HotHardware May Harm Your Computer!? (Issue Resolved)

Take a look at this warning generated by Google Chrome when I recently attempted to visit the HotHardware website. This is the only time I have ever seen this warning, and later visits to HotHardware connected normally with no warnings. Very strange. Has anyone here had a similar experience with Chrome and HotHardware?

I saw that once. A fake steam website I used to test that feature. Wonder if there is someone we can talk to about this. If I saw this warning on a site I would turn away from said site.

Not sure what the deal is, but we'll definitely look into it!

I think I got that when I first used chrome

That's strange. I use McAfee Site Advisor on FF3 and it rates HH as green, and only links HH to green sites.

I got the same warning yesterday for the first time from Avast.

Possibly the link came from one of the advert frames?

The site was definitely serving up malware, at least briefly, possibly through an ad as previously mentioned.  Here's what you got in IE 8 RC1:

The Remote Data Services (RDS) ActiveX control is a common vector for malware.

Here's what you got in Chrome:

There was also someone who pointed this out on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/peterkay/statuses/1153810864

The HotHardware story was linked to by a large number of high-volume sites.  I wonder what percentage of viewers got nailed by this malware.

Hi Felix,

We became aware of an exploit via one of our ad partners and removed the threat immediately as soon as we found out.   It will not return ever, I can assure you . 

Thanks for the heads-up, all.

Sincerely,

Dave Altavilla
Editor In Chief
HotHardware.com

yeah i'v got that a couple of times, does it on isohunt sometimes too, could just be google chrome =\

I'll be deleting this thread in the next day or so.  Bad mojo... Regardless, the security hole we had exposed is now gone and the site is completely uncompromised.  Sorry dudes... I guess when you get a little bigger you become a target.  Not anymore though. 

Thanks

Please don't delete this thread, Dave. The site was compromised and now it is not...nothing bad about that. I appreciate your transparency in this matter, and the fact that you have explained the situation. No site is invulnerable, not even a hardware website. If this thread is deleted there will be readers that will wonder what happened...I guarantee it. An honest explanation trumps bad mojo any day!

Please don't delete the thread, Dave.  I think it shows that you guys listen to your audience and take action in a positive manner.

At worst, rename the thread as "[Solved]..."  :)

Super Dave:

Please don't delete this thread, Dave. The site was compromised and now it is not...nothing bad about that. I appreciate your transparency in this matter, and the fact that you have explained the situation. No site is invulnerable, not even a hardware website. If this thread is deleted there will be readers that will wonder what happened...I guarantee it. An honest explanation trumps bad mojo any day!

OK, OK.... The community has spoken and that is what they shall get.  This lousy thread will live on. 

lol. good man. I know everytime you see this thread it probably erks your nerves since you guys take so much pride in this place. the fact that your willing to keep it going speaks alot about ya'lls commitment to the members and their requests. Ya'll never cease to amaze me!

Thank you, Dave.

i never had any problems like that... though lately i havent really had much free time :-( , glad to see its all gone, and hothwardware always listens to its audience :-), now if only the senate was like this.... 

I saw some threads elsewhere which folks were saying the Google itself was a site that was being reported to not be safe by Google. Probably some sort of hack. Damn funny that it happened with Google's own pages too though.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/this-site-may-harm-your-computer-on.html

Sorry for adding to this thread Dave but I too wanted to thank you for leaving the information up as it does show openess, a willingness to listen to your readers, and the ability to respond to issues quickly.  It is also good as someone is bound to read something somewhere and bring the topic up again at a future date and maybe this will avoid the issue altogether.  By the way as long as I have your ear HH's RSS feeds are the absolute best and yours is one on-line publication I can honestly say I never miss a day without checking out. I have more than once made purchases based on seeing items for the first time in HH. 

Sorry for straying off topic and this can be deleted per the rules obviously.