Virus Warning

Ahoy all,

It has come to my attention that someone has been attempting to infect our users with a virus. The malicious user has been registering accounts and posting threads containing links to a virus claiming they are 'hacking tools' to trick users into downloading.

Today, several of our staff members were targeted through conversations. This time the attacker used a rudimentary trick to get the virus to download automatically just by clicking the link.

Never open links to websites you aren't sure are safe, especially from strangers.

I believe the virus in question to be a keylogger, and it would appear the attacker has used the virus to gain access to some of the accounts of staff members on the forums. We are taking the necessary steps to quarantine abuse from the compromised accounts.

Please open links on the forums with extreme caution, and do not open any suspicious links. If a new member posts any links to an unfamiliar website in an attempt to persuade you to visit, report the message to us using the 'Report' button!

While the recent attack is unfortunate, the forums are not an unsafe place. You absolutely will not get a virus by visiting the forums, the only way to become infected is by visiting unsafe third-party websites.

I will update this thread with more information as it becomes available. If anyone has any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Edit 3/26:
The infection appears to be more serious than previously thought.
It will make your computer a part of a Botnet and give the attacker control over your computer.

Unfortunately there are even reports of the attacker watching infected users through their computer's webcam.

I would like to emphasize my previous warning, do not follow any links from websites you do not recognize. The attacker may be clever in trying to trick you to visit certain sites. We will be watching the community carefully to help prevent this from spreading. Keep in mind some of your friends accounts in the game or even on the forums may have been compromised.

The forums are still a safe place, but it is important to keep an eye out. The member seems to have a particular issue with the community for a ban on a previous forum account over inappropriate messages.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.
 
Thank you Davy for posting this... I was targeted as well, and had clicked the link... I prevented the virus from entering my system, so all is good.

Think before you click, everyone... If ANYTHING seems to be suspicious, please contact a staff member straight away. Also, a link to quickly access all the site staff can be found here:
https://piratesforums.co/staff/

Once you report any actions, one of us will deal with it in a timely fashion.
 
Thanks for the warning lol... i cant believe someone would do this to such a wonderful site!!!! and scrappy-doo would say: Lemme at 'em!!!
 
"Timing" could be crucial, guys ... There might be a few minutes difference between any member finds out about a suspicious post with a link to lure us all to click, and the time that any Moderator removes the post. So beware of that, as our curiosity could get the best of us and cloud our judgment. Even if you see that a suspicious post is still online, just keep on reporting and refrain from trying to find out yourself, because your system might have to suffer the consequence. I'm saying this just in case these types of posts come in at odd times during the day, when the staff members who have the authority to remove the posts are unavailable at the very moment.

The conversation that came to me was very polite and appealing, and came in before the real post showed up on the Forums. I clicked on the link to open the page, without clicking the "virus" because my conscience told me something was not right with it and consulted the Admin about it. Follow your conscience; if something doesn't look or sound right, usually it is not.
 
He also tried doing it on the other forums i download it when it started downloading it said SilverLight.exe good thing right when i saw that weird name i cancel the download it didnt even get to 30 % i dont know if that could of affected me? i looked up the name and it said it was a virus
 
An important update:

The infection appears to be more serious than previously thought.
It will make your computer a part of a Botnet and give the attacker control over your computer.

Unfortunately there are even reports of the attacker watching infected users through their computer's webcam.

I would like to emphasize my previous warning, do not follow any links from websites you do not recognize. The attacker may be clever in trying to trick you to visit certain sites. We will be watching the community carefully to help prevent this from spreading. Keep in mind some of your friends accounts in the game or even on the forums may have been compromised.

The forums are still a safe place, but it is important to keep an eye out. The member seems to have a particular issue with the community for a ban on a previous forum account over inappropriate messages.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.
 
An important update:

The infection appears to be more serious than previously thought.
It will make your computer a part of a Botnet and give the attacker control over your computer.

Unfortunately there are even reports of the attacker watching infected users through their computer's webcam.

I would like to emphasize my previous warning, do not follow any links from websites you do not recognize. The attacker may be clever in trying to trick you to visit certain sites. We will be watching the community carefully to help prevent this from spreading. Keep in mind some of your friends accounts in the game or even on the forums may have been compromised.

The forums are still a safe place, but it is important to keep an eye out. The member seems to have a particular issue with the community for a ban on a previous forum account over inappropriate messages.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.
That same person did it on the other forum .com this time it was a download link i clicked download and i stoped it before it fully downloaded it and deleted it could that affect me?
 
Was just thinking...is there "anyway" that within the near future, the forums could possibly devise a system to where NEW pirates interested in joining the community would be subjected to a mandatory probation (lol) period to where over time, it would eventually drop off?

*I hate to think that this would ever happen again but (in all reality) it's difficult to know who to trust as pirates in general are a "rowdy" bunch :daggermouth:
 
That same person did it on the other forum .com this time it was a download link i clicked download and i stoped it before it fully downloaded it and deleted it could that affect me?
Hopefully not but I don't know for sure. I would assume you're safe unless you have reason to believe otherwise though.

Was just thinking...is there "anyway" that within the near future, the forums could possibly devise a system to where NEW pirates interested in joining the community would be subjected to a mandatory probation (lol) period to where over time, it would eventually drop off?

*I hate to think that this would ever happen again but (in all reality) it's difficult to know who to trust as pirates in general are a "rowdy" bunch :daggermouth:
I don't want to elaborate much publicly, but we have options under consideration and will put systems in place to protect users from these kind of attacks on the forums as we feel necessary.
 
Also mate, make sure your anti virus, anti spam and firewall are running normally. There is no reason any of them should be stopped. I use Norton 360 and I have all my security up to date as well as personal info under identity protection. Make sure the antivirus features are working properly so that any threat is removed.

Disney does recommend you tell your info to no one so if you see a friend acting odd, than you best not follow what they do. If something seems different or wrong, you could do a friendly assessment... and as Davy said, there is no reason for you to follow links which seem random, irrelevant or plainly fake. if you see a download link to POTCO hacks than that's already telling you don't try. You shouldn't even be tempted to try hacks for POTCO. No good will come out of them and you will most likely get in trouble.

This is truly sad by any standard. Kind of rises the question as is this where POTCO is headed?... and Are POTCO players(some) so mad/ angry and what is the point of all this?... I know i have criticized POTCO myself but never have done it in any harmful ways and have based my info in whats really out there. This is just sad to think of as these people seem like they are angry with themselves or are having some phase changes in their lives. Hopefully everything changes back to normal for the best.
 
Davy, in light of these viruses I have a suggestion: Until the time has passed on this recent hacking piece should the forum ask that all outside links are approved before posting?
 
my friend ( i call him tech ) can probably hack this virus or track who did this if u want me to i can ask him to help but hes gonna need this virus to try and trick him or try and get him btw my friend is 15 but still he can probably do it
 
my friend ( i call him tech ) can probably hack this virus or track who did this if u want me to i can ask him to help but hes gonna need this virus to try and trick him or try and get him btw my friend is 15 but still he can probably do it
Thomas, this hack goes back many moons this is not the first time this hack as sprung up.

I am going to look into how many other sites have been affected. This most likely isn't someone trying to get back at disney. Ill share any findings.
 
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