PCMech won't load

[trulad]

I was using Avast free version. For the past 3 days it would not let me on the forums. It said Malware / trojen detected and shut down Internet Explorer. I turned off System Restore,had it scan my drives, same thing. I uninstalled it, installed AVG Free, no problems. Did a Malwarebytes scan, re-installed Avast, same thing. I could not get on PCMech. When I click on the "more information" tab it takes me to their site offering to sell me their paid version. I've lost all confidence in Avast. Too bad because I really liked it.

[Force Flow]

That and Norton have been throwing what looks like false positives. AVG hasn't caused a fuss.

I'd suggest sending in a report to avast about the false positive.

[trulad]

I did contact Avast and they replied that I should turn off System Restore,do a full scan and be sure I had the latest updates. I had done all that before I contacted them Bac to AVG.

[raftero]

i use Avast free and have had no problem, i noticed others on the forum are but PcMech is fine on my computer, wonder what the problem is. i use an intel asus p5kpl-cm MB ,e5200 2.5 processor and only have Avast on start up, ,use spyware blaster, cc cleaner, regscrub xp,and reg-supreme pro for security and reg.cleaner and the xp firewall, don't suppose that makes a difference but just for information and i am on dialup internet.

[Anomo]

I also use avast free and have had no such problems. I have a HP Pavillion 8510P with XP.

Other programs I use are advanced system care and Spybot - Search & Destroy.

[juppy]

One question for you guys that have Avast that AREN'T having the problem.....is your Avast program updated to the most recent one? Not the signatures, the program. Because when mine started doing it, I checked on my brother's computer and his program version was still at 5.0.462 and had no problems with PCMech. Updated his sigs, still no problem. Updated the program to 5.0.594, and it started going off about trojans and malware just like mine did. Oh, and raftero, I'm on dialup too.

[Anomo]

OOOOh, I'm somewhere between those two. 5.0.507 to be exact.

Edit:

Just updated engine & virus definitions and program to the latest versions.

VD: 100817-0
Program: 5.0.594

Surfed around on the forums and have not had any problems so far.

[raftero]

version 5.0.594 ,i did not choose to add any thing to the dl, silent gaming etc. dont know when i updated to this version but i check every sunday for updates on all my security software so i am sure it has been some time.

[juppy]

Well, bummer, apparently that's not it then. That's weird though, because that's the only thing I changed on my brother's computer when his started doing it.

[trulad]

This morning I checked the office computer at the Fire School and got the same message. I find it impossible that three computers develop the same problem in the same week,especially that they are not on the same network oe even the same internet provider. I e-mailed a nasty-gram to them accusing them of planting false virus iN order to sell their paid version. I deleted it out and am considering Misrosoft Security Essentials. I never had any trouble with that.

[EzyStvy]

Avira just went nuts on me for the second time this week when I entered the site.

Part of the attached screen shot shows I believe to be an ad for Tripple A.

Avira pops up the alert several times and then IE dies and closes...Then I can get back on the site OK.

[raftero]

i use firefox are all of you using IE , just a thought.

[EzyStvy]

IE7 on the machine mentioned above.

[raftero]

i just went to IE 7 and pcmech forum got the malware found that you have been talking about, went back to firefox and it worked fine, this seems to be a browser problem.

[EzyStvy]

Which AV are you using

Do you think IE is finding false positives or that FF isn't finding anything and should (sorry - can't help myself sometimes)

[trulad]

I'm using IE 8. Since dumping Avast I have no problems. AVG worked OK and MS Security Essentials works good also.

[raftero]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy Which AV are you using Do you think IE is finding false positives or that FF isn't finding anything and should (sorry - can't help myself sometimes)

dont know about FF"finding but i still am able to use the mech LOL
using Avast AV.

[glc]

The top and bottom banner ads appear to be Flash ads.

I would be VERY interested to see if any Premium members or members with adblocking or Flash blocking software are having the same issues. I personally run AVG, which hasn't been hitting on anything, even if I use a different browser and don't log in to nuke the ads. Drisley is swearing up and down that there's no malware on the forums.

[juppy]

I don't think it's a browser problem because that's the first thing I tried when I got hit with this and Firefox is no different on my machine. Don't think it's anything to do with what version of IE you're using either, because I was using IE7 and the old Maxthon when I first got hit, tried Firefox, same thing.....got tired of the old Maxthon (because it reset to defaults again....GRRR!) so I updated to the new Maxthon2 which allowed me to finally use IE8 (IE8 wouldn't work with the old Maxthon). Still same problem.

As for G's idea of it being flash, I don't know. I disabled Flash in my browser and it still has the same malware warnings. I used the Ad Hunter in Maxthon2 to block that media bar thing at the bottom, thinking that may be it, but still the same problem.

[drisley]

Hey guys,
I just removed the Wibiya toolbar. Let me know if that solves the issue for you. That's the only new thing which has been introduced to the boards. The Google ads were being used on the old layout, too, so that's nothing new.

[trulad]

I just re-installed Avast to give it one more try. Same thing. False positives again. It will be hard to convince me that they are not using this to sell the paid version. Why else when you click on the "more Information" link under the virus warning would it take you to their page for the paid version?

[Statica]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it as a false positive ... Am getting a similar report with avg (recorded in the gd thread) and I'm not taking any chances.

[oryx]

I use Avast. I don't get the warning in Firefox (which I normally use), but do in Internet Explore. The message states in part:

Object: http://www.pcmech.com/forum/|>{gzip}
Infection: HTML:Iframe-inf
Action: Connection aborted
Process: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

Hope that helps

[juppy]

Originally Posted by trulad It will be hard to convince me that they are not using this to sell the paid version. Why else when you click on the "more Information" link under the virus warning would it take you to their page for the paid version?

Not trying to argue with you, but I don't think they're trying to get you to buy their paid version. For one, this is the only site that Avast screams about on my computer, and two, it only started happening *after* the new layout went into effect. I would think if they were trying to sell their paid version, they'd make it happen on more than just one site and not timed perfectly with the rollout of a new layout.

Plus, on mine, the "more information" button doesn't take me anywhere! I was wondering the other day where that actually went and if anyone else got more info by using it, because when I click it, it just sits there doing nothing.

Since updating Java the other day, now I've got two warnings popping up on it too, asking if I want to block certain parts of the page. It lists one as gogol and the other as MyFamile (I think that's the spelling). Dunno what's going on there either.

[quartet-man]

I use Avast and have not had these problems. I have had here or somewhere when leaving here come up trying to update my flash. I thought I did the first time, but it tried last night (winpatrol catches it and tells me the run once is trying to happen). I scanned with Malwarebytes and it found nothing, Hope I am not infected. I have had some issues with wrong fonts at times when typing (NO I am not typing the wrong keys) on both the wireless keyboard and netbook one. ) I have also had where if my computer goes into sleep mode my password will not work to sign back in until I reboot. Not sure if this is back to the wrong characters being typed (probably not in this case) or the fact I never set up my computer for facial recognition (but this hasn't been a problem until real recently.) The window comes up and I have always closed it.