New York – In recent days, VIN News received a surprising burst of a few negative e-mails complaining about the appearance of immodest ads on our site. Many of these e-mails were themselves rather immodest in their condemnations of VIN.
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Here’s what VIN’s webmaster and editor-in-chief had to say: “I got a few nasty e-mails with very vulgar language—but I had no idea what they’re talking about.”
A little investigation revealed the following: There is a type of spyware called malware. This form of spyware downloads itself secretly unto your computer, usually when a Web surfer visits inappropriate sites. The malware then hijacks the Web browser, replacing the ads on regular sites—such as VIN News—with online filth of its own programming.
In plain English, these ads have been appearing on VIN not because we put them there—but because malware acquired by your own visits to inappropriate sites.
VIN apologizes for the outrage, but sending us obscenity-laden e-mails is no way to address us. Especially when its not our problem. Seems to us that someone had best check their malware protection software. or rather stop browsing indecent websites.
For your convenience, here’s something to help you solve the problem on your end (not on our end, where there never was a problem in the first place.)
“…There’s malware floating around out there that hijacks your computer’s DNS settings and puts its own ads into your zones. Unlike regular viruses, it can attack both PCs and Macs. It seems to often come with free video-processing software.
If it happens to you, rest assured that it’s happening only in your Web browser and not to our readers. Here’s what to do:
* For Mac users: Apple’s forums have info about a couple fixes in this thread.
* For PC users, several people suggest Trend Micro’s free HijackThis tool.”
Or use a very strong anti-virus system on your PC
Oh wow sounds like a case of kol hapoisel b’mumoh poisel. VIN go on with your great work and thanks.
well said
basically , keshot atzmecha techila
if you see something on your pc, then maybe the source of the “outbreak” is closer to home than you think (or dont want to think)
A good start would be to check to your “hosts” file.
On a mac computer it would be in “/etc/hosts”
On a PC computer it would be in “C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts”
Open the file with a text editor (such as Notepad) and make sure the content is OK.
Usually, the default file would contain some “comments” on top and only one line that tells the computer that localhost should point to 127.0.0.1.
“bad” content would have many more lines with domains and different IPs (though if you have that, it does not mean it’s an issue, some anti-spyware add those to protect AGAINST spywares).
Good luck.
Even when you think no one is waching Heshem always does (and VIN)
Downloading spyware by mistake is also a possibility. I tried to download Mozilla Firefox and instead i downloaded a spyware software. “Judge others favorably and G-D will judge you favorably.
I’m not a computer programmer. I have these advertizments coming up I’m afraid to delete anything, what is the right software to get rid of these advertizments?
do not recommend hijack this! its an awesome program but you need to know exactly what your doing or your computer will be toast. it doesnt tell you whats bad, just everything thats running.
darned right
The inappropriate ads are coming from an ad server called zedo.com. Zedo.com also serves ads on YNet, Haaretz and JPost and if you have visited these sites and then come over to VIN the ads will follow you here. We’re not talking about porn sites, just other news outlets that don’t screen their ads for inappropriate content.
The following hosts file entries will block ads coming from Zedo’s servers, however, your computer will slow down, waiting for the ads that never come:
127.0.0.1 zedo.com
127.0.0.1 ads.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c1.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c2.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c3.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c4.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c5.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c6.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c7.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 c8.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 g.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 l1.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 l5.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 simg.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 ss2.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 http://www.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 xads.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 y.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 z.zedo.com
You can download a hosts file which has 40K+ entries of servers which should be blocked for various reasons from http://www.hosts-file.net/downloads.html – please be aware that some of the server names may be inappropriate.
If you do use a special hosts file to block ads and other junk, consider using eDexter, which can be downloaded at http://accs-net.com/hosts/eDexter.html – this program answers requests to servers that have been blocked in your hosts file with a one pixel image so that your browser doesn’t hang up waiting for the responses that won’t come.
No connection to either site here – they just work well in my experience.
if you change your hosts file – be careful -back it up first – also save it without an extension – you can add all sites you want to avoid, such as videogoogle.com to the list of sites – and you will not be able to get to that site –
when you start you will see
127.0.0.1 local host
then you can add
127.0.0.1 www. videogoogle.com (or whatever you want to suppress)
127.0.0.1 http://www.youtube.com
click save
go to explorer – probly easiest way to find it is to search for hosts, and take the one that is in windows/system32/etc/hosts….. or something like that.
make sure it doesn’t have a .txt extension (it probly won’t if you just clicked save)
Help keep our kids safe!
i dont understand why everyone is trying to make it even easier and ramification free for all those who visit inappropriate sites. if one choses to go to those sites then this is what will happen…
Since I don’t have this problem, I assume my “K9 Web Protection” software is doing tis job. I know it works from the many things that are “blocked” by it. Goggle it to try it. It’s called Blue Coat K9 Web Protection. It works! If the software blocks somehing, I know to stay away.
VIN get on with your fab work and those who post you nasty e-mails it’s because Oifen ganef brent dos hittle. so just ignore them.
I also got this virus that replaces legitimate ads with its own inappropriate ads. It was a nasty virus and it blocked access to virus software and any attempts to remove it. It even messed with my google and yahoo searches. I found software called pctools to be helpful in detecting the virus and quarantining it, but it still didn’t leave the system completely and I think it started rejuvenating. I eventually had to backup my data on my computer and reinstall the whole operating system (Vista). Now the virus if gone.
I’ll mention that I did not get the virus from visiting indecent sites – that’s a bit of an assumption on VIN’s part. I’m pretty sure I can trace it to a site that offered free screensavers and free windows desktop backgrounds.
B’Derech Melitza – i think a virus should be a Hisorerus for Teshuva as is Merumaz in A”VIRUS
Much Hatzlacha
who looks at ads? I never knew there was anything inappropriate!
If you think you have malware or a virus this is a great guide to help you remove it.
http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f51/spyware-removal-guide-osiris-updated-1-31-2009-a-165828/ As part of the process they tell you to run hijack this and there are experts who review your log and tell you if you should remove anything.
P.s. it s also a great forum to ask about other pc/tech issues. Profanity or discussion of anything illegal (warez/pirating/torrents) will get you banned.
As for getting infected, just simply browsing the internet without a firewall and anti virus, can get you infected. Being infected does NOT mean you visited inappropiate sites. Also I would not advise anyone to modify their hosts file themselves unless you really know what your doing, its a surefire way to mess up your pc. there are millions of programs that will filter the content, as previously mentioned k9 is a great free program. If your using firefox there is an add on called ad block plus which will stop most ads from loading, which also = faster surfing. Good luck
The best protection for your computer is an Internet Security Suite that takes care of viruses, malware, adware and spyware etc. It also provides you with a firewall and provides anti phishing protection and parental controls.
I have tried a number of them and the best is Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.
An integrated suite is better than a bunch of free programs because all the pieces work together and there are multiple levels of protection.
I used to use Bitdefender but I found that it had problems. Details are here http://www.askthecomputerdoc.com/blog/bitdefender-problems/. Norton has a known history of problems which they may have solved in their most recent version.
I have been using Kaspersky for quite a while now and it is top rated, has little impact on the system and leaves you worry free.
For overall information on this topic see http://www.ask-the-computer-doc.com/computer-internet-security.html
I’m a huge fan of avast — free anti-virus software — used it for several years on all my machines without problems
one of the best programs I use for spyware/malware is an application called malwarebyte’s. google it. its awesome and free!