Error Message

[Lady Nimue]

Originally Posted by Janet H

Can you try restarting your computer please and see if that helps? If this persists please either take a screen shot of the message or post the contents so we can investigate. This sounds like an ad that is masquerading as a system notice to me...

Thank you. It hasn't happened since that day. The nature of what I was seeing was 'requiring' me to click on something in order to 'update' something which I refrained doing. In all instances when it popped up I closed the windows immediately. It looked like nothing one would get from Apple (I thought) though it also didn't look like an ad since it was all pale blue and grey with no text/pictures of ads or anything. Looked 'official' except something looked like it was 'running'. It was so unusual that I assumed it was something wonky. As you say: an ad that is masquerading as a system notice, and they are getting very clever! But why just on TRF site?

[Missjersey]

Thank you Janet H. Works like a charm!

[Iluvbertie]

I often get this sort of message on my PC so take the computer to the IT guys at school and they remove the virus, malware etc. It is a recurring theme. When I retire in five years I will have to leave this site for that very reason.

[Lady Nimue]

Interesting, just heard an analysis of Bitcoin and what 'activity' increases it's value, and apparently it is spookily like what I described: a computer's running system is 'taken over' and 'used' to 'up' the Bitcoin. I may have this a wee bit scrambled but it's in that arena. Interesting. Not at all saying that what I saw was a Bitcoin intrusion but it did remind me of what I had experienced here (and no where else at this point, which site-specific occurrence makes it notable).

P.S. I will be asking Apple about it.

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

I often get this sort of message on my PC so take the computer to the IT guys at school and they remove the virus, malware etc. It is a recurring theme. When I retire in five years I will have to leave this site for that very reason.

Iluvbertie, I thought you were just starting up another Master's Degree (or PhD) among many that you already have. So close to retirement! You are dedicated!

[Iluvbertie]

Started by Ph.D at the beginning of this year. I am due to retire in five years from teaching. Then I will do something else - as a volunteer in all likelihood but with no access to IT experts I will be leaving here and other sites which are constantly under attack. I would imagine that when I retire I will drop the internet completely as no way to remove the viruses or malware etc and will lose access to the virus protection I have now.

[Osipi]

Its occurred to me that I've never had this problem and realized that I never see one single ad when I'm on TRF. Not one. I also have an ad blocker installed on this system that comes with my Opera browser. Most browsers have one already installed. You just have to configure it to your liking.

[Lady Nimue]

I have been gone from posting on the forums over the holidays (about a month gone) and when I came back on to post yesterday I received the virus warning again: 3 times on separate sign-ins. It's definitely site specific, to this site TRF. It happens no where else (for me) on the internet.

This time I somewhat read it, and it said something about a 'Trojan Virus'. There comes a loud keening sound as well, a real sense of alarm is created and the warning states that the site I am on is 'infested' and to remove myself at once.

Anyway, it may impact my continuing on the site (not that that matters and may in fact be a good thing for me since I am being a wastrel coming on here to post) because it's very alarming when it happens, given the siren-like sound that accompanies the 'infestation' warning. FYI.

[Muhler]

No problem here and my security settings are set at "paranoid".

Anti-virus can sometimes act on advert banners or a java-script.

I suggest you scan your hard drive thoroughly and perhaps log in with a different browser.
If you usually use Chrome, try Firefox or Explorer and then go directly to TRF after logging in at your usual start page. And go nowhere else.
Then log out again and do a new scan.
If no serious threat is detected it's probably a glitch your anti-virus is reacting to.
Which is fine, better safe than sorry.

[Lady Nimue]

Thank you, Muhler. So far nothing today. I wonder what triggers it?