Article Post Robot Virus

[Neil S]

Hey all,

I just started using Article Post Robot and although I love the software my computer is just getting hammered by all the viruses from the various article directories. I am not sure when the infection occurs, whether when you register for the website, click the activation link, or when APR tries to post to the website. Either way my computer is taking a beating.

Does anyone who uses APR have a strategy that has allowed them to not become infected? I realize APR has a protection built in to detect virus sites but I feel like this not enough. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Neil

[Andrew Maule]

What are the "symptoms" of this "virus"?

[Neil S]

Getting pop ups to download fake anti spyware programs (XP Antivirus). Desktop hijacked, fake blue screen, browser hijack, ect.

[Andrew Maule]

Are you sure you got this from a directory or the software? If they are just pop ups it is not necessarily a virus that is on your computer.

[Sean Donahoe]

I have heard of issues about that from some clients using that system so I have steered clear of it. Personally I usually stick with just the top 10 directories as they have more traction with the search engines. However, if you need to really blast the articles out to many directories, I would recommend ArticleMarketer.com. Some of my clients have had great success with that system and achieved 1st page results on Google, MSN and Yahoo with the linkbacks.

[Neil S]

Originally Posted by mrsleep99

Are you sure you got this from a directory or the software? If they are just pop ups it is not necessarily a virus that is on your computer.

Oh yes I am certain. I have not gotten a virus in years. I used APR and as soon as I finished I started getting hit. Definitely not a coincidence. Like I said this is not an attack on APR I like the software but I need help protecting my computer.

[spudzz]

Hi Neil - that's not good and must be a real downer. It would certainly make me think twice about using it.

Having said that though I also have APR and have never had a problem, but then I only post to the top 25 directories. Are you posting to them all and do you have the latest version?

[tommygadget]

Actually, there were more directories on their list before I sent them a current list of sites with malware on them. I was running a firewall and ZoneAlarm Forcefield while APR was running so I was safe. If I were you, I would visit each site after installing the software above to determine which directories are safe to add to your list.

TomG.

[Neil S]

Originally Posted by tommygadget

Actually, there were more directories on their list before I sent them a current list of sites with malware on them. I was running a firewall and ZoneAlarm Forcefield while APR was running so I was safe. If I were you, I would visit each site after installing the software above to determine which directories are safe to add to your list.

TomG.

How do you determine if they are safe or not? I am not quite sure what method these websites are using to infect us.

[tommygadget]

Hello Neil,

When running these protective tools, visit the sites and you'll get script warning errors and you'll get notifications of unauthorized popups. Also, visit articledashboard.com and see what most of these sites should look like (since most of them run that script) and you'll quickly be able to spot the bad ones.

TomG.

[Amy Bass]

I have APR on my laptop, but mainly just stick to the high PR directories. I believe there has been an update that removed most if not all the bad directories.

[tommygadget]

Hi Amy, haven't seen you here in a while. How's your VRE doing?

TomG.

[Floyd Fisher]

Originally Posted by Neil S

Hey all,

I just started using Article Post Robot and although I love the software my computer is just getting hammered by all the viruses from the various article directories. I am not sure when the infection occurs, whether when you register for the website, click the activation link, or when APR tries to post to the website. Either way my computer is taking a beating.

Does anyone who uses APR have a strategy that has allowed them to not become infected? I realize APR has a protection built in to detect virus sites but I feel like this not enough. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Neil

Do you have an antivirus running on your machine?

That seems like the best method to me.

[Floyd Fisher]

Originally Posted by Neil S

Getting pop ups to download fake anti spyware programs (XP Antivirus). Desktop hijacked, fake blue screen, browser hijack, ect.

Here's some info on it. I don't think it's coming from your program:

XP Antivirus 2008 Removal Instructions (XP Antivirus 2008) - MS Windows Vista Compatible Software

[CalGolden]

Damn, Neil! Sorry to read about your problems with APR.

I have it on one of my machines but I have not used it in over a year or so. Like stated earlier, I just submit my articles to the top directories and avoid the "copycats".

It is a great idea to have anti-spyware and antivirus apps running while you do anything Internet related. You just cannot be too careful now a days. I ALWAYS have my computer protected to the nines.

One problem that I see with these article directory submission apps is that the creators get too overzealous in allowing any and every directory out there to be added without any way of weeding out or alarming the presence off any malware that may be lurching about. So I guess that it is the old adage of "buyer beware". Not a good thing, let me tell you.

But I must ask. Is having a link in all of those hundreds (thousands?) of directories even necessary? Stick to the big players ad you cannot go wrong.



Best,

Cal