35 replies to this topic

[Ben]

Well I recently bought a new laptop (Toshiba Qosmio to be precise) to replace my stolen one. I actually bought it off my boss. Anyway, the other day I was browsing DeviantArt looking for some Photoshop brushes, and then the song I was listening too suddenly stopped. Well, the song didn't stop, my speakers did. I checked everything out - the volume, the drivers, the program, but it seemed to all be working fine. So I decided to restart my computer. With all Qosmio laptops, as soon as you turn on the computer, a Qosmio logo appears and a short sound effect plays. Well, I was relieved that the sound effect did play, so I assumed my speakers were working fine. Then, it got to the Windows loading part - you know where the Windows XP logo is on a black background and a looping load bar is underneath. Well, it was going good at that part too... for about 5 seconds. Then the speakers started to screech at an earsplitting tone on a very high volume. Windows had stopped loading aswell. So I had no choice but to turn off the computer and restart. I did a "restart to last known configuration" and all is good. But I was at work today and I brought this up with my boss, and he said it was most likely a virus. I said how could that possibly be I only just formatted the computer the day before (forgot to mention!). And he said it was probably a website. He listed a few, and among the list was DeviantArt. He told me that you get a lot of shit from cookies and things from websites like that. I'm not sure whether he's right on this one, but he's an expert at this so... I'm still not sure. I mean, I've been on DeviantArt on my other computers plenty of times and nothing of the sort as happened. Has anything like this ever happened to anyone before? Have other people had problems with DeviantArt?

[MetalSkin]

Hmm... that's a tough one. The only complaint I have ever had for deviant art is that it always seems to be slow for me (maybe that's just an issue for Australian users, not sure).

Doing a google found no one complaining of it, and I'm sure if it was an issue people within the community would be complaining. Only complaint I could see was that dA doesn't authenticate for image download, which has nothing to do with your problem.

Generally these types of issues come up because of one of two reasons, users can publish html with embedded exploits on their blogs, or the site uses adds of a disreputable nature which can contain within them exploits.

The later issue is more common, and unfortunately I cannot comment on what adds deviantArt uses, as I have been using ad blocker plugins within firefox since they first came out.

But there is no reason to presume it was Devient, it could have been one of many sites out there who use advertising which can incorporate exploits.

Easiest way around it is to use firefox and install an addon like Adblock Plus.

The other common way to get an exploit is via advertisements that masquerade as windows dialog warnings or errors. I haven't seen many of them for a while now, maybe because of my adblocker, but I know there were some lawsuits in America about this which may have curtailed some this activity. This is something my partner got burnt by, even though she knows to ignore them.

If your using XP make sure you have the latest service pack and I would highly recommend using the latest version of IE if you need to use IE.

I'm sure Opera has adblockers just like firefox so you would most prob be just as safe with opera.

Hope that helps

Edited by MetalSkin, 11 July 2007 - 08:25 AM.

[Bug]

Never experienced such a thing... would never think the dA team would allow such things to roam on their website...

Yeah... it can also be very very slow for me as well... but as you said, I think it might be an Aussie thing

By the way: How's that computer doing now? Still got the same symptoms?

Edited by Bug, 11 July 2007 - 08:23 AM.

[N4Z.]

Actually Bug, it is very evry slow for me 9/10 =/

I hate dA for Speed, P2L Is the fastest site I go on (Even beats google )

[d2Squared]

I doubt it will help you a lot, but always when I get into deviantArt, the computer turns X3 slower. I hate it, that's talking from Israel. I think the site is just way too big with all the stuff it has in it or something, or it also might be some server problems, I really don't know.

[Ben]

Yeah I didn't think it could've been dA. I do use Firefox, but I'm not sure if I'm using an adblocker (should there be one that comes with FF?). My laptop hasn't experienced anything of the sort since then, so I'm assuming everythings ok now. Ofcourse I still think it's a virus that did this (or atleast spyware), but I've found no traces of them.

Yeah P2L is real fast. Is it me or has Google gotten slower? Nowadays I have to resubmit forms a couple of times with Google for it to do anything...

[MetalSkin]

Ben, on Jul 11 2007, 11:35 PM, said:

Yeah I didn't think it could've been dA. I do use Firefox, but I'm not sure if I'm using an adblocker (should there be one that comes with FF?).

No they do not come by default. if you have the latest version of firefox then choose the tools menu followed by the Ad-ons menu. You will have two tabs, Extensions and Themes. Make sure the extensions tab is selected. Choose the link that says something like "Get Extensions". This will take you to the firefox web site where you can browse for extensions.

You will see the 10 most popular extensions and I notice that the adblocker I use is number 2, adblock plus. if you wish to go direct, just click here

Do note however that a lot of sites use ads to help provide a free service. If the site asks you to click on the occasional ad to help support them, then it's always a good idea to do so.

Ben, on Jul 11 2007, 11:35 PM, said:

Is it me or has Google gotten slower? Nowadays I have to resubmit forms a couple of times with Google for it to do anything...

Hmm not for me, are you using the .com or a specific country? It's been a very long time since I last had problems with google.

Edited by MetalSkin, 11 July 2007 - 08:48 AM.

[Adam Sheridan]

I have no idea how a fully blow virus could enter your computer by simply navigating to a website, I'm honestly stumped. If anyone could explain how an exe could transfer itself from a website and then open and run itself without the user doing anything at all I would greatly appreciate it.

- Adam

[Ben]

Well viruses don't always have to enter your system as exe's.

Thanks MetalSkin for the links

[Donna]

DA is just slow, run your PC via http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/ if you have anything that will pick it up.

[α∂αмяoss]

deviantART works absolutely fine here. I live in the UK by the way

[T-Rizzle]

Yeah, the only problem I've ever had with dA is their speeds. It's absolutely horrible browsing around that site, takes forever. And I'm in the States for christ sakes.

[Will0wz]

This just likes like a case of 'Coincedence' to me mate.. And about the problem, I'm not quite sure.. Loose wire maybe?



@S0LDIER

S0LDIER., on Jul 11 2007, 02:26 PM, said:

Actually Bug, it is very evry slow for me 9/10 =/

I hate dA for Speed, P2L Is the fastest site I go on (Even beats google )

Now thats exagerated lmao.

[Av-]

DA loads fairly quick for me most of the time, not saying it's fast or anything, but I've seen far worse..

As for your virus problem, I'd suggest letting Hitman Pro have a look at your system. (It's Basically a bundle for a bunch of popular anti-virus programs).
Pretty weird you got struck right after you reformatted, unless of course you visited some sites you didn't mention us about Either way, I doubt DA has anything to do with it, but you never know, right?

[Dh.]

I've never experienced a problem with dA, I love it

[Ben]

Dh., on Jul 12 2007, 09:08 AM, said:

I love it

I do too Which is why it's bugging me...

Thanks for the links Donna and Av, will check the out I currently run AVG Free, which is only a virus program.

As for the previous sites I went on... there was Google, and Pixel2Life, and I'm SURE those sites can't affect me badly

[Hayden]

If it is a virus, it could possibly be something he did and probably was just unaware of it?

It's possible to be the file from dA but i doubt it.

[N4Z.]

Will0wz, on Jul 11 2007, 07:38 PM, said:

This just likes like a case of 'Coincedence' to me mate.. And about the problem, I'm not quite sure.. Loose wire maybe?



@S0LDIER

S0LDIER., on Jul 11 2007, 02:26 PM, said:

Actually Bug, it is very evry slow for me 9/10 =/

I hate dA for Speed, P2L Is the fastest site I go on (Even beats google )

Now thats exagerated lmao.

Nope, P2L loads in a flash for me. Probably not AS fast as Google, but around the same. About 0.3

I am on 10MB Cable Broadband.

Edited by S0LDIER., 12 July 2007 - 03:49 AM.

[awesty]

I go on dA most days and have never gotten a virus from there. Maybe its a fault with the speakers?

[Jess Blue]

I religiouly check dA (though.. I'm a lazy jerk and haven't submitted anything in a long time..) and I haven't had any problems other then the already mentioned speed issues. It may also depend on what you were browsing through on dA, like if you were looking at flash videos that could have had a problem. Though, can you get viruses from a flash video? I've never heard about it, but that doesn't mean anything... I can be oblivious sometimes, lol.