Pop-Up Ads

[Randy Gunn]

A couple of days ago, my wife signed up for Yahoo Launch to be able to listen to music and watch videos. The same day while on the Internet, she tried to close out a pop-up and inadvertently clicked within the ad.

Well, for the past couple of days we have been inundated with pop-ups while on the Internet, some sort of porn-blocker starts up on computer start-up, and our default web browser home page got changed. We've since cancelled the Launch and changed the browser homepage, but can't shake the pop-ups.

I've run a McAfee scan and an AdWare scan. I quaratined 86 files but found nothing else. What else can be done?

Thanks,
Randy

[Larry Hamilton]

Go to www.netscape.com, get netscape instead of explorer, it comes with a free popup stopper (manager) and other tools as well. And, as some one pointed out, explorer gets security patches every damned month, and netscape appears bullet proof (knock on wood)

[Larry Hamilton]

the whole thing is free

[JustRalph]

the google toolbar does a nice job of blocking pop-ups........

[VetScratch]

The previous suggestions are excellent... here are some more:

As an alternative to AdWare, many folks get better results from SpyBot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/), a freeware utility that has earned many awards, including PC Magazine's Editor's Choice.

Since you use McAfee AntiVirus, you might consider McAfee Personal Firewall Plus (about $30). This is not the crappy firewall McAfee previously offered... the new one was developed by NeoWorx (of NeoTrace/NeoWatch fame) and will undoubtedly earn an Editor's Choice award in the 2004 Top Utilities list. In case you have been using the Windows XP firewall (inbound protection only), switching firewalls is highly recommended. The new McAfee firewall includes the NeoTrace feature, so you can also derive some information/entertainment value by asking it to graphically trace any intrusion attempt back to its source on a global map.

If you decide to stay with MS Internet Explorer V6, probably PopUpCop has emerged as the most highly praised nuisance blocker (http://www.popupcop.com/). However, PopUpCop runs as a plug-in, like Google, so you might like Google best if you Google a lot.

[trying2win]

Randy,

I've tried a lot of different pop-up ad stoppers over the last few years. Each had there pros and cons. As I recall, some of them stopped some pop-ads, but not all of them. Others, were much better in their overall effect. However, one drawback was that some of these other pop-up stoppers wouldn't allow some online toteboards to pop-up, that I needed to look at. That is, unless you disabled the pop-up stopper temporarily. Then of course, once you were finished with the toteboard, you'd have to go back and hit the enable button again.

Finally I found a pop-up stopper that suited my needs. It's called AD MUNCHER. It's available from their website at www.admuncher.com ...They have a FAQ button there that you can click on for more info. They even give you a free, 30 day trial to see whether you like it or not. I gave it a trial, liked it, and registered it. The registration price was very reasonable.

It eliminates the annoying pop-up ads, and allows online toteboards to pop-up without having to use the enable/disable button feature. AD MUNCHER has many other features you might like too, that you can program to suit your needs.

Thanks,

Trying2win

[Randy Gunn]

Thanks for the help. Just got back from running errands. Had my computer on with my browser closed and had 6 pop-ups waiting for me! How can this happen with the browser closed?

Randy

[trying2win]

Randy,

You don't mention anything about having a pop-up stopper installed on your computer yet. Have you got one on there now? Just curious.

Also, maybe you've got some unwanted spyware stuck in your start-up menu file, that's propelling the pop-up ads to display on your machine. There should be a PA member who's a computer whiz, who's reading this thread. They should be able to help give you advice on cleaning up your start-up menu file, if that's part of the problem.

Regards,

Trying2win

[SAL]

If you are getting popups with your browser not running, then you are getting attacked via the Windows Messenger service feature. Here's how to disable it:

Disable Messenger Service

Click Start > Run and type "services.msc" (no quotes) in the Open: line and click OK

In the right pane, scroll down to Messenger.

Double click Messenger and click the General tab.

Under Service Status: click the Stop button.

In the Startup Type: drop down box, select Disable.

Click Apply and OK.

[Larry Hamilton]

great stuff here, going to copy most of it, thanks guys

[JustRalph]

Sal....nice call......saved me from having to type it.........

That messenger service sucks..............

oh yeah...........if you have broadband and you don't own a router, they are as low as 35 bucks on sale now.........no excuses anymore..........

[Larry Hamilton]

why do I need? one

[VetScratch]

JustRalph,

See http://www.handytoolshop.com/items.php?SearchKeyWord=Routers

The hardware/tools retailers are getting so many hits on "routers" that they have started selling network routers. :)

I think the Bosch 2-1/4 Horsepower Router Combination Pack makes the others look puny... marked down from $444 to $230, seems like a good buy. What do you think... is it just for power users... would it be overkill on my aging 133MHz Packard-Bell?

[JustRalph]

Now that is funny.........!!! Great link........

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by Larry Hamilton
why do I need? one

I think Larry already knows this....but here goes

It provides a hardware based firewall. As opposed to a software based solution. It also provides a ton of networking options within your local network (any machine attached to your dsl or cable modem via a router is protected) which can allow you to share your internet connection with multiple computers. It also allows for logging options like below; These are the IP addresses of machines that tried to access my computer in the last few days. As you can see there are threats out there.................... my router blocked all of these from getting through.

Incoming Log Table
Source IP Destination Port Number
65.34.51.232 17300
211.33.115.28 1025
12.73.47.242 1080
65.24.6.234 68
221.11.88.26 1434
210.192.96.98 1434
172.155.28.231 53
211.137.255.3 1434
217.234.216.133 1433
61.30.36.168 1434
66.95.132.36 21
218.145.25.15 80
38.114.129.138 49320
0.8.131.6 80
218.86.236.26 1433
64.216.218.198 1182
218.190.221.29 1434
24.161.90.214 17300
69.73.4.201 53
66.160.68.130 80
216.254.134.194 113
207.178.70.123 80
212.114.214.123 80
200.222.40.69 1434
67.243.251.210 1434
69.64.166.22 1434
211.222.21.75 25
69.70.6.249 1434
213.23.199.184 1433
65.24.6.234 68
216.218.224.26 1434
127.0.0.1 1418
202.103.172.45 1026
195.229.219.3 3389
66.52.249.70 1026
202.103.172.45 1026
218.190.58.153 1434
202.103.172.45 1026
69.138.36.4 31337
68.61.184.63 17300
210.3.130.221 1434
24.70.119.150 53
202.103.172.45 1026
168.234.193.186 80
202.103.172.45 1026
172.208.95.149 1434
64.156.39.12 1026
202.103.172.45 1026
220.97.217.142 1434
64.123.151.80 27374
81.213.17.146 1434
24.193.125.216 27374
127.0.0.1 1146
202.103.172.45 1026
65.24.6.234 68
217.36.121.154 1434
81.69.190.248 80
194.217.93.106 1433
202.103.172.45 1026
64.216.74.241 1434
80.143.40.109 21
202.103.172.45 1026
217.96.196.112 1434
202.103.172.45 1026
68.53.240.164 1433
200.84.32.54 1433
64.156.39.12 1026
68.85.171.52 27347
24.90.6.15 80
202.103.172.45 1026

[trying2win]

Has anybody else ever noticed some weird things happening to your computer, after downloading a software program?

Just recently, I downloaded a media player called WINAMP. Very good media player for finding a vast range of radio stations to listen to. Unfortunately, for some reason when I downloaded this program, it infiltrated and interfered with the workings of the WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER. I need the WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER for receiving the live video from some racetracks. So...I had to say adios to the WINAMP program. Once I deleted the WINAMP file, the WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER worked fine again.

Trying2win

[PaceAdvantage]

I know that WinAmp will probably alter your file associations...meaning when you click on a video or audio file, instead of Media Player popping up and playing the file, WinAmp will...

[Speed Figure]

Originally posted by SAL

Disable Messenger Service

Click Start > Run and type "services.msc" (no quotes) in the Open: line and click OK

In the right pane, scroll down to Messenger.

Double click Messenger and click the General tab.

Under Service Status: click the Stop button.

In the Startup Type: drop down box, select Disable.

Click Apply and OK.

Sal,

Thanks for the infro!

[Randy Gunn]

Installed ad-muncher this morning. Tried to disable the Windows Messenger per Sal's instructions but got a box telling me it couldn't find it. No biggie, though. Have a feeling Santa is brining me a couple of computer goodies this year. Plan to have a computer service come over in January to install them and give my system an overall streamlining.

Again, thanks everyone
Randy

[VetScratch]

Well then... very good! Sounds like you have everything under control... but keep us in mind for the future.

Here, let me leave you our card... that's Handicapping Stooges... under the big "H" at 5th & Baltic Avenue.