uninvited underlined text online

Vinda-Lou · Post by **Vinda-Lou** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:45 pm

I don't know where it came from or how it got here, but for the last week or so some text in random places are underlined. For example, I'll be reading a post here and the words "hard drive" will either have a double underline or single one. These are not links normally, but now some words are. This happens almost anywhere online, even in emails. My Sbc anti-spy picked up everything, I checked my computer with Norton, but still these words are underlined.

Can anyone please tell me what the hell this is all about, and how can I get rid of it? I won't click on any of them. Thanks in advance.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:16 am

is it true that some forums are doing that as another way of generating revenue?

SirReal · Post by **SirReal** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:49 am

Try switching browsers.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:27 am

If it is happening at places that it didn't used to, then I'd say you have some adware. If it is only at sites you're not familiar with, however, possible that you have been visiting some sites that have this coded into the page (as others have said, for revenue).

Vinda-Lou · Post by **Vinda-Lou** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:57 am

Thanks for the replies. It happens almost anywhere, so I think it is adware. Yet the sbc anti-spy does not pick it up, and I have the most current update for the anti-spy. Is there anther (free) way or program to remove this crap? My wife had clicked on it yesterday and it took her to some junk website. It even showed up in my post where I typed "hard drive." Anyway, thanks so far.

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:27 pm

Vinda-Lou wrote:Thanks for the replies. It happens almost anywhere, so I think it is adware. Yet the sbc anti-spy does not pick it up, and I have the most current update for the anti-spy. Is there anther (free) way or program to remove this crap? My wife had clicked on it yesterday and it took her to some junk website. It even showed up in my post where I typed "hard drive." Anyway, thanks so far.

Microsoft now has anti-spyware in beta that is actually pretty good. It managed to get something on my box that both Adaware and Spybot missed. Also if you have Adaware you need to make sure you are running the current version (Ad-Aware SE Personal Build 1.05) or you will not get updated spyware definitions.

You can get the new Microsoft one here: Linky

Some recent Slashdot posts on it here and here. Early reports are amazingly quite good for the beta, with many saying it is better than either Spybot or Ad-Aware.

Meghan · Post by **Meghan** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:42 pm

and just for completeness,

here's Spybot -
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

and here's Adaware
http://www.lavasoft.com/

both free - both very good.

Vinda-Lou · Post by **Vinda-Lou** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:49 pm

Thanks! Downloading both the MS and Adaware files now. No reason not to be completely thorough.

Clanwolfer · Post by **Clanwolfer** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:51 pm

Be careful with the MS one, and know what you're removing. I have heard of it flagging several programs that tend towards legitimate. I had to keep it from nuking my Internet-activated copy of Raven Shield.

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 9:45 pm

Clanwolfer wrote:Be careful with the MS one, and know what you're removing. I have heard of it flagging several programs that tend towards legitimate. I had to keep it from nuking my Internet-activated copy of Raven Shield.

Yeah, it also will possibly nuke a Spybot Search and Destroy file as well. If you read the linked stuff on Slashdot in my earlier post they go over some of the false postives in the attached threads if you want more info. The MS one seems to be a bit more aggressive since it catches spyware files the other two miss. I wonder if that's why it might get more false positives also?