Drudge Pop Ups - Now More than spyware. Now downloading

Drudge ^ | December 31, 2004 | Pop Up Author

[BJungNan]

My computer is set to advise me if a site I am going to is trying to download something onto my computer and gives me the option to download or cancel. I just went to Drudge's site and got a warning about an attempted download.

Drudge has been dumping at 3 to 7 spyware programs on my computer each time I visit - I've checked by clearing all spyware and then going to his site and checking again. That's bad enough. But, now to have direct downloads from from Drudge, that is not alright.

Likely it is from the same pop-ups and not specifically from Drudge's page, one of his advertisers. Some will say you a pop up blocker but those get in the way of the some of the functionality of sites I use on the net. I tolerate the pop-ups because it is less trouble to click them away than to turn on and off a pop-up stopper program.

The questions are these: Is Drudge being careful enough with the pop-ups he is facilitating through his site? Was there malicious code in the download that was attempted? Will Drudge address this? I have found no such instance on any other site I frequent except those in Asia that seem to love this practice.

One other question: Is anyone aware of any sort of malicious code that can be delivered through a site that wants to download to your computer just by visiting it?

[BJungNan]

Dude, those Drudge viruses have infected your grammar checker!

That problem started long before we had computer viruses. I think the word you want to insert is "need".

Some will say you need a pop up blocker but those get in the way of the some of the functionality of sites I use on the net. I tolerate the pop-ups because it is less trouble to click them away than to turn on and off a pop-up stopper program.

[Rebelbase]

Download it and use it. You'll be happier than Michael Moore at a fudge factory.

[Dashing Dasher]

Mozilla!
I second that!

If you must use IE - Cookiewall.

[MJY1288]

Mozilla FireFox and no more problems

[Types_with_Fist]

There is only one best place on the Internet for breaking news... and you're there already!

[clintonh8r]

Trixie still has a 'tude, I see....

[ovrtaxt]

Mofozillafox, dude. the shizzle.

[marajade]

google has a great pop up blocker

[F16Fighter]

What happens to the IE browser if/when you download Mozilla?

Must IE be deactivated at any time?

Are any usual functions deactivated if Mozilla is loaded?

[mickie]

I had my PC rebuilt. Cost around $500, but you cannot buy the quality that I now have.
And all pop-ups are blocked.

I never went to Drudge until now.

[holymoly]

  U.S. Government (US-CERT) warns web surfers: Stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer

U.S. Government Computer Emergency Readiness Team

Vulnerability Note VU#713878

Excerpt:

"Use a different web browser"

"There are a number of significant vulnerabilities in technologies relating to the IE domain/zone security model, local file system (Local Machine Zone) trust, the Dynamic HTML (DHTML) document object model (in particular, proprietary DHTML features), the HTML Help system, MIME type determination, the graphical user interface (GUI), and ActiveX. These technologies are implemented in operating system libraries that are used by IE and many other programs to provide web browser functionality. IE is integrated into Windows to such an extent that vulnerabilities in IE frequently provide an attacker significant access to the operating system.

It is possible to reduce exposure to these vulnerabilities by using a different web browser, especially when viewing untrusted HTML documents (e.g., web sites, HTML email messages). Such a decision may, however, reduce the functionality of sites that require IE-specific features such as proprietary DHTML, VBScript, and ActiveX. Note that using a different web browser will not remove IE from a Windows system, and other programs may invoke IE, the WebBrowser ActiveX control (WebOC), or the HTML rendering engine (MSHTML)."

For more PC security-related links, software, etc. see my FR homepage.

[BJungNan]

There is only one best place on the Internet for breaking news... and you're there already!

It is where Drudge gets 90% of his content. And for that other 10%, I can wait the 3 or 4 seconds before the details are posted here. Shame on me for going to Drudge. You are right!

[bahblahbah]

Yeah I've been up too long now and got things mixed up. There's Macromedia Fireworks, Mozilla Firefox, and then that database Firebird.

[steveo]

And the beast shall be made legion. Its numbers shall be increased a thousand thousand fold. The din of a million keyboards like unto a great storm shall cover the earth, and the followers of Mammon shall tremble. from The Book of Mozilla, 3:31 (Red Letter Edition)

[knittnmom]

Yep. Got kicked of LDot a few months ago. Been happy as a clam here. Love your tagline, btw.

[rockrr]

Sorry that I can't remember who assembled the list, but here's some links to "safer" computing software than what come with Microsoft:

FREE PC PROTECTION:
(Not an exhaustive list. Your results may vary. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. No wagering, please. Whattayawantfernuthin'.)
(Thanks, but "Buy a Mac" doesn't qualify as "FREE PC protection")

• Alternative browsers:
  • Mozilla
  • Opera
• AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Free anti-viral protection
• Popup ad killers:

   

  • Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE
  • Shoot the Messenger: Close that friggin' Messenger in Windows XP
• Spyware removers:
  • Spybot S&D
  • AdAware
• MailWasher: Good for pre-screening & bouncing SPAM
• Windows Update: At least install the critical ones
• ZoneAlarm: Excellent Firewall

   

  • Test your firewall from without with ShieldsUP!
  • Test your firewall from within with LeakTest
• LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Explore Linux as an alternative OS, without installing it on your hard drive, via a free bootable CD-ROM! Download Knoppix (or one of these other Linux distributions), burn the ISO file onto a CD-ROM, and reboot with the CD-ROM in its drive. If you later want to install Knoppix on your hard drive, here are some tips.

[Lancey Howard]

I don't go near Drudge's site anymore. Gave up on it over two years ago and deleted it from my 'favorites'. The spyware and pop-ups and suspicious clicking noises from my computer were too much for me. Any scoop he comes up with ends up here on FR anyway.

[Max Combined]

"I tolerate the pop-ups because it is less trouble to click them away than to turn on and off a pop-up stopper program."

Not so. I rarely have to turn off my blocker.

[Flavius]

well drudge is off the list...