Oh No! I got a virus from a cycling site

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-19-2009, 04:30 PM

I love reading cyclingnews.com as does DH. Today I got a Trojan Horse virus from the site. It seems to be embedded in the photos and I am sure they will fix it quick but silly DH didn't believe me and went as well. Said like me everything was dandy until he clicked on a photo. I did it at work so I had to fess up to the IT boys why my computer had suddenly blew up. And of course stooge husband did it at work on his lunch so he had to call the IT lady. Maybe next time I say "Don't go to this site because it is under attack" he will listen? No, probably not.

**ilima** · 03-19-2009, 04:48 PM

Wow. I visit that site almost every day and always check out the race pics. I'm on a Mac, so I'm probably not as vulnerable. Still, I don't want to test it.

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-19-2009, 04:59 PM

Don't think Macs should have a problem.

I am sure they just got attacked and will be back to normal soon, I hope because I prefer them to Velonews or Pezcycling. I usually just want to read what happened. The picture I clicked, DH read the article yesterday and looked at the photos so it is very recent. He clicked some race photos or something, probably why he thought it might be okay?

Somebody who does use a PC, please tell me when it is safe. WAHHHH.

**Thorn** · 03-19-2009, 05:04 PM

The site itself may not have been hit, but the ad stream (greater reward to the hacker). Cyclingnews isn't as advertising laden as velo news, but it is a good idea on those sites to not run ActiveX controls. Of course, that means that sometimes you cannot actual see content on velonews if you reject their ads.

Mac's are not impervious--they just have different attacks.

**tctrek** · 03-19-2009, 05:22 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I have a MAC but my DH doesn't so I told him to not open any pics. Taking bets on whether he goes there and sees if it's true

**Zen** · 03-19-2009, 05:23 PM

Men.

That's all I got.

**tctrek** · 03-19-2009, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Zen

Men.

That's all I got.

Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em.

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-19-2009, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Zen

Men.

That's all I got.

LOL. It is like the funniest story about a guy I know. His buddy lived in an apartment that had some red button that activated an alarm or sprinklers or something for the floor. The friend was told "DO NOT TOUCH THIS BUTTON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I REPEAT IT CANNOT BE PUSHED". So of course the visitor had to. And the button did whatever it was supposed to which I think was set off the alarms thus dispatching the fire department or something like that. And the resident got a bill for it. I think was an old dorm, not sure.

My husband was probably hoping to prove me wrong. Silly man. Note I got the virus at 7:00 am central, he at 2:45 central so maybe he thought it had passed. I wonder how long those take to clear out? Seems like Bikejournal went down forever with something.

Thorn- It was internal pics cyclingnews posts. The ones embedded in their articles that you can "click to enlarge". Not sure if it matters and if I hadn't clicked I guess I would have been a-ok?

**Thorn** · 03-20-2009, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Thorn- It was internal pics cyclingnews posts. The ones embedded in their articles that you can "click to enlarge". Not sure if it matters and if I hadn't clicked I guess I would have been a-ok?

I always run with "Prompt before running ActiveX controls" (yes, I'm an anal-retentive control freak and, yes, lots of people have told me I'm nuts, but it has reduced the number of problems I have, but, of course, not eliminated them). There actually are ActiveX controls on the zoomed image displays. Cyclingnews is actually one of the cleaner sites. They usually only have one or two controls/page.

A large proportion of times people have gotten viruses from large sites has not been due to a direct compromise to the site, but to the ad stream. Not only can the hacker get deeper coverage by getting into the ad stream, but it is harder to trace.

**ny biker** · 03-20-2009, 08:13 AM

FWIW, I looked at cyclingnews a couple of times yesterday and didn't have any problems. But I didn't click on any photos.

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-20-2009, 10:08 AM

Definitely the photos and definitely the site. No doubt since it is the only site DH and I both visited and now his computer at work is infected because he didn't listen and wanted to read cycling at lunch. My computer is still not fixed it is pretty hard core virus, my IT guy isn't sure there is a fix out for it yet.

I am staying far away from the site for the time being. Not worth it at all which stinks because I really like the site and don't think it has anything to do with them but no way at all would I touch it with a 10 foot pole and your computer.

I am just still annoyed because I can't get to half the stuff I need because I am on a back up computer. I have never gotten a virus that didn't auto correct when the virus checker saw it.

**chicago** · 03-20-2009, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Definitely the photos and definitely the site. No doubt since it is the only site DH and I both visited and now his computer at work is infected because he didn't listen and wanted to read cycling at lunch. My computer is still not fixed it is pretty hard core virus, my IT guy isn't sure there is a fix out for it yet.

I am staying far away from the site for the time being. Not worth it at all which stinks because I really like the site and don't think it has anything to do with them but no way at all would I touch it with a 10 foot pole and your computer.

I am just still annoyed because I can't get to half the stuff I need because I am on a back up computer. I have never gotten a virus that didn't auto correct when the virus checker saw it.

go here...

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/

post under your operating system. these guys are great... they will help you. i have gotten rid of the worst viruses with the help of these peeps on here... good luck.

**Selkie** · 03-21-2009, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Zen

Men.

That's all I got.

Maybe my husband is an exception, but he's never felt the need to prove me wrong. And he's learned the hard way that when he doesn't listen to me, he usually ends up regretting it! Sounds like karma was at work in this situation.

Hope you got your computer fixed.

**sundial** · 03-21-2009, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Today I got a Trojan Horse virus from the site.

Lol, I was afraid to open your thread.

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-21-2009, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by mickchick

Maybe my husband is an exception, but he's never felt the need to prove me wrong. And he's learned the hard way that when he doesn't listen to me, he usually ends up regretting it! Sounds like karma was at work in this situation.

Hope you got your computer fixed.

Nope computer is still not fixed. DH misunderstood and thought I was saying stay out of the rider's diaries. We have been married almost 6 years, together since 1997 sometimes he still suffers from a supreme failure to listen. His work computer is still not running properly either.

My boss said "this is good because this is third computer and the IT guys can learn each time." We are not banned from internet usage but still makes me feel like a big ol' dummy.

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