Warning about ImageShack links

[Retro00064]

While I do know that this forum is for Trainz screenshots, and not usually any thing else, the widespread use of ImageShack.us to host screenshots for posting here makes this appear to be the best place to post this warning.

While replying to an other thread, I just visited one of my saved ImageShack images through my Favorites list in Internet Explorer, one that I have visited here in the recent past with no problems, as I was going to show it in my reply. However, this time, it redirected to a webpage with a bogus information message that popped up that said that AVG has found something wrong and was going to do some stuff on my PC. However, the poor grammer in the message (e.g. "PC" was shown as "pc") makes it quite obvious that it was a virus (or some other malware) trying to compromise my computer, as well as the fact that the dialog only had an OK button. I quickly used the emergency shutdown feature of my computer (holding down the power button for several seconds) to shut down my computer without letting the malware get in to my computer. All seems well now (hopefully ). Wheew!

So, therefore, I am posting this as a warning to every one that they should avoid clicking any links to ImageShack if possible, or at least proceed with extreme caution. I had first heard of something similar to this in an other thread in a different section of the forums (which I do not remember the name thereof), but this is a better place to let people know of the danger.

Regards.

 

[clam1952]

While I do know that this forum is for Trainz screenshots, and not usually any thing else, the widespread use of ImageShack.us to host screenshots for posting here makes this appear to be the best place to post this warning.

While replying to an other thread, I just visited one of my saved ImageShack images through my Favorites list in Internet Explorer, one that I have visited here in the recent past with no problems, as I was going to show it in my reply. However, this time, it redirected to a webpage with a bogus information message that popped up that said that AVG has found something wrong and was going to do some stuff on my PC. However, the poor grammer in the message (e.g. "PC" was shown as "pc") makes it quite obvious that it was a virus (or some other malware) trying to compromise my computer, as well as the fact that the dialog only had an OK button. I quickly used the emergency shutdown feature of my computer (holding down the power button for several seconds) to shut down my computer without letting the malware get in to my computer. All seems well now (hopefully ). Wheew!

So, therefore, I am posting this as a warning to every one that they should avoid clicking any links to ImageShack if possible, or at least proceed with extreme caution. I had first heard of something similar to this in an other thread in a different section of the forums (which I do not remember the name thereof), but this is a better place to let people know of the danger.

Regards.

Not again......
Last couple of times it was a server side malware attack that randomly effects 1 in every so many visits to the site, it was actually on the Advertising Server so not every one was affected by it. Image Shack removed the problem as soon as they were informed. Last time it was something called Win Antivirus or something like that. Think they need to check their Ad sponsors a bit more carefully. Time for a move I think.

 

[HiBaller]

That has happened to me a couple of times also. My Avast! suite has a 'web scanner' that constantly looks along projected paths and informs me if it finds anything sneaky. All I got was the warning, not the malware.

Bill

 

[StorkNest]

Another reason....

Never heard of this but I believe this makes up my mind.

For some time I have thought of finding someplace else to host pictures. I had tried a Microsoft Live site but when they moved other parts of Live like blogs to WordPress, I pulled the pictues there to seeing no point (they were part of the blog and that was gone).

I tried uploading some non-Trainz pictures to Imageshack and it took forever.

Now this problem, the uplaoding and the occasional problem with pictures on Imageshack, I need a better image host.

 

[PerRock]

I've never had any problems with photobucket... I tend to always have issues with imageshak.

peter

 

[torino72]

Thanks for posting this. Same thing happened to me tonight. I had clicked on a JPG thumbnail linked to Imageshack in one of the Freeware Announcement posts and I got the same AVG alert wanting me to start something that would remove several viruses it was listing. While I was looking at the message, my on-board firewall/virus program kicked in and displayed a message that it was blocking several files suspected of containg malware or viruses.

 

[Euphod]

Quite a long time agao, I used a photo hosting site (forget the name), and linked to some screenshots for this forum. To my horror I discovered that the links the site displayed in browser were for porn. AJ Fox discovered this as well and let me know about it just as I was tending to the problem.
Maybe it's just me, but porn and Trains do not mix...

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Coincidentally, or otherwise, I got an unwanted link to a dating site last night whilst browsing the forum. I couldn't get out of the offending page without using the three fingered salute (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) and killing it in Task Manager.

Imageshack do respond quite quickly in my experience - I've emailed them in the past to restore some broken image links. I've emailed them five minutes ago regarding the current problem and hope to get some reassurance that they are aware and have fixed the problem.

I don't really want to change. I guess the same problem could infect any host site.

Casper

 

[jadebullet]

My suggestion is to use www.hostthenpost.org It is the best hosting that I have ever used.

 

[BobCass]

Hi All: I to have had aproblem recently about a advertisement another security company..I could not get rid of it and had to do back dating and system restore..That does not effect any your other assets..

 

[jeffmorris]

Thanks for posting this. Same thing happened to me tonight. I had clicked on a JPG thumbnail linked to Imageshack in one of the Freeware Announcement posts and I got the same AVG alert wanting me to start something that would remove several viruses it was listing. While I was looking at the message, my on-board firewall/virus program kicked in and displayed a message that it was blocking several files suspected of containg malware or viruses.

Same thing happened to me while using computers at the program for mentally handicapped people.

 

[H222]

JB is correct, hostthenpost is probably the best possible

Jamie

 

[JimDep]

No problems with Image Shack.

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Jim,

Have you tried any uploads today, and do you have a size problem? (!)

I can upload, large (I usually use 1378x861), but the size seems to be reduced for storage at Imageshack and will only share at 800x500.

At least one other member has commented, (at the end of the Nature screenshot thread).

Anyone else?

Casper

 

[mezzoprezzo]

I’ve just noticed that the default image size in the Imageshack Media Upload window had changed to the smaller sized image.

Clicking on “Upload Options/Resizing >>” allows you to reset the default to any other chosen size, or “Do not resize”.

It's now working OK for me now.

Looks like it might be fixed.

Casper

 

[JimDep]

Casper, I'll go into Image Shack and follow the same procedure you did. If I have different results, I'll post back here.

 

[Retro00064]

I’ve just noticed that the default image size in the Imageshack Media Upload window had changed to the smaller sized image.

Clicking on “Upload Options/Resizing >>” allows you to reset the default to any other chosen size, or “Do not resize”.

It's now working OK for me now.

Looks like it might be fixed.

Casper

Yes, you have to make sure that that setting is set to "Do not resize", to make sure that your image(s) will be at the original size. Once you upload with this setting (and/or any other settings) once, ImageShack should remember them and have them already set by default the next time that you go there to upload.

Regards.

 

[tmz06003]

I had the same virus problem with Imageshack last year when attempting to upload a screenshot, and would never use them again. The antivirus message appeared and I didn't even acknowledge it, then the message disappeared itself.

I realised something was wrong shortly afterwards and did numerous system restores but couldn't wipe the virus, which it sailed straight through my up-to-date virus checker by a very well known company.

In the end I re-installed Windows and that got rid of it.

Photobucket seems much more secure as you access your own account to upload pictures.

I wonder how many others on here got hit by that one.

 

[clam1952]

Oddly enough there are forums that block photobucket because of excessive use of tracking cookies......... You can probably find a reason somewhere on the web not to use any of them I suspect.

You access your own account on image shack as well, if you have set one up that is of course, to me they seem about the same apart from the malware problem on Image shack and the Cookies on Photobucket, going to end up with dozens of image sites at this rate. :hehe:

Not actually affected anything here yet but I'm pretty much locked down as far as popups, adverts and malware are concerned.

 

[Retro00064]

The last virus that I had caused blue-screens very frequently. The program that is recommended to take care of it is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. However, nope, it did not chuck the virus. An other option was a tool called ComboFix, which worked and wiped the virus off of my system. :Y: I was lucky then, and I was lucky more recently that I used the emergency (immediate) shutdown feature of my computer just in time, before the virus had a chance to eat my computer. :Y:

Possibly one option is Flickr, many images from which are uploaded to the Wikimedia Commons, if they are licensed under free licenses.

Regards.