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thread page 'containing phishing attempt'

17 replies

cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 00:25

My security system (Bitdefender( doesn't want me to open a thread on AIBU due to an alleged phishing attempt on the thread page. All other threads are opening fine.

Should I ignore it or do Tech need to know about it? (I can't report on the thread.)

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usualsuspect · 21/09/2013 00:27

Which thread is it?

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cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 00:29

The tax evasion one - pretty near the top of the page.

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KateSMumsnet · 21/09/2013 14:33

Is this the one www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1859077-to-report-ex-lover-for-tax-evasion?

It opened fine for us - is anyone else having problems?

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MrGeresHamster · 21/09/2013 14:39

I've been having problems opening the ex celebrity one. The app closes down every time I click on it. and have been trying to have a nosey at this one all morning

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cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 16:13

That's the one Kate - and it still won't open readily for me. I mean I could blast on through and tell the security app to ignore the warning but Bitdefender is a good system and I tend to be a tad concerned when it tells me it doesn't like something. (I haven't got time today to investigate why it doesn't like it.)

It's the only one I've ever come across on MN that BD doesn't like for some reason - and the app isn't prone to spewing out warnings every 5 minutes.

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nannynick · 21/09/2013 16:34

The thread contains a link to a secure form on the HMRC website. It may be that link which Bitdefender is detecting and as it is being linked to from an external website (Mumsnet) when the URL says it is being accessed via HMRC.gov.uk (origin=) then Bitdefender is warning that something is not right.

Nothing else on the page looks likely to trigger a warning... unless there is an rogue advert doing the rounds - in which case it would not trigger every time as you would get served a different ad, plus more people would probably have raised an issue as it would affect other pages.

Perhaps removing the link would help, replacing it with a more generic link, such as the page on HMRCs website which gives the Tax Hotline number and is accessed via HTTP rather than HTTPS.

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cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 16:40

Ah - thanks nannynick. Strange that that should be triggering a warning though, if so. There are so many links throughout threads on MN.

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nannynick · 21/09/2013 16:53

Yes I agree it's odd to be flagging that as a problem, though maybe BitDefender is being overly cautious for some reason. Perhaps it resembles a link it has seen in phishing emails.

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Tee2072 · 21/09/2013 16:55

Perhaps BitDefender hasn't paid it's taxes?

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KateSMumsnet · 21/09/2013 17:02

Whilst we're fairly confident there's nothing nasty on MN touches wood, we would always advise caution, and not to click on anything that make s you suspicious.

MrGeresHamster - sorry about the app woes, have you got the newest version? And at your name

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cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 17:09

.... Perhaps it resembles a link it has seen in phishing emails.....

Maybe so - but as a system, it's not given to flagging false positives as you know. Hey Ho. (You could put forward MN as a sandbox for testing purposes, Kate - lots of lovely revenue!)

< chortling at tee >

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nannynick · 21/09/2013 17:21

cozietoesie - have you tried sending a link to the mumnet page in question to BitDefender support, maybe they could figure out what is causing bitdefender to trigger a warning.

Seems odd for it to only happen on one page of mumsnet, not others... thus most likely to do with a link on that page, rather than something to do with an advert, with javascript, or anything else which would be something shared amongst other mumsnet pages. Is it just happening on that one thread, or are there any others?

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cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 17:52

No other thread or page on MN. You're right - I'll send a link to BD support.

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 21/09/2013 17:55

I had a weird pop-up yesterday, can't remember which thread, saying "mumsnet wants you to type in this box" or something, looked really dodgy so I shut the page down and started again.

could be that?

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cozietoesie · 21/09/2013 18:05

OK - done.

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MrGeresHamster · 21/09/2013 20:09

Kate, no I haven't done the new app version yet as I've seen all the threads and am too scared

looks like I need to do it or miss out on gossip

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cozietoesie · 25/09/2013 16:31

Well BitDefender got back to me and advised me that there's a 'known issue' and could I let them know of any other occurrences. Not overwhelmingly informative but then I guess I wouldn't have understood a more detailed explanation anyway so I'll just do what they say - keeping a weather eye on this board in case.