsibility. Second, I need to see what unscrupulous ads might pop up. I despise the "You have a new message, click here!" type of ad that might trick less aware users. There was another that claimed to have a tool that roots "any" Android device, offering the same .exe no matter what device was chosen. A few anti-virus packages said the file was clean, but rather than test it further, I let the site owners contact the ad provider.

 

[Ron Bron]

^ Please don't provide hotlinks to these sites though. : ) All too easy for people to click without thinking/reading.

Just got redirected to this site after coming to stratics. Pretty lame, please fix. *I've tried smart pills before... they don't work!*

If this is some wider and larger occurrence it seems shady enough to say the least..

Please send me a personal message with the full url of the website you are being redirected to if it continues to be an issue rather than posting the link in the forum.

 

[Capt. Lucky]

Dammit! I just ordered an As Seen On TV Egg Poacher for my new Legends house! I should have known it was to good to be true.

 

[Ron Bron]

Here is an update from Google:

"This ad is a known bad ad and our malvertising team is actively working on blocking it across the network as we speak. In addition to blocking it via your account, please do file feedback directly with AdWords here: https://support.google.com/adwords/troubleshooter/4578507"

Additionally, I have been adding the problem ads to our website ban list, so hopefully we can see the problem die down over time. Thanks!