Site infection ?

One other user (also using Avast) has reported this and it has been reported to Jon Paul.

My scanner reports nothing in this regard.

Neil

Hi Johnny and All.

I get the same message by AVAST antivirus since yesterday

Not with me...I have AVG.

Mark

i have avast no warnings here.

May be related to the user-tailored Google Ad that appears on the right side of the page. The ad is related to user clicks on items in recent Google searches. Antivirus programs flag "dangerous" sites. The determination of a "dangerous" site is sometimes flakey and is very much dependent on the antivirus program being used. So.. it depends on which antivirus program in use AND on the particular ad coughed up by Google.

Jon Paul has checked Part15us with several anti-virus sites and it comes up clean.

Perhaps Phil's explanation is correct.

Neil

With every Warning, Avast gives me the choice of viewing "More Details."

The main thing on the More Details page is a friendly offer to BUY an Upgrade, so I'll have "Even more protection."

'Tis the sales season.

Yesterday Avast notified of an update, which I installed.

I wondered if perhaps the update might put an end to what are apparently meaningless Warnings when participating here at Part15.US.

The update required a computer Restart, which got done this morning. A big window opened listing the many "improvements" in the new Avast update.

When I clicked "Go Ahead" I suddenly was informed GOOGLE CHROME is now installing!!

Double damn. Name calling. Desire to beat with hammer!!

After waiting for the UNCHOSEN software to finish, I immediately UNINSTALLED it, wondering if there was a way to spit on it as it got removed.

Anyway, the Warnings are still happening when using RECENT UPDATES here at Part 15, also when entering REPLIES to a thread.

PERHAPS UNRELATED, the first time I tried to rouse part15.us this morning it took about 45-minutes to appear. Within half an hour I came back and the spinning "Connecting" went on and on until I gave up. The third time I came back the site came up right away.

Carl,

One must be very careful (as you have noted) when updating or installing software, especially the "free" stuff. Most have embedded offers to install other software which is a way for free software providers to pay their bills which is fine with me as long as there is a "no thank you" or "decline" button to select.

I used to use AVG anti-virus free edition which installed security plug-ins into the Firefox browser. Usually, I opted out or removed these since I saw no value in them for my purposes. AVG worked well but my browsing is such that it is pretty much low risk especially since I have JavaScript disabled and only turn it on when needed for trusted sites.

AVG slowed the system on boot up quite a bit and noticeably on running so I uninstalled it and now use Microsoft Security Essentials. MSE is not rated as good as AVG but it seems to work fine for me.

If you are using Firefox you might try getting the NoScript add-on which allows selective script blocking and see if this helps. This keeps my browsing uncluttered and when necessary I can selectively enable scripting site by site. I also use a do not track add-on. It is surprising how much is going on in the background with web browsing, especially with news sites and this becomes apparent with these plug-ins active.

Another good practice is to make a disc image backup before installing new software. This allows going back if there is a problem. The XP system restore can also be used but it is not as reliable or clean as a disc image backup. I have my operating system on C: and my data on another disc (K:) so the C: image backup takes about three minutes using Seagate (Acronis) Disc Wizard which came bundled with the second hard drive. I like this method over backup programs which just copy files because I know the disc will be restored completely without lingering registry entries or other nonsense.

These are just some suggestions to consider.

Neil

In my last post I meant "45-seconds" when I said "45-minutes."

Neil, there probably was a little box giving me a chance to opt-out of Google Chrome, but the utter maze of text presented kept me from seeing it. It is also pushy of Avast to have pre-clicked the install Google Chrome box.

When I tried to use NoScript it blocked my ability to use Flash Audio Player, a mainstay of my streaming software. Someone said there is a way of allowing Flash with NoScript, but I was unable to figure it out.

Some freeware providers get a taste for blood (money) and their manners giveway to opportunistic exploitation of their "welcomeness" inside our home computers.

However, I will consider firing Avast and re-explore NoScript, with hopes of getting even smarter than I think I am after only two beers.

No, I am not drinking beer this morning, but I also don't think I'm smart this morning. I'll get smart some other time.

Once NoScript is installed as a Firefox add-on, an "S" icon will appear on the screen -- in my case just below the line of local weather data at the top right of the clip below.

Hovering the cursor over that S brings up a menu where that site can be selectively permitted to run scripts on that PC, or not.

Clicking on the Options... choice brings up a more detailed control panel (also shown in my clip).

Another Thank to Rich for helping get NoScript activated over here.

After Enabling NoScript I needed to restart Firefox, and have no "local weather" choice, but those moments went by quickly and the "S" has appeared.

Inside the Options I found that "Forbid Adobe-Flash" was already unchecked, so NoScript is already to go.

Next step -- close Avast!

No change with the latest Avast update. Still shows a warning

All day now with NoScript turned on and Avast turned off, those pesky warnings are gone and everything is smooth as.... something smooth.

Life has gotten good, the arctic vortex is gone, my car will be dug out by Sunday, and I am all ready for something else to go wrong.