Non-Mefi Popup

September 18, 2003 1:30 PM

This page gives me a pop-up ad every time. It originally happened when I opened the link, but now the MeFi page itself wants me to get a Verizon cell phone. I know that Matt didn't randonly decide to allow pop-up ads on a single thread, so how this must be my fault. What did I do?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly to Bugs at 1:30 PM (20 comments total)

Download and run Ad Aware.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:41 PM on September 18, 2003

If that means that my problem is entirely unrelated to MeFi, I would like to apologize for making an unneeded post. Thanks, monju.

Please proceed to mock y2karl or Miguel.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 1:42 PM on September 18, 2003

okay.
posted by thirteen at 2:19 PM on September 18, 2003

If Ad Aware doesn't take care of the problem, I recommend SpyBot Search+Destroy. PC Magazine prefers it over Ad Aware -- and so do I, for what it's worth.
posted by arielmeadow at 2:20 PM on September 18, 2003

If you're using internet explorer, you should also download this.
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 2:23 PM on September 18, 2003

It means They are after you. You should turn off your machine and run like goddamned hell.
posted by xmutex at 3:15 PM on September 18, 2003

Seems like as good a time as any to ask : what is the advantage of a 'tabbed' browser? How does this differ, in usability terms, from the neat row of window labels on my WinXP taskbar? (Which, when full, neatly collapses related app. windows into a popup list). What am I missing?
posted by punilux at 3:20 PM on September 18, 2003

Because, when you have too many windows to fit on the taskbar, they collapse into a single button which needs two clicks to get to the window you want. Because you can load links in the background while you continue reading the page that the links originate from and be able to see when the link has fully loaded and is ready for you to peruse (especially if you are on dial-up). Because you can load a work-related page in one tab and more important things in another and any casual observance of your screen will not show anything incriminating in your taskbar. Most importantly, because then you get to deride those who use IE and are therefore completely uncool ;-)

Prior to switching to Mozilla and then Firebird, I too had wondered what the big deal was, but now I loath having to use IE on those rare occasions that I am forced to do so. The advantages of a tabbed browser are one of those things that you have to try to appreciate, I guess.
posted by dg at 3:40 PM on September 18, 2003

Correct me if I'm wrong: aren't many browsers that include tabs (ie firebird, etc) more resistant to the active-X exploits that many spyware developers use? As in, doesn't NOT using IE cut down on the amount of spyware you are susceptible to?

I could be talking out of my ass here.
posted by arielmeadow at 4:18 PM on September 18, 2003

okay.
posted by thirteen at 2:19 PM PST on September 18

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
posted by quonsar at 4:42 PM on September 18, 2003

PC Magazine prefers it over Ad Aware

heh. so? PC Magazine jumped the shark back around 1990 or so.
posted by quonsar at 4:44 PM on September 18, 2003

How does someone run like goddamned hell? Isn't hell already god damned?

Tabbed browsing is not, on the other hand, god damned.
posted by WolfDaddy at 4:58 PM on September 18, 2003

Let me jump on dg's bandwagon and say that Mozilla Firebird is really the way to go. I have been using since .3 and am proud to say that now at .6 I can recommend it to everyone.
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 6:07 PM on September 18, 2003

>more resistant to the active-X exploits that many spyware developers use?

Mozilla based browsers don't even support the proprietary ActiveX format. That means no stealth installs of spyware period.

Advantage of tabs: background loading, sequential, favicon helps navigating through many tabs, etc. Try it and find out, its not like Mozilla or Firebird cost money.

blah blah my ad blocking site blah blah

IMHO, if you're using IE, install the google toolbar for pop-up blocking, disable "Download Signed ActiveX" from the tools>internet options>security>custom security

The internet is just hostile when using IE.
posted by skallas at 6:47 PM on September 18, 2003

Tabs are also good because they keep cruft out of the Alt-Tab task-switcher.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:52 PM on September 18, 2003

We can only hope this will be part of the standard release.
posted by holloway at 7:40 PM on September 18, 2003

okay.
posted by thirteen at 2:19 PM PST on September 18

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
posted by quonsar at 4:42 PM PST on September 18

What video content could possibly shock quon-shredding-the-envelope-sar?

*waiting for download*

*waiting for download on dial-up modem*

*watching my beard grow in reflection in monitor while waiting for download*


*spitting Fanta Pineapple soda all over monitor*
posted by wendell at 11:54 PM on September 18, 2003

Did you really? That's an interesting coincidence.
posted by timeistight at 6:54 AM on September 19, 2003

Oh geez, holloway, that's just scary. I guess it has its use in corporate environments but its like Mozilla married the devil herself.
posted by skallas at 1:29 AM on September 21, 2003

If you're using internet explorer, you should also download this.

MyIE2 kicks Avantbrowser's pimply butt.

okay.

Comedy molybdenum!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:12 AM on September 21, 2003