Spyware in your PC.

Spyware is being inserted into your PC when you visit this site. Yes, and you don't even know it. This is an automotive forum but that is just a bait to target you with advertising. I use spyware detection programs to find this stuff, and guess what, after visiting this site only there's a bunch os stuff there.Ok, I know this will probaly get locked or deleted. Oh well just beware.

Spyware is being inserted into your PC when you visit this site. Yes, and you don't even know it. This is an automotive forum but that is just a bait to target you with advertising. I use spyware detection programs to find this stuff, and guess what, after visiting this site only there's a bunch os stuff there.Ok, I know this will probaly get locked or deleted. Oh well just beware.

These are most likely cookies from the advertising sponsors of this site.Just use S&D,delete them.It is a tracking cookie,not a program,if anything.So it wouldn't be any real worry.

Spyware is being inserted into your PC when you visit this site. Yes, and you don't even know it. This is an automotive forum but that is just a bait to target you with advertising. I use spyware detection programs to find this stuff, and guess what, after visiting this site only there's a bunch os stuff there.Ok, I know this will probaly get locked or deleted. Oh well just beware.

That's weird, I use spyware detection software and it doesn't show anything coming from this site, then again, I also have a firewall which blocks a lot of junk making it onto my pc.

The advertising makes AF possible by paying for the site upkeep, it's not AF that is used as bait to target you with advertising, you don't even have to pay any attention to the ads on the site or click on them unless you want to see the ad.

I also run spyware protection software here and at home and do not have anything coming in from this site.

i need to get a firewall and spyware detection software......

this is laughable :) there is absolutely no spyware sent to AF visitors. Cookies are set on your machine to identify your username, password, session id, and last time you visited. That's about it. Our ad agency may be placing cookies to track information such as your last visit and the banners you've seen.
I recall receiving an email from an ad agency that did want AF to run spyware-type advertising - the script would embed an active x on your computer and display popups on your computer at any time of day it wanted - even while you were not browsing the web. I LASHED out on this ad agency for using such dispicable technique and never heard from them again. Their code never made it to the public AF for even a second.

The detection software you use is made to detect anything which comprimises your security, such things as information being sent out of your computer to another party.

The reason that specific type is target is because any information being sent out of your computer could mean that:
- they have gathered information of your usage (including activities and software performed on your computer or browsing activities)
- they gathered information on how you use the specific software which the spyware program is attached, a form of free usibility testing.
- many other ways which I'm sure the ppl who wrote such software would have it used for.

Basically spyware itself is also unstable, as they tend to run and hog a lot of resources, full of bugs but they only serve one purpose, which is to make money or furfill the criteria which they were initially written from.

If your really worried about spyware and such, setup a firewall, a smoothwall would be good, there's plenty of guides on the net, all u need to open is say port 80, 21, 22, 6667, etc (there is a script somewhere on the net for smoothwall) which only allows access to basic web surfing sites, and it filters information that comes in and out (depending on your setup), u'll be very well protection.

But it is good to see users taking initiative and protecting their computers, and being aware of the current techniques which companies are willing to adhier to in order to give them a competitive edge. My hats goes off to you for being aware and taking steps to inform us and doing something about it, but its good that you still keep informed.

That's just my point. The stuff that I am getting is of "medium risk" and are listed on the registry. Which are not necesarily cookies at all. If I wanted and advertiser to get information from me I would give it to them if I so desire, but when the information is being extracted from my computer then that to me is spyware. Also any attemp to hijack my browser is considered as spyware too.
Maybe I am just too cautious but one of the terminals at work got hijacked by HuntBar and it has been a pain in the rear to get rid of.
I just have to remember to keep my firewall up cause you never know.

-Ozzy

That's just my point. The stuff that I am getting is of "medium risk" and are listed on the registry. Which are not necesarily cookies at all. If I wanted and advertiser to get information from me I would give it to them if I so desire, but when the information is being extracted from my computer then that to me is spyware. Also any attemp to hijack my browser is considered as spyware too.
Maybe I am just too cautious but one of the terminals at work got hijacked by HuntBar and it has been a pain in the rear to get rid of.
I just have to remember to keep my firewall up cause you never know.

-Ozzy
uh.... that's not exactly your point when you earlier said, and I quote "Spyware is being inserted into your PC when you visit this site"....
That is utter BS.

This is what I am refering to:
The reason that specific type is target is because any information being sent out of your computer could mean that:
- they have gathered information of your usage (including activities and software performed on your computer or browsing activities)
- they gathered information on how you use the specific software which the spyware program is attached, a form of free usibility testing.
- many other ways which I'm sure the ppl who wrote such software would have it used for.

Basically spyware itself is also unstable, as they tend to run and hog a lot of resources, full of bugs but they only serve one purpose, which is to make money or furfill the criteria which they were initially written from.



That is utter BS.
Your friendly AF Admin?

Your friendly AF Admin?

nope

AF GOD, no really :evillol:

Yes, I am friendly and helpful to people who do not make extreme and unfounded and potentially slandering statements about AF or myself.

Now we don't need to get hostile about all this. I don't really know you to pass judgement, do I. But noone on this board knows me either to call me a BSer. I will just retreat and leave.

BTW, your "Privacy Statement" page is off-line. Someone should look into fixing that dead link.

BTW2, what does this mean:
"If you are interested in reaching our visitors by means other than the above, please contact us - nothing is impossible."

Later.

Now we don't need to get hostile about all this. I don't really know you to pass judgement, do I. But noone on this board knows me either to call me a BSer. I will just retreat and leave.


Good luck on your journeys :bigthumb:
However, I, or whoever else that knows how the website functions at the script/programming code level can and will call on your BS that you decide to announce with such confidence -

Spyware is being inserted into your PC when you visit this site. Yes, and you don't even know it. This is an automotive forum but that is just a bait to target you with advertising.

That's just my point. The stuff that I am getting is of "medium risk" and are listed on the registry. Which are not necesarily cookies at all. If I wanted and advertiser to get information from me I would give it to them if I so desire, but when the information is being extracted from my computer then that to me is spyware. Also any attemp to hijack my browser is considered as spyware too.
Maybe I am just too cautious but one of the terminals at work got hijacked by HuntBar and it has been a pain in the rear to get rid of.
I just have to remember to keep my firewall up cause you never know.

-Ozzy

I'm pretty sure AF doesn't run any forms of spyware.

Let us consider this for a second, you do browse sites other then AF, and those other sites may have affiliation with other companies which AF has affliation with those companies which advertise.

What the advertisers may have done is written a universal script, and its simple, firstly is to check if there is any adware in place, and that if the place where the ad is veiwed from is AF or not. Just a simple selection structure in the programming (maybe 20 lines max if it wants to be pedantic) before the spyware is initiated. So that would mean another website planted a spyware to your pc, but it is being run but it was just a coincidence that it happend while your browsing AF and running a detection software during that point in time, OR that it is gathering info while your surfing AF.

Spyware itself are programs, they can/can't (debateable) be classified as a form of virus, except it doesn't perform any melicious attack, rather just gathering info (like a scout).