Lately I have noticed that almost every time I try to read something on HuffPo,

[tblue37]

my computer is hijacked and redirected to an ask.com page (full of google links) by something with a URL that begins "bustdirectads" Is this happening to anyone else?

I find myself reluctant to even visit HuffPo these days because it's so frustrating to try to read an article, only to be forcibly redirected several times and have to hit "back" over and over again to return to the article I want to read. I usually give up after the third try--and now I just won't even go to HuffPo most of the time.

If HuffPo has entered into some sort of deal with this bustdirectads entity, then they've made a big mistake, because that sort of sneaky, coercive advertising is very alienating.

Does anyone here know anything about this? (I am wondering whether some computer savvy DUer knows how to read the code on HuffPo to see if this is something HuffPo is doing deliberately to increase revenue.)

[Lex]

1. run Spybot or AdAware or both

sounds like you have picked up some spyware possibly

[tblue37]

2. But would adware work only when I try to read something on HuffPo?

Usually adware operates wherever you go, doesn't it?

[Lex]

3. Maybe whatever spyware you have is triggered by ads that

happen to be on Huffpo?

What you are describing doesn't happen to me when I go to HuffPo and I go multiple times per day and read articles.

[tblue37]

4. Thanks. I'll run AdAware tonight and see if that fixes it. nt

[ohheckyeah]

5. I found a new program

that is wonderful. I always used Spybot before but found Malwarebyte Anti-Malware. It's free and even removed the hard to detect and remove Personal Anti-Virus trojan from my friend's computer.

[tblue37]

10. I ran that Anti-Malware program last night, and so far the

computer does seem to be running somewhat faster--and I haven't had a problem on HuffPo yet today.

But is it likely that I had only 5 infections? (That's all the program found. But I remember getting a lot more than that whenever I used to run AdAware.)

[DeepBlueC]

12. it's best to use multiple programs

No one program picks up everything. It definitely sounds as if you have been hijacked,

[Richardo]

6. Yeah, that happened to me too

I removed a piece of software called "URL Assistant" or something from my computer and it's been fine since. And I do run antispyware and antivirus all the time.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. It happened to me

when my desktop picked up a nasty bug - in spite of virus protection.

It happened at more than one site, though - what a PITA it was.

The wonderful folks at DU's computer forum saved my life with their brilliant and generous help.

Try running Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Program - it finds stuff other programs miss, and it caught my bug -

www.malwarebytes.org

Good luck......................

[tblue37]

8. Thanks--I will try that new anti-malware program! nt

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Something hijacked your Hosts file and...

I bet you didn't even know you had a hosts file. Google be's you friend.

I haven't seen that problem in so long honestly don't know what to do about it, but Hijack This by Trend Micro is a tool that might solve the problem. Some other anti-malware stuff might solve it, too.

[applegrove]

11. I used to post alot of Huff Post articles on the DU. But they are not post

friendly so I gave up.