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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Rods2 on 22 June 2016, 23:35:25

Title: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: Rods2 on 22 June 2016, 23:35:25
1x1 pixel images with their url and data string are used a lot on websites for 3rd party sales tracking including cashback schemes.

Scammers are now using this technique by infecting popular adverts with 1x1 pixel malware. They use the malware to find who your ISP is and then a popup message will appear with 'Your ISP" branding" warning you that your computer has been infected with a virus and to call the following number. >:( This is a nasty twist on the normal cold calling virus scam but being forewarned is forearmed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03z3j38 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03z3j38)
Title: Re: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: biggriffin on 23 June 2016, 06:01:02
I don't mind A chat with a call centre, passes the time of day, and waste's their time.
Try it next time, had a crash, or ppi 4you ring up, just ask lots of stupid questions, etc ;D, along the lines of, how old are you, is it a nice day, what are you wearing, how's your cat ::)  Mrs Slocomb
Title: Re: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: STEMO on 23 June 2016, 06:03:03
Some of them are buying the advertising space legitimately. Don't see any way of stopping that really. Except, of course, a popup blocker.  :-\
Title: Re: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 June 2016, 10:13:53
Some of them are buying the advertising space legitimately. Don't see any way of stopping that really. Except, of course, a popup blocker.  :-\

Does anyone surf the net without one these days?  :o It's pretty much unusable without IMHO.
Title: Re: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: STEMO on 23 June 2016, 11:09:29
Some of them are buying the advertising space legitimately. Don't see any way of stopping that really. Except, of course, a popup blocker.  :-\

Does anyone surf the net without one these days?  :o It's pretty much unusable without IMHO.
Well...the amount of press this has had, I wonder if it can overcome the blocker.
Title: Re: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: Entwood on 23 June 2016, 11:21:03
As I understand it, the malware is on your system the minute you are on the site with the rogue advert, you don't have to click anything.

The rogue code does its thing of 1) redirecting you to a fake site, 2) reporting your IP to its master, which then sends the pop-up, which a pop-up blocker will stop, so you never see the scam phone number message, however the malware remains on your system, and the "master" computer still has your details.

What is not yet known if these last to matters pose any problem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36084989
Title: Re: New 1x1 pixel virus scam
Post by: Mister Rog on 23 June 2016, 12:10:09
Some of them are buying the advertising space legitimately. Don't see any way of stopping that really. Except, of course, a popup blocker.  :-\

Does anyone surf the net without one these days?  :o It's pretty much unusable without IMHO.

I'm not an expert but I regard the below as essential these days

Decent anti-virus, Yes pay for it !

A stand alone scanner like Malwarebytes, the free "home" version is fine

An add blocker
https://adblockplus.org/

A Junk cleaner, like CCleaner. The free version is fine. Reason for this is that some "nasties" live in the browser cache.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner