|
16 Mar 10 - 06:24 AM (#2865095) Subject: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Jack Campin I normally use a very old browser on this MacOS 9 machine - iCab 2.9.9. Most of the time I've had Javascript disabled, becaiuse it doesn't work very well and it's a resource hog. This means I don't get to see the ads here - or some photo gallery sites. Last night I re-enabled Javascript to see some pictures. Today I launched a BS thread (the one on Texas schoolbooks), after forgetting to turn the Javascript off again. The result locked up and then crashed my browser, and somethign has happened that now means I can't reset the browser preferences, despite relaoding both the prefs file and the browser itself froma backup. So I can't now get at the p[references panel that turns Javascript off , and I'm stuck with some almost unreadable text editing font (so this message will probably be a mess). This is by far the most destructive Javascript code I've ever encountered. It'll probably be days before I can get this machine (the main one I use) back into a state where I can post to Mudcat (or any other web forum) from it again. I am going to make damn sure that all Javascript from Mudcat is blocked on every other setup I use that allows selective script blocking. |
|
16 Mar 10 - 07:41 AM (#2865135) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: *#1 PEASANT* I use firefox and I have been getting a stall white screen and then a notificaiton that scripts on Mudcat page are still running would I like to turn them off. This happens frequently |
|
16 Mar 10 - 10:31 AM (#2865239) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Jeri I downloaded and use Adblock Plus on Firefox. The last additions to advertising here just put it over way the top for me. A few ads--no problem, but these seriously interfered with my browsing here. |
|
16 Mar 10 - 11:12 AM (#2865267) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Jack Campin After about four hours of running repair utilities I seem to have got my machine back. Unfortunately iCab doesn't have any prior warning that it might try to execute Javascript malware like the stuff in the Mudcat ads, and its script blocking is all-or-nothing. |
|
16 Mar 10 - 12:13 PM (#2865323) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: GUEST From a security point of view, running relatively recent software is much more important than having javascript switched off. I would doubt this was malware, the crunched prefs file would have been a result of iCab ending unexpectedly. The problem that resulted in the crash is much more likely to be a result of relatively antiquated software which is probably laced with bugs that have been remove in more recent versions.
Thanks. -Joe Offer- |
|
16 Mar 10 - 12:21 PM (#2865330) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: JohnInKansas The annoying behaviour I've been seeing recently is a long pause loading a thread page while the mouse pointer "flutters" and the browser acts like it's "hung." This happens only on BS threads, so far as I've seen, and is associated with a single "ad" with an amazon.com button, and another button to one of the junk "messaging" links (whose name I don't recall because it's not anything I'd ever want to click). The "pointer flutter" is apparently becaue the ad contains about a dozen "remote sites," each of which must be separately connected/accessed to insert a single link. Each link download requires connection to a different source file, and when that connection is "made" the pointer returns to normal, but flips back to an "in processs" form until the next link completes its thing. While the "delay" is inconvenient, the really annoying thing is that often one or more of the remote "links" gets inserted in the browser history log, so the "Back" button tries to send you to that link (which is a non-displayable file) rendering it impossible to get back to anything useful using "Back." The offending "ad group" appears only intermittently, and so far as I've been able to see it's only on BS threads (mostly?). That ad group, at least in it's most annoying form, doesn't appear to be present now, although my "back history" list does show a couple of extraneous "connections" that aren't functional. Properly formed jscript "insert ad" links should be ignored in the "Back list" and should not appear there. It might be conjectured that if the "Submit Message" button references that list to get the id of the thread in which to add the post (??), an inappropriate link in the list might be a cause of some of the failures to post that have been reported with some frequency recently(????). Within the past couple of weeks I've had two or three "submits" that had to be repeated as many as three times to get the post to "take," and so far as I've noticed the offensive "ad" was on all pages where it happened. John |
|
16 Mar 10 - 12:33 PM (#2865350) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Bill D Even with fast cable, I often see a 15-20 sec. delay while the ads from Am**on load... as many as 100 links at a time. Then I switch to a browser with all that SHUT OFF and see NO ads. Too bad, but when limits are reached, sometimes the only way is to deny ANY ads. |
|
16 Mar 10 - 01:13 PM (#2865378) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Goose Gander Ads sent your browser to the glue factory? |
|
16 Mar 10 - 02:19 PM (#2865418) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Jack Campin I've had the flutter on Firefox, too. If the scripts on Mudcat damage ANY browser, of any age on any platform, they're malware. I have seen enough of this blame-the-victim bullshit from incompetent, arrogant dimwit programmers over the years to recognize a feeble excuse when I see one. Test what kind of browser you're serving the code to, and unless you know for sure that that browser will interpret your code the way you intend, DON'T serve it. You get all the data you need in the HTTP request that opens a new thread. |
|
16 Mar 10 - 03:25 PM (#2865460) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Nigel Parsons TTTO My Bonnie lies over ... The adverts have knackered my browser With pop-ups invading my screen. So now I will ask, "tell me how sir To get things as they once have been." I've got Java, I got it from some site for free (for free) This palaver will be the ruin of me. |
|
17 Mar 10 - 07:28 AM (#2865907) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: The Fooles Troupe Thanks Nigel - you saved me the effort... :-) Now a few more verses please! |
|
17 Mar 10 - 09:13 AM (#2865978) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Nigel Parsons As you ask so nicely: Each Mico$oft 'great new improvement' Reduces the CPU speed I can't stand the scroll bar's slow movement Which just can't keep up while I read. More may follow. You have been warned! |
|
17 Mar 10 - 09:18 AM (#2865980) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Nigel Parsons Now Norton's a powerful tool Which blocks all the "Pop-ups from Hell" For buying it, I'm such a fool. It's blocking my downloads as well. |
|
17 Mar 10 - 10:31 AM (#2866025) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Nigel Parsons My desktop is quite inefficient. In recent times it has got worse. It states "memory insufficient" That's why I've forgotten this …um …er |
|
17 Mar 10 - 11:13 AM (#2866046) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: katlaughing LOL...well done! I've been getting pretty much what BillD and others mention. Very frustrating with page loads taking so long, etc. |
|
18 Mar 10 - 03:31 AM (#2866621) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Stilly River Sage Bear in mind, that flutter is the result of cash pouring into Mudcat's coffers. It's what helps keep it afloat. I heard an essay about ad blocking and your favorites sites on NPR this week. He suggested you not block the ads on the places you want to see financed and stay in existence. I can't find the link, but it was in the last few days, a week at the most. Someone else may remeber having heard it. SRS |
|
19 Mar 10 - 03:34 PM (#2867814) Subject: RE: Tech: Ads have knackered my browser From: Nigel Parsons TTTO My Bonnie lies over ... The adverts have knackered my browser With pop-ups invading my screen. So now I will ask, "tell me how sir To get things as they once have been." I've got Java, I got it from some site for free (for free) This palaver will be the ruin of me. Each Mico$oft 'great new improvement' Reduces the CPU speed I can't stand the scroll bar's slow movement Which just can't keep up while I read. Now Norton's a powerful tool Which blocks all the "Pop-ups from Hell" For buying it, I'm such a fool. It's blocking my downloads as well. My desktop is quite inefficient. In recent times it has got worse. It states "memory insufficient" That's why I've forgotten this …um …er |