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Malware Installed by LiveJournal Ad

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the egg-on-face dept.

Jamesday writes "LiveJournal recently introduced an ad-supported level. Over the last few days an advertiser used an ad to install the ErrorSafe malware that tried to trick people into believing they had a fault on the computer that needs them to purchase a fix. The ad used a server-side setting and targetted only those outside the US, to prevent LiveJournal's own checks from noticing it. LiveJournal has apologized for the ad and slow response." Even our readers have had to endure more than one browser-crashing ad campaign from time to time. Thanks for sticking around.

4 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Are there any humans around? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    What part of "The ad used a server-side setting and targetted only those outside the US, to prevent LiveJournal's own checks from noticing it. LiveJournal has apologized for the ad and slow response." did you not read?

  2. Re:This isn't too surprising by ivan1011001 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The tricky thing about authorization is, by definition, it requires conscience thought. So one can not authorize something "unaware" of it.

    --

    I was thinking of converting to paganism, but where the hell can you find sacrificial virgins these days?
  3. Re:Are there any humans around? by Xserv · · Score: 4, Informative

    TFA had to do with LiveJournal, not MySpace...

    Xserv

    --
    "I love lamp."
  4. Re:This isn't too surprising by Nutria · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yup, yanno why? I'm constantly adminning my home network. CONSTANTLY. pretty hard to set folder permissions and shares and stuff like that when you're not running as admin.

    Sucks to use Windows, doesn't it, not being able to use "su -" and control everything from a command window while logged in as a limited-permissions user?

    Also, Livejournal, before these ads, was a pretty safe and secure site. Now they put in advertising, some of it flash based, and suddenly I'm nailed by one of their ads and malware hits my system.

    Sucks to use IE, doesn't it? Firefox and Flashblocker would have protected you.

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1