Recently started getting ads for free e-cigs that direct to ECF...

[Plumes.91]

Im starting to see ads and bannors for "free e-cigs" that are directing to e-cigarette-forum. I believe its a virus that I downloaded looking at porn. Anyone else having this problem? I know Ive seen a couple newbies posting their introduction asking for the free e-cig that comes with registering for ECF forum. Ive seen a couple of them now. Im wondering if they iht have the same ads that Im now getting. Is this coming from ECF, or is this a virus? Any1 gotta clue?

 

[sonicdsl]

NOT coming from ECF. Sounds like you have some malware.

 

[retired1]

Im starting to see ads and bannors for "free e-cigs" that are directing to e-cigarette-forum. I believe its a virus that I downloaded looking at porn. Anyone else having this problem? I know Ive seen a couple newbies posting their introduction asking for the free e-cig that comes with registering for ECF forum. Ive seen a couple of them now. Im wondering if they iht have the same ads that Im now getting. Is this coming from ECF, or is this a virus? Any1 gotta clue?

Received my first spam email dealing with e-cigs about a week ago. It pointed to a site I was not familiar with and common sense dictated that I probably shouldn't even go to the site.

If you think you have malware, download and do a full scan with Malwarebytes. (You can get it from here.)

 

[oldbikeguy]

I use Avast and a few picks from mozilla no problem here but have seen some in my junk mail I just hit delete.

 

[retired1]

I use Avast and a few picks from mozilla no problem here but have seen some in my junk mail I just hit delete.

The free version of Malwarebytes is meant to be used as a standalone scanner. It's not an "always on" anti-virus program like Avast, Kaspersky, etc. It's very, very good and often finds things that the other products miss. A must have in your security tool box IMO.

 

[Tintreach]

Did you contact Kevin at Free E-cigs? He might have just messed up something in the mailing list. I don't see much malicious about it redirecting back to the forums just sounds like some thing got nerfed in the mailing. If it was redirecting you back to some other weird site then it might raise the eyebrow more.

 

[Tintreach]

Oh and what browser are you using???? Really sounds like a browsing cookie in conjunction with google marketing.

 

[bunnomatic]

Im starting to see ads and bannors for "free e-cigs" that are directing to e-cigarette-forum. I believe its a virus that I downloaded

looking at porn

. Anyone else having this problem? I know Ive seen a couple newbies posting their introduction asking for the free e-cig that comes with registering for ECF forum. Ive seen a couple of them now. Im wondering if they iht have the same ads that Im now getting. Is this coming from ECF, or is this a virus? Any1 gotta clue?

Never try to download free porn!

 

[BostonVape]

seems like the real issue is needing some safer porn sites?

 

[bunnomatic]

Is what coming from ECF? The porn or the virus? lol My money is on the .........

 

[oldsoldier]

Since ECF doesn't sell e-cigarettes I think it is prudent to assume that this is a malware related issue and those affected should scan their systems and look for rogue browser extensions.

It is also entirely possible that there is a misconfiguration in someones ad serving software, but running a (actually several is best ) malware scan and checking your system is always a good thing -- and this is as good an excuse as any to do so.

ECF doesn't do pop up ads on the site and we definitely do not have an ad campaign going that involves free e-cigs .

 

[Plumes.91]

Yes this is not from an e-mail. I have been using computers all of my life and I spent a year in a technical highschool learning all about internet networking and virus protection and the like. This is a pop-up ad that shows up on the right-hand corner of my screen. It lists 10 or so links, all with e-cig related titles. It has a blue T at the top left hand corner and I did click this blue T because I wanted to get to the bottom of what malware I had downloaded. Turns out, it is a program that has downloaded itself onto my computer. I believe that it is called something along the lines of "Yoohoo" and I think I got it from downloading from rapidshare or a torrent website. This is apparently an ad-based browser ad-on type malware program. What is weird, is it does not pop up when I am browsing facebook. So far, I think it is only popping up when browsing through ECF. Prior to this pop-up, I was getting pop-up ads directing me to E-Cigarette-Forum for my "Free e-cigarette" I am wondering how this program figured out that I am indeed a big e-cigarette enthusiast. lol. Weird. I guess its streaming sites for me! No more botched torrent DLs