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Heidi — How Malware Works Via Banner Ads
Published: 2012-01-06 00:54:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 27146; Favourites: 147; Downloads: 0
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Description
by $Heidi
How Malware Works Via Banner Ads
As many deviants know, deviantART has been working hard to combat malicious banner ads that infiltrate
our advertising network, and we've previously addressed this issue in
April 2011
and August 2011 .
In our ongoing effort to keep the deviantART community safe, we wanted to share the following
USA Today-produced
video that explains how malicious ads inundate the Web.
How Malicous Ads Inundate the Web
(Source: USA Today )
Protect Yourself
Malware advertising is an Internet-wide problem that affects many of the Net's top sites.
Keeping your browser up to date is one of the best ways to ensure your computer's safety.
Additionally, anti-virus programs offer another level of protection against malvertisements.
We strongly recommend that you download the latest version of your favorite browser.
Reports of Malware and Virus Advertisements
Our Ongoing Battle Against Malicious Ads
Related content
Comments: 769
I use Norton AntiVirus and it hasn't failed me yet. The only thing I keep getting is it telling me that I have x number of tracking cookies to deal with which I promptly delete every time it tells me. It also runs my background scans and full system sweeps without taking too much memory away from whatever else I'm doing.
I used to use a program called Kaspersky... and it SUCKED. It never seemed to update properly prompting me to constantly uninstall it and put it back in, where it would start the whole process over again about a week to a month later at most. -_- NEVER AGAIN!
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So you are telling us that it's our problem, not yours? Even though it's this website that supports and spreads malware via ads?
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[link]
[link]
[link]
That is some of what we're doing, this article is making you aware that it's a larger issue than just deviantART. It extends to all websites that run ads from third party ad networks.
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I thank you for being honest. I was half-expecting to get in trouble for saying it.... lol
I agree that it can be an issue on other sites, however, perhaps I'm lucky, but I haven't experienced it anywhere other than deviantart. At least not on this scale, this often, with malware this bad... 
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I guess so. I've had so many problems with adware trying to attack and being blocked by my Norton. And it's just on this site.
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Sigh.
You know what helps me? Freeware Malwarebytes helps to prevent a LOT of malicious scripts from running and you don't have to pay for it to be able to scan your system for previous viruses/malware and removal of it. It helped me get rid of Win 7 Protection (which pretends to be an official microsoft product but it's actually a scam and a virus it's self, one of the hardest infections to remove!)
On top of that, lifetime subscription is only like $30. I bought it just to thank them for getting rid of that fucking thing... XD
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I've had my java start up randomly. Not only that, I've had something lock my DC Universe Online and my Google Chrome after just surfing around here for a few minutes. It shouldn't just be our job to watch what attacks out computers. Mainly because it's the ads they allow on this site that are dropping the malware on us. I actually just put Adblock on here and Chrome because I'm just annoyed with the ads on here now.
I got Norton because we have three computers that all need the protection.
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I know, I know...
Seriously though Norton isn't that great. Get the following freebies to help:
Malwarebytes and CCleaner.
CCleaner really helps the computer run better. Soemtimes newer games lag for me really bad but if I use CCleaner and clear out temp files with it (a lot faster than regularly doing it in the C drive, and it goes into more detail because it also accesses program's temp files) and the game can run on the highest settings just fine
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I actually tried Malwarebyes before and my cpmputer couldn't handle it because it acts retarded a lot.
And I might try out the CCleaner. I've heard about it before.
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Oh that's a bummer. But CCleaner works very well it's a simple program after all
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To be honest I hadn't known ads were a problem :/ guess I'd better be careful. Thanks.
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It's weird, I have a subscription, and updated Chrome browser, and yesterday and today, my antivirus (Avast!) blocked two attacks from this site (but seems that it wasn't from the server deviantart itself, I can't remember now, if It happens again, I tell you, but both were different urls, and not that shorts).
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I also have adblock plus....
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omg that's so scary! i update my laptop non-stop O.O'''
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Firefox or Google Chrome + Adblock Plus = Problem solved.
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mhm thanks i'll keep that in mind =3
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Also there's something to compliment anti-virus programs. Either Malwarebytes anti-spyware or IOBit Malware fighter. Doesn't get in the way with anti-virus programs. I'd suggest finding one good anti-virus program and keep to just one. Using multiple anti-virus programs can get in the way of each other.
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I've got AdBlock. Haven't had a single Malware attack from these ads. It definitely works.
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AGhfdghdh-gah! I get malware like this so damn much... I absolutely hate it. That's why I had to switch my anti-virus program.
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Try getting either Chrome or Firefox and using Adblock Plus. It works.
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Oh so you noticed? I was under the impression DA didn't give two shits about the malicious attacks I receive almost every hour while browsing this website.
Oh sure, I could adblock them, but then that kinda defeats the whole point of DA having ads doesn't it. If DA's official policy on dealing with their shitty ads is "adblock", well then I'd think it's sponsors might not be too happy with that.
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The subscription to block ads comments make me think of a protection racket "pay us our we'll kneecap your hard drive" lol
The only viruses I have ever gotten are the win 7 anti virus ones, and EVERY time i have it has been while surfing this site. I use adblock now, but shouldn't have to. This is DA's problem they should be dealing with it.
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I spent the better part of the last two days trying to remove a root-kit I received from DA banner ads. The responsibility of seeking out bad ads is NOT the duty of the user, and with how pervasive the problem remains, a problem that millions of websites around the internet DO NOT HAVE, the burden is on DA to do more to protect their users.
Quite frankly when I get a notification that my computer is under attack(thanks to my myriad of protection programs), the first thing I do is close DA. I don't continue to browse it in order to see which ad on which of the dozen pages I was on is trying to download a virus, not that I could even tell.
It is your responsibility to catch these problems BEFORE they happen, not simply react to it after hundreds of users suffer virus attacks, you're a raking in a pretty good income here, use some of that as leverage to get your ad-providers to get their butts into gear. I've reported viruses and malware attacks through your ads for years, and frankly, it keeps happening at such a regular pace, I've come to the conclusion you simply don't care. Links like those? They're just BS to placate the masses into thinking you're doing something when you're not.
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I'm very sorry to hear you've been having these issues. I can tell you with certainty that we care very deeply about these problems, which is why we create educational messages like this and continue to work hard to combat malware issues. The Internet is an essentially open platform, open to both good and bad. The job of giving users a trouble-free advertising environment is a tough challenge, but one we're committed to working towards a positive solution.
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Right, it is DA's responsibility but it is also yours too to make sure you have the correct tools to combat such a situation such as Adblock. I understand what you are saying but let's be real, you aren't going to "save DA" from blocking their ads. You will though however save yourself a great deal of headaches and frustration. Think of it as having safe sex, adblock is the condom for the porn star you are about to sleep with.
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I stopped using adblock when it announced that it needed access to all my personal information. Otherwise I totally would use it.
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can't say that I've had adblock ask for personal info with me either. Not that we should NEED to use it
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It didn't ask, only state that it would take it.
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wow I didn't realize that
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I wonder if perhaps you are thinking "taking personal information" is equated to browsing and such which it would need for it's blacklists and list subscriptions. It isn't like it is a keylogger taking your banking info.
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It was years ago, and I didn't see it when I went to download so perhaps it was rescinded. But I objected to it either because it didn't specify what it wanted, or it specified something I didn't want to give.
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No idea but if that is teh case, you certainly should protect yourself by using it now
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There are others if you are worried about that such as AdThwart, though I have never seen that with AdBlock as you describe.
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It was a while back when Adblock upgraded to a new version I think.
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hmmmm strange, I use ABP and have never seen anything like that come my way
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I agree totally. Malware has been uploaded to dA in the guise of Rainmeter skins for more than 12 months.
dA continues to lay the responsibility of reporting these on the user.
Even when reported multiple times, the malware remains, and is downloaded by unsuspecting users every day.
Now, admittedly, many infected submissions have been removed, but not all. Unacceptable.
Check it out... [link]
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I think NoScript is the single best protection against these. I hardly even need AdBlock when I don't even allow most of the advertising scripts in the first place.
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This times one million. I have Noscript, Adblock, and Requestpolicy. I think I'm good.
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I got a virus from here yesterday, and I am extremely upset about it. I'm worried the bill will be over $100 to get it fixed...
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Most decent anti-virus programs will block and remove any viruses you might have or try to infect you.
You shouldn't have to spend a huge amount of money on removing a virus.
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True, the only reason I say so is because the same kind of virus (fake antivirus software) infected my computer only amonth ago. we have avast.
I'm not being very optomistic, am I? I'll just hope for the best
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And that's *IF* you can get it fixed. If the poor pc doesn't get too bad and just totally dies on you, forcing you to buy a new pc.
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It's completely unheard of for a virus to hit a computer that's so bad that it destroys every aspect of the hardware.
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Really? Huh... makes me wonder just what hit my first 2 pc's then, because I was getting blue screens, lagging, then one day one of them (the second one) just turned on but did nothing. I got nothing but a black screen and nothing would work.
nasty little thing these viruses and worms and trojans are.
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