PlaymoFriends

Getting Started => Technical Support/Testing => Topic started by: Hadoque on July 22, 2012, 01:13:29

Title: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Hadoque on July 22, 2012, 01:13:29
Hi

Past days (it started thursday 19th July), each time I tried to logg in on Playmofriends my computer's ITWACS-system (Internet Threat Warning & Countering System) went hyperactive and I got all kinds of warnings that through the forum several attempts were executed to install malware on my computer.

Anyone else getting warnings/problems?
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: bonniebeth on July 22, 2012, 02:01:52
Hm, we did have a report from one other member that when he tried to open a certain thread his computer told him there was a virus on that page. But it was only that one thread and no other.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Pynedor on July 22, 2012, 14:54:31
Actually, I also had a problem with this. It didn't affect me, as I was able to protect against it, but others may not be able to so easily. I've also noticed the forum responding a bit later than it normally does the past few days, though this seemed to smooth out yesterday.

Was it from a link or something in a thread or the thread itself, bonniebeth? And was anything found or dealt with about this? I am interested now, because I didn't realise it would have come from here.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: lee gray on July 22, 2012, 15:48:22
I got the message earlier when I had opened up 4 threads to view and one had the malware message and mentioned something about millies but I quickly closed it off.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Hadoque on July 22, 2012, 15:49:06
With me it wasn't a specific thread but the forum in general; immediately after logging in on the forum the warninglights flashed on.
One of the warnings I got was something like "planetsmiley is attempting to install malware on your computer"
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: bonniebeth on July 22, 2012, 17:52:52
Was it from a link or something in a thread or the thread itself, bonniebeth? And was anything found or dealt with about this? I am interested now, because I didn't realise it would have come from here.

The problem I was PMed about was with the newest thread in the welcome section. I passed it along to Sylvia, because only admins have the ability to check into that sort of problem. She wasn't able to find any problems with the page, or why he would have gotten that message.

With me it wasn't a specific thread but the forum in general; immediately after logging in on the forum the warninglights flashed on.
One of the warnings I got was something like "planetsmiley is attempting to install malware on your computer"

planetsmiley, huh? ??? That's very strange.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Pynedor on July 22, 2012, 19:05:16
Okay, thanks. I thought maybe someone unknowingly linked to something malicious. I did notice the smileys were a bit off a while ago though... if that is some connection. They seem to be back to normal now though.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: lee gray on July 22, 2012, 19:42:31
its the leif lucky thread that I get it in the welcome section,,,,,,,,,,,,the message says this   www.playmofriends.com contains content from planetsmilies.net, a site known to distribute malware. Your computer might catch a virus if you visit this site.

only on page 1 though, page 2 is fine.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: bonniebeth on July 22, 2012, 20:34:18
I wonder if the flag smiley there that is from an outside site could be the culprit?
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Sylvia on July 22, 2012, 21:20:08
I wonder if the flag smiley there that is from an outside site could be the culprit?

You mean the one holding the Scottish flag? Yes, I think you solved the puzzle! The code shows that it is being linked directly from the "planetsmilies" website.

Code: [Select]
[quote]

A warm welcome from Southern Scotland  [img]http://planetsmilies.net/flag-smiley-7326.gif[/img]

[/quote]

If members want to use non-forum smileys, it is a very good idea (and far safer) to upload them to their own personal webspaces - e.g. photobucket - and link them from there.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Hadoque on August 06, 2012, 01:10:12
My ITWACS-system just went active again!

It is again due to "planetsmilies is attemting to install malware on your computer" and it was when I was reading in the welcoming thread by Gyps.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Pynedor on August 06, 2012, 01:17:51
The same smiley holding the flag was posted there. If you look at its URL, it is from that site. It shouldn't be able to install anything on your computer just from the image, so maybe your computer is warning you that the site is potentially dangerous.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: bonniebeth on August 06, 2012, 01:42:46
Yes, probably any welcome topic is going to give you that message, if it has the scottish flag smiley in it.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Sylvia on August 06, 2012, 09:56:26
Yes, probably any welcome topic is going to give you that message, if it has the scottish flag smiley in it.

I'll talk to Elaine and see about uploading it to somewhere safer so she can keep using it. :)
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: skypurr on August 06, 2012, 11:02:46
Oops! I hadn't noticed this until Sylvia alerted me to it.   :-[
I wonder why? I've been using that for a couple of years.
Thank you Sylvia, I'll use your link in future.
I now need to work out how to link my signature smiley   :eh?:

Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Sylvia on August 06, 2012, 11:11:40
I now need to work out how to link my signature smiley   :eh?:
Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)

No need to change that.
It's linked from a completely different website (anchoredbygrace.com) so I don't think there's a problem with that one. :)
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: Hadoque on August 06, 2012, 11:25:15
So it is all caused by a scottish flag smiley?
Darn, then that malware might try to make my computer independent!  ;D

And Pynedor is right off course, it's just a warning I got. But I'll execute a pre-emptive strike on that site anyway.
Title: Re: malware/spyware through playmofriends?
Post by: bonniebeth on August 06, 2012, 11:30:58
Oops! I hadn't noticed this until Sylvia alerted me to it.   :-[

Well, it's not like you've been busy lately or anything.... :P