WPKG

WPKG is an automatic tool that distributes service packs and hotfixes, installing programs from a central server (Samba) to stations in the Windows environment. For networks that use Windows XP, this tool can replace the Software Update Services (SUS) Microsoft using a Linux server that has Samba installed. As explained above, WPKG is a very useful device. However, there are indications that WPKG is being victimized by the censorship of the 'Great China Wall', because Chinese computer users, when surfing the Web, are being redirected to WPKG.org that while appearing to be a non-toxic website, has been preventing millions of Chinese Web surfers from loading various sites and social networks, specially Facebook and, other times, to another website named ptraveler.com.

It isn't the first time that the 'Great Firewall of China' has interfered with a website. GitHub faced the same problem a while ago, and it is known that not less than 18,000 websites are not allowed within Mainland China. The cause for what is happening is not clear, and security experts are not sure even if there is a motivation behind it. There are theories stating that the redirects are related to a Facebook Connect button present on a website or the JavaScript on the page. However, the redirects do not happen on a constant basis and do not show any evidence of affecting the websites that are experiencing the redirects. It may even have been created by third parties with undisclosed intentions because it has symptoms similar to a cyber attack. The fact is that although WPKG.org redirects are not triggered by corrupted adware-related add-ons or threats, WPKG.org hijacks the computer user's Web browser and redirects it to its website automatically.

Computer users based on Mainland China or computer users that are using a Chinese VPN (Virtual Private Network) are the targets of the supposed WPKG.org's 'Great Firewall of China' tactic. What they need to understand is that their computers weren't seized or infected by a threat. Using tools that fight this kind of invasion will not solve the problem. To get rid of forced redirections to the WPKG.org or ptraveler.com websites, users should take the steps stipulated below to block access from your host files and prevent it from happening:

1. In a txt editor, type 'C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.'
2. Affix it on your Window system's search box.
3. Open it using your Notepad.
4. Add the domain http://www.ptraveler.com/pt.js.
5. Type '127.0.0.1 wpkg.org' at the bottom of your Notepad content and save it.
6. Clear the cache of your browser.

There have been reports of users that have used other methods to solve the issue. The methods described below are not as effective as the one specified above, but may also work:

1. Add WPKG.org to your list of blocked websites.
2. Disable JavaScript on your Web browser.
3. Add connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js to your list of blocked websites.

The last suggestion is that affected users utilize another, unaffected network until the problem is solved.