Website re-directs

Post by **Paul** » July 11, 2005, 4:59 pm

Thought i would be the first to take advantage of this new Computer Support area.

As mentioned in other topic sites I am getting redirected from the Udonmap website. Whilst browsing the forum, another web page opens advertising something not disimilar to what I am currently browsing (ie. hotels in nong Khai for example). I had the problem before but running ad-aware, spyware search and destroy, spyware blaster and AVG lite anti-virus (all free programmes) seemed to get rid of it.

I noticed that when I moved to the new forum - the problem started again (could this be because its a new website address?)

What is interesting (well not really) is that I have now started taking note of the sites that pop up and take over - and they are started by a cookie request from 'googleadservices' (which is always denied by me of course) and then the site which comes on my screen uninvited is is one of the sites the same as advertised by google on the forum !

On each forum page there are a few adverts (in blue) at the top of the page from google and I am being unwillingly brought these websites advertised on the forum.

I know admin say it isn't them, and I believe them, however I am definitely getting redirected to websites advertised by google on the Udonmap forum site. I just want to stop it !

I dont profess to know the ins and outs of websites and deeper things about programming and I am hoping someone else does and can shed some light on it. I ran the hijacker programme but got lost in the jargon somewhere. For the record _ I dont allow pop-ups, cookies have to ask for permission, I run ad-aware daily and have 2 anti virus programmes and zone alarm.
Help !

I also notice at least one other forum member now has this problem too

Post by **PopsIcafe** » July 11, 2005, 5:19 pm

Paul not sure what is doing it but I also had the problem when I initially started new Udonmap.com. I did't do a thing about it except close them and continue to surf Udonmap.com, now they don't pop-up anymore and I did nothing. Not sure what it is that is doing it, but the method looks the same as the porn sites use to a minor extent.

Pop's

Post by **admin** » July 11, 2005, 5:22 pm

Hi Paul,

Do you have this problem with other websites you visit on the net or is it restricted to our site?

Also, it would be interesting to hear if anyone else in experiencing the same problems.

For the record my computer, the webmasters and another computer we have set up have never had this problem so I don't think there's a bug on our server, but you never know I guess.

Anyway good luck with finding the cause of the problem, I imagine it must be very annoying.

Admin

Post by **admin** » July 11, 2005, 5:32 pm

Not sure what it is that is doing it, but the method looks the same as the porn sites use to a minor extent.

Our forum software is downloaded from PHPBB website and then uploaded to our server, our webmaster informs us that there are no scripts, codes, pop-ups or any other form of bug or advertsing.

All that udonmap.com uses are google adverts which are displayed at the top of this forum.

We have no intension to cause problems to anyones computer or fill their computers with annoying adverts.

However, if more members experience the same problem then we will research the matter further

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » July 11, 2005, 6:49 pm

no problems here, but i have norton firewall, although expired software for virus or what ever else. plus i use my yahoo as a home page and everything is linked off that, which also has pop up ad blocker. matter of fact, when i want to do somethings, like update my homepage via geocities, i need to turn off pop up protection, also for some chat rooms, which i don't bother with anyway. ipstar also has a firewall, so far no conflicts, although i have one turned off. i don't have current virus software on computer, but i link everything off yahoo or msn, and i'm sure there software protection is up to par. same with email, not concerned because the server provides protection. all junk mail i delete, if i don't know who it is. i do occasionally get re-directed to my search, but i notice it has a yahoo tag on it, and that only happens if my yahoo isn't working, which is rare, although yahoo is slow sometimes, or doesn't open all the way, guess that's when i use favorties drop down.

Post by **farang** » July 11, 2005, 7:04 pm

no problems here,never had any pop ups on the forum ,ever. my home page is set to google.. i run norton,spyware and adware checks, full scan on each every day..

Post by **polehawk** » July 11, 2005, 7:46 pm

Haven't experienced popups or redirects from old/new forums. My homepage is also Yahoo with popup and spam blocker for email and have Norton security active most of the time. I stay away from music download sites that were causing me grief with my last machine (Kazaa, especially) with popups and garbage redirects.

Is a pattern developing here?

Post by **farang** » July 11, 2005, 7:51 pm

no adds etc on--> http://www.limewire.com/english/content/home.shtml

Post by **PopsIcafe** » July 11, 2005, 9:15 pm

Admin, I only had like maybe 3 or 4 pop-ups but they didn't happen until I logged on to Udonmap.com. I no longer experience these pop-ups. I'm not sure what it is that did it.

Pop's

Post by **BangkokButcher** » July 12, 2005, 2:58 am

Its seems very strange that these pop up's etc only occur whilst viewing the udonmap forum.

It sounds very much to me like it is one of those trojan's that activate once certain keywords have been entered into a search engine or something similar, but I have no idea as to why it would be activated by udonmap, perhaps it's a dirty word in someones dictionary..

Make sure all of your anti virus, spy ware, adaware, and firewall programs are UP TO DATE, then give your system a good clean out.

If that dont help then download Hijack This (search for link) and pm me your results after you have installed and run it.

From there I should be able to see how to de-activate it, if of course something is active...

Post by **banpaeng** » July 12, 2005, 4:27 am

As I said yesterday it happened to me once and the only thing I can rememnber is that I was hitting the shift key and something else. I can't type for heck and typed something and looked back and there it was. I ran a total scan and adaware and have not had any more problems. With my coordinated fingers it could have been me and my typing so do not get excited by me saying it happend to me. Besides it only happend once. It has never happend on anyone eleses site. It has not happened again.

Post by **Paul** » July 12, 2005, 6:56 pm

Update:

Yes admin it only happens on the Udonmap site (well thats all I am admitting to LOL)- and the redirected website that appears is one of those advertised by Goooooooooogle just above (in blue)

However. I spent many hours yesterday first updating Ad-aware, Spybot search and destroy. Spyware Blaster, Norton, AVG and Zone alarm (as far as possible) then I ran them all. After that I ran the Hijacker programme suggested by Bangkok Butcher. the results were baffling and there was a warning not to delete any of the files shown if you are not absolutely sure what you are doing (thats me) But.... I was a little p****ed off and deleted the one that had Udonmap somewhere in the writings. All i noticed happened was it deleted Udonmap from my homepage which was easily re-added but no other after-effects. I will try to retrieve the list of results from hijacker and forward it to BB as requested.

The good news so far is that today, having been on here for two hours already - I have not had a single redirect (yet) whereas yesterday it was almost every page I went to on this site ! Perhaps there was some sort of trigger yesterday - I dont know.

Annoying - you bet, but why only me (and maybe one or two others ?)

Who knows - maybe yesterdays actions killed it, have to wait and see but will keep it posted here just for the reference.

Thanks for all the help so far (and I was suprised at the amount of replies too.)
Watch this space.

Post by **admin** » July 12, 2005, 9:34 pm

Paul it's good to hear that you may have finally got the problem sorted.

We contacted our web hosting company and they said that there isn't a problem on the server. They advised us that the bugs must exist on the users own computers that may have been picked up from other websites, usually XXX sites.

That's the reason why only a small % of users experience this problem. If it were udonmap.com then all users would have problems.

Best to keep away from those other sites, LOL

Admin[/u]

Post by **Paul** » July 12, 2005, 11:48 pm

Well apparently we don't have much option as the government is taking care of our viewing needs for us (wow - how diplomatic!)

When they start paying my internet bill, phone bill and electricity bill maybe, just maybe, they can dictate what I can access and what I can't.

Big brother - you bet !

But still not a single redirect yet - excellent news. Might have killed it finally

Post by **BangkokButcher** » July 13, 2005, 12:05 am

Here's another couple of helpful 'tests' that you could run your pc's through:

Shields up
The Internet's quickest, most popular, reliable and trusted, free Internet security checkup and information service. And now in its Port Authority Edition, it's also the most powerful and complete
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Leak test
Ensure that your PC's personal firewall can not be easily fooled by malicious "Trojan" programs or viruses
http://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm

They both just try to vunerabilties in your firewalls, and test how 'secure' you are from attack.

Post by **Paul** » July 13, 2005, 5:12 pm

Wow

Just spent half an hour running through all those tests mentioned by BB in the above post.

I passed every test with flying colours - the words 'perfect', 'stealth' and 'truestealth' were mentioned on every occasion and the firewall test worked a treat - nothing at all got through. I am relieved to say the least.

I would recommend anyone with half an hour free to try these free tests and see how vulnerable they are on the internet. peace of mind if nothing else.

And still not a single website redirect now for two whole days

Woo I feel good na na na - i knew that I would na na na ............ [-o<

Post by **Dakoda** » July 13, 2005, 8:09 pm

you must have a iMac

Post by **Paul** » July 13, 2005, 8:15 pm

I don't - but my wife has a tube of it in the bathroom

Sorry - couldn't resist

No just a boring old plain PC

Currently more protection programmes than actual software - LOL

How come Mac's appear to be immune from all this virus nonsence anyway - whats the secret ?

Post by **Dakoda** » July 13, 2005, 8:25 pm

reason one: with only 3%+ of the market who would want to bother to write something!

reason two: GUI running on top of UNIX plus Apple takes security seriously!

might want to look into Linux!

Post by **BangkokButcher** » July 14, 2005, 12:13 am

Are you using Linux Dakoda?

I'm thinking about making the switch, but at this stage know very little about it.