Loud Spam Ads

[Amethyst]

Lately, without consciously clicking on any ad, I've been getting an extremely annoying background ad soundtrack. It starts with a pounding beat for "Landrover" and moves on to other products. I can't get it to stop without closing the ER Forum window on my browser. I brought up my Task Manager but couldn't figure out what process or service may be responsible. AVAST antivirus says all is secure.

Hope somebody has some ideas for getting this irritation to stop.

Amethyst

 

[2B]

I've noticed ads are getting more aggressive including the Vanguard ad here that totally block the "Recent Threads" menu. Some websites are including these where I can usually find some section of the screen with the video playing. I can "mute" the ad only to have it restart with sound when refreshing the screen. I now typically turn my sound off unless I want to listen to something.

Another aggressive ad is where an ad will block most of the text of an article I'm trying to read. That's annoying and I usually just abandon the story.

The ads are very ineffective and the advertisers are starting to get aggressive hoping that it improves their effectiveness. I doubt it will do anything but piss everyone off more.

 

[REWahoo]

Hope somebody has some ideas for getting this irritation to stop.

Here are two, I use them both and rarely have a problem:

AdblockerPlus
Ghostery

 

[MichaelB]

Lately, without consciously clicking on any ad, I've been getting an extremely annoying background ad soundtrack. It starts with a pounding beat for "Landrover" and moves on to other products. I can't get it to stop without closing the ER Forum window on my browser. I brought up my Task Manager but couldn't figure out what process or service may be responsible. AVAST antivirus says all is secure.

I agree audio ads are especially bothersome, my typical response is to immediately close the browser window. I haven't had this issue on ER forum. What ad blocking apps do you use?

Edit to add - I use the same two as REWahoo

 

[GrayHare]

In general the newer your browser the more doodads it contains to be exploited by advertisers. One solution is to use an older browser, or stop upgrading it.

 

[steelyman]

When I connect using a Windows desktop (very rare, I'd guess 90%+ of my interactions, including posts, are through the app) I've had no problems through the latest Firefox and AdBlocker Plus.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials for virus scanning, quick scan nightly and full scan weekly.

 

[splitwdw]

Lately, without consciously clicking on any ad, I've been getting an extremely annoying background ad soundtrack.
Amethyst

I've just started getting those ads too, that automatically start without clicking on them. It happens here and on a news channel I watch. Startled me the first time it happened because I didn't know where the sound was coming from. Now, I automatically scroll down and hit the stop button before it starts.
I'm sure it's posted somewhere on this site because I've seen those ad blocking site mentioned here before. Is AdBlocker Plus and Ghostery free?

 

[REWahoo]

Is AdBlocker Plus and Ghostery free?

Yes.

 

[braumeister]

Here are two, I use them both and rarely have a problem:

Adblock Plus
Ghostery

These have been mentioned here often enough that I wonder why everyone doesn't use them.

And yes, they're free.

 

[aja8888]

These have been mentioned here often enough that I wonder why everyone doesn't use them.

And yes, they're free.

I use Firefox and the two mentioned add ons! I have never seen an ad on here and don't expect to.

 

[Bestwifeever]

It doesn't solve the ad problem but I never have my speakers on unless there is something I want to listen to. I hate unexpected noise spewing out of my computer.

 

[steelyman]

I hate unexpected noise spewing out of my computer.

I guess that means you don't care to read what I have to say.

 

[Bestwifeever]

I guess that means you don't care to read what I have to say.

For you I always turn on my speakers. Just in cases.

 

[MRG]

These have been mentioned here often enough that I wonder why everyone doesn't use them.

And yes, they're free.

Some 3rd party stuff has been a royal pain. I used to not have a big issue with pop ups, but it's getting worse, much worse.

One question, it appears both addblock plus and ghostry eliminate tracking. Since I thought that's all ghostry does why do I need it? Or is there something I've missed? Thanks.

 

[steelyman]

For you I always turn on my speakers. Just in cases.

C'est si bon!

(that's my Rosetta Pepe-speak)

 

[REWahoo]

One question, it appears both addblock plus and ghostry eliminate tracking. Since I thought that's all ghostry does why do I need it? Or is there something I've missed? Thanks.

As I understand it, Ghostery focuses on privacy while Adblock focuses on content blocking. I suspect there is a lot of overlap but both run smoothly on my PC, so I see no reason not to have both belt and suspenders.

 

[ERD50]

These advertisers are hurting themselves. The more obnoxious they get, the more we will block them. This works well for me (on Chromium browser):

https://plus.google.com/u/0/100807459477993641578/posts/XHY5pAF6AKJ

-ERD50

 

[MRG]

As I understand it, Ghostery focuses on privacy while Adblock focuses on content blocking. I suspect there is a lot of overlap but both run smoothly on my PC, so I see no reason not to have both belt and suspenders.

TY

 

[splitwdw]

Psssssst, just installed AdBlocker and all ads have disappeared from this site. That said, had a terrifying moment when rebooting and everything went black.


Braumeister, I've had people recommend free programs and have not had good luck. My friend that's computer savvy yells at me when I tell her that I downloaded a program recommended by strangers on the Internet.......


Off to see if the talking ads have stopped on the news sites I watch.

 

[razztazz]

Here are two, I use them both and rarely have a problem:

AdblockerPlus
Ghostery

I had never heard of these till now. Thank the hell outta ya for mentioning them. I installed AdblockerPlus and in minutes the internet has been completely sterilized.

It's like living in a parallel universe where everything is exactly the same except no ads

 

[braumeister]

Braumeister, I've had people recommend free programs and have not had good luck. My friend that's computer savvy yells at me when I tell her that I downloaded a program recommended by strangers on the Internet.

And there aren't many stranger than me.
Glad you survived the experience.

 

[freebird5825]

Psssssst, just installed AdBlocker and all ads have disappeared from this site. That said, had a terrifying moment when rebooting and everything went black.


Braumeister, I've had people recommend free programs and have not had good luck. My friend that's computer savvy yells at me when I tell her that I downloaded a program recommended by strangers on the Internet.......


Off to see if the talking ads have stopped on the news sites I watch.

Ditto, ditto, triple ditto. I am very leery of anything with a free download these days.
Mr B concurs. He is the resident computer expert when it comes to networking and anti-virus. I'm an advanced user, but not up on the latest stuff out there.

I am looking for something that is low to medium cost and has the logo of an established software company on it. Nothing so far.

 

[H2ODude]

Using my mac and Safari I don't believe I've ever had anything pop up or start here at ER. Just the static ads on the right. I'm pretty illiterate on the workings of computers, hence the mac. I'd be pretty cautious of downloading anything from anywhere that's free.

 

[ERD50]

Ditto, ditto, triple ditto. I am very leery of anything with a free download these days. ...

You just need to go to a known good source.

For example, the ad-block software I use for my Chromium browser is an extension loaded from the browsers 'tools/extension' tab. These are distributed by the browser developer, so they are about as safe as you can get.

Downloading and installing w/o checking the source is dangerous. Don't do that.

-ERD50

 

[imoldernu]

I use adblocker plus.

When I want to be totally ad free, I open "HOSTSMAN", which blocks all ads. It sits in the system tray as an on-off program, so on those sites that require a plug-in that has been blocked, it's a single click to fix. It is a free program.