# Download file pop-up

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-file-pop-up/615960>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [March 16, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-file-pop-up/615960 "2012-03-16T13:42:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BunnyTVS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BunnyTVS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyTVS)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-file-pop-up/615960/1 "2012-03-16T13:42:18Z")

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For the last day or so, when browsing the dope I get a message at the bottom of the screen asking if I want to open or save pcon.js from www .wtp101.com.

And yes I am lazy enough to stick to IE.

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**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-file-pop-up/615960/2 "2012-03-16T13:54:58Z")

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Interesting. A quick google of the filename shows that people all over are getting prompted to download it but I haven’t seen anything identifying what it (really) is.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-file-pop-up/615960/3 "2012-03-16T16:56:38Z")

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Considering [the number of recent queries](http://www.google.com/search?q=pcon.js) on this particular nasty, it may be ad-generated, and infects machines not properly protected. It appears to take advantage of the open, default global settings in IE, but any browser may be vulnerable.

Suggestions:  
[ul]  
[li]Use a quality anti-virus. No, not just install it, but install it and use it.[/li][li]Use a quality web browser, and know how to configure the web browser. Never use a web browser “out of the box.”[/li][li]When using a quality web browser, install a few addons to protect your surfing, be it ad blockers or JavaScript inhibitors.[/li][/ul]

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**Author:** ![BunnyTVS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BunnyTVS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyTVS)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-file-pop-up/615960/4 "2012-03-17T01:09:15Z")

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I may be lazy, but I’m an old hand 🙂

Antivirus and Malwarebytes are always up to date. I just wanted to bring this to the attention of the board and other users. Got to say the frequency at times was disturbing, I had 6 activations over 10 pages at one point.