Kitz Forum
Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: tuftedduck on November 05, 2008, 02:43:18 PM
-
Whilst reading my e-newspaper just now, this wee green box popped up.
Is this genuine or a nasty would you think ?
(https://forum.kitz.co.uk/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi100.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm34%2Fbunessan%2Fnewshack.jpg&hash=c2c0321558831b418fb8d000c5ff9574fdddc063)
-
If in doubt, leave well alone
-
TD, I've just been reading the Independent On-line and had the very same box pop up .... I just clicked the X :) Strange thing is it says UK Internet User Monitor ... I'm not in the UK and neither is the Independent on-line, it's in the Netherlands ???
-
Yes, it is a nasty without doubt.
I don't even click on the shut down X after having read some time ago that that click can sometimes invite as much trouble as clicking the link in the middle of the text.
If such a box opens up, I usually just go back to my homepage and try again later...........but in this case it is still there. :'(
Here I am trying to read about world shattering events such as the closure of a brewery :cry2: and cant see the juicy bits for a silly green box blocking my view. >:(
-
TD,
It is more than likely genuine and not a threat but you were right to query it and close the popup.
This is Forrester's site:
http://www.forrester.com/Products/MarketResearch/Consumer/UKIUM
They do a lot of 'customer research', but in todays climate of trojans and viruses, you would think that they would come up with a better idea for asking people to take part, rather than slamming a popup in their face.
dave
-
I don't even click on the shut down X after having read some time ago that that click can sometimes invite as much trouble as clicking the link in the middle of the text.
:o :o Oh lawdy lawdy I hope I don't get more strange messages !! :D
-
Yes, it is a nasty without doubt.
You're almost certainly 100% wrong there. 8)
It's probably genuine, but if in doubt or not interested then ignore it.
If you've got decent protection on your PC you should be fine anyway.
-
Dave, thank you for the explanation.
As you say, we are all warned off pop-ups and told time and again never never click on a link that we don't recognise or are suspicious of, and yet this company are spending their time putting up something that looks so suspicious that the wary are simply going to turn away from it
Scottiesmum, don't worry.............there is no more room on your PC for more strange messages, your hard drive is already chock-a-block with them. :lol:
-
:lol:
-
Just been onto Forrester's site and in the contact page, it is a major problem just trying to send them a message.
You are supposed to be a company so they want all the tripe of Company Name, Your position and job title etc etc.
This is what I have sent them:
The popup that is appearing on peoples screens asking if they would take part in the above survey is causing concern amongst internet users.
We are receiving questions as to whether it is a virus or trojan on our forum:
http://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php?topic=3433.0
Perhaps you should rethink how you present the request for information so that you do not alarm people. They may then be willing to take part in your questionaires.
Dave m
ps. Having had to complete the list of information below, most of it does not apply to me as I am an individual not a company, so please ignore the info below, I had to complete something to get your computer to take my message.
Will post back any reply I receive.
dave
I will not disclose what I completed in the company name etc boxes. But you may see me as one of the Dragons in the Dragons Den next series. :lol:
-
No its not malware.
TBH this seems a current trend of late for large sites to undertake surveys to get demographic details of the users that read their pages. Over the past few weeks or so I seem to have been presented with many similar types of messages.. including M$, PC world, checking my vodafone bill and even BT, but theres also been several more.
The companies used by sites to gather the information can vary and there are a few big players in the industry. Whether or not I do them depends on the time involved, if I can be bothered, how much I trust the site asking for the info... and finally if theres anything in it for me. For eg Vodafone gave me £5 for completing the one I did on their site via ICM research.
If I cant be bothered or dont trust the site I just close the box.
This type of research can either be for getting information about their customers to see which type of users they attract.. or it may be asking for feedback on how the site may be improved.
-
If they referred to the actual site that you are visiting it wouldn't be so bad.
I sometimes get one when I am on the HP Printer site but it is worded from HP and so you know what it is all about before clicking.
dave
-
Yes I totally understand where you're coming from. That Box does nothing to imply that its an official survey conducted for the times. :/
They've used a bog standard box that they probably use for all their surveys - it would be so much better if they had made a very slight tweak to say "The Timesonline is taking part" rather than the generic "this site".
That way it would be clearer that it was coming from and authorised by the site you are visiting - rather than looking like a pop-up that could have appeared from anywhere.
-
Sometimes it's possible to close the window from the "Information bar" the one that's "usually" on the bottom of the PC with the clock on it.
Normally if it's set to be hidden then we don't always notice it, but if it is there, Right click and select close Close.
-
If in any doubt:
1. Kill it with Task Manager, or
2. Pull the power lead out.
-
2. Pull the power lead out.
Under no circumstances ever do that whilst the PC is working, not unless you want to risk turning your tower unit into toast.
As for the original point in this thread, I'm pretty sure that anything like that is likely to be kosher when it happens on a reputable site such as the times online. However, with all the rogue scanners out there we've all learned to be ultra cautious with stuff like that, so instinct should tell you to ignore them. As a general rule I never pursue anything like that, I just click the cancel and mutter the odd rude word to myself.
-
2. Pull the power lead out.
Under no circumstances ever do that whilst the PC is working, not unless you want to risk turning your tower unit into toast.
Come on, modern power supplies are better than that. ;)
-
That's not the point. I don't want potentially disastrous advice being propagated on a well respected technical advice forum.
Mods, please correct me if I'm wrong.
-
Floydy, you are right, it's not recommended. But mainly for the sake of the integrity of data on the disk, it would be very unlikely this would physically damage any hardware inside the computer. Modern hard drives are less susceptible to head crashes nowadays, and NTFS is actually a pretty robust filesystem and rarely gets trashed of its own accord!
To be honest, I'd say it's a safe bet that there are countless computers in the world that get switched off every single day, several times a day, in this way.
I have personally witnessed too many people clicking Shut Down, then turning off the power immediately without waiting for the computer to switch itself off!
But no, it's not the recommended course of action especially if you simply happen to bump into a popup window you don't like!!
-
>> Pull the power lead out.
Actually there is a BIG difference from simply switching off the PC rather than "Pulling the power lead out."
Switching off the PC is/will give a clean break of the contacts terminals whereas pulling the plug may not.
Think about it, how many time have you plugged or unplugged something and heard that little "crack" ?
-
Yes, fair point OF, and something I didn't think about... although probably this is more likely when plugging something in due to the fact people tend to unplug things a lot quicker than they plug them in.
So whilst not recommended, I presume it's still unlikely to permanently damage the PSU, isn't it? But I'm not an electronics expert, so am not really sure just how damaging this could be!
-
Oh dear, you do all take things too seriously/literally don't you. ;)
It's a balance of risks/probabilities isn't it?
Most PC's have "soft" off switches, so if something is looking dangerous (e.g. one of those web pages that spawns at an uncontrollable rate) you need to be decisive and they most definitely aren't.
Switch off at the mains, or if (as if often the case) the switch isn't easily accessible, pull the mains lead out.
Use common sense (and don't take yourself too seriously). :P
-
Lol... I am fully aware your original comment was intended flippantly ... Floydy's comment just spurred me into thinking way too deeply about it :D
I'm sad like that :P
-
HP,
The main problem is, if it was in the Joke section then probably we would all be saying the same.
The only problem I see is because it's between a members question, and should anyone be silly enough not to read the whole post and stop when they reached that point they may think it's ok to do that.
There again, they would then not be reading this bit. :lol:
My point being, when a break occurs, if it's not a clean break, then there's the possibility of a "spike" being sent around the system. :comp:
-
I took it as being a joke :P
-
All PC hardware should be tolerant of a break in the mains feed otherwise failures during electrical storms would be much more common. And pulling the plug out just simulates a mains loss. If you need to switch off quicker than the "soft off" from the "On" button that's what you would do. You would be unlucky if a disk write was occurring at the same time but it could happen. As has already been suggested you have to make a judgement at the time.
Tony
-
Just leave the thing on .. save all that pressing of buttons ;D AND at least I wouldn't get my infernal 'turn off to install important updates' message :lol:
-
I was just worried that a novice reading that could be mislead... after all (as I understand it) people come to this forum for good advice.
-
It may have been flippant and (mostly) a joke, but...
when needs must and in extremis, I'd do it. (And I have in the past) It's a balance of risk. :police:
OK then, who's never taken the battery out of a "hung" laptop that won't shut down? 8)
-
When push comes to shove, i.e. on the odd occasion when XP locks up, I switch off by holding the power button in for 5 seconds
OK then, who's never taken the battery out of a "hung" laptop that won't shut down?
I haven't for one, but then again I've never owned a laptop... tho I am currently thinking of getting an older modest spec laptop to run Linux on.
-
Regarding the original post about the dubious popup asking to do a survey:
Following my email to Forresters, I received this back this evening:
Hello Dave,
Thank you for contacting Forrester. I apologize for the inconvenience or confusion, and I have forwarded your feedback to our marketing and web team. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or requests.
Best,
Chris
Christopher Stanley | Senior Client Support Specialist
Seems genuine enough and maybe the web team might change their policy of anonimous popups asking for people to complete a survey.
dave
-
Well done dave :thumbs:
Lets hope they act on it :)
-
Thank you, dave, for obtaining the clarification..........and my apologies for not posting back at an earlier date...........I had lost the post.. :(
-
I was on the el-reg site last nite...
.... and exactly the same pop-up from Forrester.com came up asking me to complete one of their surveys.
I didnt do it, because at the time I was also doing an update to SMF (the forum software).. and by the time I'd finished the security update. the option screen had vanished.
-
I haven't seen it yet but it will probably be a 'tick-box' type with maybe a comments box on the last page.
If I get one I will paste the emails into the box and see what they do.
dave
-
>>> If I get one I will paste the emails into the box and see what they do.
:lol: :lol: