The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - Google pop-up blocker failing

Google pop-up blocker failing

Another Google topic.

I have the Google toolbar installed in IE, and I've found in the past week that it's pop-up blocker is letting some pop-ups through. Any other IE/Google toolbar users notice this?

Maybe it's just coincidence, but it only has happened when I press the back button on my mouse.

Strange.

P.S. Yes, I do use Firebird too. I still have a lot of bookmarks in IE that I haven't copied over, so I'm still using IE half the time. I mention this because you know someone's going to bring it up.

yet another anon
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

But have you tried FireFOX??

Just kidding. I just wanted to point out in case you weren't aware, that Firefox has an excellent google toolbar (called googlebar). For almost everything I find it superior to Google's own toolbar. The primary lacking feature is that it doesn't show PageRank because it's proprietary.

http://googlebar.mozdev.org/

PS: Firefox 0.9 should be out very soon.

acm
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

IE + any "toolbar" = stupid.

My Cousin Vinniwashtharam
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

FYI, when you install Firefox 0.8 it imports all of your IE favorites (bookmarks).

Firefox user
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Unfortunately what you can't import into FireFox is the 'feel' of IE. It's not that FireFox's feel is bad. But it's like those old tattered favorite pair of jeans most of us have. Sure, it's old, you can get a 'better pair' but you like the feel of this pair. That's how I feel about IE. Sure, there are things that suck about it, but in the end, it's my 'old favorite.'

GiorgioG
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

From the google toolbar FAQ:

I'm still seeing a ton of pop-ups. Doesn't this thing work?

You still may be seeing pop-ups for a variety of reasons. One common cause is third-party ad software that launches pop-ups from your own computer without your knowledge. You may have intentionally or inadvertently installed programs such as the Gator Ads Network or Kazaa on your system. The Google Toolbar's pop-up blocker does not block pop-ups generated by these third-party programs.

BTW I use Firefox. It imported all my IE bookmarks beautifully....not only does it block popups..I can block off ad images and also those irritating flash ads....not to mention it is faster

Code Monkey
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

I have also seen a couple popups that slipped through recently. I haven't had the time to really investigate it though.

K
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

"IE + any "toolbar" = stupid."

agreed browser hamper objects suck

gad
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

I've noticed the same thing the last few days.

KillYourTV
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

"IE + any "toolbar" = stupid. "

People that make any such wild generalizations = Stupid, naive and generally intellectually immature.

Whatever
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Hmmm....

The signal to noise ratio on the feedback is only about 1:4.

Is that good or bad compared to other forums? (besides Slashdot)

yet another anon
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

I've noticed it also. One example I've found is http://www.citypaper.com/current/index.html

dylan
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Number one, check that your Google popup blocker is actually enabled (on). To be “on” the icon in your Google toolbar will say something like “445 blocked” otherwise it will say “site popups allowed” and you need to click it to enable it.

If this is not the case and you still get popups it may be the cause of “spyware” (an ad server on your system). Some of the best programs to use are adaware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ and spybot search and destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/. Follow the links above because counterfeits do exist, which are themselves add servers. Bastards.

Another means of popups may be from the “net send” feature of windows. You need to disable the messenger service running in the background on your system. ( this is not the same as windows messenger ). These do not look like browser popups, they should look a little more like windows. If you have a firewall it should be blocking these. If you don’t you should probably think about getting one anyway.

Zone Alarm http://www.zonelabs.com is a software firewall, and there is a free version. This may help you track down your offending software because it will alert you when any program tries to access the internet, and you can choose not to let that program “call home” and then serve you adds.

Kazaa will also launch adds, you may wish to track down K++ sometimes called Kazaa Lite. It does not have the add server built in. ( Though for many reasons I would suggest that you just not use Kazaa in the first place )

If none of the above seems to work, and this really bothers you, or you have lots and lots of spare time I would suggest going into msconfig ( or a similar utility depending on which version of windows you are running ) and disabling the startup items you do not need, then going through the windows services and compare them to the service information at http://www.blackviper.com

If all else fails, get quick with ALT + F4, ( closes windows )

If anyone has corrections or something else to add I would love to hear about it. As you can tell I have spent a great deal of time on this kind of crap, anyway please let me know how this turns out for you.

dj snow
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

I failed to read the full question, You may be on to something with the back button:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/n1059758059

dj snow
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

http://www.citypaper.com/current/index.html also pops on my IE and I have double checked the Google popup blocker is running. I suspect that some advertising company has found a way to circumvent the popup blocking in the Google toolbar. Luckily I use Firefox mostly now - so no popups.

Matthew Lock
Thursday, May 6, 2004

By the way I have checked my machine with Adaware and no spyware was detected.

Matthew Lock
Thursday, May 6, 2004

Matthew,
I am experiencing the same thing with the site http://www.citypaper.com/current/index.html I went ahead and emailed google the link to the site.

Matt Watson
Thursday, May 6, 2004

I have also been seeing pop-ups within the last week. I found an article on eWeek that covers pop-up circumvention: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1573933,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594

I've seen Fastclick is using javascript to generate the pop-ups. Spacedaily has code to generate them when an article is read. I put offenders in I.E's restricted sites list when this occurs.

Melvin Gardipee
Thursday, May 6, 2004

Opps, I forgot to strip off the unique ID from the URL http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1573933,00.asp when I posted.

Melvin Gardipee
Thursday, May 6, 2004

While we're at it, did you try rebooting and see if that solves the problem? *roll eyes*

Really, it's fascinating the number of people who are posting all this great advice about spyware but haven't tried it on their own PCs to see if that's really the problem. I have noticed the same problem of popups circumventing the Google Toolbar, and I keep a clean PC; it's _not_ spyware that's causing the problem.

(Interestingly, the most recent time when I thought I might have spyware, it turned out I didn't; it was a quirk of that particular web site that it had Gator-like links in the text.)

Kyralessa
Thursday, May 6, 2004

For the record I have a clean machine. I have both hardware and software firewalls, up to date virus software, and run Ad-aware periodically.

I've also found that's it's not just the back button that's doing it.

My assumption is that someone discovered a tricky way to circumvent the popup blockers. I was just wondering if anyone had heard of one.

The one mentioned by Melvin, above, isn't the same. It detects if a popup blocker is being used and, if so, runs a floating ad instead.

yet another anon
Thursday, May 6, 2004

I knew the link I posted was somewhat off topic but it points out that sites are actively trying to circumvent the google blocker.
What I believe was missed from my previous post is that you can block the site's javascript by adding it to the restricted sites list under tools->internet options <security tab> restricted sites.
Previously, I only used restricted sites for common add servers to block flash animation. Within the last week I now had to utilize it to block javascript on sites with offending pop-ups

Melvin Gardipee
Thursday, May 6, 2004

I recently had a similar experience with pop ups. It turned out to be related to a "Revop.A" trojan. One distinct symptom was several popups appearing on IE shutdown. It was a bugger to get rid of this and NAV seemed to be useless in detecting it. Ultimately, I had to: 1. Turn off System Restore in XP, 2. Reboot in Safe Mode with Networking, 3. Run Housecall, 4. Reboot. I suggest running Trend Micro's free online virus scan (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/) and checking your system if you're suspicious.

me
Friday, May 7, 2004

You guys have to be the biggest doofuses on the planet. Can't you understand? The issue is simple - someone has figured out a way to circumvent the Google popup blocker, and Google hasn't fixed it.

Donald Knuthbert
Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Does anyone have idea how to take off a third-party pop-up program installed without my knowledge? It pops up when I launch IE and it changes its url. I have google blocker installed but it doesn't block that popup. Thanks.

Tina
Friday, June 11, 2004

From CNET News.com:

Can't stop the pop-ups
http://news.com.com/Can%27t+stop+the+pop-ups/2100-1024_3-5226273.html

popups suck
Friday, June 18, 2004