King of Camelot
Camelot's King
I haven't seen any popups since TF posted the above post....and I slept through the whole white text ordeal and work up a half hour after it ended. 
Lucky me!
Lucky me!
Hey! Why did a bunch of the text turn white!
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King of Camelot
Camelot's King
*Machine Gun Fire* We Must Not Let The Poups Win! *Tosses A Grenade* Oh No! They Are Getting Closer! *Popups Fill His Sight* Help! *Runs Around Blindly And Ends Up Running Straight Into Fellow CFCer Fire*....A sad day for sure, luckly the Telefragged Gods stepped in and helped us win the war...well, eventually at least.
starlifter
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Popups can continue, even if the source is changed at TF's end, depending on how your browser's cache is set.
In Netscape, hold down SHIFT and click "Reload". If using MS IE, install Netscape or Opera and quit using IE .....
In Netscape, hold down SHIFT and click "Reload". If using MS IE, install Netscape or Opera and quit using IE
.....
King of Camelot
Camelot's King
Originally posted by starlifter
Popups can continue, even if the source is changed at TF's end, depending on how your browser's cache is set.
In Netscape, hold down SHIFT and click "Reload". If using MS IE, install Netscape or Opera and quit using IE
Power to Netscape!!!!!
starlifter
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I just downloaded and viewed Becka's image from page 1. I can't believe you all had to suffer through all that.
Not to alarm anyone, but whatever technique they were using is probably an exploit, and could have been used maliciously against your system with the assistance of MS IE 5.xx and later.
I'm not sure if I was immune because I use Netscape 6.23, or because I use At Guard 3.22 (or both). At any rate, I rarely have a popup ad from any site, and almost never from CFC. And those are because I change settings and permit it. I've never seen the ad that Becka posted, and never had the white text issue.
Was anyone that got nailed using Netscape 6.2x, or AtGuard, or any other ad-blocking software?
Has everyone using MS IE checked their registry for Trojans and spyware, (yeah, I know XP has spyware, but besides that) ?
Hmmm.....
Sorry it happened to you guys & gals...
Not to alarm anyone, but whatever technique they were using is probably an exploit, and could have been used maliciously against your system with the assistance of MS IE 5.xx and later.
I'm not sure if I was immune because I use Netscape 6.23, or because I use At Guard 3.22 (or both). At any rate, I rarely have a popup ad from any site, and almost never from CFC. And those are because I change settings and permit it. I've never seen the ad that Becka posted, and never had the white text issue.
Was anyone that got nailed using Netscape 6.2x, or AtGuard, or any other ad-blocking software?
Has everyone using MS IE checked their registry for Trojans and spyware, (yeah, I know XP has spyware, but besides that) ?
Hmmm.....
Sorry it happened to you guys & gals...
starlifter
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I have made a screenshot of some of the setting I can make with AtGuard:
There are other programs out that do pretty much the same thing, too.
There are other programs out that do pretty much the same thing, too.
starlifter
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OK, I have looked into this in detail. I understand now. I pity you all who do not protect yourselves. I have turned on tracking, and I just blocked 5 ads in loading this page.
Let me explain how this works. I have a list of hundreds, probably thousands, of ad sources in the AtGuard database. These sources are updated continously where ever I visit.
AtGuard does many things, but the thing that nailed you all was in the ad site. I block all known and all discovered ad sites. Period. I never see them, and am totally unaware of them in routine surfing.
How does it work. Embedded in the HTML stream are certain telltale references to ad sites that must be made. As the data stream comes in to the computer, AtGuard, at the system level, intercepts and examines this stream. If it's source is a forbidden (e.g., ad) site, then the .GIF, Java, Javascript, or whatever is not downloaded, and the HTML relating to it is removed before the browser ever sees it... it's carved out, and cannot be acted upon by the browser, even if it wanted to. This also speeds up surfing quite a bit because of the reduced overhead protocol & transmission lag, not to mention saving the bandwidth and download time.
There is a slight cost for this convenience. A machine must provided some CPU time to do this work, and it takes about 3 to 8% of my CPU cycles when combatting these nototious ad sites. I run a 450 MHz machine. if you run a faster machine, your % will be lower.
I have not tracked this stuff manually since last year, and I can see that I'm very glad I use it. I recommend people that surf a lot use such software.
Moreover..... if you have broadband (DSL, Cable, T1, etc.), then you should also run a high quality firewall like Blackice Defender to defeat intrusions from hackers. That is a technical subject, and all I'll say for now is do it (it's worth the 2% CPU cycles).
Here is what I blocked from CFC in just a matter of minutes here in the Site Feedback forum:
Forwarned is forarmed.
Let me explain how this works. I have a list of hundreds, probably thousands, of ad sources in the AtGuard database. These sources are updated continously where ever I visit.
AtGuard does many things, but the thing that nailed you all was in the ad site. I block all known and all discovered ad sites. Period. I never see them, and am totally unaware of them in routine surfing.
How does it work. Embedded in the HTML stream are certain telltale references to ad sites that must be made. As the data stream comes in to the computer, AtGuard, at the system level, intercepts and examines this stream. If it's source is a forbidden (e.g., ad) site, then the .GIF, Java, Javascript, or whatever is not downloaded, and the HTML relating to it is removed before the browser ever sees it... it's carved out, and cannot be acted upon by the browser, even if it wanted to. This also speeds up surfing quite a bit because of the reduced overhead protocol & transmission lag, not to mention saving the bandwidth and download time.
There is a slight cost for this convenience. A machine must provided some CPU time to do this work, and it takes about 3 to 8% of my CPU cycles when combatting these nototious ad sites. I run a 450 MHz machine. if you run a faster machine, your % will be lower.
I have not tracked this stuff manually since last year, and I can see that I'm very glad I use it. I recommend people that surf a lot use such software.
Moreover..... if you have broadband (DSL, Cable, T1, etc.), then you should also run a high quality firewall like Blackice Defender to defeat intrusions from hackers. That is a technical subject, and all I'll say for now is do it (it's worth the 2% CPU cycles).
Here is what I blocked from CFC in just a matter of minutes here in the Site Feedback forum:
Forwarned is forarmed
.starlifter
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OK, I'll post one more thing that might be of interest to non-technical people:
My connection speeds are about midway between 56K and 33.6K, typically. Note the time save for the transfers alone (not counting the overhead time).
My connection speeds are about midway between 56K and 33.6K, typically. Note the time save for the transfers alone (not counting the overhead time).
starlifter
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OK, I finally decided to take the risk... and strip away my protection. And what a mess without AtGuard!!
Here is what it looks like with AtGuard not active (The download times increased dramatically, the system slowed, my screen was spammed, embedded ads were blinking and flashing.... yuck):
And here is normal, peaceful and tranquil state in which I usually surf CFC, with AtGuard ON (the state that, until now -- for one page only -- I have always seen CFC with):
What a difference!!!! What an IMPROVEMENT with AtGuard hard at work!!!
Here is what it looks like with AtGuard not active (The download times increased dramatically, the system slowed, my screen was spammed, embedded ads were blinking and flashing.... yuck):
And here is normal, peaceful and tranquil state in which I usually surf CFC, with AtGuard ON (the state that, until now -- for one page only -- I have always seen CFC with):
What a difference!!!! What an IMPROVEMENT with AtGuard hard at work!!!
King of Camelot
Camelot's King
Holy ****!!!!!!!!!! MUST get AtGuard!!!
MUST get AtGuard!!!Ohwell
Deity
I got another popup.
joespaniel
Unescorted Settler
How does one go about doing that?
Ha! I get one everytime I change pages. ARG!
starlifter
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I explain the basics of it in this wildly unpopular thread:
here
Most people are blissfully unaware of what can be done to their systems. I always run WinTop to detect any program or service that is functioning. I know them all, and if even one little screwball trojan is activated, i know it right away. I do not run any computer, government, corporate, or private without monitoring all porgrams that are activated and run.
Most Trojans come from one of 3 sources:
1. In a downloaded program, like a No-CD ROM patch. A patch for Quake III is the only time any trojan (BackOrifice, as I recall) managed to make it into my system. I immediately cut it out of the registry, tracked down the offending file, and have it in special storage for reference (technical) purposes.
BTW, AtGuard is also a firewall, if you choose. It can block BackOrifice, NetBus, and all the ugly variations of them.
2. By running an e-mail attachment, or in some cases, even opening an e-mail.
3. By exploitation of weak operating systems, e-mailers, and browsers. The king of this category is, naturally, Microsoft. MS even distributes virus-infected software on some of it's CD ROMs once or twice a year, but usually to overseas customers, partiularly in Europe and Asia for some reason. Of course, they to not attempt to do it on purpose, but nevertheless, they do infect some computers. OSs like Linux, Unix, and FreeBSD are, by the skillful nature of the OS design, almost invulnerable to all exploits and viruses.... esp. compared to the numbers that florish with the help of MS's weak Win9x & NTx systems & broswers. To defeat hackers (assuming you runs MS Applications or OSs), you need the assistance of programs that are competant in such matters, like AtGuard, BlackIce Defender (a firewall, not really an ad blocker), ZoneAlarm, etc.
Without the help of programs, you must learn to edit your registry.... which is safe to do if you make backups (and know how to restore them), and are careful in what you do in the registry.
here
Most people are blissfully unaware of what can be done to their systems. I always run WinTop to detect any program or service that is functioning. I know them all, and if even one little screwball trojan is activated, i know it right away. I do not run any computer, government, corporate, or private without monitoring all porgrams that are activated and run.
Most Trojans come from one of 3 sources:
1. In a downloaded program, like a No-CD ROM patch. A patch for Quake III is the only time any trojan (BackOrifice, as I recall) managed to make it into my system. I immediately cut it out of the registry, tracked down the offending file, and have it in special storage for reference (technical) purposes.
BTW, AtGuard is also a firewall, if you choose. It can block BackOrifice, NetBus, and all the ugly variations of them.
2. By running an e-mail attachment, or in some cases, even opening an e-mail.
3. By exploitation of weak operating systems, e-mailers, and browsers. The king of this category is, naturally, Microsoft. MS even distributes virus-infected software on some of it's CD ROMs once or twice a year, but usually to overseas customers, partiularly in Europe and Asia for some reason. Of course, they to not attempt to do it on purpose, but nevertheless, they do infect some computers. OSs like Linux, Unix, and FreeBSD are, by the skillful nature of the OS design, almost invulnerable to all exploits and viruses.... esp. compared to the numbers that florish with the help of MS's weak Win9x & NTx systems & broswers. To defeat hackers (assuming you runs MS Applications or OSs), you need the assistance of programs that are competant in such matters, like AtGuard, BlackIce Defender (a firewall, not really an ad blocker), ZoneAlarm, etc.
Without the help of programs, you must learn to edit your registry.... which is safe to do if you make backups (and know how to restore them), and are careful in what you do in the registry.
starlifter
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BTW, I have blocked over 100 ads in less than half an hour. Here is what I will do. If/when I ever get a popup ad in CFC, I will post a note about it to the Poll about ad-blocking program usage.
BTW, the thread about Registry Editing I mentioned above was presented 18 times in over a month....
BTW, the thread about Registry Editing I mentioned above was presented 18 times in over a month....
joespaniel
Unescorted Settler
I have read it, and will now proceed to do nothing. 
I'm too afraid of wrecking something important.
I will take a look, but will get some good solid help before messing with it.
Thanks Starlifter.
I'm too afraid of wrecking something important.
I will take a look, but will get some good solid help before messing with it.
Thanks Starlifter.
starlifter
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Here is what to do, if you are new to registry editing (hacking). Back up your registry with an easy program, and make sure you can restore it. I recommend an easy program, like from FixIt or Symantec. I use FixIt 4.0 regularly.
If you can restore your registry from an archived copy, you are golden... practically bullet proof (as long as you don't ruin that backup copy).
FixIt and Norton will both also find and repair errors in your registry. FixIt will compress your registry (very very good thing to do, esp. for speed after you run any Windoze program regularly for about 6 months).
Then.... you are ready to proceed.
BTW, Norton has a very good registry editor, but there are also good shareware and freeware registry editors. Almost all, even ones written by 6th graders, are vastly superior to the MS Regedit program.
Son't be too cowed by the registry.... it is just a database. That database is what MS uses instead of the dozens and hundreds of .INI files prior to 1995. Just know what you are changing, and don't guess or fake it. MS is not known for fault-tolerant databases or OSs. In over 6 years of editing thousands of registries, I've never ruined one. But I am farily slow and careful.
If you can restore your registry from an archived copy, you are golden... practically bullet proof (as long as you don't ruin that backup copy).
FixIt and Norton will both also find and repair errors in your registry. FixIt will compress your registry (very very good thing to do, esp. for speed after you run any Windoze program regularly for about 6 months).
Then.... you are ready to proceed.
BTW, Norton has a very good registry editor, but there are also good shareware and freeware registry editors. Almost all, even ones written by 6th graders, are vastly superior to the MS Regedit program.
Son't be too cowed by the registry.... it is just a database. That database is what MS uses instead of the dozens and hundreds of .INI files prior to 1995. Just know what you are changing, and don't guess or fake it. MS is not known for fault-tolerant databases or OSs. In over 6 years of editing thousands of registries, I've never ruined one. But I am farily slow and careful
.
joespaniel
Unescorted Settler
I went one better. The pest-patrol took them out for me.
47 spyware cookies!!!
I have amassed a horde of evil cookies over the years...
Bye-bye!
47 spyware cookies!!!
I have amassed a horde of evil cookies over the years...
Bye-bye!
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The ads in the forum are really not that bad: there is only 1 standard size banner at the bottom and a little hitbox banner which is for site stats purpose. I only run a popup stopper that blocks popups but not standard banner ads. Telefragged provides a free service and relies entirely on ad revenues to support the server and bandwidth costs. So I urge everyone not to block the ad banners on the forum. Running a little popup stopper program is sufficient.
joespaniel
Unescorted Settler
I can still see the banners TF, that wasnt the problem.
Up until an hour ago, there were TONS of pop-ups on the forums.
I've set the security of my connection to maximum, and it stopped them for me.
Its something called "media-manager.ugo" (not exactly, but close) thats doing it.
Either your pop-up stopper is not working, or these guys are by-passing it.
Up until an hour ago, there were TONS of pop-ups on the forums.
I've set the security of my connection to maximum, and it stopped them for me.
Its something called "media-manager.ugo" (not exactly, but close) thats doing it.
Either your pop-up stopper is not working, or these guys are by-passing it.
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