Something on the boards is causing Java to load

[SunnyD]

Every day I log in to the boards, and every day within a few minutes of being on AT I notice Java loads. This is somewhat worrisome for me - thankfully antivirus hasn't caught anything yet. But if it's an AD that's causing Java to load, that's not cool.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Every day I log in to the boards, and every day within a few minutes of being on AT I notice Java loads. This is somewhat worrisome for me - thankfully antivirus hasn't caught anything yet. But if it's an AD that's causing Java to load, that's not cool.

That worries me as well. Thankfully I haven't needed to install java yet and hopefully never have to. I hate it. Hopefully we will soon find out why it loads.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Every day I log in to the boards, and every day within a few minutes of being on AT I notice Java loads. This is somewhat worrisome for me - thankfully antivirus hasn't caught anything yet. But if it's an AD that's causing Java to load, that's not cool.

Interesting. If you'd like to do a little fact-finding, you could install Microsoft Network Monitor 3.1 (free download from Microsoft.com), start a capture before logging onto the Forums, and keep any captures which overlap with those symptoms. If you get something interesting, save the capture file and email it to mechbgon gmail com.

Advertising networks are sometimes compromised by the bad guys. Tom's Hardware Guide got hit some time ago, and the Russian Business Network is reportedly making "badvertising" part of their portfolio of money-making schemes:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2216618,00.asp

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=3727


I wrote up some prevention info here for Windows users: http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html

 

[alm4rr]

glad to see someone already made a post about this.. it been happening since the beginning of the month as far as I can remember.......

it's definitely from an advertisement

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: alm4rr
glad to see someone already made a post about this.. it been happening since the beginning of the month as far as I can remember.......

it's definitely from an advertisement

If anyone notices this happening, and you're certain it was caused by the page you're currently viewing, please view the page's HTML source and PM it to me.

To view the page's source in FireFox, Ctrl U key combo or click View > Page Source.

To view the page's source in Internet Explorer, right-click in the page and choose View Source.

 

[SunnyD]

Bumping this up because it has started happening again. I'm noticing Java loading more often over the last about two weeks while exclusively on the AnandTech forums. I haven't pulled source yet.