The Blaze malware alert: Be careful of links to theblaze.com today.

[MineralMan]

I just clicked on link to it in a thread and one of the site's advertisers popped up a browser-locking fake virus ad. I had to use Task Manager to end the task for Chrome to get out of it.

I doubt that it was deliberate on theblaze.com's part, but it's sloppy and makes that site less than friendly.

In any case, that site is a conservative clickbait site, and probably shouldn't be used as a source here at all.

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility! nt

[MineralMan]

2. Kick to move to the top.

Beware.

[ohheckyeah]

3. Thanks for

The heads up.

[Warpy]

4. Agreed, it's Glen Beck's site

and even if he gets religion and realizes he's been had, he's still just as dense. I don't click on those links for just that reason. I know they're idiots, I don't have to revisit the fact.

I do have an AV program that gets me out of any site with dodgy popups.

[MineralMan]

6. I always have Task Manager running in my status bar.

When those lock-up malware ads show up, I just close the Chrome task. Glenn Beck sucks, and so does his website. It's just another right-wing clickbait site, anyhow.

[Warpy]

8. There's also Alt+F4, too

The You Tube front page got hit with malware during the time DU was hacked, made me very grumpy for the few hours it took their techs to fix it. Individual videos were OK, just the front page. It can happen on any site out there, but right wing sites seem especially prone to it. I suppose advertiser boycotts are making them less choosy about advertisers.

[MineralMan]

14. That doesn't always work.

Some of those pop ups will only accept a mouse click on one button. Task Manager will always work.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. It sounds like you might be a good candidate for Qubes OS. Run them in an Untrusted window.

[MineralMan]

20. I have had a PC on my desk since 1982.

I have a Windows 10 PC on my desk right now. I have never, not even once, had a virus on any computer I have owned. In the past few years, I have never had a malware app on my computer for more than 24 hours.

I have no need for advice on my choices of operating systems, frankly. I've used everything from CP/M to Linux on one or another of the computers that have passed through my hands.

Use what you prefer. I may be 71 years old, but I cut my teeth in 1963 on an IBM 1620 by learning FORTRAN in college and using a punch card machine to create code. For 12 years, I was a Contributing Editor for PC World. I had my own software company for over 10 years. I am not a novice at these things.

I sometimes post warnings on DU when I encounter something that warrants a warning.

[TheBlackAdder]

21. As an IT person who purchased the original IBM PC for $2,500 back then...

.

I would just like to say that the firm I am with stress tested all the major anti-virus detection and prevention software and found that most would detect 40-60% of the viruses and malware, and three tools were required to remain moderately safe, especially if the device is connected directly to the Internet without intermediary detection servers and tools.

I did not mean to provoke a defensive reply.

Qubes OS, with the proper Intel chipsets, would eliminate almost all of them.

.

[MineralMan]

5. Apparently, The Blaze has a history of serving up malware:

http://www.google.com/search?q=the+blaze+malware

I think it's a site that is best avoided. I will never link to it on DU.

[kimbutgar]

7. World net daily also spreads some bad malware

I avoid all those right wing sites because they put these cookiess on that are hard to get rid of.

[FDRsGhost]

9. Why are you NOT running an adblocker?

Mineral Man, it's 2017. Go download Ublock Orgin already and start protecting yourself.

[mwooldri]

11. I can't speak for Mineral Man but...

... I have my reasons not to run an ad blocker. Besides the sites that I frequent I want to support - and if they need money through advertising then it's only fair that I get to view the ad in exchange for that content.

But there's also another reason why: On desktop blocking ads is easy. Mobile is a different story. I'm not an Apple aficionado so I can't speak for iphones, but Google Chrome on mobile doesn't support browser extensions. You can get a browser that blocks ads on mobile, but Google Chrome isn't one of them.

[FDRsGhost]

13. That's not an issue, white list it

One click and white listed.

There's mobile AdBlockers, I use this one AdGuard

I would also suggest checking out the Opera Mini browser.

The problem is this, java script malware. Evil stuff and you leave yourself wide open for it infesting your computer.

[MineralMan]

15. I don't use any persistent browser add-ons.

I have excellent virus and malware blockers. Task Manager will get you out of any situation, really.

[FDRsGhost]

16. Not sure what you're using but

Malware and virus programs wait until something is already on your computer. Task manager works some times but it will not block a malicious java script virus and the thing is you don't even have to download a thing to be infected, thus it renders your protection useless until you're infected.

Be safe out there.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/06/20/ransomware-thats-100-pure-javascript-no-download-required/

[GoCubsGo]

10. No problem.

I would never click on links to The Blaze anyway.

[NightWatcher]

12. What you said. Cubs fan

Good luck tonight. I'd love to see my Fish play your Cubbies in October for the NLCS.

[oberliner]

17. The Blaze is Glenn Beck's site

Why would it be used as a source here?

[MineralMan]

18. Exactly the question I asked in that thread.

I suppose some people never think about their sources much when they post. I've seen links to all sorts of right-wing garbage sites on DU. They make me shake my head and wonder why a person would use such sites to get their information. Almost always, the same information is available on trustworthy sites.

The Blaze, World Net Daily and many other conservative sites frequently have ads that install tracking cookies or do things like those browser-freezing fake virus scams. That's because they're clickbait sites with the sole goal of making money, regardless of what the ads are doing.

The Blaze should not be used as a news source here on DU, but it's not my website, so I can't do anything but say that when I see such links.