The Straight Dope

Go Back   Straight Dope Message Board > Main > General Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-16-2006, 11:05 AM
Anaptyxis Anaptyxis is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Between two consonants
Posts: 199
Winfixer spyware and Safari on a Mac

So I'm on a Mac running 10.3.9, using Safari 1.3.2. I have cause to head on over to a webpage I've visited many times (hosted by fortunecity.com). Immediately it becomes clear that Winfixer spyware has somehow hijacked the webpage. I keep getting Javascript windows asking me if I want to install Winfixer. Well, obviously I don't, as a) it's spyware, b) I'm on a Mac, and c) it's spyware, for chrissakes! So I keep clicking "cancel" in these dialog boxes, but finally it presents me with a box where there is only one option: clicking "OK" to install. Well, that ain't happening. But now that dialog box is the active window, and I can't close it without clicking "OK". So far the only solution I can think of is to Force Quit Safari, which is a drag because I lose all my current session cookies and have to re-log in a bunch of places. Anyone have a better strategy?

I just updated Safari, too. And of course Apple has no helpful comment on how to keep this crap from coming up.
Reply With Quote
Advertisements  
  #2  
Old 01-16-2006, 11:45 AM
Absolute Absolute is online now
There are no absolutes.
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: In flight
Posts: 3,669
Just click okay. It's not going to do anything to your Mac.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-16-2006, 11:50 AM
sunfish sunfish is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Do you have pop-up windows blocked, and JavaScript disabled (Preferences > Security > uncheck the JavaScript box)? That should help.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-16-2006, 02:53 PM
Anaptyxis Anaptyxis is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Between two consonants
Posts: 199
Quote:
Originally Posted by Absolute
Just click okay. It's not going to do anything to your Mac.
Intellectually I know it, but... but it still feels like enabling them!

As for Javascript, yeah, I do have it running. Hate having to toggle things on and off to keep the baddies from bugging me, but if that's what it takes.

Thanx for the responses.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-16-2006, 11:37 PM
Sleel Sleel is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Look into downloading PithHelmet for Safari. It blocks ads, popups, all kinds of annoyances. The latest update broke it for a couple of days and I definitely noticed the difference.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Send questions for Cecil Adams to: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Send comments about this website to: webmaster@straightdope.com

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Advertise on the Straight Dope!
(Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.)

Publishers - interested in subscribing to the Straight Dope?
Write to: sdsubscriptions@chicagoreader.com.

Copyright © 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC.