Referral spam is one of the most annoying issues that website admins are dealing with. As we’ve already pointed out, we’re currently in the spam season.
We’re about to add another spam URL to the list – site2400288.snip(.)to.
Referral spam is a type of spamming attack that could serve various purposes, such as:
- Bringing traffic to affiliates, vendors or other third-party websites.
- Trying to infect as many users as possible during the spam campaign.
- Devaluing a competitor’s website.
Learn more about referral spam:
site2400288.snip(.)to Description
Reports indicate that Site2400288.snip(.)to is one of the latest referrer spam URLs associated with the snip(.)to domain.
Тhe snip domain specifically targets the particular website’s analytical data measured by Google Analytics. Referrer spam is employed to ruin the analytical data with bogus referral traffic.
Website owners may have noticed an uptake in site2400288(.)snip.to referrer traffic in their Google Analytics accounts. The URL is crafted to promote spam websites that crooks want to be visited by users. According to research, Site2400288.snip(.)to redirects users to sharebutton.to.
Тhere are several consequences that may be provoked by Site2400288.snip(.)to and other spam domains:
- The spam domain could replace its URL with the victim site’s link, resulting in identifying the victim’s site as a spamming one. This could happen without any knowledge of the user and may be destructive in the long term.
- Spammers can modify the SEO measures, by creating links from victim sites that include them in their access logs. Such tactic is usually applied with the purpose of gaining popularity in Google search results for the spammers’ web link. Any website with analytical data can be affected.
- The spam domain can even spread malware by creating links from sites that include it in their content. This scenario is quite dangerous because data could be obtained directly from the website, thus allowing spammers send even more spam. Another negative outcome is the loss of personal information.
In short, Site2400288.()snip.to is a domain applied to affect any website with falsified referral traffic from various locations using traffic bots, or machines infected with malware, among other blackhat SEO tactics. What are spammers gaining by messing with legitimate websites?
Spam gives them the opportunity to promote the website they want to be boosted, thus improving the spammers SEO ranking by creating traffic via the victim website’s access log.
How to Deal with site2400288(.)snip.to?
Method 1: Filtering site2400288(.)snip.to in Google Analytics:
Step 1: Click on the ‘Admin’ tab on your GA web page.
Step 2: Choose which ‘View’ is to be filtered and then click the ‘Filters’ button.
Step 3: Click on ‘New Filter’.
Step 4: Write a name, such as ‘Spam Referrals’.
Step 5: On Filter Type choose Custom Filter –>Exclude Filter –> Field: Campaign Source–> Filter Pattern. Then on the Pattern, enter the domain name – site2400288(.)snip.to
Step 6: Select Views to Apply Filter.
Step 7: Save the filter, by clicking on the ‘Save’ button.
Also, make sure you check out these several methods to help you further block out this referrer spam from google analytics:
https://sensorstechforum.com/exclude-all-hits-from-known-bots-and-spiders-in-google-analytics/
We have also researched the following methods to remove this spam:
Method 2: Block it from your server.
In case you have a server that is Apache HTTP Server, you may want to try the following commands to block Ranksonic(.)net domains in the .htaccess file: RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*snip.\.ly/ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*site2400288.snip. \.org/ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*site2400288.snip \.info/ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*site2400288.snip \.co/ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*site2400288.snip \.to/ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*site2400288.snip \-for\-website\.to/ [NC,OR]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ – [F,L]
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^https://.*acmeta \.com/ [NC,OR]
Also, have a look at the link below to get to know other spam URLs being blacklisted from other servers:
https://perishablepress.com/blacklist/ultimate-referrer-blacklist.txt
Disclaimer: This type of domain blocking in Apache servers has not yet been tested and it should be done by experienced professionals. Backup is always recommended.
Method 3 – Via WordPress
There is another method that uses WordPress plugins to block referrer spams from websites. We have currently seen one particular plugin reported to work, called WP-Ban. You can research and find others that are as efficient as this one. WP-Ban has the ability to block users based on their IP address and other information such as the URL.
If you are a user and you continue to be redirected to this annoying website or keep seeing intrusive,spam advertisements, it is highly recommended to use an advanced anti-malware program to determine if your computer has been infected by malware or other threats related to site2400288(.)snip.to.
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool.Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool / How to Uninstall SpyHunter
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the project started. A professional with 10+ years of experience in creating engaging content. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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Preparation before removing .
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
FAQ
What Does Trojan Do?
The Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like , can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind that there are more sophisticated Trojans that leave backdoors and reinfect even after a factory reset.
Can Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on ?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.