virus alert

[honeybunny442]

Sorry, sox, I misread you post. Ten lashes with a wet noodle! Maybe 20. I just saw honeybunny, witness, attacks. It was too early in the morning I guess.

[WPLJ42]

Yes, and I have a different ad at the top of my screen... but it's still on GSN's website. They are paying for the privilege of being placed there, aren't they? Not just any company can appear on GSN's website at the top of this page. I honestly don't know... I'm asking.

I believe this is more of a Windows thing, and since you don't use Windows, things might be different. You can click on the AdChoices logo itself, and it will take you to a site that explains things. The AdChoices ads are not having to do with GSN, while the Cesar dog food ads are. The way I see it, GSN is selling space to AdChoices. They creatively, and I totally don't understand this, custom deliver ads based on Cookies in your browser history. When I switched from Mac to PC, regretfully, this was suddenly very obvious. I was helping a family member get a plane reservation and went to Kayak's website. That information was saved in my browser's cookie jar (grin) and that ad followed me around. I have no idea if this has anything to do with the attacks sox12st is talking about, since I have not had any. Oddly enough, Microsoft Security Essentials does not trust Comcast's website, and claims Certificates are not valid. AdChoices is a part of Google's AdSense. I am probably a huge target, since I have an account with Google for my email. As mentioned in the link I posted yesterday, look down, there are Extensions for most all browsers, to slow down all this snooping. One of them is called Ghostery.

[squishmar]

Okay...thanks for the explanation. I've said before that I'm like the proverbial "shoemaker's child"... my husband is a computer expert (he's authored over 25 computer security books) but my computer is woefully neglected and I myself am basically computer illiterate!

[sox12st]

squishmar you are absolutely, 100% correct. This is GSN's website. THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT USER'S of their site are SAFE when they visit. GSNAngel seems to feel that it is the obligation of the people who visit GSN.com and use the site, to make GSN.com aware of the attacks. On the contrary GSNAngel, IT IS GSN.COM'S RESPONSIBILITY to make SURE this site is SECURE. GSNAgel's reply to my post, seems to suggest that the technical team at GSN are at a loss and are hard at work at a solution but its complex. If it is so COMPLEX that GSN.com can't figure out WHY these attacks are occurring, or WHO is responsible for them, then WHY IS IT I've NEVER been attacked on Yahoo, MSN, AOL or any other on-line gaming site? WHY IS IT that myself and OTHER USERS, HAVE BEEN ATTACKED MULTIPLE times on GSN.com? ALL of us on this thread are waiting for an answer. Any VISITOR whose computer is compromised by a Virus, Trojan or ANY nefarious and MALICIOUS program, should hold GSN.com accountable.

[squishmar]

Well, we all have a certain responsibility to be accountable for our own computers and which sites we choose to frequent, but at the same time GSN-- once they are aware of a problem-- have a responsibility as a commercial website, to protect their customers. The Network Administrator and the IT team should be on this seriously.

[GSNAngel]

squishmar you are absolutely, 100% correct. This is GSN's website. THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT USER'S of their site are SAFE when they visit. GSNAngel seems to feel that it is the obligation of the people who visit GSN.com and use the site, to make GSN.com aware of the attacks. On the contrary GSNAngel, IT IS GSN.COM'S RESPONSIBILITY to make SURE this site is SECURE. GSNAgel's reply to my post, seems to suggest that the technical team at GSN are at a loss and are hard at work at a solution but its complex. If it is so COMPLEX that GSN.com can't figure out WHY these attacks are occurring, or WHO is responsible for them, then WHY IS IT I've NEVER been attacked on Yahoo, MSN, AOL or any other on-line gaming site? WHY IS IT that myself and OTHER USERS, HAVE BEEN ATTACKED MULTIPLE times on GSN.com? ALL of us on this thread are waiting for an answer. Any VISITOR whose computer is compromised by a Virus, Trojan or ANY nefarious and MALICIOUS program, should hold GSN.com accountable.

sox12s, when I advocate using antivirus and/or malware protection it's because it's a good, smart thing to do no matter what sites you visit. My thanking people for educating others is showing appreciation to them. I have been advocating using good antivirus protection for years, as well as using strong passwords (at the very least a mix of numbers and letters), not using your real first and last name as a user name, not posting your personal information on the message boards such as email, etc.

GSN is working on these reports, and most certainly does everything they can to keep the site safe and secure. When issues do occur, an email to help@gsn.com alerts them immediately. Any information provided helps pinpoint that issue.

Reporting any issues is reasonable, and directly contacting help@gsn.com can work faster than posting on the message boards, since the message boards are more social and are not a formal method of site support.

I'm doing what I can by keeping the advertising team appraised of any new issues or posts, which is my job. In turn, they're working with the ad provider directly to resolve this issue, which is their job. When I talked about using Firebug, I was referring to annoying ads that can flash, cover screens, etc. as those are often regional. I was not suggesting "GSN is at a loss" over these reported issues.

MY responsibility is to this community on a more personal level. I will always advocate internet safety no matter the circumstances and that is not to be taken as an indifference to the situation on my part.

[WPLJ42]

Let's be nice to GSNAngel, as she is going above and beyond the call of duty to be helpful here. Placing full responsibility toward GSN, for what appears to be an isolated situation, is the wrong attitude to take. I have not experienced the attacks sox12st is talking about, on any site. I am a Windows 7 users, and feel I am in control of keeping my computer safe. GSN is making advertising space available to other content providers, and again, ads are targeted to cookies in your web browser. You can't hold a radio, TV, or newspaper accountable for the ads they allow. You also can't expect GSN to fix something on your computer. That might be the situation, since this is not impacting everyone. If you want help from GSN, they need the best details you can provide, and that often means a screenshot of the incident. If you aren't familiar with taking a screen shot, or screen capture, I'd be more than happy to help, including how to send an attachment. I am not a computer expert, by any means, but have been at it since 1980, even before MS-DOS. I got my first virus on an MS-DOS computer, and suspect it came via a box of blank floppy discs I purchased. That was long before the Web. It was probably 25 years ago, and the Internet is a million times more complex today. Yikes! In closing, I can only say, troubleshooting is the worst, especially less than obvious problems. I can't help in the capacity GSN Help can, but will try to help as best I can.

[sox12st]

LAME, LAME, LAME, is your reply GSNAngel. The same goes for " help@gsn.com" because they have also offered the same "LAME, LAME, LAME excuses. I didn't mean to attribute "the complex nature of the attacks" solely to you GSNAngel, because they lie with those who are supposed to make GSN.com safe for all who visit and use the site. The blame should be laid at both help@gsn.com & those who are supposed to make the GSN.com website safe. This is my first visit in 2 weeks & it was only to see if there was an apology to all users who were attacked or a resolution to the problem. As I can see from GSNAngel's response to my post, neither appears to be forthcoming. GSNAngel I'd "advocate internet safety" as well, especially to those who visit GSN.com.

[WPLJ42]

These little boogers are everywhere, even the Mac: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07...risis_malware/

[sunny4545]

I got a trogan last friday and it killed my computer on gsn..................my son restored to different date and did not help, i ran malware, and run scans every time i leave gsn, and was still one tracking passwords monday..................and have norton.............but no more computer................thanks gsn..............but dont know how to send it to u, or take

[jczerny]

sunny4545...I got a virus while I was playing games on the GSN site when all of it started. It killed my computer too and I took it to Bestbuy. They told me to run the restore dvd's to take it back to factory condition. (or I could pay them to do it.) I don't know if your computer came with them or if you made them when you first bought it, but it worked for me. I have a Gateway computer and I made the dvd's when I first bought it at the company's suggestion. My HP computer came with the dvds. If you have any files you want saved, you need to save them on a flashdrive or you will lose them once you reinstall. Good luck, I hope you can save your computer!

[sunny4545]

Thanks jczerny, i did have all files backed up thank god....but got computer from a friend, they could restore it i guess, but just went out and got me a new lap top, been wanting one for a while and love it................my try and save it later.....thanks

[WPLJ42]

I am using McAfee Site Advisor, and it regularly blocks unknown items like content from my local newspaper website, and AOL Radio.