Pop-up adverts

micksasse · Post by **micksasse** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:45 pm

I'm sorry, Matt, but these are really going too far. We've had the (dishonest) lottery winnings, now we have the spurious error message:

<IMG width="503" height="131" SRC="http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/27668/UKTS ad.jpg">

Clearly whatever agency is providing the ads is not vetting their content at all.

I'm afraid I'm not going to be renewing my premium membership. Why bother?

Post by **NeutronIC** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:48 pm

Can you please verify that you do *not* have spyware installed on your machine and have verified this with more than one package (they each detect different things).

In order to trace the above problem (if it is indeed coming from Burst) I need to know a lot more about the advert you're seeing, particularly the output of any properties pages you can bring up that can tell me where it's coming from, i.e. specific URL's.

Also, if you're premium, I fail to see why you're even getting adverts, they are ALL disabled on the main site once you have logged in, and only google ads (which are not pop-up or pop-under) on the forums.

Matt.

micksasse · Post by **micksasse** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:55 pm

It is NOT an error message - it is an advertisement link. I have (non-commercial) anti-spyware utilities on my machine, thank you (Spybot Search And Destroy - I recommend it).

The adverts I'm objecting to appear on the opening page, i.e. before I have the opportunity to log in.

I didn't complain when ads were limited to trainsim- or rail-related products/services, nor did I complain when they were joined by other commercial adverts, largely money-lenders. I complained (off the fora) about adverts for fraudulent "lottery" schemes. Now I'm complaining here, I'm afraid.

Post by **NeutronIC** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:00 pm

Ok, when you're done complaining can you help me try to isolate the advert so I can kill it and lodge a complaint with Burst, assuming it's one from Burst???

I realise it isn't an error message and is a pop up browser window, which is why I ask if you can right click on some areas and try to get a properties display up so that I can get an exact URL to give to Burst, without that they can't do much to help.

Also, I'd strongly recommend Microsoft Anti-Spyware, I've found it far better than any other anti-spyware product available - commercial or non-commercial.

I'm just looking through the burst control panel right now and the only thing that might possibly be this is Cydoor - but those ads are all switched off, so if they are still showing then I need to get a complaint raised with Burst, but again, I need to see something more detailed like a URL so that I have something firm to hang them with - otherwise they will IMMEDIATELY come back and say that you have spyware on your machine, irrespective of your comments to the contrary - which won't help either of us.

Matt.

Post by **NeutronIC** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:04 pm

Ok, looks like there are TWO frigging places that i need to disable adverts and I had only done one. Please let me know if this advert re-occurs, assuming it is Cydoor (which is well known to be spyware itself) it is now all disabled.

Next I get to write a stern letter to Burst, they assured me that they vet their customers to prevent this kind of thing from happening.

Looks like the financial position of the site is about to get a bunch more tenuous if I have to pull out of Burst banners due to not being able to trust them.

*sigh*

And this was looking like such a quiet night.

Matt.

Post by **NeutronIC** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:17 pm

This just sent to Burst, it is not an idle threat, we'll just have to deal with losing a hundred bucks or so per month.

Hi,

I have just had a very serious complaint from one of my users relating to advertising of Spyware through the Burst network.

At first I was in disbelief on the basis of previous assurances that all advertisers were vetted to ensure they were top quality prior to their distribution on the advertising network.

However, on searching through the list of advertisers on my adcode (6163b) I found that one advertiser, Cydoor, a very well known source of spyware and adware, was in amongst the list of adverts that would be shown on my site. I am still awaiting confirmation that this is indeed the advert that has been shown on my customers computer.

I would invite you to type 'cydoor' in to google and admire the first few results that come back from the likes of Symantec, McAfee and Computer Associates - all giving instructions on how to remove cydoor's adware and spyware from peoples computers.

Please see the following URL:
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?t=44871

This is the topic of discussion started by the user and includes a screenshot of the advertisement in question, I would be grateful if you could confirm whether this is actually the one from Cydoor as all the cydoor ads show up blank within your control panel.

I am extremely disappointed, this incident has cost me in reputation as well as at least one customer.

In order to be able to continue with the advertising contract as previously agreed, I will require an assurance from Burst that this kind of event will NOT happen in the future on my site, by all means classify an advert as "adware related" and allow me to deselect that type of advert as you have done for adult related adverts.

If you cannot provide this assurance then I will have no option but to remove your code from my site as it is entirely incompatible with the image that my site aims to present.

Regards
Matthew Peddlesden
Managing Director, Atomic Systems IP Ltd
Website: http://www.uktrainsim.com

Matt.

jbilton · Post by **jbilton** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:27 pm

Hi
Actually that ones been popping up for a couple of weeks...but it doesn't do anything...and closes with the X in the corner OK....I know there's nothing on my PC....so it didn't worry me.
While talking on spyware...I've been online banking for 6 years now....and never had any problems...as far as I know.
Cheers
Jon

micksasse · Post by **micksasse** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:45 pm

OK, thanks Matt - does any of this help? - "Properties - URL" gives:

http://www.burstnet.com/gifs/spyware_cl ... 072105.gif

The shortcut for the "yes" button is:

http://www.burstnet.com/ads/ad6163b-map ... d=7140&c=b

The shortcut for the "no" button is:

http://www.burstnet.com/ads/ad6163b-map ... d=7140&c=b

The shortcut for the rest of the "warning" is:

http://www.burstnet.com/ads/ad6163b-map ... d=7140&c=b

Are you seeing a pattern emerging...?

I hope this helps.

Post by **NeutronIC** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:28 pm

Exactly what I needed, there was indeed another advertiser on their list titled "spyware cleaner". It's now banned.

Matt.

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:45 pm

If you want to avoid having to log in, drag the blue E icon at the start of the address bar to your desktop after you log in.

You can then click on this to access the site.

Copy it to your favourites folder if required.

Post by **NeutronIC** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:57 pm

Or log in to the forums, then book mark the link under the uktrainsim link, that will have your username and password encoded in to it and going to it will get you there logged in.

Matt.