Millions menaced as ransomware-smuggling ads pollute top websites

The Register ^ | 15 Mar 2016 at 17:19 | John Leyden

[snarkpup]

msn.com, nytimes.com, aol.com et al hit by malware-injecting banners

Top-flight US online publishers are serving up adverts that attempt to install ransomware and other malware on victims' PCs.

Websites visited by millions of people daily – msn.com, nytimes.com, aol.com, nfl.com, theweathernetwork.com, thehill.com, zerohedge.com and more – are accidentally pushing out booby-trapped adverts via ad networks, warn infosec researchers.

[snarkpup]

NoScript and ad blockers are your friends.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

We’ve been hit by this.

[Leaning Right]

I stopped visiting Zero Hedge because of all the pop-ups. Then I installed AdBlock Plus (it's free).

No more pop-ups. Now I can go back to enjoying Zero Hedge's endless economic doom predictions.

[Mr. K]

install 3 things and you wont have a problem (they are all free for home use):

1) avast anti virus

2) malwarebytes

3) ad-blocker pro

4) CCleaner

run a scan on your system from each and you’re good to go

[Red Badger]

What did you do to fix it?.......................

[Sparticus]

uBlock Origin works better and uses less RAM and CPU than Adblock Plus

[for-q-clinton]

I use host file blocking. I prefer it as it protects me better as it stops all connections to malicious sites & servers. http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

[Chickensoup]

See my post on Adblock

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3409938/posts?page=29

[Red Badger]

Add Glary Utilities as well. It free for home use, too.....................

http://www.glarysoft.com/glary-utilities/download/

[for-q-clinton]

Well stops them by name resolution. IP can still get me.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Took it to our ‘puter guy.

[jessduntno]

Love my Crap Cleaner. Even though they renamed it to CCleaner.
Defraggler is also free from the same site if you want to do a good but quick defrag on your disk, should you need it.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

bfl

[CodeToad]

Windows 7 64-bit. Does just fine.

[windsorknot]

Ransomware punks need to be “formatted”.

[A CA Guy]

Four thing?

[AppyPappy]

It can still be ransomed.

1. Anything you want to keep should be backed up.
2. Don’t keep your backup drive connected to your computer.
3. Don’t click on links unless you know where they are going.
4. Don’t allow anything to be installed unless you know what is being installed.
5. Don’t run as administrator unless you are an expert.
6. Use a Virtual machine running Linux to do web-browsing

[DannyTN]

"Now I can go back to enjoying Zero Hedge's endless economic doom predictions. "

LOL They are the worst!!!

[eyeamok]

are accidentally pushing out booby-trapped adverts via ad networks

Why would they think it is an Accident?

[dangerdoc]

Bump for later