How to get rid of a pop-up advert?

Question

Level 1

14 points

How to get rid of a pop-up advert?

A question, please, about a totally unwanted pop-up advertisement.

I've got "Block Pop-Up Windows" checked in Safari, but repeatedly get a small pop-up rectangle -- a white ground with blue border and dark yellow band -- entitled "Windows Internet Security" saying "Your browser is under the threat of infection" etc. It contains some grammer mistakes and a red button with an X -- hitting that looses it until next time.

Please, how can one get rid of this thing for good !?!?

imac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Safari 4.0.5

Posted on Apr 6, 2010 8:12 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Carolyn Samit

Level 10

165,615 points

Apr 7, 2010 12:53 AM in response to fortes

HI,

Not to worry. It's just an ad trying to get you to purchase software you do not need.

Some users have good luck using SafariBlock for Tiger

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

Dimaxum

Level 5

5,997 points

Apr 7, 2010 10:32 PM in response to fortes

Hi,

Most of the users here are using "GLIMMER BLOCKER" it's free in use and works great.

You will find it on "Version Tracker" or on "Mac Update" websites.

Good luck ...

Dimaxum

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Answer 3

fortes Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 7, 2010 11:03 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks, Carolyn, sounded like it should work but alas no. (Such a dumb advert. -- must be bothering a lot of people). Yes, I did restart.

There's another suggestion after yours -- I'll try that and report.

Fortes

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Answer 4

fortes Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 7, 2010 11:11 PM in response to Dimaxum

Thanks, Dimaxum, but Glimmer Blocker requires 10.5 and I'm not there quite yet.

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Answer 5

Dimaxum

Level 5

5,997 points

Apr 8, 2010 10:42 AM in response to fortes

Sorry for that ... I didn't pay attention of the OSX version you running.

Dimaxum

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Answer 6

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Apr 8, 2010 10:54 AM in response to fortes

fortes,
I think Carolyn's leading you in the right direction,
given your OS.

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Answer 7

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Apr 8, 2010 12:22 PM in response to TildeBee

If the OP's getting the same pop up over & over, not related to visiting some specific site... I'd think dns hijacking or other such thing.

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Answer 8

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Apr 8, 2010 2:26 PM in response to andyBall_uk

andy --
Good point.
I missed the part where its on a bunch of different sites.

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Answer 9

fortes Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 8, 2010 4:12 PM in response to andyBall_uk

Thanks, Andy, but please -- what is "dns hijacking or other such thing" and what to do?

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Answer 10

fortes Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 8, 2010 4:21 PM in response to TildeBee

One website, Bee, that this pop-up occurs -- somewhere I go regularly -- is TidBITS. (Haven't raised the matter with them, thought I'd come here first).

Can't help wondering, though, why Apple hasn't dealt with this. An awful lot of people must have the same problem.

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Answer 11

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Apr 8, 2010 5:32 PM in response to fortes

Hi

if you mean http://db.tidbits.com/ - I didn't get any popups in a few minutes of browsing there, this without any blocking software. If you're seeing the very same ad popup window from differing sites, then it'd sure be worth looking at whether or not your mac or router or isp is using some rogue dns server.

DNS - Domain Name System

it translates domain names meaningful to humans into the numerical (binary) identifiers associated with networking equipment for the purpose of locating and addressing these devices worldwide. An often-used analogy to explain the Domain Name System is that it serves as the "phone book" for the Internet by translating human-friendly computer hostnames into IP addresses. For example, www.example.com translates to 192.0.32.10.

to borrow from wiki.

DNS servers can be chosen in your router or in your mac at System Preferences-Network-Advanced-DNS tab, If no special dns servers are selected, your router will usually accept the isp's suggestion, so you'll be using theirs, for better or for worse.

The most common place for any 'rogue' dns to be set, is in System Preferences-Network-Advanced-DNS tab... look there on your mac, and see if any numbers are visible. Copy them & paste here, then we'll know what's going on.

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Answer 12

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Apr 8, 2010 8:29 PM in response to fortes

fortes --
You need to be really clear here, because it makes a big difference
in the type of help we can give you:

Does it occur only on Tidbits?
Or LOTS of sites?

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Answer 13

fortes Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 8, 2010 11:41 PM in response to TildeBee

Thanks, Bee. It occurs on several -- TidBITS I remember because I go there often. I'll watch for a few days and see where else.

Meanwhile I'll try reloading and restarting again with the suggested software. And I'll mention it to TidBITS as well.

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Answer 14

fortes Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 14, 2010 6:01 PM in response to fortes

Thanks to all, but especially Carolyn Samit! Your original answer to my question was correct.

I reloaded SafariBlock v2.2r1 and restarted and now all's well. When I click on Preferences in Safari, I'm shown that SafariBlock has its own window and that it's done its thing nearly 900 times (and continues to do so every few minutes). Seems the name of the nasty is "Rick752's Easylist (usa)."

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Answer 15

Apr 14, 2010 6:35 PM in response to fortes

Glad it worked out. Thank you for the star.

🙂

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