Imageshack hosting -- adware, spyware, malware?
Josh86
Join Date: 2010-12-06 Member: 75513Members
Join Date: 2010-12-06 Member: 75513Members
I've noticed a lot of you post screenshots or images that are hosted on imageshack. I sometimes forget before I click and regret, but, has anyone else ever noticed the adware pop-ups that almost always seem to happen? I hate that crap and always end the process rather than click anything, just to be sure. I know imageshack had problems years ago with this kind of stuff and I was just wondering if you guys just deal with it or what (maybe you all run pop-up blocker plug-ins). If it's not me -- ever considered using a different hosting website for your images?
<i>edit: It seems like some images are ok...direct links to larger full view images have no issues. I've clicked smaller thumbnail images that users have embedded and the links take me to the imageshack page, where the pop-ups happen.</i>
I'm pretty sure I don't have *ware on my laptop. I try to run a lean machine and visit few websites. I'm very memory/process conscious -- I also use Spybot, Malwarebytes, and we have software on our machines via work.
Aside: Anyone else, like me, run Internet Explorer mostly now? I always used Firefox until Explorer caught up...now it seems like Firefox is the one that crashes more :P. I haven't noticed if Imageshack gives me pop-ups with Firefox.
<i>edit: It seems like some images are ok...direct links to larger full view images have no issues. I've clicked smaller thumbnail images that users have embedded and the links take me to the imageshack page, where the pop-ups happen.</i>
I'm pretty sure I don't have *ware on my laptop. I try to run a lean machine and visit few websites. I'm very memory/process conscious -- I also use Spybot, Malwarebytes, and we have software on our machines via work.
Aside: Anyone else, like me, run Internet Explorer mostly now? I always used Firefox until Explorer caught up...now it seems like Firefox is the one that crashes more :P. I haven't noticed if Imageshack gives me pop-ups with Firefox.
Comments
<!--quoteo(post=1835687:date=Mar 2 2011, 11:39 PM:name=Alpha.)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Alpha. @ Mar 2 2011, 11:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1835687"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->IE is still the slowest<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Not true at all. IE loads pages considerably faster than Firefox on all my PCs, especially images.
I only use FF because of Adblock. :P
Oh god yes.
Internet Explorer is still absolutely ######. It's an abomination, I use Chrome because so far it's the only one hackers were unable to break into.
I don't have any issues with the newer versions of IE. My past browser problems only stemmed from things like flash/javascript errors or hangups in the process -- which some of the time isn't the browser's fault...but the software/code trying to run on it. Things like adware, spyware, etc...while browser configurations or they way they are programmed can make them susceptible -- it's really dependent on how well you code your page, who your host is, and what measures they offer for security.
All browsers are susceptible toward something malicious, Chrome is relatively new -- give it time, but for your browser to get corrupted or "hacked" as said -- you must have exposed yourself to that malicious code (whether its leaving ports open, not taking proper security precautions, or getting *ware from somewhere).
Places that often offer free file hosting like imageshack make money through advertising, I'm sure -- the admins of such websites may be no more than a small group of people (or even one!) that pay a host and buy storage space. Some advertising is bad...it's important that hosts are told that malicious advertising is present on one of the websites they serve. Imageshack <b>appears</b> to be more than a small outfit, they probably have their own servers, but that doesn't mean the advertising they allow on their page is policed very well. Like I said, it appears that thumbnail links embedded here to user's galleries result in pop-ups. I know this was a problem in the past, as well. It's not their fault, but they need to do a better job filtering out malicious advertising.
I know if I were looking to get malicious advertising out there, I would go to websites that host media content, social networking sites, porn sites, etc...these are places that are frequently visited. Some places just do a better job keeping the advertising safe and clean for users like you and me.
You answered your own question in the OP. You're having problems because you use IE. Even though the problem is caused by software/code, the real issue is that your browser (IE) ALLOWS that software/code to be executed, whereas better browsers don't allow it, and therefore people not using IE have no problem.
This isn't entirely true. I've gotten similar warnings from Imageshack while on firefox. No browser keeps you 100% safe, and even if yours IS really cool, why would you go to a risky website?
photobucket ftw
(use chrome)
anyway btt.
The best way to use imageshack is to use the direct link to the picture, as OP said.
(Firefox ftw)
You mean Opera ftw, right? :]
Imageshack, Imagehost, Imagemakesmeangry, the name doesn't matter, they all suck. Imgur is pretty good. I personally like dropbox because I can host more than just pictures there. Photobucket is ok, but if I'm posting pictures its because I want a clean, direct link to it, not to some random gallery with junk.
o, wait
They only let you see the direct link if you register, however if you just right click the picture, copy the link, paste it into a new tab, then right click copy the link, you have the direct link to the image.
Magicshack ; )
They only let you see the direct link if you register, however if you just right click the picture, copy the link, paste it into a new tab, then right click copy the link, you have the direct link to the image.
Magicshack ; )<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
isn't that common knowledge