OT- unwanted ads.

[Randallw]

Does anyone know how to stop the video ads you get these days?. I'm not talking about a little pop up, but ^$@* small movies that now turn up. I just had to close an ad for Smallville season 2 (I don't even watch tht program), and the other week some american company. I am trying to reduce my downloads and these ^$#^#$ movies are using up my download limit without permission.

Edit: I forgot to point out that megabytes of movie (I assume- 10 second ads) are downloading and I don't know of it till it starts.

[ May 25, 2004, 07:32: Message edited by: Randallw ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Complain to your ISP. Ask for blocking software.

There might even be freeware blocking software for that.

[Roanon]

Use Mozilla/Firefox, Opera or any other good browser instead of the IE spy- and adware.

[minipol]

I'm with Roanon on this one. Use a browser that supports this and you won't get bothered anymore

[Suicide Junkie]

In addition to the browser, also try:

http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/nick/tempstuff/SJ's%20Junkfilter%20hosts%20file.zip

For win9x put it in c\windows
for 2k/xp i believe it goes in c\windows\drivers\etc

Blots out a good chunk of the crap, even if you don't go with a better browser.

[Arkcon]

I'm not positive, but the video ads may be Flash ads. My solution? I have never downloaded the Shockwave plugin. Yeah, that's a little severe, I know. I miss out on a game here and there, but it's sure to be pure ads in the near future.

[Baron Munchausen]

First recommendation: As others have already said, dump Internet Exploder. It's one big security hole. Opera and Mozilla/Firefox are much more secure, and also standards compliant browsers. This means they handle HTML in the way it was designed instead of in the 'special' way that MS has invented for itself. The more people use browsers that follow the standards, the less control MS will have over the web. So even if a few websites don't work for you in these other browsers, you should email them and complain that they need to use standard HTML rather than switch back to Internet Exploder.

Also, since MS is planning to add a popup blocker to IE soon, you can expect the ad-pushers to start exploiting all the other security holes in IE, like active-x. It will soon be a nightmare to try to surf with IE. (On the plus side, this will drive many more people to use Opera or Mozilla/Firefox! )

Second Recommendation: Also already said, get one of those nifty HOSTS files that turns addresses for major ad-servers into loop-backs and blocks them.

Third recommendation: Get Proxomitron! It's a 'proxy' that filters the HTML stream coming into your browser, or going out, and let's you control your Online experience. www.proxomitron.info is the site. The default config is pretty good, but it has a fairly comprehensive matching language and you can write very extensive custom filters -- or just get a set written by a third party. Not only can you block ads or snooping HTML and javascript, you can modify sites to look the way you want. I've got filters for Google, eBay, Yahoo! and various other sites that block annoying features or add useful functionality to the site (for instance, I can go directly to the image on Google Images rather than having to go through the stupid frame). I can't stand browsing without Proxomitron anymore.

[Captain Kwok]

I think in tools > internet options > advanced, there are options to play sounds/animations/videos.

[Atrocities]

Becareful some pop up adds are not what they seem. They are in fact programs that can cost you a lot of $$.

Some disconnect you and have your computer dial a nigerian phone company to get connected and then you get a huge phone bill. Don't believe me, do some checking.

Generally pop up ads should be viewed as viruses.

[Atrocities]

WATCH THIS You might need IE as NS does not open it correctly. Let me know what you think.

[ May 25, 2004, 23:59: Message edited by: Atrocities ]