everytime I go to SO, I always get spammed with a ton of adware, like 10-13 popups at a time, has anyone else had this problem? and if so, is there a way TJ or somebody in charge can get this removed?

Nope, I get maybe 1 pop-up at most when I come here.

Originally posted by AllIWantIsYourClutch
Nope, I get maybe 1 pop-up at most when I come here.

Same here. In fact, I get none at all. Yay for Firefox. :cool:

I was going to bring up the same subject! Everytime I log on SO I end up with up to 15 parasites on my Spyhunter tool. I have to scan and clean my computer everyday! I know they come from here because I very rarely spend anytime anywhere else! As far as pop ups go I have a good ad blocker but it is the invisible stuff that invades my computer!:mad: So I would say , yes SO is loaded with spyware!:(

I don't get that. the thing that might be happening is the adware might have infected the cache pages in you browser and set it to trigger this stuff.

Originally posted by PZelda
Same here. In fact, I get none at all. Yay for Firefox. :cool: Hellz yia.

Originally posted by Penny Lane
I was going to bring up the same subject! Everytime I log on SO I end up with up to 15 parasites on my Spyhunter tool. I have to scan and clean my computer everyday! I know they come from here because I very rarely spend anytime anywhere else! As far as pop ups go I have a good ad blocker but it is the invisible stuff that invades my computer!:mad: So I would say , yes SO is loaded with spyware!:(

Internet Explorer sucks bigtime. Switch to Firefox and your Spyhunter won't find anything when it searches. :cool:

Originally posted by PZelda
Internet Explorer sucks bigtime. Switch to Firefox and your Spyhunter won't find anything when it searches. :cool:


Ok, I will try that!:D

Originally posted by PZelda
Internet Explorer sucks bigtime. Switch to Firefox and your Spyhunter won't find anything when it searches. :cool:

You are so right I switched over a week ago and I have had barely any spyware at all. IE sucks I wish there was a way to get rid of it completely.

I get alot of pop-ups and spyware stuff when I come here.

Originally posted by MissZero
I get alot of pop-ups and spyware stuff when I come here.

use a pop up blocker or download Firefox it has a pop up blocker installed and I haven't had a single one in over a week since I installed it.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Yeah,everybody also be careful cause those ads up at the
top that say would to scan your computer now could be hoaxes
and they can mess your computer big time!

Since we're on the subject of spyware I have a question. I have Firefox. I heard that The Futon Critic has spyware. Does it help protect against it?

Hm, I use IE, and I get one or two pop-ups, but it doesn't really matter I guess... I'm switching to Firefox this week when I have a few moments to download it.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
everytime I go to SO, I always get spammed with a ton of adware, like 10-13 popups at a time, has anyone else had this problem? and if so, is there a way TJ or somebody in charge can get this removed? most likely the problem lies within YOUR Internet Explorer...

download the newest version of Spybot-Search & Destroy and/or AdAware, and run a full scan, then download CoolWebShredder (removes all variants of the CoolWeb trojan/hijacker) then see if it makes a difference....

and as mentioned earlier in this thread, try firefox - you should see a LOT less ads/pop-ups, spyware...

Originally posted by Brian
Since we're on the subject of spyware I have a question. I have Firefox. I heard that The Futon Critic has spyware. Does it help protect against it? most spyware isnt designed to attack firefox, because it doesnt use ActiveX - making it a LOT harder to compromise

there are some important security updates in Windows XP Service Pack 2, i would strongly suggest you install it if you are using IE, but if you are already infested with Spyware it WONT help

Originally posted by Penny Lane
I was going to bring up the same subject! Everytime I log on SO I end up with up to 15 parasites on my Spyhunter tool. I have to scan and clean my computer everyday! I know they come from here because I very rarely spend anytime anywhere else! As far as pop ups go I have a good ad blocker but it is the invisible stuff that invades my computer!:mad: So I would say , yes SO is loaded with spyware!:(

I have the same problem. Each time I come to SO, I get about 20 parasites. I know it's coming from here. I have to run noadware everyday and it's so annoying. I seem to get even more parasites then I did before I even downloaded the noadware. I come to SO a few times a day so if I only clear the parasities once a day the parasties can total a lot more than 20. I only go to one other site, and I know this site seems full of a lot more spyware than the other site.

Is firefox free, or do you have to pay for it? Can you have firefox on your computer if you already have noadaware installed? With firefox do you have to wipe out the parasites after each time your on the Internet like with noadware?

Originally posted by Jen1989
Is firefox free, or do you have to pay for it? Can you have firefox on your computer if you already have noadaware installed? With firefox do you have to wipe out the parasites after each time your on the Internet like with noadware?

Yeah, Firefox is 100% free.

And because of the way it is designed, Firefox is able to avoid spyware...Thus, eliminating your need to run Adaware and Spybot after every browser session. ;)

There is no spyware embedded on any of the pages. I do my best and screen all the ads. If anybody is claiming they get 10-15 popups from here, you have spyware that you got from installing some program or visiting another site. You should receive on the message boards at most 1 popunder per 12 hours.

There are no activex ads run on here, so spyware can't be installed from just the regular banners at the top. If you keep getting the same spyware over and over again, then you aren't getting it deleted properly. Run Adaware and then reboot your computer.

Ultimately, you are responsible for the security of your own computer. You have control of your own browser settings.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by TJ
There is no spyware embedded on any of the pages. I do my best and screen all the ads. If anybody is claiming they get 10-15 popups from here, you have spyware that you got from installing some program or visiting another site. You should receive on the message boards at most 1 popunder per 12 hours.

There are no activex ads run on here, so spyware can't be installed from just the regular banners at the top. If you keep getting the same spyware over and over again, then you aren't getting it deleted properly. Run Adaware and then reboot your computer.

Ultimately, you are responsible for the security of your own computer. You have control of your own browser settings.
__________________________________________________


I, nor anyone else, I'm sure is blaming you. Some of us are just concerned with the amount of parasites we get when we visit SO. I know for a fact that I have gotten on the Internet and gone to a different website and then logged off. I checked to see if I had any parasites and did not have any. I then got back on and came here, logged off, then checked for parasites, and I had parasites. If this is the only site visted on a particular online time frame then the parasites would have to be coming from hiere. I'm sure no one meant for you to take it personally.

Originally posted by Jen1989
Some of us are just concerned with the amount of parasites we get when we visit SO. I know for a fact that I have gotten on the Internet and gone to a different website and then logged off. I checked to see if I had any parasites and did not have any. I then got back on and came here, logged off, then checked for parasites, and I had parasites. If this is the only site visted on a particular online time frame then the parasites would have to be coming from hiere. I'm sure no one meant for you to take it personally.

how exactly are you determining the presence of these "parasites"? are they spawning multiple pop-over and pop-under windows? has your default search page and /or home page been changed?

do these same "parasites" appear after you visit any other site that uses cookies to recognize you instead of logging in?

Originally posted by PZelda
Same here. In fact, I get none at all. Yay for Firefox. :cool: Yeah I got non from Fire fox I downloaded that yesterday,thanks to Robroy adding thise siteson his post. How are you Pzelda.

Originally posted by robyrob
how exactly are you determining the presence of these "parasites"? are they spawning multiple pop-over and pop-under windows? has your default search page and /or home page been changed?

do these same "parasites" appear after you visit any other site that uses cookies to recognize you instead of logging in?

No, I have not changed nor has my computer changed the search page. I do not have a personal home page, so that wouldn't change. THe page that always comes up when I get online has not changed. No, I am not getting the 'same' parasites when I visit other sites. I know because I got online and went to a different website. After being on that site I got offline. I did a scan and came up with no parasites.
I then got online and came here. This is the only site I came to. After being here I got offline and did a scan, and came up with parasties. I cleared my computer of parasites, shut down my computer and turned it back on. After each time I come to this site, I scan my computer I clear it of parasites, shut my comuter down and then bring it back up.

I'm getting the impression that this thread is being taken the wrong way. The point wasn't to upset anyone. Some of us just had questions.

At first I got Firefox a few months ago just because someone practically BEGGED me to, and then two days ago I opened Internet Explorer for the first time since I got Firefox, and I couldn't believe how terrible that browser really is.

A while back I had the same problem as you all have had with my laptop. All of a sudden my computer flared up, stuff was being installed, sites being added to my Favorite Places, etc. It was a mess. Spybot only solved 10% of the problem. My internet connection was all bogged down.

I found out about Spy Sweeper and I must say it is the best program for your PC to get rid of spyware. It cleaned up everything that went wrong. I learned about Mozilla Firefox so I installed that and ever since then all that Spy Sweeper picked up was cookies. Before then, when I used IE, it would pick up running spyware and fix it often.

I recommend buying Spy Sweeper. Then download Firefox. Saves you a lot of aggravation.

You are just poorly educated on spyware Jen89, no offense to you. I just don't like any false accusations posted concerning the site. There is no evidence that says it's coming from here. I've not received any complaint emails in over the 5 years this site has been up about anybody having any spyware installed on their computer coming from this site. 10000 people a day visit this site and boards, you would think somebody would write me if there were problems? I would never knowingly run any ads that may affect somebody's computer.

Post your scan log and maybe somebody can help you. You didn't answer whether it's the same stuff that keeps reappearing.

Penny Lane, do the same and post your scan log. You say it comes from here but I'd like to see any proof. If it keeps reappearing, you likely have never got it 100% deleted. I'm glad you are a fan of SO, but somehow I doubt this is the only site you regularly visit. You shouldn't have to rescan everyday if you get it deleted right the first time.

If 2 or more people post their scan logs and the same exact 15-20 parasites appear on them, then I would look into it further.

I know from experience from visiting other sites and installing programs, some spyware is virtually impossible to delete. You think you get it delted after running Adaware, but it then just reappears when you reboot.

Post your scan logs here and robyrob or another spyware expert can help you diagnose your problems and get rid of it 100%.

Believe what you will, but I am not poorly educated. That is very insulting. I do not know why anyone would even imply, much less state something like that. You would not appreciate someone saying you were poorly educated. If you are convinced that the accusations are "false" then no amount of "proof" is going to change your mind.

I'm sorry for using the word 'poorly educated' - I should have just said you are not a spyware expert. I just don't want misleading and completely false things posted on the boards. I'll still expect to see you post the scan of the 15-20 parasites that you claim are loaded every time you visit the site though.. You haven't posted that you've seeked any help in getting rid of any spyware which I think you got by installing some programs or visiting other sites, so I can only assume that you've never been able to uninstall it and it just keeps reappearing making it look like it came from here which is absolutely not the case.

Originally posted by Jen1989
I'm getting the impression that this thread is being taken the wrong way. The point wasn't to upset anyone. Some of us just had questions. i'm not accusing you or anyone else of anything, i am simply trying to discern WHAT the problem is by asking as many relevant questions as i can

I can't tell by the word "parasites" WHAT you are describing, are they cookies? - this site, along with almost every other site on the internet uses cookies to recognize you when you come back so you don't have to log in every time, and to keep track of which ads you have seen, so you dont see the same ones every time - these cookies are harmless - and can be disabled if you so desire.

If there is something more sinister than tracking cookies reappearing on your system, you will need to post a scan log, or some other information in order for us to determine WHAT it is.

(i would recommend downloading the most current version of HijackThis! for creating a complete system log)

TJ is right. If you have spyware on your computer, you'll get pop-up ads on any site, even ones that don't have them.

I get nothing.


Go me.

Originally posted by Jen1989
Believe what you will, but I am not poorly educated. That is very insulting. I do not know why anyone would even imply, much less state something like that. You would not appreciate someone saying you were poorly educated. If you are convinced that the accusations are "false" then no amount of "proof" is going to change your mind.

I agree, 4 people came out and saying that on a daily basis they get tons of popups and spyware. Some of us don't like being bombarded with ads that pretty much make you stop what you're doing for 5 or so minutes until they've run their course.

But no, I NEVER get pop-ups on any other site, and Jen said the same thing when she goes to other sites. Hell, I even accessed SO through a school computer that has no ties to my home and even then I got a bunch of pop-ups

If me, Jen, Penny and whoever else are "liars" like TJ's insisting, then may we be struck by lightning. As the owner, it wouldn't hurt to be "nicer" to other members, maybe some of us have been "dealing" with this spyware crap for weeks and figured it's time to speak out about it. I never get popups on other sites, just here. Either you can be nasty to us and call us liars and ignorant, which will make us leave in droves, I already talk to the people I really like here anyways, or you can try to do something to fix it. I don't see why not go for the latter?

Originally posted by AllIWantIsYourClutch
Nope, I get maybe 1 pop-up at most when I come here.

Same with me, the most I get is 2

Like I said sometimes the cached pages are infected and trigger the spyware. I don't believe any spyware is embedded. as for popups they can come at anytime in large amounts.

Well, how about everybody that says SO is loaded with spyware proves it. Take a screenshot of any adaware results, and post them.

Originally posted by Dutabi84
Well, how about everybody that says SO is loaded with spyware proves it. Take a screenshot of any adaware results, and post them.

I tend to get tracking cookies on my adaware results after I visit these pages, but I'm not sure if they're from something I've downloaded a while ago. I'd take a screenshot if I had that program installed. But it really hasn't been causing me a lot of problems.

Jen1989:

TJ is just trying to help. He is trying to give you a process of elmimination option. He didn't call you "poorly educated" in general. He only suggested that you don''t know all there is to know about spyware, popups etc. That could be said about many of us. For example, Robyrob knows a heck of a lot more on that subject, and computers in general, than most of us do. That fact is made clear on a regular basis if you frequent this site.

TJ wasn't calling you or anyone a liar. He was only asking that you follow through with the scan search/send to help resolve that aspect of what's going on, one way or another. He's quetioning if you, PennyLane or others might be overlooking some possibities that could be the cause of your problems.

TJ knows how his site works and so he naturally has his doubts that the problem you are having with popups and spyware are being caused by his site. He is trying to help you while at the same tiime defending his postion as a site admninistrator. That's not being unreasonable or uncooperative on his part. He would like to see your problem resolved, one way or another, just as you would.

Originally posted by Chambers
I tend to get tracking cookies on my adaware results after I visit these pages, but I'm not sure if they're from something I've downloaded a while ago. I'd take a screenshot if I had that program installed. But it really hasn't been causing me a lot of problems.

More than likely from something you downloaded. If this site had spyware, EVERYBODY would be getting it. Not just a few selected people. I have zero problem with spyware now, because I'm careful with how I go about my internet activities.

Originally posted by Dutabi84
More than likely from something you downloaded. If this site had spyware, EVERYBODY would be getting it.

:yeahthat

You can get spyware from something as simple as downloading music.

How about downloading a popup blocker, or switch to Firefox, for all you know you could have already had the spyware.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I agree, 4 people came out and saying that on a daily basis they get tons of popups and spyware. Some of us don't like being bombarded with ads that pretty much make you stop what you're doing for 5 or so minutes until they've run their course.

But no, I NEVER get pop-ups on any other site, and Jen said the same thing when she goes to other sites. Hell, I even accessed SO through a school computer that has no ties to my home and even then I got a bunch of pop-ups

If me, Jen, Penny and whoever else are "liars" like TJ's insisting, then may we be struck by lightning. As the owner, it wouldn't hurt to be "nicer" to other members, maybe some of us have been "dealing" with this spyware crap for weeks and figured it's time to speak out about it. I never get popups on other sites, just here. Either you can be nasty to us and call us liars and ignorant, which will make us leave in droves, I already talk to the people I really like here anyways, or you can try to do something to fix it. I don't see why not go for the latter?


No offense, but I think you guys are overreacting a bit. TJ wasn't calling anyone a liar. Do you really think he wants someone's computer to get infected with spyware? Do you think he's that dishonest?

It could have already been on your computer, have you downloaded any music or anything lately?

I had spyware awhile back, alot of it, and my programs didn't detect it right away, or it's there, and you open up a program and it gets installed on your computer, that's what happened to me back then. It was in a file that I downloaded, and when I installed it, it infected my computer.

Originally posted by Brent88
:yeahthat

You can get spyware from something as simple as downloading music. I've been answering the 'music association' thread a lot. Sometimes I'd check out lyric and song title sites to make sure I had a song title and the artist correct before I posted my reply. Those lyric sites were notorious for popups and spyware.

Marlene (PennyLane) posted that she has been having popup problems coming here.

Marlene, since you've posted lots of answers on the music association thread, I wonder if some of those same sites that were giving me trouble could be the source of the problem in your case also?

Kitt said it perfectly, thank you.

I am not calling anyone a liar. People tend to exaggerate things a bit, saying they get 15-20 popups at a time. Gimme a break!

Post your scan logs or quit complaining. People will help you get rid of it if you have it. I am only saying that it did not come from here. If it keeps reappearing, you didn't get rid of it the first time. It's not something I can fix, since it has nothing to do with this site in the first place.

The only time I've EVER gotten more than 2 popups AT ONE TIME was when my computer went on the fritz a while back. As soon as you would close one out, 4 more would come up and eventually it got up to 15 and I had to shut down, but that never happened here and it wasn't the website I was visiting's fault. It was spyware on my computer.

Originally posted by TJ
Kitt said it perfectly, thank you.

I am not calling anyone a liar. People tend to exaggerate things a bit, saying they get 15-20 popups at a time. Gimme a break!

Post your scan logs or quit complaining. People will help you get rid of it if you have it. I am only saying that it did not come from here. If it keeps reappearing, you didn't get rid of it the first time. It's not something I can fix, since it has nothing to do with this site in the first place.


Jen that's all Todd wanted. He said several times that he didn't want people publicly accusing him and his site of giving people computer trouble. I know if I were an administrator of a site/message board, and I took care of it properly, that I wouldn't like people making public accusations towards me.

And I have to agree about the 15-20 popups. If that were the case, how could you even post here? When my laptop suddenly went nuts there were like 5 and I couldn't even get on SO or anywhere for that matter, much less post a message here.

Originally posted by TJ
Kitt said it perfectly, thank you.

I am not calling anyone a liar. People tend to exaggerate things a bit, saying they get 15-20 popups at a time. Gimme a break!

oh, gimyou a break? I counted once, I had no less than 14 in one sitting a few days ago within a span of 5 minutes.

I don't care if I get banned, I already know the AIM names of all the people here I like to talk to anyways

Some "leader" you are, telling us we're liars, ever heard of "the customer is always right"?. I agree with Jen, you are pompous and way too defensive over it.

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
No offense, but I think you guys are overreacting a bit. TJ wasn't calling anyone a liar. Do you really think he wants someone's computer to get infected with spyware? Do you think he's that dishonest?

well, if TJ is going to be rude and condescending to those of us having to deal with this spyware crap, we're going to react to it with defense. He is not showing the signs of a good leader.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
oh, gimyou a break? I counted once, I had no less than 14 in one sitting a few days ago within a span of 5 minutes.

I don't care if I get banned, I already know the AIM names of all the people here I like to talk to anyways

Some "leader" you are, telling us we're liars, ever heard of "the customer is always right"?. I agree with Jen, you are pompous and way too defensive over it.
Why the name calling? TJ didn't call anyone a liar.

As for the customer always being right. We're not paying customers. We're guests of TJ's site.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
oh, gimyou a break? I counted once, I had no less than 14 in one sitting a few days ago within a span of 5 minutes.

I don't care if I get banned, I already know the AIM names of all the people here I like to talk to anyways

Some "leader" you are, telling us we're liars, ever heard of "the customer is always right"?. I agree with Jen, you are pompous and way too defensive over it.

Just like you're coming to HIS site and calling him a liar? Do what he asks, and post the results, that's not hard to do.

I've just gotten 3 pop-ups from this site

here are the links:

http://specials.about.com/zxfcp0.htm?gs=romanticmovies&u=http://romanticmovies.about.com/cs/monsieuribrahim/a/sharif21125032.htm

http://specials.about.com/zxfcp0.htm?gs=romanticmovies&u=http://romanticmovies.about.com/cs/monsieuribrahim/a/sharif21125032.htm

http://specials.about.com/zxfcp0.htm?gs=romanticmovies&u=http://romanticmovies.about.com/cs/monsieuribrahim/a/sharif21125032.htm


Ironically they're all from the smae site. hmmmm

This thread has gone on long enough. If you want to discuss it further, you can contact me privately via email, pm, or aim.

If you want help with removing any spyware from your computer, post your scan logs in a new thread.

I will protect and defend myself and the site's integrity to the last stand. You made the claim that it came from here, but you've posted 0 conclusive evidence. Anybody can make a claim but you have to back it up. It's your burden of proof. Either put up or shut up. Not once did I call anyone a 'liar' as you put it.