Zogger's bottom line:
"Big websites with a lot of traffic are prime malware targets. Happens all the time, even to well guarded huge sites with full time IT guys monitoring 24/7... Stuff happens. It's HARD to keep them clean all the time, BUT..individuals have their own responsibility as well."
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Yes But... Most computer users have bought Malware, Spyware, Virus, and Lord knows what other protections that exist. Regardless, the sites get hacked. It's as simple as that. Eventually, the machines will run like snails doing nothing but protecting themselves from crooks. At that point, the crooks will have won the battle and the users of the machines will have lost.
They may have bought all that crap, but if they haven't learned anything and are still surfing around with active scripting accepted at all sites..they will get hosed.
Yes, various websites get hacked, so, people who surf on the net need to be proactive in advance, not after the fact. Just buying that jazz doesn't do it all, security is like an onion, you go about it in layers. Plus learn how to actually use your gear.
The bottom line on THIS site right now is, keep javascript off, you get no redirects. Whole bunches of vbulletin sites got hosed, stuff happens. Users who were careful in their use of javascript allowances did not get hit.
Nothing is perfect, but I see nothing wrong with advising people to use a browser and add-on like firefox and noscript to help with online security and surfing. Costs zero to the end user other than some time to download/install/adjust.
I am seeing the linkbucks and associated domains in my noscript settings, and by not allowing it..nothing happens. This isn't hard for any user here. Noscript takes at most a few minutes to learn to use to a decent degree, you look at the dang menu settings for it, allow or disallow or allow for session. This ain't rocket surgery. I see ultrafiles and linkbucks sitting there..I don't allow them.
If users choose not to be just a tad more involved with their own computer tool, relying on someone else to do it for them some magical way, it ain't gonna work, there are no psychic programs to do this. Some things the individual has to do, something to help themselves other than throwing money at the subject.
Does no good to throw money at chaps or a hardhat if you don't wear them when cutting!
Does no good to buy a carb kit if you don't pull and clean the carb, install the kit, and reinstall it!
Do you learn to check the air in your tires periodically over the miles, or just rely on the dudes you bought your tires from?
This is simple basic tech hands-on we accept here with various subjects, I maintain simple basic computer tech for the end user at home is just as possible, with just a scosh of personal effort on his or hers part. Just even a little, other than throwing up hands and saying "you don't get it".
As to the site, I know they are working on it, I am not involved in the inner workings, who is doing what, all that I know is *most* hosting places keep an image/snapshop of a past known clean instance just for emergencies like that, so they can wipe and reinstall. Doesn't matter a big RAID setup server or a single drive home machine, good to have a backup system handy for when and if you need it.
I personally do a full wipe and clean reinstall periodically just for the halibut. May not need it, may need it, but do it anyway and have done it like that for many many years now, precisely because I know anyone "you" can get hosed and not even know it.
And no, I don't agree we are going to "lose" on the net and the badguys win. It will be ongoing forever, but there will be ups and downs, but most people could do a LOT better if they spent just a few hours learning to use their tools better.
The ones who complain the most about this "linkbux" crap have done the LEAST amount of personal computer responsibility maintenance..same as with busted chainsaws.
"I ain't never gonna buy one them dang stihlavarnas again, I yanked that cord 2,000 times until that broke too and.."
Same mindset.
I can't defend that. someone else might want to defend that sort of mindset, but I will not.
Gonna use a tool, spend a little time to actually learn to use the tool, end of story. Just acquiring the tool doesn't do the skullsweat or work for you.
