Sooo, ummm, this is embarrassing…
My site was giving people the ugly red malware page starting Sept 21st until late Sept 23 
Apparantly, the ad network I was using (was is the operative word here) called IZEA Media, was the culprit and thousands of sites who use them were affected!
This is all related to a JavaScript code placed in my sidebar to display the ads. The “official” story from SocialSpark, which is how I learned about the company, stated that “the ad was not served by any direct IZEA client, but rather through a well-known partner network that we use to backfill some inventory.“
So there was NO malware on my site at all but since Google linked all of our sites to IZEA, they marked our sites as bad too. (really, really, big sad face!)
This also left us at the mercy of Google to release this warning and mark our sites as clean again…*it took 3 days for them to release my site*
An Apology
I apologize to my readers who visit my site regularly and found this warning; I apologize to those who have wanted to visit but got scared of the message and immediately clicked away (I mean, who wouldn’t?); I apologize to visitors who came, left, and are never to return because of this message; and lastly and most importantly, I apologize to IZEA for the immediate distaste in my mouth, a few choice words directed your way that I’d rather not repeat, and blaming you silently for this unfortunate fiasco.
I know sometimes things happen online that are out of our control…
I know there are hackers who have nothing else better to do but take people’s sites down…
I know that IZEA worked to resolve the issue as quickly as possible…
I know these things but it’s sad that people who make their money by their blogs were mostly impacted. When things like this happen, traffic goes down, money is lost, and reputations (which are HIGHLY important online) gets screwed.
This is my attempt of damage control of my reputation to my readers.
Rest assured, if you did get the red and white page of death, no malware was installed on your computer or device and my site is 100% free and clear of malware.
I hope you do continue to visit and support the Uncommon community!
Many hugs to you!
Over to you…
If you have a blog or website, do you have advertising displayed? If so, which networks do you use?
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Of course one money don’t stop no show! I will continue to support you of course! Hope others will too!
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The Cubicle Chick recently posted..Urban Decay’s The Vice Palette: Review and Pics
That’s why I love you!! *hugs*
You poor thing! I’m so sorry you had to deal with that Kesha.
Yeah, I would have clicked away but then sent you an email letting you know what was going on. I’ve had that happen to a few blogging friends but I just assumed some creepy hacker was trying to mess up their site so being the good friend that I am, I just let them know so they can get on trying to resolve that issue.
You can rest assure that the majority of your loyal readers will be back around. They wold never blame you Kesha for this unfortunately incident. Just happy to hear that it’s resolved and all is well in Uncommon Chick Land.
Now, here’s to a great week.
~Adrienne
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Adrienne recently posted..How To Get Extra Posts In Your Buffer Feed
Me too Adrienne but it’s now over and I’m so happy! I am grateful that it occurred over the weekend versus during the week though…
There were a few people who did inform me which is how I learned about it in the first place! I love YOU and all my loyal readers!!
I’m baaaaaaack and large and in charge! LOL
Hi Lakesha,
We apologize for the frustration this has caused and appreciate your understanding as we worked through this.
This was perhaps the least fun thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my five years with IZEA, but I am so relieved that people seem to be getting their blogs back online with a clean bill of health.
We will certainly be taking additional measures to ensure that nothing like this happens to our network in the future.
All the Best,
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Carri Bright
Sr. Manager, Community & Support
IZEA
Carri Bright recently posted..IZEA Media Update
Thank you Carri and I’m glad to be back up and running! You should have seen me hitting refresh all weekend waiting on Google to release my site! LOL Whew! I’m back and grateful and like I mentioned in the post, I know things happens sometimes. I’m just grateful it happened over the weekend when there is less traffic than during the week.
All the best to you and your team’s efforts to prevent it from happening in the future.
Hi kesha!
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it was so sad but i think now you are happy with your sites. it is the situation that can be happen in some blogger’s site,so thanks for awaring this type of situation that perhaps may be happen with any one.and i think now you are relax and taking rest.
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I’m just glad you found the key to the problem and it wasn’t malware. In my Terminator voice, “I’ll be back!”
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