Forum: Author Hangout

Request for help

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

It seems that Microsoft's security software is reporting storiesonline as an unsafe site. The fix needs to be done through a Windows computer and I don't have one on hand.

If you are using Windows and you saw the alert, can you do me a favour and do the following please. (instructions are from microsoft):

You can immediately submit a request for a correction. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen has a built-in, web-based feedback system in place to help customers and website owners report any potential false warnings as quickly as possible. In Windows Internet Explorer, from a red warning, click More information then Report that this site contains no threats. This will take you to a feedback page where you can indicate you are a site owner or representative. Follow the instructions and provide the information on this site to submit a site for review.

To report feedback from the Internet Explorer Download Manager, Right-click on the blocked download and choose Report that this file is safe. This will take you to the feedback page.

Once a dispute is submitted, a team of graders inspects the site in question. All disputes should be submitted through the website reporting process to ensure the quickest resolution.

In Microsoft Edge, click More information then Report that this site does not contain threats.

Replies: Dominions Son LOAnnie Grey Wolf

Dominions Son 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

It seems that Microsoft's security software is reporting storiesonline as an unsafe site. The fix needs to be done through a Windows computer and I don't have

This seems more like an issue with Edge itself. I'm running on Win 10 (64 bit), but mostly I use Firefox to access the site. I've seen no warnings.

Give me a few minutes, I'll try it from Edge.

Replies: sunseeker Dominions Son StarFleet Carl

sunseeker 🚫

@Dominions Son

same here. no warning using firefox 98.0, windows 11 64 bit,

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@sunseeker

same here. no warning using firefox 98.0, windows 11 64 bit,

Interesting, I had no idea that there was a Windows 11. How long has that been out?

Replies: sunseeker

sunseeker 🚫
Updated:

@Dominions Son

I updated from Windows 10 on 31 Oct 2021. So far no problems with 11. Had to make some changes though, like move the "Start" button back to the left instead of centered, but that was easy enough to do after a google search :)

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@sunseeker

I don't do full version update in place on the same hardware.

Last time I tried it (granted decades ago) it screwed up so badly that I had to have a full re-format done on the hard-drive.

Replies: sunseeker

sunseeker 🚫

@Dominions Son

I did too back in the 90's, then tried it again with my netbook from Windows 7 to 10 and had no problem, so went ahead and did it on my Samsung from Win 7 Pro to Win 10 Pro and again no problem. My newest Samsung went from Win 10 Home to Win 11 Home no fuss no muss...KNOCK ON WOOD! lol :)

Dominions Son 🚫
Updated:

@Dominions Son

I got a warning from edge. (I don't from either Firefox or Chrome).

Interestingly the Warning I got was specifically that SOL was a phishing threat.

I got to the base storiesonline.net page (the one with the login, create free account, post stories, preview site, and story showcase buttons) without any problems.

Clicked the log-in link and the log in page came up without problems.

I got the warning after hitting the (>) button on the login page.

They may have flagged something about the login itself or the re-director that sends you to the home page after login, or maybe the fact that the login page is a different domain.

ETA: I followed the process to report it as not a threat.

Replies: Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Dominions Son

They may have flagged something about the login itself or the re-director that sends you to the home page after login, or maybe the fact that the login page is a different domain.

Maybe, or maybe it could be a malicious action. It's happened before.

Storiesonline has competitors and many use nefarious methods to bring SOL down.

I've had to deal with the following issues in the past, generally once every couple of years:

1 - Somebody submitted a DMCA request to Google and Bing that the site's home page is a copyright violation.
2 - Somebody posted thousands and thousands of links to SOL on spammy russian sites. (Black SEO).
3 - Somebody changed the DNS entry on 3 spammy russian domains to point to SOL's IP address. (Black SEO)
4 - Somebody used over a hundred email addresses to start the process of creating new accounts in one day and clicking 'This is spam' on the verification message and caused our mail server to be blocked by Microsoft (hotmail.com, outlook.com, msn.com,live.com) and Gmail.
5 - Several DOS attacks on the site and the log in server.
6 - Whenever I've put an ad for storiesonline on Google, each and every time, somebody would submit a DMCA take down on the ad's landing page.

ETA: I followed the process to report it as not a threat.

Thank you.

Replies: Dominions Son nihility

Dominions Son 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Haters gotta hate. [shakes head].

4 seems like a really high LOE.

nihility 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Still appearing 3/14 @ 19:30 EDT. Followed the process as well. FYI, there is also a choice for "I am the owner or representative of this website and I want to report an incorrect warning about it" which asks for contact info and more info about the site. May be more effective than the "I think this is a safe website" button.

Also, not that you would be surprised, but the Microsoft Smart Screen relies on, in part, "a dynamic list of reported phishing sites and malicious software sites".

Replies: Dominions Son Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster) Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Dominions Son 🚫

@nihility

FYI, there is also a choice for "I am the owner or representative of this website and I want to report an incorrect warning about it" which asks for contact info and more info about the site. May be more effective than the "I think this is a safe website" button.

The problem is Lazeez (the owner of the site) doesn't have a windows system or MS Edge, which is the only way to get to that page.

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@nihility

Also, not that you would be surprised, but the Microsoft Smart Screen relies on, in part, "a dynamic list of reported phishing sites and malicious software sites".

That's the part that I was talking about when I said that it could be malicious as in malicious false reporting. It's not the first thing that whoever is this enemy doing this has done.

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@nihility

Still appearing 3/14 @ 19:30 EDT. Followed the process as well. FYI, there is also a choice for "I am the owner or representative of this website and I want to report an incorrect warning about it" which asks for contact info and more info about the site. May be more effective than the "I think this is a safe website" button.

The upside is that edge has a minuscule market share and isn't the behemouth that IE was at one point. So in a way, I can ignore it as it affects less than 1% of the site's traffic.

But of course, I can't ignore it as some other browsers may get a whiff of that info and it may cause the site's general reputation to suffer.

I'll see how I can get my hands on a Windows machine and fix this stupid issue.

Replies: Keet

Keet 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

I'll see how I can get my hands on a Windows machine and fix this stupid issue.

Just find a contact address (email) and send the message nihility suggested:
"I am the owner or representative of this website and I want to report an incorrect warning about it".
I have multiple machines and laptops but all with Debian so no chance of helping that way.

Replies: Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Keet

Just find a contact address (email) and send the message nihility suggested:

I sent a request through the Bing Webmaster tools. Still waiting for a reply.

Replies: Ernest Bywater xavier721

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Still waiting for a reply.

Put the kettle on and go out to buy some biscuits and extra tea bags or coffee, as you'll need it if you're waiting for a response from MS.

xavier721 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

I didn't think about it, but my daughter's laptop runs Windows. I'll take a run at it today. I do think it's totally awesome that you are so far removed from windows that even your friends don't have it. Even though it's creating this issue for you which I'm sorry for, YOU ROCK!

Replies: xavier721

xavier721 🚫

@xavier721

Ok,

System: Windows 10
Browser: Edge

Result: I went to the site and signed in with no issues.

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@Dominions Son

an issue with Edge itself

I'm running Windows 11 using Chrome with Duck Duck Go and Kaspersky Internet Security, no issues on my end. And that's on MULTIPLE computers.

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@StarFleet Carl

I'm running Windows 11 using Chrome with Duck Duck Go and Kaspersky Internet Security, no issues on my end. And that's on MULTIPLE computers.

I'm running Win 10 I use Firefox, Chrome and Edge. I only get the warning on Edge.

LOAnnie 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

I just used Edge on Windows 11 and no alert... in fact, I'm using it to send this message.

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@LOAnnie

That's interesting. I just retested from Edge on Win 10 and I'm still getting the alert.

Replies: Ernest Bywater Grant

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Dominions Son

That's interesting. I just retested from Edge on Win 10 and I'm still getting the alert.

Typical MS Windows behaviour - it doesn't know if it's coming or going.

Actually, there is a very ongoing issue with MS Windows software as their process of software development is to have two development teams going any single point in time. One unit is working on the next release of the software and the other is working on the version to follow it. While some significant changes being made to the software is shared between them most of the small routines are not. That's why you';; see certain minor action work in one version then not work in the next but be back in the one after it.

Grant 🚫

@Dominions Son

That's interesting. I just retested from Edge on Win 10 and I'm still getting the alert.

MS Edge (current version) on Win10 (i tend to be 6 months behind on OS feature updates, 1 month behind on security/other) updates, and have yet to have any issues with warnings about this site (or any other WLPC site).

Grey Wolf 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

No edge warnings on two Windows 10 systems. I don't have anything moved up to 11 yet.

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Forum: Author Hangout

Request for help

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