Trend Micro thinks SV-POW! is malicious
June 23, 2012
Folks, I just got this email from open-access guru Peter Suber (quoted with permission):
I get ominous warnings when I try to visit your blog at https://svpow.com/. The warning in the browser says, “Malicious website blocked”. The warning in a separate pop-up says, “The Web page you are attempting to visit…could potentially harm your computer.”
Both warnings are from Trend Micro, which came factory installed on my Windows-based Dell laptop. I’ve found it reliable in the past.
Has anyone else seen this? Is it something we should be worried about? Does anyone know what we can do to stop it?
(BTW., for what it’s worth I can assure anyone else who’s seeing this warning that it can be ignored. There’s no malware here.)
Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week 
June 23, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Hi Mike,
Visited the site on four Linux browsers and five on Mac. No warnings whatsoever – and I’ve got my Opera for Linux on maximum security (including numerous security plugins).
June 23, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Good to know, iljajj, thanks for the report. Anyone else?
June 23, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Not here. I suspect that Peter’s computer caught malware that impersonates TrendMicro, flags all sorts of sites as malicious, hoping you’d click on the fake link to “clean it up” which actually perpetuates the malware.
June 23, 2012 at 11:11 pm
This happened on my parents’ computer when I visited them this week, so I don’t think Bora’s idea is correct.
June 23, 2012 at 11:29 pm
http://global.sitesafety.trendmicro.com
A check on http://www.svpow.com comes up with a warning, so ther database is listing your site as a problem. I gave feedback stating your website was safe. I suggest you give feedback identifying yourself as the site owner.
June 23, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Thanks, Stephen M. I have done as you suggest. It might not hurt if a few other readers were to do the same (it’s quick!)
June 24, 2012 at 12:46 am
I’ve also submitted a correction as suggested.
I’m curious how they could possibly make such a mistake, but we’ll probably never know.
June 24, 2012 at 1:15 am
TrendMicro? Now, I can see Elsevier and friends thinking SVPOW! is malicious. :-)
June 24, 2012 at 1:16 am
BTW, no message here on PC using Firefox and AVG.
June 24, 2012 at 4:00 am
Done. Suggested General, Reference as the category.
You can be rated as “dangerous” for reasons other than malware, such as defrauding people. Perhaps Kent Stevens reported you for your posts on osteological neutral pose? ;-)
June 24, 2012 at 5:46 am
No message here…
well, just this only: “Warning: you’re entering the wrong side of Saurischia” ;-)
June 25, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Looks like they responded.
June 25, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Good to know, thanks for the notification. (Shame they didn’t bother to notify me themselves.)
June 30, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Just received an email from Trend to say that they have processed my request (from 24 Jun). Everybody should be relieved to hear that this blog is now rated as “Safe”.