# You are distributing malware **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 15, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205 "2017-01-15T03:42:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/102 "2017-01-24T00:38:36Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > We are having a helluva time tracking this down. All ads are now stopped. Assuming the problem no longer occurs (pls advise ASAP if it does), we’ll resume ads one provider at a time until the offending unit is isolated. Thanks for your patience. When you bring ads back, can you do something about the size of the docking ads on mobile devices? When I load a page on my phone, the docking ad is small, but so is the font of the text. Zooming in to make the font larger also makes the docking ad larger 1. This takes the close “x” off the right side of the screen, meaning it’s not there to close the ad. 2. Especially in either landscape mode &/or when replying (when the keyboard is on the bottom of the screen) the ad is a significant portion of the screen; maybe ⅓ to ½ of the screen real estate. Either it shouldn’t increase in size or have a maximum (2x original size?) that it will increase, but then no more despite the percentage of zooming. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/103 "2017-01-24T01:42:19Z")
I’ll relay that info to the ad guys but I’m not sure that’s an available option. As for the redirects - all ads are currently removed so please take a moment to test and report your findings, good or bad, if you are able. Once that is done we’ll bring the ads back online one at a time to see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/104 "2017-01-24T02:08:40Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > We are having a helluva time tracking this down. All ads are now stopped. Assuming the problem no longer occurs (pls advise ASAP if it does), we’ll resume ads one provider at a time until the offending unit is isolated. Thanks for your patience. They should stop calling you “Gormless Weenie”. It took a lot of gorm to cut the ads out until you figure out which one is driving people insane. Thank you !! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/105 "2017-01-24T04:52:39Z")
The hijacks have seemed to stop for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/106 "2017-01-24T09:23:58Z")
I, too, had a hijack-less surf-session at lunch yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/107 "2017-01-24T15:56:14Z")
OK, we’re restarting one ad series. Pls advise ASAP if any problems. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/108 "2017-01-24T17:53:00Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > We are having a helluva time tracking this down. All ads are now stopped. Assuming the problem no longer occurs (pls advise ASAP if it does), we’ll resume ads one provider at a time until the offending unit is isolated. Thanks for your patience. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/109 "2017-01-24T23:34:32Z")
I’m wondering if I can make myself lie about rampant ad hijacks just to keep all the ads away…Oh wait, did I say that out loud? Shit. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/110 "2017-01-25T01:15:23Z")
AdBlock no longer works on Safari for these new ads. I have never seen the ads when reading on my desktop computer (they are rampant on the iPhone), they are now on every page. So wonderful, this site is even crappier than before now. I add the link for AdBlock to block it, reload the page, and it comes right back. Is there a better ad blocker? ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/111 "2017-01-25T03:37:58Z")
I can’t close the fixed popup at the bottom of the page tonight using my laptop. Used to be able to click and it would go away, now it’s bigger and has no option to close. Hubby and I both tried to view on our Android phones tonight and both of us got a popup that I assume is malware, but it’s not the same one as before. This one says \*you-gift-cards.win says Congratulations (provider) customer! You have been randomly selected to receive a courtesy $1000 gift card. \*Even if this isn’t malware, it sucks and we won’t try again til there is a better fix. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/112 "2017-01-25T03:49:43Z")
NM on the laptop issue. I figured it out. It’s been a long day. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/113 "2017-01-25T04:57:22Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > AdBlock no longer works on Safari for these new ads. I have never seen the ads when reading on my desktop computer (they are rampant on the iPhone), they are now on every page. So wonderful, this site is even crappier than before now. I add the link for AdBlock to block it, reload the page, and it comes right back. Is there a better ad blocker? I started getting ads even though I have AdBlock installed under Chrome and had not been seeing them. I had to manually point the ads out to AdBlock to get them blocked. But be careful, I got carried away and blocked stuff I shouldn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/114 "2017-01-25T05:03:07Z")
Thank you for the feedback, however, those ads are not the ones that we are seeking to eliminate. The ones that cause the redirect are the offending culprit at the moment. We have enabled one ad set as Ed mentioned and will continue to do so roughly each day. Any feedback is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/115 "2017-01-25T14:06:25Z")
No hijacks so far on my Android phone yesterday or today. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/116 "2017-01-25T16:36:40Z")
So far so good. We’ll restart another ad series today (Wed. 1/25). Let us know of any problems. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/117 "2017-01-26T00:14:58Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Thank you for the feedback, however, those ads are not the ones that we are seeking to eliminate. The ones that cause the redirect are the offending culprit at the moment. We have enabled one ad set as Ed mentioned and will continue to do so roughly each day. Any feedback is appreciated. The one I referenced about already being a winner was a redirect, but allowed use of the back button, which the old hijack didn’t. Was no one else getting that one? We got it on both devices. p.s. still happening. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/118 "2017-01-26T00:24:15Z")
> [@tenacious\_j](#): > > The one I referenced about already being a winner was a redirect, but allowed use of the back button, which the old hijack didn’t. Was no one else getting that one? We got it on both devices. > p.s. still happening. I had not seen that one. Do you have more information, screenshots, video, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/119 "2017-01-26T01:53:53Z")
I should have gotten a screen shot and can’t use my phone at the moment, but all 4 times it was a white popup over a screen with address you-gift-cards.win. you-gift-cards.win says Congratulations (provider) customer! You have been randomly selected to receive a courtesy $1000 gift card. Sorry I can’t be more helpful but I’ll shoot over a screen grab next time I use the phone to get at SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/120 "2017-01-26T23:19:22Z")
> [@tenacious\_j](#): > > I should have gotten a screen shot and can’t use my phone at the moment, but all 4 times it was a white popup over a screen with address you-gift-cards.win. > > you-gift-cards.win says Congratulations (provider) customer! You have been randomly selected to receive a courtesy $1000 gift card. > > Sorry I can’t be more helpful but I’ll shoot over a screen grab next time I use the phone to get at SDMB. I just got this exact same ad again, about 30 seconds ago, when I visited the main page for the message board. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205/121 "2017-01-27T16:19:01Z")
I poked around and got the ad as well. Thank you for the feedback and I have communicated the issue to narrow down which provider is causing this one. This is different than the previous one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-distributing-malware/777205.md?page=7)