Ads.Why?

age03

I am seeing ads when log into the arc launcher as well as when then the client starts up.My browser open up and goes to 4 sites.I am only getting it with this game as well as on my guest account with no ad block they come up as well.

I am not sure how you others are dealing with this?

dahminus

Sounds like malware...possibly an unintentionally installed program. I'd do some scans/checking around

aloishammer

age03 wrote: »

I am not sure how you others are dealing with this?

By not using ARC, for starters. :P

eulifdavis

I would agree with the above. Arc (as with most HTML-based launchers on Windows) uses Internet Explorer to display the content. It would seem that you have malware installed that is redirecting your IE requests, causing additional windows to spawn.

I recommend using the following scanning softwares to search through and clean your machine:

TDSSKiller
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Spybot - Search & Destroy

Also use an antivirus of your choice. I personally recommend Avast!, but pretty much any legitimate antivirus will be useful here.

age03

How did you get around by not using arc?I uninstalled my game then did fresh install.Where did you get the client without Arc?

I did clean out everything just to get it back again when I start up Arc. and the client.

I got all of that Avast,Spybot and Malewarebytes.

I still get it back when clicking on arc and when the launcher starts up.

eulifdavis

age03 wrote: »

How did you get around by not using arc?I uninstalled my game then did fresh install.Where did you get the client without Arc?

I did clean out everything just to get it back again when I start up Arc. and the client.

I don't have the official URL, but I keep a personal backup of the "old" launcher just for cases such as this.

http://www.eulif.com/Star%20Trek%20Online.exe

Feel free to scan with any and all malware scanners of your choice, I promise it's clean and unaltered.

You'll want to place it directly above your STO install folder. For example, my STO folder is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online", so the .exe sits at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Cryptic Studios".

azurianstar

Some people use Steam or old STO disks for that.


But to me what's more troubling is the possibility that ARC is able to be affected by malware. Not only it shows there is a security flaw in ARC itself, but it also makes me worry that malware-removal tools might not be able to clean an infected ARC browser.

askray

Be aware - that you will sooner or later have to use ARC. That said, obviously you have malware floating around in your computer so I'd highly suggest removing that regardless of if you use ARC or not. If it keeps coming back then you need to check your programs that are installed to see if somethings adding it all back after deletion.

aloishammer

askray wrote: »

Be aware - that you will sooner or later have to use ARC.

Bah. Steam maybe, and when that no longer works it's uninstall time.

age03

Best just to back the old way and get rid Arc. like the Core feature on board.

I do not have any malaware untill I use Arc.Then I have to clean up my pc again just get rid of Arc.What good use is it and when recommending this game to friends they won't play it when ads start appearing.

originalspock

age03 wrote: »

Best just to back the old way and get rid Arc. like the Core feature on board.

I do not have any malaware untill I use Arc.Then I have to clean up my pc again just get rid of Arc.What good use is it and when recommending this game to friends they won't play it when ads start appearing.

The Launcher is based on Internet Explorer. If you are seeing ads. You have malware. 100% Not a theory a fact. Get something that is a spyware remover, check your plugins / addons for random names like media.exe or random items like that.

age03

I have checked my media and I have none in IE as IE is not set as my default browser FF is.I am still getting after trying eulifdavis launcher.I only have 1 media program installed atm that being WMP only other one I use is VLC.

originalspock

age03 wrote: »

I have checked my media and I have none in IE as IE is not set as my default browser FF is.I am still getting after trying eulifdavis launcher.I only have 1 media program installed atm that being WMP only other one I use is VLC.

Your browsers share some of IE's formatting, which is typical of windows computers, and you don't even have to have it as primary, as you can see by using STO's launcher system, it routes it through IE as a channel, that being said, it is usually due to your main browser being compromised in a certain way. Try disabling all of your plugins, and add-ons and check for any effect, also check your msconfig startup (Run : Type Msconfig) or use your task manager to check for rogue start programs. I promise there is something in your system if you are getting ads piggy backed on Cryptics launcher. The issue is where the problem exists.

Also, my advice, is get "Security Task Manager".

As the moment it launches it will be able to extrapolate an internet user threat rating on the software active in your system, and even allow you to kill malicious processes quickly and efficiently without a problem. The free one kills the executables, and other main stuff so that will be all you need for the most part.

eulifdavis

If you do not understand how to scan for and remove viruses and other malware from your computer, I suggest finding a computer technician in your area... fast! Malware can be as "harmless" as serving up ads (from which the programmer makes money), or can be very malicious and steal personal information, up to and including everything you type or click on.

Get your computer cleaned up! The behavior you are describing is NOT part of either launcher's behavior. It is a compromised system, and needs immediate attention.

EDIT: Before someone asks, no, this malware did not come from Arc. I am no lover of it, but I'm also sane and intelligent enough to realize that Arc isn't a malware delivery platform.

doffingcomrade

eulifdavis wrote: »

EDIT: Before someone asks, no, this malware did not come from Arc. I am no lover of it, but I'm also sane and intelligent enough to realize that Arc isn't a malware delivery platform.

That is because based on its behavior, Arc *IS* malware, it doesn't need to deliver additional malware, and certainly PWE will not gain anything by delivering someone else's malware when it can implant its own.

But yes, the OP's issues have nothing to do with Arc, strangely enough. Arc prefers to keep its malicious behavior and snooping on the down-low, precisely to avoid causing this kind of alarm. This is how you know it is truly insidious and evil.