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Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat

22 Jul 03 - 06:23 PM (#988407)
Subject: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Strupag

My Mudcat surfing and rambling, in the last 2 months or so, has been constantly interrupted by annoying pop up messages asking everything from reducing my debt to "stop annoying popups"
If there is a programme that does stop this I'm damned if I.m going to buy it from an offender.
Anyone got any advice?


22 Jul 03 - 06:27 PM (#988409)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,Q

Never had a pop-up on mudcat. Your service provider??


22 Jul 03 - 06:29 PM (#988413)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Blackcatter

Mudcat doesn't have pop-ups or ads of any kind outside of Mudcat stuff. Don't know what's going on, but I doubt if its Mudcat's issue.


22 Jul 03 - 06:32 PM (#988414)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: nutty

I've never had a pop-up on Mudcat


22 Jul 03 - 06:36 PM (#988415)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: mack/misophist

Me too. No popups here. And I keep my popup supressor turned off most of the time. Check your machine for spy-ware. There's a free program called adaware you might want to look at. As for popups in general, do a google for freesare+popups. There used to be a bunch of them.


22 Jul 03 - 06:37 PM (#988416)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Amergin

it sounds like that a program was downloaded that embedded itself into your browser...causing these popups...


22 Jul 03 - 07:12 PM (#988432)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: curmudgeon

Some of the links, usually on the BS threads, do provide swell pop-ups; fortunately these are few and far between, for the nonce -- Tom


22 Jul 03 - 09:10 PM (#988474)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,Thespian

I use "Kill-Popup" which I got from here. It works very well.
As said befroe, there is probably something sneaked into your computer which opens the door to pop-ups.


22 Jul 03 - 09:18 PM (#988477)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

there are a couple of tricks used by advertisers these days...one is Pop-under ads

and here is a very technical discussion

the other is something like cookies, I think. (Can't find proper reference) they get on your machine and allow access thru some arcane loophole recently discovered.

They do NOT come from Mudcat, whatever they are.


22 Jul 03 - 10:28 PM (#988513)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bert

They are not from Mudcat. Most likely they are from your ISP. I had the same problem when I was with AT&T. When I finally got a program installed to inhibit them, AT&T wouldn't work at all.


22 Jul 03 - 10:49 PM (#988531)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: mack/misophist

Have you downloaded and installed anything like a search button for your browser? There is a man in Florida, operating out of a Hungarian URL who has been distributing ad-ware disguised that way.


22 Jul 03 - 11:23 PM (#988548)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: maire-aine

As unpopular as AOL is with some folks, I've stayed with them. Their 8.0 version has a feature that blocks pop-ups very nicely. I notice the difference between my home computer and my office computer which uses Internet Explorer, but which isn't fitted with the blocking feature. And since I access it through our network, I can't customize it.


23 Jul 03 - 12:03 AM (#988563)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Rapparee

With Netscape 7.0 you can set the Preferences to kill popups -- it's built in. I also use Norton Personal Firewall, which has a popup and ad killer.

YES! I kill popups and I'm proud of it! You hear me? Proud!! And I'm not sorry and I'll kill them again!


23 Jul 03 - 02:28 AM (#988581)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Mark Clark

It sounds as though you may have downloaded some software that includes SpyWare like Gator or Kazaa. Spyware tracks your surfing and pops up adds tailored to your surfing behavior. This can be fixed. Visit the PC Pitstop Web site, register—it's safe—and perform their test suite being careful to follow all instructions. They will guide you through several performance and security improvements and should find any SpyWare on your system.

You should also consider programs such as Ad-aware and WinPatrol. These will keep you out of trouble in the future.

If you have a broadband connection, you should also be running a personal firewall such as Kerio.

      - Mark


23 Jul 03 - 08:32 AM (#988706)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Strupag

Thanks for all your help folks - I'm stuffed for time now but when I get back I'm sure I'll sort it out.
While I'm on I 've found a program which I think was responsible. It's called "MY WAY".
I never consciously loaded it but now when I tried to delete it it says access denied. Any clues?


23 Jul 03 - 08:45 AM (#988714)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Jeri

Spybot is excellent, free, and has been severely ripped off.

Here's a review. (You can download it from there too,)

Here's the Spybot website.

There IS a warning (as in this thread) that programs that require the stupid adware/spyware may not work if you ban it from your machine. If it's your ISP, you're probably stuck with it.


--- Spybot website link fixed. ---
---Jeff (PA)---


23 Jul 03 - 11:13 AM (#988829)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: JennyO

I've had popups on other websites, but never on Mudcat.

A few months ago I downloaded a thing called Hotbar, which allows you to customize emails. I was told later that it is spyware. However I'm not getting any more popups now than before I got it. All it does is display a toolbar of subjects that are relevant to the website I am visiting. F'rinstance, right now, the toolbar says Magazines, Blues, Jazz, Big Band, Hip hop, MP3. I just don't click on them, and I don't find it intrusive at all. Obviously it is tracking the websites I am visiting, but I can't see a lot of harm in it really, and I can send some really great-looking emails.

However, my son suggested Ad-aware if I wanted to get rid of it.

Jenny


23 Jul 03 - 12:11 PM (#988873)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Jeri

Jenny, Adware does the pop-ups. Spyware collects information from your computer: web pages visited, software you use and possibly personal information.

Try http://privacy.net/. You can analyze your system to see just what information any website can get from your computer. There's also a link to see how banner ads track where you go on the net and obtain information.


23 Jul 03 - 12:21 PM (#988877)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

My Way is one of those "browsers helper objects" -- i.e. toolbar for Internet Explorer. While the company insist it's not spyware, we've all heard that tune before from software like Comet Cursor and Brodcast. Their web site says you can uninstall it from the Add/Remove Programs control panel, but you probably need to close IE first.

Does it really say "access denied" -- or some other message?

JennyO - the problem with tracking all the websites you visit is that spyware essentially opens a portal for collecting data from your computer and then broadcasting it to another server, without you having any control over the information collected or how it is used, even possibly including including web passwords and your online banking information. HotBar is particularly nasty. Plain English details on what is does here.


23 Jul 03 - 01:42 PM (#988926)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Don Firth

I have never had a pop-up on Mudcat--until about two months ago. But even though I have a pop-up blocker, I started getting pop-ups on everything. It turned out that some website I had visited had managed to deposit a program on my hard-disk (without my knowledge or permission) that was responsible for these pop-ups. Each time one appeared (several times a day) it had the same small logo at the upper left corner: "Save," and it was always telling me about how I could save money by going to this or that website, and it would provide a link. It was apparently keyed by some word on the website I was visiting at the time. I went to "Start/Find/Files or Folders" and located a "Save" folder that I didn't recall being there before. It had a text file and several other files, including an ".exe" file. The text file verified that this was the culprit. It said that this had been provided to me free of charge as a "service" and hoped I was enjoying my savings. Bingo! I deleted the whole "Save" folder. Haven't had any problems since.

It wasn't what you could call a "virus," but usually an incoming ".exe" file will trigger a big, red warning banner from my Norton AntiVirus program, but somehow this one got by.

Don Firth


23 Jul 03 - 09:51 PM (#989273)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: rangeroger

An interesting thing happened to me while reading this thread. I access the Mudcat (and the rest of the internet) via webtv. The msn servers contain firewalls, anti-spam programs,and anti-virus programs, so I have very little to worry about with the crap that is out there.

I don't have a regular cursor on my screen. When I hit a blue-clicky, my browser forms a yellow box around the link. When I hit return the box lines turn green and I go to the linked page. When I come back, the blue-clicky is now purple to show that I have accessed that link.

On Jeri's above link to Spybot the box was red.I have never seen this before. When I cicked on it I got a message that the http:// was missing from the url and therefore msntv was unable to access the website.

Could this be part of the new Mudcat programming, to let me know the link is unusable? Or maybe it is something new to msntv.

Will have to experiment with other websites.

rr


23 Jul 03 - 10:47 PM (#989292)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

Hmm -- the link DOES have a http in front of it, but it's in Germany and doesn't start with "www." Here's the text of the link:

http://security.kolla.de/


23 Jul 03 - 11:22 PM (#989313)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: JennyO

I just tried that link and it worked fine. Go figure.


23 Jul 03 - 11:28 PM (#989316)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Pene Azul

I fixed an error in that link. Nice program, by the way. Thanks, Jeri.

rangeroger, maybe your WebTV makes broken links red. See if it's still red, now.

Needless to say, The Mudcat does not have popup ads.

Jeff


23 Jul 03 - 11:30 PM (#989318)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Deckman

When all of my blockers, Norton, and everything else fails, I just enter WWW I Love You, in Finnish, and they leave me alone for the next six months! Bob


24 Jul 03 - 12:24 AM (#989346)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST

MAX - is desperate for money!!

- he will grab any penny he can, through any means he can....to keep this forum alive.

Dontate some money - under your MudCat NAME - and the pop-ups will disappear.


24 Jul 03 - 10:49 AM (#989568)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

idiot!


24 Jul 03 - 12:11 PM (#989652)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Geoff the Duck

This thread set me off looking at other websites covering aspects of computer security. I installed and ran Spybot-search and destroy and found traces of all sorts of devoius little things which have been put onto my hard drive without my permission.
One useful site I thought I should add to the Blickies in this thread is FIND http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ HERE . This site contains a list of parasite programmes which may get installed on your computer. Some of them claim to be doing a useful job, but all are either sending data about your computer to somebody who does NOT have your best wishes at heart, or can allow an external source to control your computer via an internet connection.
It is worth looking at.
Quack!
GtD.


24 Jul 03 - 04:44 PM (#989902)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,David Neale

If you use MacOS X, then start using Apple's Safari browser -- you can set it to "Block Pop-up Windows" with a single click.


24 Jul 03 - 04:49 PM (#989904)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Max

No pop-ups, no banner ads. Though we could make a little money doing that, I just don't believe in it.


24 Jul 03 - 05:02 PM (#989911)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: billy bob

hey deckman
do you meen you enter:-
I just enter WWW I Love You, in Finnish
or do enter WWW I Love You
infinish
love and fluffy stuff


24 Jul 03 - 07:15 PM (#990030)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: McGrath of Harlow

You could check if it's your browser by trying a different browser - such as Opera, which is a lot better than Internet Explorer anyway in various ways.


24 Jul 03 - 10:55 PM (#990149)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

Opera is a wonderful browser... It has features I have barely begun to use.


25 Jul 03 - 09:31 PM (#990856)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: mack/misophist

Opera is a good browser. On my machine, Firebird and Galeon are faster. I think Firebird's available for windows. I only use IE because I'm not using windows and it amuses me to cheat.


26 Jul 03 - 04:32 AM (#990970)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,David Neale

Geoff The Duck's suggestion seems only to apply to IE under Windows -- a deadly combination in anyone's language!

;-)


31 Jul 03 - 12:50 PM (#994287)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Now I'm getting them too. Always at least one pop up with Google, and sometimes more. Sometimes pop ups at Mudcat. What is going on? I run Panicware so most of them don't actually pop but good grief. I also downloaded Outpost Firewall, but it didn't seem to do much of anything for me so I uninstalled it. HELP!


31 Jul 03 - 01:26 PM (#994317)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

Sorcha...do you by any chance use the Google Toolbar? It has stuff in it that will do tricks..

But...with Mudcat...hmm..I need to remember what that new loophole is that unscrupulous (are there any other kind?) advertisers are using. I am NOT getting them, but you know what I run to keep things quiet.


31 Jul 03 - 01:29 PM (#994320)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Jeri

Sorcha, read above and download Spybot or AdAware. Strupag PM'd me and said Spybot worked for him.


31 Jul 03 - 01:30 PM (#994321)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

and are you using XP? if so, look at this page ..especially the reply by CJ... it seems to be a trick where they exploit Messenger.


31 Jul 03 - 01:32 PM (#994323)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

adding the address

this page


31 Jul 03 - 01:36 PM (#994325)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

what


31 Jul 03 - 01:45 PM (#994331)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

?? last post got cut off...

"what I did was to do a search on popups "new kind" I got hits like this

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Security/Win_Security/Q_20411637.html

http://www.opentechsupport.net/forums/archive/topic/show/14801

it does 'seem' to be that Messenger security breach on one port that is being used..."


31 Jul 03 - 01:55 PM (#994349)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST

I started off this thread paranoid and nervous with all these popups I was getting but thanks to the great mudcat support show I now have got rid of these disgusting things.
Yes Jeri, Spybhot did the trick but it threw up a few interesting things. Every time I go on internet explorer it leaves a bit of spyware called "market score"
I took MacGraw's advice and loaded Opera. Not only is it a good browser but there is no spyware.

Thanks again folks.


31 Jul 03 - 02:00 PM (#994356)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Using AdAware, thought I said that. WinME, not XP. What do you mean, 'Google toolbar'? I just go to the Google page..........


31 Jul 03 - 03:16 PM (#994418)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

ok...(Google Toolbar is an add-on thing that some use)

...I'm really not sure if WinME is open to this stuff or not...but it sure sounds like the problems those folks are getting on XP..see if any of the suggestions on those help pages do any good.


31 Jul 03 - 03:23 PM (#994429)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

OK, I did download Opera; will mess around with it later.


31 Jul 03 - 03:40 PM (#994435)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

Opera takes a litte messing with, as its bookmarks work a bit differently...(it offers you a start page of the Opera 'help' file...it is good to keep that handy as you play with it...LOTS of options)

feel free to ask/PM if you don't see exactly how Opera does things..*smile*

I think one of its best tricks is that the Q,A,Z & X keys, right under your left hand, will move you thru links and pages...X & Z are forward-back, and on pages like Mudcat, Q & A will zip you up and down to each hyperlink....


31 Jul 03 - 04:27 PM (#994464)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

If I decide to use it, is there an ez way to capture all my existing bookmarks in IE?


31 Jul 03 - 05:18 PM (#994497)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

yep..under 'file' 'import', you can choose to import all your IE bookmarks


31 Jul 03 - 05:35 PM (#994513)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

http://www.sitepointforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=32094&mode=linear&perpage=25&highlight

Web-Masters- Hijacking sites is a fairly old complaint. Read the aove thread for lots of information.

Google's corporate share price has skyrocketed - they also changed their programs and methods of "data collection" an individual's browsing. When you use google to go to a site - you will NOW find the site with Google in the URL window and the linking information.

Right Click PC Mouse to reveal properties of page, copy-paste into URL box.

The nice friendly Google of the past is the nosey-marketing-snoop of Today.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

If using windows-xp, there is an easy way to block ads and pop-ups. Just use Tweak-xp (http://www.tweak-xp.de/) and check the required options.


31 Jul 03 - 05:48 PM (#994523)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

google to go to a site - you will NOW find the site with Google in the URL window and the linking information

This is only partially correct. If you go to an advertiser's site, then Google does use referrer links -- it's how they get paid when users click on the link. It's very common, and is mostly irrelevant to the end user because if the site you are going to wants to, it can easily collect the name of the web page you were last visiting anyway.

As web tracking and privacy issues go, this is hardly worth mentioning. There are plenty of serious issues to worry about.

If it annoys you, however, you can always use a tool like WebWasher that can strip referrers from urls.


31 Jul 03 - 06:00 PM (#994534)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

here is a very interesting site,,, I was actually going to start a separate thread on this...and may anyway....http://www.google-watch.org/

I use Google, but more & more I am going to http://www.alltheweb.com/ ...and even back to good old AltaVista, as you can still do a case-sensitive search there!


05 Aug 03 - 10:03 PM (#997579)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

I think I got mine sorted. Dear Daughter downloaded MSN Chat....I just uninstalled it and the Mudcat/Google ones stopped. I HOPE.


05 Aug 03 - 10:41 PM (#997602)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

*nod*...I see..MSN anything will try to get inside your machine and control your life..*grin*...glad to hear it is looking better...


05 Aug 03 - 10:43 PM (#997603)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Just got another one on MC---not as many as before. Back to the salt mine.


05 Aug 03 - 11:05 PM (#997616)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

Sorcha...did you do that thing with Messenger? that seems to be what the experts are saying is the problem...ads are sneaking in on its coat tails.


06 Aug 03 - 12:00 AM (#997641)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Well, I un installed it......what else should I look for? Also deleted a bunch of AOHell crap too.


07 Aug 03 - 05:04 PM (#998559)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Talked to a geek today-----bloody thing has installed itsself in the Registry. I get to Re format......think I might as well wait until she moves out or she'll just download something else. Oh well.


07 Aug 03 - 06:18 PM (#998593)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

What's installed itself in the registry? That's not permanent; it's a fixable problem. A utility like RegClean can do wonders for getting rid of annoying leftovers.

However, reformatting your computer every year or so is a pretty good idea anyway to get rid of the sludge.


07 Aug 03 - 06:34 PM (#998598)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

yes...like Nicole says, the registry can be edited and cleaned. It is important to know exactly what the 'geek' says is 'installed'.

Do thos pop-ups look like this ?

If so, "A lot of "spammers" these days are exploiting the open NetBIOS port (139) on 2000/xP boxes to display this new kind of spam. They use software that uses the "net send" command to spam hundreds and thousands of IP addresses a minute. The only way to stop them is to stop & disable the messenger service in Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services."

have you looked at all at those settings? If that is not the problem, we will have eliminated one thing, but you need to know.


07 Aug 03 - 06:47 PM (#998607)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

No, they are just reg. pop ups from Travelsomething, Looking for Love, crap like that. I don't know how to fool around in the registry, and Robyn said I could really muck things up. I'll look at those settings, Bill.


07 Aug 03 - 06:51 PM (#998610)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Hmmm, could CP/Administrative Tools/ etc be called something else? I don't have it either in CP or my Search files function.


07 Aug 03 - 07:09 PM (#998623)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

Win ME doesn't have that, Sorcha. What's your ISP? Your ISP could be sending you this junk.

Anyway, no, you don't want to randomly do stuff in your registry.

First, back up your computer -- documents, Quicken files, email files, cookies, bookmarks, etc.

Second, uninstall everything that you don't recognize using the Add/Programs dialog box. If it looks like a Modem driver or something lihe that, leave those alone.

Third, download a small freeware utility called Reg Cleaner (not RegClean). Fire that puppy up. You can tell it to search your registry for orphans, and it also has an uninstall utility that will grab stuff that doesn't show up in the control panel. It will also show you who or what company signed it.

Don't get too crazy deleting stuff -- chances are you will see something like a Toolbar or Screensaver that's your culprit right off the bat.


07 Aug 03 - 07:35 PM (#998638)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Reg Cleaner is $20. NOW, I'm getting lexplore has caused an error in MSHTML.DLL (and others) and keeps shutting me down! Keeerist!


07 Aug 03 - 07:55 PM (#998650)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

Hmmm... looks like Jouni decided to go commercial last month now that he's not a teenager anymore! Good for him; it's a great product now called "jv16 PowerTools 1.4.". You can download a 30 day fully-functional trial at http://www.macecraft.com/

Direct link to trial version download


07 Aug 03 - 08:01 PM (#998655)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

BLESSED BE NICOLE C!!! I got there before you did--downloaded, ran and had 253 obsolete softwares!!! So far, no popups, but I'm still having the 'lexplore has caused an error' all the damn time. Going to go do a few other clean up things..........


07 Aug 03 - 09:22 PM (#998699)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: NicoleC

On the other error, you might try doing a Windows Update, especially the IE bits -- sometimes the fix can replace bad or missing files. If that doesn't work and the cleanup doesn't work, you may have a disk from your computer company that allows you to do a repair installation.

Unfortunately switching browsers won't necessarily make it go away, since IE stuff is used all over Windows.


07 Aug 03 - 10:12 PM (#998724)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

there is still the last freeware version of JV16 powertools at >a href=http://digidownload.libero.it/rareware/jv16pt_setup.zip and probably a couple other places... the newsgroup alt.comp.freeware always knows if there is a way...*grin*

(found this there
"
WinRet:

"WinRet is a program for tuning Windows and Internet Explorer, program
backups and restores system Registry, program Settings and Preferences,
Shortcuts, Favorites, Drivers, Outlook Express folders, accounts and
message filters (Win9x/ME/2000/XP)"

http://winret.sourceforge.net/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/winret/"


07 Aug 03 - 11:43 PM (#998766)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Well, the registry clean helped, but I just got another pop up on Mudcat. The Scan disc fixed the lexplore errors.


08 Aug 03 - 03:21 AM (#998808)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Sorry,but it has not stopped yet...........what a bloody f***ing mess.


08 Aug 03 - 01:13 PM (#999013)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

Sorcha...the popups, of course, are not 'on' Mudcat, just 'during' Mudact. It seems you need someone who really know this s**t to sit at your PC and explore.

Obviously, there is some kind of setting not set right yet, or hidden executable...whatever...that is unlatching the door for these things. (possibly being RE-set daily some remnants of a progran dear daughter downloaded.) Remember..these folks work HARD to not be discovered, and they know lots of tricks!

You said way back up there..." I also downloaded Outpost Firewall, but it didn't seem to do much of anything for me so I uninstalled it"...does this mean you are running with NO firewall now? If so, all other steps you take may be just swatting at flies when the hole in the screen is still unpatched!

I will also ask if you ever tried or considered the program that I have recommended somewhere else...The Proxomitron

between a firewall and The Proxomitron and Opera (or Mozilla/Firebird), I do NOT get popups, and 'almost' no ads on web pages.

It is sad, but in this day & age, you either learn to control spam, hire someone else to do it for you...or keep manually closing pop-ups and wasting time & energy.


15 Aug 03 - 12:37 AM (#1002451)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Well, the Geek came, the Geek saw and the Geek did not conquer. He suggested that first I try a re load of just Windows and if that doesn't stop it, then re format.........awww shit.


15 Aug 03 - 01:01 AM (#1002455)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Mark Cohen

Following on a hint from one of the articles linked to above, I found WebWasher. It's a free program that has all but eliminated popups; I'm very impressed so far.

I also highly recommend AdAware, to remove whatever spyware, data miners, and other nefarious bits that have been engrafted onto your system by those "nasty, unscrupulous modifiers." (Ten point bonus if you know the source of that last phrase.) And even if you were on the stick and got AdAware a while ago, it's a good idea to download the latest: version 6 uncovered several dozen of the buggers that version 4 didn't know about.

Aloha,
Mark

PS, unfortunately, the AdAware link doesn't work well on older browsers. I had to use IE 6.0 to see it. And be careful: the company is in Germany: their website is "lavasoft.de", not "lavasoft.com"...although the latter site is nice enough to provide a link to the AdAware one.


15 Aug 03 - 06:42 PM (#1002955)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

WebWasher is a pretty good product, I hear,....but I'd give a nickle to sit at your PC for a bit and install Proxomitron and watch what happened..*grin*...it is the main thing I see discussed and recommended by the geeks **I** hang out with,,,,

you can read a discussion here


15 Aug 03 - 07:14 PM (#1002967)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

well..I retract that. It is not a very good discussion. I should read it all before I recommend. A search on the terms will get you more reading than you can absorb...

The thing is, Prox has a set of blocking instruction built in...to run right "out of the box"...but folks also write extra 'special' filters for it and publish them at various places.. I looked at and added several that were recommended and pop-ups on my machine went from occasional to almost NEVER...if you should decide to try it, I would find them again.


15 Aug 03 - 08:59 PM (#1003007)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: katlaughing

For once I have not read the whole thread before posting. Rather than start a new one, I thought I'd ask here...have any of you tried the brand-new google toolbar which says it prevents pop-ups as well as has a bunch of other *nifty* features?

My apologies if it's already been discussed. I just saw it on google today. Thanks,

kat


15 Aug 03 - 09:12 PM (#1003009)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,Jon

One comment on popup killers:

I got into a conversation with someone on the BBC folk board a couple of weeks ago. In brief, he was having problems with thier radio player and wanted to know the experience of others. As a result, to try something I downloaded and installed the latest version of Mozilla on Linux.

I opened the browser, went to the BBC page and tried to open the radio player. It turned out that the browser has an in built pop-up killer and when the BBC radio page (which pops up in its own window) came up, it warned me that an "unauthorised pop up" had come and offered to kill all pop-ups in the future..

That was not the problem I was trying to look for or the reason for this person's difficulty (I've not a clue what it is) but it did lead me to wonder about using pop-up killers...

In the same way as I would rather at least partly deal with spam manualy (I use something that just flags messages as "suspect") in case I missed an important message, I'd rather deal with pop-ups manualy than have a window I need to access just closed for me.


15 Aug 03 - 09:16 PM (#1003012)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Tech-Tip -
You might try loading this thread - then using the EDIT (find on this page) function of your browser with the search term GOOGLE to see references within THIS THREAD regarding your suggested search-engine.

Some people, in this thread, have SERIOUS concerns regarding "enhancements" that Google has added in the year 2003.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


15 Aug 03 - 09:23 PM (#1003013)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

kat...the Google Toolbar seems to have some privacy issues. It is only useful if they can use it to collect data, and you give up 'some' privacy to use it, I am told. I will see if I can find recent references

Jon...the Mozilla preferences allow you to individually specify which web sites you DO trust. It would take a short while to build up your list, but at least you can have pop-ups allowed when they are benign & useful. In Opera, I allow pop-ups, but filter them thru Proxomitron, where I set classes and do my individual exceptions.


15 Aug 03 - 11:19 PM (#1003053)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Good Point Bill D,

They were set so long ago I forgot about them.

Whenever a pop-up used to appear I would, cut/paste, add them to the (unapproved sites) list. (Sometimes - when I felt that a malivolent side of my personae was manifested through this medium - I would add mudcat.org to the manifest.)

A few of the biggies were/are:

ad.doubleclick.net
adserver.com
click.atdmt.com
clickit.go2net.com
go2net.com
popups.infostart.com
mt.com

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


15 Aug 03 - 11:27 PM (#1003056)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: katlaughing

Thanks, Bill. I was really just wondering. Not planning on using it. I have Proxomitron, too, thanks to your recommendation. I think Ad-Aware was on your recommend, too.:-)


16 Aug 03 - 01:06 AM (#1003078)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: rangeroger

Mark, the source of your phrase was one of Paul Stookeys dialogs on Puff the Magic Dragon. I beieve the full phrase is foul,unscrupolous,modefilers.

rr


16 Aug 03 - 05:02 AM (#1003118)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Sorry about it not getting any use LaughKat - lots of things grow and get better with use.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


23 Aug 03 - 11:22 PM (#1007216)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Ah, sheesh. Did the reformat today. Lost my Favorites (those can be re built), lost my e mail addys, (have those on hard copy, can enter manually). THINK I have everything else replaced. Firewall, programs, etc. but my scanner and printer refuse to re install. Tomorrow's project...........scanner is plug and play, so don't know why there is a prob. Inserted disc for printer, re installed. Print screen comes up but when I hit OK to print, nothing happens..........


24 Aug 03 - 12:27 AM (#1007225)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Sorcha - You have my sincerest sympathies



Install firewalls-keep your anit-virus current and active.

This was DOOZZZYYY!!!!



I am not a GEEK...but I am a fairly more than competant geek.



For three days... (close to 20 hours total) on a friend's machine I hacked a couple-hundred par-mutations.



His "beasty" conquered all my best skills today. I was defeated I/We turned it....back into the shop.... His virus (pop-up - HotBox) could write-back-onto-itself....alter the registry...it had German spawning verbage....



SafeMode, C:>, Reclaim, recover, scanreg, regedit, A: C: E:. recovery disks, 20 different autoexec.bat, sys.ini,



NIGHTMARE on ConFig Street!



PC - FOLKS - PLEASE backup the entire BOOT - Reg - Sys to a START-UP disk using, START, ADD, and Startup.



It could have saved me 70 dollars US...and 20 hours of interesting exploration.



Sincerely,

Gargoyle


24 Aug 03 - 01:05 AM (#1007231)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

A hell of a lot of information here. This thread is worth saving.

If I get several pop-ups on a website that has information that I wish to pass on as a link in a thread, I keep looking because there usually is a site that is free of- or has only one or two easily removed pop-ups. Everyone at Mudcat seems to be pretty good with this, only a couple of the links posted here gave me trouble.

A friend of mine was complaining about large pop-ups that extend beyond the edge of his screen. Most are easy to click out- just drag on the blank bar on that line so that the --X is exposed. Another friend had showed me that a while back.

I haven't got any pop-ups into my system, and overall don't get many. I use IE as little as possible, sticking to Netscape for most things, but some sites are designed so that Netscape doesn't work. I will come back to this thread if I get trouble in the future.

When I installed Norton, after a lot of problems with McAfee, some McAfee files remained even though a techie thought he had removed them all. When I removed and trashed one that I found, my email attachments quit. A techie fixed the problem, and removed some more McAfee files. Now I have found a couple more (they seem to have been files in all programs) but I will wait until the next time I need help to have them removed. Afraid to attack them myself. Never did get a refund from mcAfee.


24 Aug 03 - 12:26 PM (#1007337)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

I have seen various complaints about McAfee..it's not that it doesn't 'work'...but just that it does stuff like you describe and is hard to configure and control...it seems like IT want to be the boss, rather than allow YOU to be........and...gargoyle has a good point about creating a backup disk for your system configurations (and bookmarks/favorites and address book, too)

I am planning to install a 40 gig slave hard drive soon, and do automatic backups on a regular basis...for both security and hardware safety.


24 Aug 03 - 03:15 PM (#1007412)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Geoff the Duck

I just installed and ran the newest version of Ad-Aware(version number 6.0) and it has added a load more features onto the previous version I have been running. It spotted a load of dodgy stuff not previously highlighted. It seems to do a pretty thorough job at spotting "tracking cookies" used by advertising companies (probably in popups) to gather information about you which they have no right to take.
Quack!
GtD.


24 Aug 03 - 09:41 PM (#1007574)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Tom2

Get ad aware and spybot. That will stop the pop ups. They are freeware.


24 Aug 03 - 11:16 PM (#1007604)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

Mine is all fixed. Got Panicware, Spybot,Outpost Firewall & jv16 Registry tools. Now, if my email ISP/server would just come back up, I could re do my address book...........been down 2 days. About to get ugly with them and ask when they plan to either restore service or reduce my bill. At least the 'lexplore has caused an error in "take your pick" is gone.


24 Aug 03 - 11:46 PM (#1007614)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Bill D

oh...you do 'know' your ISP mail server is down? Not just a setting wrong somewhere? Hard to fix things when no mail to test it on is incoming.


24 Aug 03 - 11:50 PM (#1007617)
Subject: RE: Tech: Hounded by popups on mudcat
From: Sorcha

No, I get the 'unexpecetedly terminated the connection' so I called the Help Line. Yes, communicomm.'s e mail server is definitely down. They are 'fixing a noise problem'...........My account is set up properly, checked that while I had them on the phone.
    Thread closed - seems to be a magnet for Spam.
    -Joe Offer-