It happened to me the other day; it happened to a student I know today. All we did was click on an image in GOOGLE’s image collection and that launched the so-called Rogue anti-virus software that quickly made it look like they were scanning your computer when they were really planting a virus an/or tracking cookies and wanted your money to subscribe.
This is the first time I have seen this kind of thing attached to an image in the GOOGLE gallery and not on a website.
Here are discussions by professionals on how to handle these. I just exit my browser if I can and shut down my machine. If this software will not let me, I pull the plug on the computer and call my tech firm.
Here are a couple of tips from some professionals at widely respected sites. However, if you have a good machine, I would call in a tech. You really don’t know what this software has changed in your machine that you cannot detect.
http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6122_102-341855.html
http://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/6182-windows-simple-protector-removal
Or visit Microsoft.com
DarcsFalcon
April 13, 2011
Were you using Internet Explorer or FireFox with the NoScript add-on? Or another browser? Do you already have anti-virus software on your computer?
I’m curious because I use Google Images almost every day and want to make sure to avoid whatever it is you’ve found. This is great info Sam, thanks. 🙂
I use NoScript because it stops scripts like the one you describe from even being able to run, if I accidentally come across them. FireFox is much better at blocking add-ons than IE, and with NoScript, even sites I like won’t come in unless I grant access. Everything is blacklisted until I whitelist it, so that helps keep tons of the bad stuff out. 🙂
samhenry
April 13, 2011
Thank you for this info, DK. I use firefox and I run ESET anti-virus. I do not have the anti-script add on. Can you give me the url for it. I may have it but I am not certain. I do have ad-block.
roxannadanna
April 13, 2011
This happened to me, too, Jean – about 2 days ago. I launched Norton immediately after. I too use Firefox. I’m glad to know that this was no just me.
Great of you to alert everyone!
samhenry
April 13, 2011
Thanks Roxy. I feel I just have to alert people to things like this. Why else are there bloggers? Great to see you.
DarcsFalcon
April 13, 2011
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noscript/
Here ya go!
Remember, nothing will work once you restart FF, you’ll have to add everything to your whitelist as you go along. It can be a bit of a pain and slightly time consuming initially. Takes about a week I guess to get it where you want it. For me, it’s just go about my web stuff as usual, add the sites I like as I go along. Eventually, most of the places I visit get added to the list. And the secure feeling is awesome. 🙂
PS – I tend not to allow sites that have “ad” in the name, for example, adnxs.c o m. Keeps those sidebar commercials to a minimum. 🙂
samhenry
April 13, 2011
I appreciate this very much. Hey, send me your phone number again in case I need to call, OK?