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lewster · 01-01-2008, 05:06 PM

Hi Gang,

I've been getting the following message at the top of my screen every time I'm logged on to the Forums:

"This web site wants to run the following add-on: 'Microsoft Data Access- Remote Data Services Dat...' from 'Microsoft Corporation'. If you trust the web site and the add-on and want to allow it to run click here..."

Is anyone else getting this and if so what is it and have you run it on your PC?

Thanks for the help............................

mpc · 01-01-2008, 05:20 PM

i havent seen this message but before i clicked ok i would try to do a search to find out what it is. sounds like a way for someone to gain access to your machine, be careful!

CanoeStream · 01-01-2008, 05:28 PM

Don't click it. Please stand by...

lewster · 01-01-2008, 05:31 PM

Haven't clicked it...........standing by.........................

THANKS!

tsunami · 01-01-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewster

Hi Gang,

I've been getting the following message at the top of my screen every time I'm logged on to the Forums:

"This web site wants to run the following add-on: 'Microsoft Data Access- Remote Data Services Dat...' from 'Microsoft Corporation'. If you trust the web site and the add-on and want to allow it to run click here..."

Is anyone else getting this and if so what is it and have you run it on your PC?

Thanks for the help............................

I'm not getting it because I avoid anything Microsoft other than the Windows XP operating system. Try switching to Mozilla's Firefox internet browser. I have been using Firefox with no problems and it's only on version 5.

I think the answer to your question is and this has to do partially with IE7:

It's a generic warning that IE7 displays when an exploit is trying to enter the system running IE7, watch out! ... this is NOT from Microsoft! It should not be a part of this site, and should not be trusted. It's a result of a virus that was/could be embedded into posts.

The Remote Data Services (old technology) usage, for an example, allows a web page to get a refresh of the data it is using for display but without having to refresh the entire web page with a full server roundtrip

Hope this helps. Always, always, always make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date. Also look at Ad-Aware and/or Spybot, or something like them to close the loop on keeping you system safe.

tsunami · 01-01-2008, 05:43 PM

This problem also may be, again I say maybe, caused by the web site being compromised. Mostly Windows XP w/SP2 and Vista display the message you see. DON'T click OK on the message.... Bad juju.....

tsunami · 01-01-2008, 05:49 PM

After further research, this may be the root cause of the problem on a server:

What happened is you got hit with what is known as an iFrame Exploit,

The way this happens is usually you get hit with a worm or a trojan which then exploits a security hole in one of several places. The hole could easily be in your:

Banner ads
Forum software
PHP
BIND

There are other system files too that can leave the system wide open to infection or even to hack attempts which is why it is very important to keep everything completely up to date and locked down.

Hackers will hack into a system that they find wide open, but that doesn't happen quite so much these days as it is more profitable for them to infect systems instead.

**moosetags** · 01-01-2008, 05:58 PM

I agree. Try a differsent browser. I also like Mozilla Firefox the best, but Netscape is also very good. I hardly ever use Internet Explorer anymore.

CanoeStream · 01-01-2008, 06:04 PM

I don't believe anybody should be getting a popup window from AIR Forums. Does it happen when you have only AIR Forums open? Firefox does an excellent job of blocking popups and it never tries to remind me what I'm missing out on.

Okay Lew, does it look like this?

That's a popup warning.

You're on a PC? The image above is Internet Explorer. Or do you get it in Firefox?

Do you run AdAware or Spybot with any regularity?

I googled on add-on "Microsoft Data Access- Remote Data Services" (quotes pull in exact phrase matches) and got quite a few forums with advice not to open it. I'll refer this up the line for more informed review.

[thanks tsunami -- that's a good review of the problem]

lewster · 01-01-2008, 06:13 PM

THANKS!

I just had a bad feeling about it!

I do have my Command AntiVirus and AVG Anti-Virus up to date and working and I scan daily.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

tsunami · 01-01-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

I don't believe anybody should be getting a popup window from AIR Forums. Does it happen when you have only AIR Forums open? Firefox does an excellent job of blocking popups and it never tries to remind me what I'm missing out on.

Okay Lew, does it look like this?
Attachment 51797
That's a popup warning.

You're on a PC? The image above is Internet Explorer. Or do you get it in Firefox?

Do you run AdAware or Spybot with any regularity?

I googled on add-on "Microsoft Data Access- Remote Data Services" (quotes pull in exact phrase matches) and got quite a few forums with advice not to open it. I'll refer this up the line for more informed review.

[thanks tsunami -- that's a good review of the problem]

Everytime I turn my computer on and windows starts, I automatically run a software called RegDoctor. Then I download the latest and greatest update to my anti-virus software. Then about twice a week I run Ad-Aware and Spybot. What Ad-Aware misses, Spybot seems to catch. I plan on solving this problem, I'm switching to a Apple iMac 24" with the Leopard OS X 5, sometime within the next 60 days. I work on servers and PC's and don't want to go through all these gyrations just to access the internet.

**Janet H** · 01-01-2008, 06:15 PM

I actually think this may be casued by our Extreme Tracker. You can click on it at the bottom of the page.

That allows us to have some public stats for members and advertisers to look at. It's harmless but I guess some programs might think it's malicious and throw an alert.

Sorry for the alarm. You may have your security settings high - but if the warning is about this, it would be safe to ignore this warning. What was the detail on the warning?

tsunami · 01-01-2008, 06:18 PM

Agree with Janet. Not knowing the setup/config/software of the site, I just posted what I knew/know. Thanks Janet.

**Andy R** · 01-01-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsunami

After further research, this may be the root cause of the problem on a server:

What happened is you got hit with what is known as an iFrame Exploit,

The way this happens is usually you get hit with a worm or a trojan which then exploits a security hole in one of several places. The hole could easily be in your:

Banner ads
Forum software
PHP
BIND

There are other system files too that can leave the system wide open to infection or even to hack attempts which is why it is very important to keep everything completely up to date and locked down.

Hackers will hack into a system that they find wide open, but that doesn't happen quite so much these days as it is more profitable for them to infect systems instead.

Tsunami, can you post more information about this claim and research you have posted. Most of it sounds like nonsense to me. BIND is related to DNS and not a way to exploit a computer to try to cause a response from the computer like that. PHP is a programming language and powers software, saying PHP is the cause is not correct.

The forum software would not be the cause of this because it does not try to access any of you system in that way. I would suggest running Spy Bot Search and Destory (link to free download) and make sure that nothing has been installed on your computer in the past and making calls to other sites while you are on our site.

In regards to Banner ads, it is possible that sometimes bad banners make their way into the banner networks. It's very rare but it does happen and we need to report anything like that to them asap. They have a vested interest in keeping this trash out of their network, so it's very rare when it happens and non of the sites I have ever managed has been victim to this but I have read about it happening.

SilverRanger · 01-01-2008, 07:40 PM

I must agree with what has been said about Firefox. I've been using it (and Netscape before that) since it first came out. While using Firefox, along with a free anti-virus program called AVAST, I have never experienced any viruses or pop-up windows as earlier described. I'm also still using it on an old computer (approx. 9 years old) with the Windows 98 OS, along with an add-on Adware blocker, and it still runs great. For a nice change I also use the Opera browser. I have never had any problems with this site with any of the above set ups. The only time I ever use IE is when, on a very rare occasion, a site won't open properly in Firefox.

ScottW · 01-01-2008, 10:09 PM

I read something the other day that stated that Internet Explorer is basically dead/dying and will not be supported any longer. time to put it to bed forever.

tsunami · 01-02-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy R

Tsunami, can you post more information about this claim and research you have posted. Most of it sounds like nonsense to me. BIND is related to DNS and not a way to exploit a computer to try to cause a response from the computer like that. PHP is a programming language and powers software, saying PHP is the cause is not correct.

The forum software would not be the cause of this because it does not try to access any of you system in that way. I would suggest running Spy Bot Search and Destory (link to free download) and make sure that nothing has been installed on your computer in the past and making calls to other sites while you are on our site.

In regards to Banner ads, it is possible that sometimes bad banners make their way into the banner networks. It's very rare but it does happen and we need to report anything like that to them asap. They have a vested interest in keeping this trash out of their network, so it's very rare when it happens and non of the sites I have ever managed has been victim to this but I have read about it happening.

Short answer - check out this link.

what does the "Microsoft data access" "remote data services" add-in do? - Web Hosting Forum - Industry Discussion, Webmaster Forum, Web Host Reviews and Deals

If you require a detailed explaination, I'll be more than happy to attempt and provide you one.

Happy New Years to everyone....

**Andy R** · 01-02-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsunami

Short answer - check out this link.

what does the "Microsoft data access" "remote data services" add-in do? - Web Hosting Forum - Industry Discussion, Webmaster Forum, Web Host Reviews and Deals

If you require a detailed explaination, I'll be more than happy to attempt and provide you one.

Tsunami, I read that post also (I googled the issue also). We do not use any remote data access features on the site. I think it's probably some type of spyware on the members computer. I was just asking for you to backup your claims of an iframe issue. You made the statement in a very authoratative way and we do not even have iFrames on our site. The last thing I need is for someone to start getting the members worried that our site is not secure, especially when it is unsunstantiated. If you want to post your research on the iFrame Exploit being cause by our forum software or banner ads, please do. It's not that I am upset, if there is something wrong, I would LOVE to know about it so I can fix it. I just don't want the members to worry that things are not safe.

safari57 · 01-02-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottW

I read something the other day that stated that Internet Explorer is basically dead/dying and will not be supported any longer. time to put it to bed forever.

I read today that it's Netscape that is not going to be supported past Feb 2008. It will still be available but no further updates such as security etc.

"The browser that helped kick-start the commercial web is to cease development because of lack of users.
Netscape Navigator, now owned by AOL, will no longer be supported after 1 February 2008, the company has said."

Barry