Patrick, it's back...the evil Delta pop up
 

After three weeks of no problems with the pop up, the Delta pop up reappeared this evening. It had vanished several days after I started the thread complaining about it and now, here it is again.

On a happier note, I had a grand time shopping in Naples. The linen shop was especially fabulous. Thank you for your suggestions.

Almost seems like the more we complain, the worse it gets. When Patrick posted his first thread about the pop ups, I wasn't having any trouble. There were ads on the side, but they stayed there. Now I have at least a couple that, just in the course of navigating the site, keep getting spread across my screen. Very annoying! You think they're trying to tell us something, LOL? If so, I don't think it has anything to do with the ads themselves. From my perspective, annoying the heck out of a person is not an effective selling strategy!

Not only that, but when I posted before about the problem, I finally gave in and downloaded Firefox which DID get rid of that annoying Delta popup. But then it disappeared when using Internet Explorer as well. Well, bit by bit I've gone back to using IE more than Firefox as I don't like a number of things with Firefox, but guess what? Twice today that annoying Delta popup has appeared on Fodors when using Firefox! They must have figured out how to override the Firefox popup blocker.

Y'know, I'm trying to be helpful here, but this pop-up issue STILL has nothing to do with Firefox nor IE. I have never seen these pop-ups you all have discussed ad nauseum --- on my laptop at home, my laptop at the office, my desktop at home, my desktop at the office. Never. The issue relies with your security software & firewall settings.

When the Pop-up Problem with Patrick (no Pun intended) first aPpeared as a Post, I read & dismissed it as I'd never experienced such a Pet Peeve; however, I now have an annoying Marriott Popup that spreads across my screen when trying to read others' Posts - I am now Perceptive of the Problem! What uP?

I wouldn't say it has NOTHING to do with IE and Firefox. As I mentioned before, for awhile it appeared every time I hit "post a reply" on IE. When I switched to Firefox it did not appear at all -- hundreds of tries. That alone PROVES that there is a difference in how it works with IE and Firefox. I did not change any other settings. I operate on Norton Anti-virus and security and also have Webroot Spyware/Spysweep. I also have PopupStopper. I get NO popups on any other site, and this Delta one is the ONLY one I get on Fodors.

Today is the first time I've ever seen it while using Firefox. And you need to realize that it doesn't happen all the time. I'm on here a lot and haven't seen those popups at all for several weeks. Meanwhile I've been on here for about two hours and I haven't seen it once since posting that message above. Just because you haven't seen it yet, doesn't mean that you won't sooner or later. This would be different if we were talking about something that consistently appeared, but we're not.

I have a firewall, I have Norton. I have not (well maybe once) had a problem with the Delta ad but sure had a problem with the Marriott ad. But today I don't. It is like waiting for the other shoe to drop...when will that da** Marriott ad show up again.

Hear that Marriott? "D*MN" ad! (I love it). As Caph said, since when does annoying people sell anything?

I've never seen the Delta ad...is it really a pop-up, a separate screen that has to be closed or is like that spreading Marriott thing, which can't really be called a pop-up. It's more of an oozing quality, oozing across the screen on top of everything you want to read.

I know what feggedaboudit means though. With Norton Internet Security, (not just their anti-virus program) you will see no ads at all. I've got it on my laptop and there isn't an ad in sight. There is a blank space on the right side of my screen where the ads would normally be. I haven't installed it yet on my tower and I've got most all of the most annoying ones, but never Delta (using Internet explorer by the way).

Well, I've never seen the Marriott one you describe, so can't compare. But the Delta one very slowly fades up, blocking most of the screen sometimes as you hit "post a reply". You can't get rid of it immediately because it takes a second or so to fade up fully before you can click the little x and get rid of it, and even then there is a slight delay before it fades out. Meanwhile I've just started typing a reply, but then it "freezes" while this pop up appears. You can't type while it is fading in or out. It is the most disturbing popup (or should I say fadeup) I've ever seen.

Just a little information for those new to causes and cures for internet pop-ups: http://www.prairiewave.com/support/internet/popups.htm

It’s also a good idea to routinely clean-out your cookies by clicking on Tools>Internet Options>General> Delete Cookies.

I use Norton Internet Security in spite of it being a space-hog, but for pop-ups, recommend the following freeware. You can visit these sites to download them. They will virtually eliminate any pop-ups, by deleting spyware.

1. AD-Aware, by Lavasoft: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
(Extremely easy to update and use; Has a few plug-ins available)

2. Spybot – Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
(For the more computer savvy. Must be knowledgeable of items before deleted or may cause application problems; Otherwise excellent.)

3. Microsoft Beta Anti-spyware:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Interne...iSpyware.shtml
(Easy to use and does a fair job for free.)

4. Counterspy by Sunbelt Software (free 30 trial version):
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/
(I use the subscription version of this and it is rated one of the best)

5. Zone-Alarm free Firewall:
http://www.zonealarm.com/ (you will need to turn off Windows firewall to use this. It is rated one of the best free firewalls and I use this too)

~ ben

Well, that was an interesting link, bear900, but it mentions PopupStopper by Adaware that blocks popups -- and that is exactly what I have on my computer. Yes, it makes a sound when it blocks all the other popups, but that Delta one is one that it can't seem to block. Your link makes no mention of these super popups which seemingly can't be stopped by regular popup blockers.

From what I’m reading, it sounds like Delta has a nasty piece of spyware that likes to hang on. My previous post was intended as general information for those who are not running at least one or more anti-spyware programs. My past experience has found that “layering” different programs gets an overall enhanced effect. Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware alone will not find all spyware.

For instance, though I have always run Ad-Aware and Spybot simultaneously, I didn’t uncover some hidden items until I downloaded and scanned with Counterspy.

Here’s some more input on the benefits of “layering” computer protection programs:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/free-vs-paid-av.htm

The above site offers excellent comparisons of various computer protection programs, both free and pay-for-use. The editor is a no-nonsense writer and states information in clear, easy-to-understand language. He also rates Trojan scanners, which all users should have IN ADDITION to any anti-virus, firewalls, and anti-spyware program(s). You can download a free one that he recommends.

Check out the subtitle: Improve Performance through Layering. Good info here!

Personally, in addition to Ad-Aware, Spybot and Counterspy, I utilize Zone Alarm’s firewall, F-Secure’s Backlight root-kit detector, Trojan Hunter by Mishel and Norton’s CleanSweep. You can get a 30-day trial version of Trojan Hunter and CounterSpy. I am using these on Windows XP Home Edition.

I also lower my privacy settings to post such as here on Fodor’s, and then raise it again when not in use. I also update daily and scan weekly. I have over the years staved off the nastiest of the nastiest, if that helps any.

~ ben

OK, but then what you're saying is that my Adaware popup blocker running with my Webroot Spyblocker hardware and further enhanced while running Firefox with their supposed "total" spyware and blocker program -- still isn't enough to block this particularly nasty ad? By the way, I also have Webroot's Window Washer which every day when I shut down the computer "washes" away attachments and cookies.

I've never had the evil Delta pop up either. Have had the annoying Marriott ad. It's strange how some of us get it and some don't. I have IE, Norton's and my server is Road Runner.

It could be that what you described are floater ads and not the standard pop-ups. There doesn’t appear to be a total solution to the problem of floater ads as of yet. Here’s a link and some excerpts:

Web users at the mercy of floaters:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...503060365/1003

Floater ads' evade pop-up blockers:
“They’re called floaters, overlays or popovers, and pop-up blockers can't stop them. So naturally, the Flash ads are popular among advertisers.”

Sunday, March 6, 2005
“Mozilla, designer of the popular (and free) Web browser Firefox, is trying to block floater ads, but has so far been unsuccessful, said Chris Hofmann, director of engineering for the Mozilla Foundation. "It really is an arms race," he said.”

FLOATER FOLLY:
“Floaters, a type of "rich media" advertising related to pop-ups, are rising in popularity -- and generally they evade pop-up blockers.
Often using Macromedia's Flash technology, floaters will block a page until the advertising message finishes playing.” < sound familiar?

Sometimes a site will request that you download Flash Player to view certain video. We go into “automatic mode” and download it. The problem comes later when third party marketing companies use it for the benefit of advertising the vendor you have previously viewed. They track you down on various sites and force-feed you their floater ads. Flash is just one program that gets hijacked for this purpose.

The good news is you can uninstall Flash easily. See this site for uninstall instructions:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...d,22997,00.asp

Hope this at least helps identify the problem.

~ ben

Meanwhile I haven't seen that ad (floater or whatever) since those two times yesterday morning. So it's sure easy to understand why so many people have never seen it.

It may still be a good idea to dump Macromedia’s Flash Player if you haven’t already. I understand it actually comes installed as part of the Windows OS (most all recent versions). There are literally tons of sites out there instructing people how to use it for floating advertisements which are not detected by ad-blockers.

Two possible reasons for their transitory nature and why you don’t always see them:
1) I read that that MSN has put a limit to the number of times some may be displayed in any given period, so as not to tick people off (go figure), and
2) The back-and-forth battle by companies like Mozilla to gain control over them.

Interesting sites to view for more Information:

http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/2619.asp

http://george.hotelling.net/90percen...loater_ads.php

“If I were Macromedia I'd be figuring out a way to stop this. Do they really want to be known as the company that brought advertising more annoying than pop-ups?”

Form Yahoo Solutions: Macromedia FLASH Player Statistics:

Macromedia FLASH Player is the world's most pervasive software platform, used by over 1 million professionals and reaching 98% of Internet- enabled desktops worldwide, as well as, a wide range of devices.

Peace out...
~ ben