Another mystery

[BeeE586]

When I switched off AOL a couple of evening ago I got a message informing me that there were 687 items of "a pornographic or sensitive nature" on my computer. I clicked the button for 'more details' - not available; then for 'erase' and was invited to download a programe, which I did not do.

I have Anti virus protection, Firewall, Adware, Spyware and regularly run the AOL Computer checkup, and never download anything about which I am uncertain.

I ran Firewall, Anti virus and computer checkup - nothing dodgy found. Is this another phish or scam, and has anyone experienced anything similar ?

I do not want pornography on my machine, and if it is there - how do I get rid of it ?

As always, any comment or advice will be much appreciated.

Eileen

[Dennis Harker]

This sounds like the sort of scam that often tries to tell you that you have spyware on your PC and that they will sell you a program to get rid of it. Linking to their site usually downloads all sorts of nasties.

My guess, from the protection you have, is that you don't have any images on your PC and that this is a scam trying to get you to go to their website.

You did right by not falling for it and I wouldn't worry about there being anything untoward on your computer.

[Rod Neep]

Define "switched off AOL".

Closed an email?
Closed the AOL mail program?

[susan-w]

I agree with Dennis.

Maybe it was a popup (if you haven't disabled them) that you only saw when you closed the other windows.

What sites were you visiting? Maybe it was from one of those? (I visited a legitimate genealogy site the other day, and I got a different-but-similar weird message from the site)

Cheers
Sue

[MarkJ]

When I switched off AOL a couple of evening ago I got a message informing me that there were 687 items of "a pornographic or sensitive nature" on my computer. I clicked the button for 'more details' - not available; then for 'erase' and was invited to download a programe, which I did not do.

Sensible choice! Sounds very much like a scam to me. Pop ups loading from websites claiming that a computer has problems or is vulnerable to various problems are quite common. I would simply ignore it.

I have Anti virus protection, Firewall, Adware, Spyware and regularly run the AOL Computer checkup, and never download anything about which I am uncertain.

I ran Firewall, Anti virus and computer checkup - nothing dodgy found. Is this another phish or scam, and has anyone experienced anything similar ?

I do not want pornography on my machine, and if it is there - how do I get rid of it ?

As always, any comment or advice will be much appreciated.

Eileen

The programs you run to protect your system are perfect to keep you clear.
It was nothing more than a pop under scam, loaded by a website, probably exposed to your view when you logged off your browser.
I occasionally see similar things if I turn off the various blocking tools I use to prevent junk - they claim I need to optimise my system, or that I am vulnerable to this or that - but I don't actually run the operating system which these problems, or their alleged fixes, mention!
Ignore it Eileen - you have done the correct things (scanning your system etc). I know these things can play on peoples minds, but I promise that it was nothing other than a dodgy scam attempt loaded by a website.

Mark

Edit: The very next message I looked at on the forum was this one -

https://www.british-genealogy.com/for...ad.php?t=18177

Was the site mentioned one of those you visited Eileen?

[BeeE586]

Thank you all for your comments. I am gradually becoming more wary of these things with experience, and with help from you.

As far as I remember, I had read and deleted some e-mails from Family Search members - nothing downloaded; looked at GenesReunited and sent a message to a possible connection, and the Forum. I played a couple of online games - again, nothing dowloaded, closed down the AOL programme, and got the closing message. There was also a popup congratulating me on winning something or other which I immediately deleted.

Today when I switched on I found I had lost my stored Favourites, which was a bit of a blow but easily restored. The list had got a bit overloaded and was due for a clear out anyway.

Your reassurance is comforting; my 13 year old grand-daughter does very occasionally use my machine if she is visiting and I would not like her to stumble upon anything untoward and it would be difficult to set Parental Controls.

Eileen

[busyglen]

Eileen,

A long while ago, I had the same sort of thing show up when logging off of AOL. It was before I found out how to disable pop-ups. The actual message came up at the `back' of the current window, after I had looked at a particular site and because I hadn't rejected it, it stayed there until I logged out and saw it. It was also connected to a pop-up congratulating me on winning something. Once I had disabled pop-ups, I have never seen a similar screen since.

As has been said by the others, don't worry about it, you have the necessary protection.

May I offer a word of warning though? Be careful when down-loading games, music etc. unless you know it is a reputable site, as these can often carry a `nasty'.

Glenys

[Rod Neep]

I played a couple of online games - again, nothing dowloaded, Eileen

Ah! There's the culprit! Online games. You don't have to download anything to get what you saw. It is simply sent to your computer from sites such as that. And some of them can indeed do nasty things such as resetting your default home page or messing with your favourites without you knowing.

Turning off popup windows is a very good idea.
BUT, some sites legitimately use popups when you click a link, and you may have to hold down the CTRL key when you click the link, otherwise, the link won't open.

Rod

[Dennis Harker]

Agree with Rod - online games. May sound and seem innocent but they often disguise nasties.

[Dennis Harker]

I would also gently query what the 13 year old does on the PC.


I have just helped to clean out a friend's family PC because it was clogged with spyware and running very slowly. There didn't seem to be any real reason for the spyware as he had all the necessary anti programs loading and running realtime protection. However, discovered his daughter (about the same age) had installed Limewire filesharing and had downloaded any number of files. Such file sharing programs harbour all sorts of nasties and they are often downloaded under music filenames etc.

It was a shock to him because he hadn't realised his daughter was doing this nor had he expected her to.