Ad Links Attaching Themselves to My Site and My Admin Panel

[HARMysticAura]

All of a sudden, I have my text, both on my website and on my admin panel, that are being hyperlinked to ads. I don't know how to get rid of them. Has anyone had this happen to them? What can I do to stop this? I'm not sure it its just on my computer or if it's happening in general to everyone. I have hyperlinked my own website names as I speak of them, but random words are being hyperlinked on my site as well as in my admin panel to ads and who knows what else.

[HARMysticAura]

OK, I went onto some other sites and it's now happening there too ... random ads, etc and it's coming from somthing called "coupon companion." Even this forum is now filled with hyperlinks from them. How do I stop this from happening ... it must be something that's attached itself to my computer.

[picandnix]

Hi. When you say 'other sites' do you mean sites that you host or just random sites that you visit online?
Secondly and importantly, which version if ZC are you using, and has it been upgraded or is it a 'clean' installation?

[picandnix]

assuming you are using Windows, have a look in your installed programs list for coupon companion. Looks like it could be software that's been inadvertently loaded as part of a download.
http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7598_102...panion-adware/

[picandnix]

just had a quick look through your site while walking the dog, yep I cannot see any links that are not supposed to be there. Seems that coupon companion can hijack your browser and add its own content. So don't panic its an issue on your computer rather than your site. That said I would get your antivirus to tackle it asap and remove the offending software.

[schoolboy]

Your own computer has definitely been infected with a bit of spyware/adware.

I use STOPZILLA to prevent all these sorts of attacks from happening, and use it in ADDITION to my normal antivirus software (Avast).

[HARMysticAura]

Hi picandnix!

It was happening to every site I was visiting, not just my own. A friend was online and he said he didn't seen any hyperlinks except for the one I created, so it was something that attached itself to my computer, maybe when I was on someone else's site (?). It was weird because it was hyperlinking random words, even in my admin panel, and if I hoovered over them, they were ads.

Thanks for the link at CNet. It may have been from a download, but I hadn't downloaded anything in about a week and a half, but it started tonight ... even caused havac with my mouse, etc. I did see the program on my comptuer and deleted it, thank you. But it turns out it was also in my firefox extension, so it didn't stop until I found that also and removed it. Everything is back to normal, finally. I would have hated it if it were something that my guests cound see on the store site or the other sites I have.

Yes, I have Windows and I have, I think, the latest version of ZC ... it's 5.1.1. Yes, it was a clean installation. I had someone build the store site for me and he installed it. The only thing I had to do is set up the admin things like shipping, payment, etc, and add whatever else I want to add to the store.

Thank you so much for checking out my site. That assures me it's nothing my guests can see or be affected with. Yes, now that I have removed the program and extensions, I'm running my anti-virus and malware programs. Thank you so much for your kindness. And now I can sleep with confidence that the site is secure.

[HARMysticAura]

Sorry, the version of ZC I have is 1.5.1 ... I can type, honest.

[picandnix]

Sorry, the version of ZC I have is 1.5.1 ... I can type, honest.

lol. Glad it's all resolved.