Folks,
There is a computer virus/bug going around that seems to have started up on/about Dec. 28 and has been spreading.
From our current understanding, this bug is more like an aggressive spyware type thing and it puts the bug into your system and when you post on message boards, it tags your post with a hyperlink leading primarily to porn related material, but also other websites. People often do not know they even have this bug until they start noticing these hyperlinks showing up that they did not put into their messages.
This nasty bug is spreading. Some folks have unknowingly been clicking on these links. It is unsure if some of these sites are force downloading the spyware/bug on people or if people are unknowingly picking it up after having downloaded some program off other sites and did not know there was a hitchhiker. Either way, if you run your cursor over the hyperlink and look at the bottom of the page, you should see the URL address. If it looks like a porn site or has a "[bleep]" in it, assume it is one of those types of links and DON'T click on it. As we find new domains in the newer links, we have been filtering them out to hopefully help keep the damage down in future posts by infected individuals.
We first started noticing it when usually good members were suddenly posting porn links. We knew something wasn't right. Our suggestion is to download anti-spyware software such as adaware http://www.lavasoftusa.com. Also make sure you have antivirus sotware and that it is upto date. A good free antivirus progem is AVG http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php.
There is some discussion about it at http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/8346.html.
Please if anyone sees any such posts with an active hyperlink at the bottom of someone's message that just says 'Link', REPORT those messages ASAP via the 'abuse report' button (located by the author's name). Not all posts with a default 'Link' at the bottom are bad, but we do want people to alert us to them so that we can check those messages out and if they do turn out to be the bad ones then we can get those messages cleaned up ASAP and inform the individuals of their situation. Unfortunately, some folks have email from us blocked or they have changed ISPs so please also help get the word around.
Additionally, any person we find with this bug posting on the forums will likely have their account temporarily suspended to keep them from posting and possibly spreading this problem even further on the forums. Once they have been made aware of the situation and have their computer cleaned up they can contact the site coordinator to have their account reinstated.
http://www.pethobbyist.com/contact/index.php
Thank you.
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PHWyvern
Kingsnake.com Forum Leader
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PHWyvern
