Yesterday I received an email from Google: "Hacked content detected on http://www.cruisingforsex.com/" This is the server where the CFS Sex Listings are located.

The email said that the "site has been hacked by a third party who created malicious content on some of your pages," and it gave me four URLs (addresses of web pages) on the site.

This was sent yesterday while I was handling sick elderly dogs and also dealing with my ex-partner who had just been discharged from the hospital again. I'm having some serious health issues as well, but all of this is besides the point. I didn't get to investigate using Google's tools and my own until later in the evening.

By the time I looked at the pages there was no "malicious content" on them and nothing that should not be there.

I believe the problem came from one of the advertising banners CFS shows which are hosted by a "third-party" site. There is more than one of these used on CFS.

I have seen this happen on other sites with third-party ads where the page is blocked by my antivirus software. My antivirus did not find any problems with the Sex Listings URLs Google sent me, nor with the Sex Listings sub-home page.

Based on this, I conclude that the advertiser detected the problem and resolved. This does leave consequences for sites like CFS. Although I've submitted a "reconsideration request" to Google, they do say that their review process "can take several weeks." In the meantime, any of the Google search results for the Sex Listings come up with a warning message:


This type of warning does not come up on Yahoo! Ir Bing.

I have no way of knowing which ad banner it was nor – being the only person working with CFS – having the time to investigate log files, contact every possible advertiser, etc. There is simply too much to do and too little time.

Having said that, I am running far, far behind today. I will probably not be able to complete daily site updates and check the CFS Editor account email until much later today.

In addition, I put on the CFS Home Page this weekend that I was working on a way for CFS Members to donate to the site. This also is delayed. It is one emergency after another. An explanation of that plan is too long to include here, also off subject.

In the interest of transparency and to preserve CFS' reputation while Google does what ever it does, I'm placing a link to this on the CFS Home Page and also the Sex Listings sub-home page.

You are welcome to comment or make suggestions, but please understand that I may not be able to follow up on your ideas.

~ Bob S.

PS. If you ever have a warning from your antivirus or from a search engine about any part of CFS, please let me know immediately via my CFS Profile or by using the Contact Form so that I can address it.

Quote |

Update: Not all of the Sex Listings pages have the "This site may be hacked." warning on Google's search results.

For example, this page has the most reviews in the LA Metro area: Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles, CA: reviews at CRUISING for SEX

When I searched this morning for "cruising for sex listings angeles national forest" the hacking warning did not come up. Several other specific pages do not come up with the warning when I check today.

I do see it when I search for "cruising for sex listings" with the warning applied to the Sex Listings sub-home page and a couple other pages.

Very strangely, it no longer comes up for "http://listings.cruisingforsex.com/australia/new-south-wales/sydney-metro/westfield-chatswood-shopping-centre-25158-details.html." That was one of the pages Google had identified as having been hacked.

This is a relief, but I'm still very concerned about the effect of this warning message for CFS and how quickly Google will remove it.

Too many tasks, too many worries, as usual.

~ Bob S.

Quote |

Update: I have not yet heard back from Google and don't expect to for awhile, but I learned something that sheds light on why Google may have put the "hacked" label on the site.

I had a Google Calendar reminder send me an email this afternoon to review some of the pharmacy advertising links, including some on a hard-coded HTML page my predecessor Keith created years ago.

The reminder email in my Gmail Inbox had this warning at the top, white on a red background which the archaic software here won't let me reproduce. I'll do it like this:

This message could be a scam. The sender's account may have been compromised and used to send malicious messages. If this message seems suspicious, let us know and then alert the sender as well (in some way other than email). Learn more

Report this suspicious message Ignore, I trust this message

And this was actually sent to me by Google, from calendar-notification @ google.com. Google simply doesn't trust some of the links I'd included.

Some of the links no longer actually work and the Calendar reminder is telling me to update them.

I have too many irons in the fire and not enough time and help attending the fireplace. I'll review those links and address them. I've been intending to revise the format of the black banner with text links, but I see I should step up that priority now, too.

Too many "high priority tasks," too many irons in the fire, too few to tend the fireplace. Lather, rinse, repeat.

~ Bob S.

Quote |