smarkinson

I did some looking for a solution and one thing I did on Android Chrome is go into Settings and turn the "Data Saver" on. This apparently sends the data through the google servers which filters out a lot of junk. It stopped the spam ads instantly. Although, I believe it can cause problems on some sites. Personally, I haven't noticed any problems plus it makes the Bikeradar forums work (they always used to get stuck for me).

JeremyLC

Here's a sampling of what I'm getting on Android. It's not possible to tell what ads these are coming from, as they're completely unrelated to ANY of the ads on the page when they pop-up.

Spamvertising Samples

JeremyLC

Here are three more. These are incredibly obnoxious because the modify the browser's history so you either can't go back at all, or can't go back to the forum page you were on before they popped up.

more spamvertising

cdmurphy

I'm sure I'm not the only one having problems with this. I'm not sure who to direct this towards, so hopefully some of the site admins see this.

It looks like some of BF's ad partners aren't on the up-and-up. Over the last month or so, I've gotten a string of browser re-directs that point to various prize winning scams, or "you've been infected with a virus, call us to fix it" type BS. In each case, it only happens 5-30 seconds after a Bike Forums page loads, I assume when the relevant trojan ad fully loads. I've experienced this on two different windows machines, and my Android phone. In each case, it was only while opening threads here in Bike Forums.

I've had hijack links fed from these ad links:

https://solidcpm.com/media/id_76584?...U3V%2Ff3JzFGc6

https://engine.spotscenered.info/Redi...JC1B33b-WikzV0

https://iasrv.maha-media.com/14/

https://solidcpm.com/media/id_76584?...tzBRcnJQ%3D%3D

In almost every case, they went through on or more redirects, then through https://iasrv.maha-media.com/14/, where the "14" on the end was either 14, 12, or 10. After that, it loaded the page the warned of viruses or winnings, and had a popup that couldn't be closed without okaying something. (Likely to load some sort of extention.) I had to kill Chome from the task manager each time to get out of it.

I love BF, but this isn't cool. I've got no problem with them running ads to pay for things, but someone is letting some real crap into their ad networks.

tricky 

I suspect this thread is related. https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...m-pop-ups.html

Malicious code through ad networks is a real thing. I hope BFs cleans up their ad feeds. I agree that ads are necessary, but using ad networks that create a bad user experience or, even worse, hijack browsers is no bueno.

FBinNY 

Add me to the list.

I just had one of those "your screen is locked" "do not turn off the computer" Call xxx...... immediately to fix the problem". And sure enough my browser was locked.

Naturally, I shut down, and rebooted and all is well, but I was wondering where it might have come from and now it seems that BF is a likely suspect.

FWIW - I have ad blocker, and am a premium member so I don't see ads on BF, but I don't know if that makes a difference, or even if it came through BF.

ibtyen

If you are a premium member and things are still popping up, be sure to scan your computer for malware. If something pops up again, make sure to grab a screencap and make sure you are logged into your account.

FBinNY 

Scan run immediately after booting, nothing found. But I will try to grab the screen if/when it happens again.

All I kept is the fake "microsoft" telephone number.

Kevindale

This issue has become almost intolerable for me. It seems to be getting worse. I'm on a Mac, and shifted from Firefox to Chrome because Bike Forums seemed to be really boggy over the last few months, but on Chrome I am constantly being redirected, and it often locks up the browser. Usually if I catch it right away and slam the back button a few times I'm OK for half an hour or so, but sometimes the redirect really does take over.

If I hadn't been hanging out here regularly, I definitely would have quit and stayed away if I had experienced this in my early days of using the forum.

enzo thecat

This site, and only this site, is hammering me with malware that locks up my Chrome browser. I have to go into the utilities app and "FORCE QUIT" the app as it locks me out of using and quitting the browser. Once it blocked me from doing anything except resetting my Mac. The malware is a variety of fake pop-ups that says I've been infected with malware. As an example, one of them pops up several screens and the top one (the smallest) said I'm supposed to call a fake "Apple Customer Support" number. Totally bogus.

enzo thecat

It happened as i submitted the above post. I tried to post about it and chrome was unusable. Opened Safari and it immediately locked that up. Seems like the only way to use the forum right now is on my phone which i am using to type this. I will no longer use this site from my business PCs for fear of introducing malware into my system. I may still risk my personal Mac computer. Hope that hasnt happened already.

FBinNY 

While it's possible you originally got infected from something on BF, I suspect your current issue is a Trojan Horse virus of some kind. I suggest you do a full scan with an anti-malware program (malwarebytes is good, but I don't know if they have an Apple version).

In the past, when I've had these trojans, the only way I got rid of them for good was to delete programs one by one until I got rid of the host. These can hide in either Chrome or Firefox, so you might need to delete them then download clean versions.

One of the things I HATE is the windows allover the screen. I wouldn't mind if I needed to actually click to open the link, but many open simply if I drag the cursor over them. That means that you can get infected even if you never intentionally open these links.

If I had to name the single worst feature of modern computers it's that ability to open a link without clicking on it.

enzo thecat

You may be right. Im pretty ignorant to these issues. But It has only happens on BF. Not any other website. And on BF it happens with every single visit.

FBinNY 

Yes, there may be something in the cache, so it goes to the same bad place each time.


You may get by by clearing the cache. In Chrome, click on the 3 bars in the top right corner. then there are two things you can try. Open "history" and clear it. Also, go to "options" then "advanced" and clear the cache .

There's also free ad blocker software you can download, and that can help reduce clutter. But if you are infected with a trojan, you'll need to find and remove it before it does more damage. If you have a knowledgeable friend, let him walk you through some of the options, though I warn you in advance that some of these viruses and trojans are very clever and well hidden.

Rollfast

Yes, it comes for Mac as well...


malwarebytes for apple - Bing


Download from the Malwarebytes.org site only or one of their listed mirrors if any. It has the capability to install despite attempts by malware to defeat it. If a trial or the real-time Premium version is offered, try that (usually 2 weeks). The FREE version only runs scans when you ask it to, it cannot be scheduled.

enzo thecat

I will only view BF on my iPad now. But now it is happening on my iPad. This crap is coming from BF. I have never had anything like this pop up and take over my screen on an iPad. I hope my posts are constructive. I'm just trying to help.

Rollfast

I'm going to ask some simple questions.


1. Have you managed to find the URL of the malicious pop-ups and report them?
2. Do you know where to find the browsing history on the devices you are using?
3. Do you know how to blacklist (block) pages in your browser?
4. Does this happen when you are not logged in?
5. Are you using ANY internet security apps/programs?
5a. HOW MANY, and which ones? (A lot can be a bigger problem than none, if they are competing with each other or rendering others useless).
5b . Do you have JAVA installed or JavaScript enabled?
6. Are your apps approved by Apple, from the Apple Store?


These are very important questions/things you should know. Just switching around isn't going to be the solution, no matter whose 'fault' it is.


Saying that you only see the problem here also doesn't mean that this is the only place you would find it, and although it could be, if you aren't taking steps to prevent it on your end you're missing the point.


It's good that people let the staff know about bad ads, but it's not a matter of them just flipping a switch or an automatic filter. Everyone needs to take basic precautions.


I can tell that with 31 posts it's not probable that you would want a premium membership, and that is fine. And by the way, Apples need security apps as much as any other computer/device, they are not 'virus-proof', that is a myth.


But please answer those questions, saying there is a problem is not enough information to necessarily find a problem.


Thanks.

enzo thecat

Well heck....you're saying I could pay for a membership and fix it!?!? Done! Not my problem anymore. Thanks!!!!!!

P.S. Happy to contribute. It's a valuable forum.

nycphotography

Actually you've fixed nothing... you've merely moved into a gated community.

And Rollfast... are you in any way affiliated with the forum administration, tasked with rooting out this problem, or otherwise contributing to solving the actual problem? Or is your sole contribution here to blame the victims for not investing in a hardened environment for their computing devices?

Because to be honest, this problem is sooo easy for BF/IB to fix.

When I was operating and monetizing traffic based web sites, ad provider A never caused a problem... but I had similar issues with ad providers B and C. Ads serving up attacks, trojans and other malicious crap. (A, B and C remaining nameless because quite frankly I don't need the grief of proving my "allegations").

I solved the problem PERMANENTLY in exactly 30 seconds. How? Easy. By firing the ad networks (removing their ad codes from my templates and replacing them with other ad networks). Of course it turned out that legit advertisers were willing to pay less than people trying to hack into, compromise or otherwise exploit my customers computers. But I was more than willing to settle for far less revenue in exchange for exterminating the skeezy slimeball advertisers, and the networks that look the other way to get paid, from my sire.

BF / Internet Brands could also solve this problem in about 30 seconds by simply firing the ad networks that are not adequately policing their advertisers. They choose not to do so. One can only speculate as to their reasons, but a quick google search of IB and their reputation online, makes it hard to not simply conclude: Money comes first, last, and every place in between with IB and that is the reason the problem persists.

Ironically, the problem no longer occurs for me, as I haven't seen one of these in a couple months. And NO, I didn't harden, scrub, detox, or otherwise clean my system. I didn't need to because it wasn't compromised (I did check/verify). At least not yet.

enzo thecat

Either way, i'm happy. I am now negotiating the website without interruption. Ironically I signed up and paid for the elite membership from my ipad. Confident that would help, I opened BF on my MBPro for the first time in days since erasing all cookies, history, passwords, etc. Immediately an add popped up and froze Chrome before I could enter my password. I closed it and re-opened it and entered my information as quickly as I could. Everything is great now. Unless the problems return, I am not going to comment further because I don't want to upset anyone further. Thank you for your time everyone.

Meathead

FYI...

I found this forum looking for other websites owned by IB. The hijack issue is widespread among IB's sites. I'm from the dvdtalk.com website and we've had the hijack issue for months... According to an admin who's been in touch with IB (as IB will not respond to the problem or PMs about it) the issue is with their ad network.

Rollfast

Well, then...I could wonder if it has to do with the version of vBulletin (proprietary) across their sites as 4 doesn't seem to have the problem (of course, the one site that had the ads I use every day dropped Google as their provider as well).


But there is no excuse to be calling me a shill and we've all gotta work with what we've got. If I actually WORKED here of whatever I wouldn't be on a fixed income with housing, food and medical assistance, I should think. I've never had administrative tools for anything.


Stop yelling at me though. Thank you.

Siu Blue Wind

Thank you for signing up just to tell us this.

I've never had someone who messaged me and NOT get contacted by IB. I see to it personally that they do.

If you can tell me who this admin is, I will address the issue personally for my team has constant and open contact with me 24 hours a day and I do not recall this happening.

nycphotography

^ I think he meant an admin on the other site, not one of ours.

Siu Blue Wind

Either way, I've contacted upper management about this myself on the phone a few minutes ago.