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LPF is harassing my downloads

ElectricPlasma

ElectricPlasma

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Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
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Hopefully it's not just me and I really doubt it is, as it's happened to me on two different networks with two different computers, one on each. Worst would be it's my account I guess.

Problem is, every time I navigate to a page on LPF or refresh, I get a download. It doesn't ask me, it just goes about it's business and instantly puts the file in my downloads. This file is named "csmnx.php" and it can really only be opened through notepad, and just has a bunch of crap in it. It's all html code or something similar, and really nothing readable besides functions variables etc. I now have 18 of these files and luckily they take up no space and can be deleted all at once instantly, but it doesn't stop the downloads. If anyone knows anything else about this let me know :thinking:
 





ElectricPlasma said:
Hopefully it's not just me and I really doubt it is, as it's happened to me on two different networks with two different computers, one on each. Worst would be it's my account I guess.

Problem is, every time I navigate to a page on LPF or refresh, I get a download. It doesn't ask me, it just goes about it's business and instantly puts the file in my downloads. This file is named "csmnx.php" and it can really only be opened through notepad, and just has a bunch of crap in it. It's all html code or something similar, and really nothing readable besides functions variables etc. I now have 18 of these files and luckily they take up no space and can be deleted all at once instantly, but it doesn't stop the downloads. If anyone knows anything else about this let me know :thinking:
Click to expand...

Looks like I was having that exact problem a few days ago! I reinstalled Windows and still had it as I thought I might of had a virus or something. Fortunately, it stopped on its own yesterday :)

-Alex
 
Thanks guys, good to hear it's not just me :p Good link Grix, pretty useful information there on the matter. Maybe c0ld will be able to find the problem.
 
Hasn't been an issue for me ... perhaps because I run AdBlock on everything. :whistle:
 
Out of curiosity, what browsers are you guys using? I haven't encountered this issue at all using Chrome without any blocking adins.

c0ldshadow has definitely been tweaking the ads on the site recently though, so maybe it was a configuration error on the site end.
 
Rivem said:
Out of curiosity, what browsers are you guys using? I haven't encountered this issue at all using Chrome without any blocking adins.

c0ldshadow has definitely been tweaking the ads on the site recently though, so maybe it was a configuration error on the site end.
Click to expand...

Chrome and Firefox for me - though mostly Chrome (For a change) over the last couple of days. AdBlock+ on both.
 
Rivem said:
Out of curiosity, what browsers are you guys using? I haven't encountered this issue at all using Chrome without any blocking adins.

c0ldshadow has definitely been tweaking the ads on the site recently though, so maybe it was a configuration error on the site end.
Click to expand...

I've been using Chrome along with AdBlock. Very strange indeed :/

-Alex
 
I'm on a Mac with Safari (at least let me finish my drink before burning me at the stake!) which has a tendency to start downloads automatically and quietly. Just checked my folder and haven't had this; been pretty active here too.
 
Hi Guys,

I am not able to replicate the issue. I am doubting this is related to LPF ads because the ad networks I am using do not show dynamic Flash banner ads which is where this problem typically can happen. Some link ads may be dynamic but for an action to occur it would require clicking, unless the external server hosting the JavaScript was compromised.

A browser hijack or malware on your local PC could also cause this problem. Might want to check for malicious / rogue browser plugins.

If the issue is still occurring, please provide an exact screenshot of whatever is downloaded. A network packet capture (e.g. with Wireshark) while visiting LPF when this occurs would be ideal.

If this is related to an ad network, need as much technical information as possible so when I report the problem I have somewhere to start. E.g. what was the exact file (perhaps upload to virustotal.com), where did browser say it came from, what browser/OS was being used, etc.

Thanks again for reporting this, I am going to keep checking things on my end to make sure server is OK / etc.

Best Regards,

-Avery
 
"csmnx.php"
Type: PHP
Size: 2.41 KB
Full edit permissions, opens with notepad

This is the file opened with notepad and with word wrapping on:

35k0sp1.png


The issue doesn't happen anymore, but I still had the files. 18 of them were downloaded but ironically once I made this thread the issue had ceased to exist. All of the files are the same including their contents and sizes.

I scanned for malware and found none, no other browser plugins besides adblock are installed. Running on Chrome, on Windows 10. Thanks c0ld :thanks:
 
Thanks ElectricPlasma. The link Grix had posted, security - Browser downloaded this unobfuscated PHP script. What is it doing? - Stack Overflow , appears to be accurate.

This looks like an ad network external server misconfiguration.

I'm guessing by now Microsoft has fixed this problem. Whoever made this config error probably got fired.

Sorry for any scare caused by the download. Please do let me know if any similar problems continue. If so, I'll remove the javascript for that ad network entirely.

Best Regards,

-Avery
 
Am I stupid for not understanding any of what that notepad stuff means? :)
 
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