Anything and Everything about pop-ups Options

[Druid]

With the new security measures built into Missionary many people are having problems with popups. I thought it would be helpful to put some information together in an attempt to solve or at least limit the problem. This will possibly also help some people who don't exactly have issues with popups but still have lag caused by CPU time stolen by adware programs running in the background.

Where adware comes from
Here is the main 3 in no particular order.
1) downloaded from p2p share programs like P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa, bearshare etc.
2) Comes built into many questionable freeware applications
3) Download and installed while browsing the web via ActiveX objects.

To help solve the problem here is what you need to do.
The fix for #1 &#2 are pretty easy. Be careful what you download from p2p share programs. If your downloading a program from the web, try to get it from a respectable site.
The answer to #3 is a little more involved.
The ActiveX problem is most likely the biggest cause and the most misunderstood. When your browser runs an activex control, it is running an executable program. It's no different from doubleclicking an exe file on your hard drive.
Would you run just any random file downloaded off a web site without knowing what it is and what it does? Well thats exactly what you do everytime you browse the web, or at least when you browse the web with the wrong security settings.

Here is how to fix or greatly limit this type of security flaw.
Go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK.
Now press "Custom Level."
In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'.
The fix comes with it's own problems such as, many of the websites you visit each day will constantly show prompts asking asked if you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed.
A good example is this very forum. If you view a topic with the new music signature Internet Explorer will prompt you asking if you want to allow ActiveX controls and plugins to run. This is because the music sig's require the use of Macromedia's flash player.
The way to get a round being prompted all the time is to move trusted website into the Trusted Website Zone in Internet Explorer.
ONLY DO THIS FOR WEBSITES YOU TRUST COMPLETELY AND ARE ABOVE SUSPICION
Open IE, choose 'Tools' then 'Internet Options' from the top menu
then Select the 'Security' tab
Select 'Trusted Sites'
Click on the 'Sites' button
Under 'Add this site...' enter http://www.mobclan.com.com
Clear the checkbox titled 'Require Server Verification (https:)...' if required
Click 'Add'
Click 'Close'
Then verify that the 'Trusted Sites" zone is set to 'Low' (if not, click 'Default Level')
This may require a restart of IE4 to take effect


A few other recommendations I can make.
Install Javacools's SpywareBlaster It will protect you from all spy/adware in it's database by blocking installation of their ActiveX objects.
Download and install, download the latest updates, and you'll see a list of all spyware programs covered by the program (NOTE: this is NOT spyware found on your computer)
Press "select all", then "kill all checked", and you're done.
The spyware that you told Spywareblaster to set the "kill bit" for won't be a hazard to you any longer.
Although it won't protect you from every form of spyware known to man, it is a very potent extra layer of protection.
Don't forget to check for updates every week or so.

Another great option is to install the IE-SPYAD list.
It simply adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer.
You can find out about the IE-SPYAD list here
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm

The last recommendation is to use Blocking list HOST file.
This works by using the HOST file list on your computer to block connections to the servers running most of the ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and even most hijackers. The best part is it takes no system resources and can even speed up web browsing because you don't waste time connecting to these ads, banners, hit counters, etc.
You can find the best HOST file here
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

If you want to learn more about computer security relating to the internet, this is a great site with lots of good info.
http://www.wilders.org/

[Hoods]

Appreciate it Druid, Thanks.

[xl-FLAME-lx]

ty Mr. Homie

[PISTOFFBAD]

Mozilla Firefox is my browser of choice. I rarely use IE anymore. I get absolutely no popups using this browser. It also has many more features that make browsing more efficient. Try it. You'll like it.

[Druid]

In many ways Mozilla is better than IE, for those of you who use Mozilla/firefox you need to just as careful if you have installed the mozilla ActiveX plugin.

[Shifty]

I have SP2 and it blocks a ton of popups (including the one here that tells u to get missionary lol)