Viral Like Ads

[LWHiway]

While walking on the net one day. la la la la la la la.

I seem to have had a program of sorts added to my system without my knowledge and definetly did/do not want it.

On random pages I view, including here on PCM, I will see words (usually no more than one or so per page, unless this particular word is repeated), Hi-Lited with a gold/yellow underlining. When I move my mouse over it, that particular word will block itself in yellow and a popup will show itself. They are always of an advertisement statement.

For instance, ads for the Wall Street Journal, virus software, etc.

It doesn't pose a problem, but it does annoy me.

I run Norton/Symantec products and I do believe, I was online once or twice without it running and realized something new was afoot.

No virus's are detected.

Would anyone be familiar with this?

TBH hiway

[morriswindgate]

Get Ad Aware (Free) at www.lavasoftUSA.com and run it. This will get rid of any of this type of spyware that has gotten into your computer via cookies or temporary internet files. Be sure and download the latest definitions and the updater for this program.
There is another little program that is out on the internet associated with banners that will make a bookmark into your favorites file and if you do not empty cookies or temporary internet files can actually cause pop-up ads from these sites no matter where you go. Check the bottom of your favorites folder for these entries.
And then finally there is stuff like js.exception that Norton will detect. These java scripts do no damage but hi-jack your home page to what ever home page is in the script.

[oryx]

It sounds like comet cursor. Check your add/remove programs to see if there is an entry for comet cursor. Comet Cursor gets installed via active-x controls at some web sites.

[no_fat_chicks]

Yeah..Gohip, comet cursor, web enhancer companion..they all suck the big one..

Man, if I didnt work for an internet company (& could hide my IP), I'd nuke some of these sites just for the fun of it..

[morriswindgate]

AD Aware will remove Comet and it's entries.

[LWHiway]

Many thanks for the info. I used Adware and was surprised at the hits it picked up. 123 to be exact. Was amazed at the closets that it opened back up. lol

The software was simple to use, and the fix was easier.

thanks again from coast of brown sand. hiway

[Kubie]

LWHiway,
This is what you had.

3) Even More "ScumWare" To Watch Out For

Fred: These are now being called scumware: Without
authorization, they (eZula & Surf+) insert software into users
PCs. This hidden, secret (and often self-reinstalling)
software then takes selected words on your web page and turns
these words into links that re-direct whoever visits you onto
some other site... See http://www.searchking.com/ezulakiller/
It has code for you to use to detect the scumware. --- Chet Kolar

Thanks, Chet. This one's cropped up several time before--- Microsoft
even tested a similar "feature," but then withdrew it in the face of
withering criticism.

Here's how this one works:

While surfing the Web, you will notice a thick yellow
underline under selected words. Every Day you might notice
different words.

Drag your mouse over them, and the words will be highlighted
with a text message that provides more information.

CLICK on the word and you will be directed to a new
destination with additional information that is contextually
related to your web surfing.

That sounds OK--- almost like regular hyperlinks. But these links are
not placed there by the web site creator or author; they're inserted by
the software, which bases its decisions not on simple contextual
relevance, but on who's *paying* to be linked. In other words, the
"links" are really ads. The Ezula site says:

Learn how eZula is helping agencies, ad networks and ad
brokers to gain a powerful new advertising channel that
maximizes their clients' marketing goals and ROI and help them
presnet [sic] value to online users and reach them when they
are most interested and willing to accept commerical [sic]
offers. eZula's Media Services Partners Program offers a
variety of benefits enabling advertisers to increase their
market reach and achieve their advertising goals. eZula's
Performance Based Contextual Advertising Platform,
ContextProTM, is compatible and integrated easily and
seamlessly with other widely used ad serving solutions and
other media solutions.

Scumware vendors--- and bad spellers, too. <g>

I'm not against advertising--- up-front, honest ads help support the
Langa.Com site and the standard edition of this newsletter. But I'm dead
set against ads that pretend to be something else; and against companies
that try to foist their adware on us by covert means. Advertising can be
done ethically, but to many companies, "ethics" and "advertising" don't
exist in the same universe. Sigh.
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm

--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) ---

[SARGE]

and:

http://www.poenews.com/inhouse/vx2.htm

[padawan]

Gator is another of those damn programs. It gets onto about half of the machines in my lab at school, including mine, without anyone loading it. I thought that was illegal.

[LWHiway]

Many thanks fellow HD heads.

The advice, sites were right on the money. Or should I say right on someone elses money.

For me, the remote has been the greatest send since cable. I may pay for the use of tv, but the advertisers have to catch me.

When Ms. Cleo comes on, I push the little button and usually find something more interesting to watch.

Same with the ads I saw underlined.

I'm not beyond boycotting a site or advertiser/business. I do it all the time, 24/7's.

One that pop'd up most often follows:
I sent an e to the Wall Street Journal by way of their complaint dept, they responded with a no knowledge response. Goes to show. No truth in advertising.

Anyway, thanks for the help/links. Found the culprit software/bugs and kilt em.

Hiway