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Location: Wetpaint Central Discussion Forum
Discussion: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
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S.Keefe |
When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 4 2009, 10:35 AM EDT
I use Wetpaint for all of my classes. Ever since Wetpaint eliminated the free advertisement removal option for educators, my class sites have been riddled with viruses that have caused my students' computers to crash. It is not just one site. All of my classes are experiencing the problem as well as several of my colleagues who are using the site for both personal and professional reasons. I have emailed Wetpaint Central, but am still waiting on a response. Is anyone looking into this?
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edwardandbellafan |
1. RE: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 4 2009, 12:37 PM EDT
Hello S.Keefe,I am sorry for your inconvenience, but once Wetpaint hears of a a malware attack, then that is their first priority. Malware and "viruses" come from ads or sites, but Wetpaint is not a site that creates viruses. Ads use codes that causes a website to run a script causing the computer to run the script and that is how you get a virus. So, your issue is not with viruses but with ads. If you think that the site itself is secretly creating viruses, it is not, because Wetpaint uses ads, the ads are the one that causes viruses. So, if you think the ads are causing viruses, take a screenshot of the ad, and copy the link to where the ad goes and send it to info@wetpaint.com. Andrew WPC Moderator Do you find this valuable? |
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Posted Anonymously |
2. RE: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 4 2009, 1:13 PM EDT
Thank you for the quick response, Andrew. I was in no way suggesting that Wetpaint was creating and unleashing viruses. I am aware of the fact that these viruses are coming from ads, which is exactly the complaint I have. If Wetpaint will no longer allow free ad removal for educators, than they need to do a much better job of filtering out viruses on their site that come as a result of the ads they place there. Advertisers cannot simply log onto Wetpaint and drop ads all over the place on random pages. They must pay to have Wetpaint runs their ads, and therefore, Wetpaint has some control. This problem did not seem to exist before, and it is especially unfortunate that the virus problem seems to have sprung up just as the educator ad removal option was discontinued. I can't use this site if I constantly have to worry that my high school students and their parents will be bombarded with dating service and drug company advertisements that block text, feeze the computer, force us to log off and back onto Wetpaint, and worse, give viruses. As an educator, I do not make enough of a salary to be able to pay $20 a year for each site to remove the ads. For privacy purposes, I have a separate site for each class. I'm saddened that Wetpaint no longer offers educators even so much as a discount. I'm already looking at other options and have had to advise my students not to visist ANY site on Wetpaint for fear of a virus.
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CryingDove |
3. RE: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 4 2009, 3:16 PM EDT
It's highly unlikely that there is malware in any advertising on Wetpaint. We have accounts with very reputable advertising networks and they guarantee their ads to be 99.9% clean. It's more likely that a user has a cookie stored in their browser from visiting another site and that cookie could be triggering something.The browsers can be configured to clear cache and cookies upon shutdown of the browser. This is the "best" practice when a computer is being used by multiple uses. This will protect others information that is stored in these areas from being used by another. Do you find this valuable? |
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Posted Anonymously |
4. RE: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 4 2009, 4:48 PM EDT
" It's more likely that a user has a cookie stored in their browser from visiting another site and that cookie could be triggering something.Okay, I see where this might be true, but it is awfully coincidental then that multiple individuals (at least 5 students and 2 staff members) have caught computer viruses after visiting Wetpaint and not all of them visited the same Wetpaint site. The students are from two different classes with separate Wetpaint accounts and the staff members visited a third page established by the department chair as a place for professionals to share thoughts about education-related issues. The staff members are both rather tech savvy and know how to delete cookies. The students may not, but they are working from home computers that are likely shared by siblings and parents. The other members of their families were able to visit other sites and use programs without having trouble. It wasn't until the student logged onto the Wetpaint site that the virus occurred. One student, who did NOT get a virus, told me he could not view our class page because his computer's spyware/anti-virus program warned him not to. I think that makes it pretty clear that the virus in on Wetpaint somewhere. So the "best" practice for Wetpaint would be to stop making excuses and start taking a closer look. (Although truthfully, I have no idea whether the two of you have any real connection to the Wetpaint administration and therefore apologize if I'm making a false assumption about Wetpaint's handling of this issue.) Do you find this valuable? |
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CryingDove |
5. RE: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 4 2009, 7:16 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 4 2009, 7:23 PM EDT
"So the "best" practice for Wetpaint would be to stop making excuses and start taking a closer look. (Although truthfully, I have no idea whether the two of you have any real connection to the Wetpaint administration and therefore apologize if I'm making a false assumption about Wetpaint's handling of this issue.)"You are on a community forum. The community moderators, have substantial backgrounds with working with Wetpaint wikis. Some going back to the upstart of the organization as a user. We are volunteers to the community. We try to base our answers from experience and knowledge. I have been on Wetpaint close to two years and I will tell you, I have never had contacted a virus or malware on my system from visiting my 15 wikis. I bring to the table 40 years experience in the information technology and computer fields. I do understand your concerns and would invite you, if you feel uncomfortable working within a forum atmosphere,to take advantage of these other resources. 1. You may contact jeremy_wetpaint via message here on Wetpaint Central. Jeremy is the Product Support Administrator. 2.You may contact Wetpaint directly via email. info@wetpaint.com If there is a renegade virus that is stemming from Wetpaint, I am certain Wetpaint will work with you diligently to remove the source. cryingdove community moderator Do you find this valuable? |
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Posted Anonymously |
6. RE: When is Wetpaint going to do something about all these viruses!?!?
Sep 6 2009, 9:50 PM EDT
"Thank you CryingDove. I will contact someone from Wetpaint and have them take as look at my sites directly. Do you find this valuable? |
