NEW YORK – The New York Times’ Web site is grappling with problems created by an “unauthorized advertisement” that essentially hijacked browsers and took them to an antivirus site that tried to install software.
The rogue ad had warned readers that their computer may be infected with a virus and redirects them to a site that purports to offer antivirus software, according to a note posted to the newspaper’s Media & Advertising section, CNET News. Com reported.
The site, best-antivirus03.com, is a so-called hijacker that uses fraudulent strategies to promote fake security software, according to security site GeekPolice.net.
The New York Times said the offending ad was provided by someone posing as a national advertiser with a legitimate-looking advertising product. Over the weekend that ad being served up was swapped out so that the offending ad would appear, the Times said.
“As soon as we were made aware of the situation, we took aggressive steps, suspending all third-party advertisements on the site,” Diane McNulty, executive director of Community Affairs and Media Relations, said in a statement. “We now know how it occurred and have taken steps to prevent a similar situation from happening.”
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