This has been occurring more and more to the point that I will not visit most sites just because of these few. Is there a way to alert Yahoo to these sites or to check them without opening and getting the virus.
Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever
Favorite Answer
Checking them without clicking them is difficult. If you are suspicious of them (maybe the answers are 'spammy' looking themselves, like: "Here is exactly what you need to see, watch this video"), then REPORT them, click the top button, type SPAM or MALWARE ALERT in the text box to alert the staff.
You can 'read' some links by what is shown. For example, if the link starts out with http://help.yahoo.com you can feel pretty sure that the link goes to a Yahoo Help page. Same for things like wiki, photobucket, tinypic, etc. Also, look at the endings of the site: GOV is a government site, EDU is a school site, etc. and these tend to be trustworthy.
The YA team is doing its best to find and eliminate these, especially the VIRUS ones. You can click on the Forum link 3/4 of the way down on the left side of any YA page and check out there regarding malware and see what they are doing, how to report it, etc.
kandinskys
You must check the link string every time! The links are usually posted after a short generic answer that is loosely related to the question. The link that is then added also has no relation in its name to either the generic reply OR the question.
They use 'hit and run' tactics. I've seen unusual questions e.g. 'How can a 14 year old earn money online?' This question is then answered by somebody that, coincidentally, has the same join date as the asker. The links lead to malware sites that will auto download a trojan to your PC/laptop.
By attracting '14 year olds' they are using social engineering to appeal to a demographic that is less risk-aware than others. They are intelligent and organized in their activities.
Report both asker and answerer and never click a link without checking the link string/ name.
Ed Atun
Yes, that is true. And i remember the feeling of panic when i saw a website furiously downloading stuff to my computer and nothing i clicked on would stop it. I trusted it because the answer said to search for a specific tv on Google. When i did the search, the first entry was the virus carrier.
I don't feel like i can report a link unless i open it and i don't want to open another one ever..
kr_toronto
There's a large group of us - Users AND Staff - actively fighting the Malware issue...
The most important thing to do is NEVER click on ANY of these links!!!
Just click on the profile associated with this, copy the "Address" of that profile - and post it on the Suggestion Board.
I've included the link to the EXACT place to post it to - and it WILL be nuked within a very short period of time ;);););)
Joey
I've been finding the same thing! I guess all we can do is report them. I'm not going to open anything anymore.