Cookies from Drudge or FreeRepublic?

My Computer | 11/1/02 | Self

[Positive]

On any regular day I will go to Drudge then come to FreeRepublic, I've been doing this for years now.

Lately, when I move from one to the other I get a full screen pop-up taking me to a site called WWW.SpyOnYou.com. It always seems to occur after I click on my link to FR while on Drudge or vice versa.

I've searched for cookies and sure enough I find one - then I delete it - then later the popup occurs again - and the cookie is back.

Any ideas on how to skip this part of my internet experience?

[Jean S]

It has nothing to do with Drudge or Free Republic. Download and run AdAware (free).

[mrsmith]

In internet preferences, turn off the active javascript, Iframe, and other junk.

[Vidalia]

Analog X from ZDNET.com/downloads is a good place to start.

If you are comfortable searching your register look for telltale signs or keywords there, otherwise, using the above or AdAware will help...

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Use Mozilla and turn off pop-ups.
It's a big download, but it's the best way to surf and protect your privacy. IE doesn't offer near adequate protection.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Doubt it's anything to do with cookies. Drudge has been running pop-up ads lately. Recommend you get something like Pop-Up Stopper from http://www.panicware.com ...or, there are a few others.

FR uses cookies to automate your login and preferences, but that's about it.

[Paul Atreides]

I ran AdAware, removed the cookie, and the pop-ups still pop up when I go to drudge and newsmax.

[KS Flyover]

Do what JeanS says in post #2. You most likely have spyware on your system.

[LibKill]

I want to expand a little on what JeanS said.

There is this thing called "scumware". It is in some programs, notably KaZaa, and in some websites (not FR or Drudge, to my knowledge).

Scumware installs on your computer and then causes pop-ups. Some varieties spy on you as well.

AdAware kills off scumware. Be sure to download RefUpdate too. RefUpdate is like updates for your anti-virus program. New varieties of scumware are written every day, so you need to update AdAware just like you update your anti-virus program.

[FormerLurker]

Try ZoneAlarm Pro. It allows you to disable 3rd party cookies and popups...

[Jean S]

If it's just a pop-up and not spyware I've had good luck with this one, free too: Pop-Up Stopper

[RadicalRik]

I caught a nasty parasite called "Xupiter" with something called "ezuma' that installed itself from some Active X pop-up or something.
It totally took over my I.E.6 Browser wiith tool bars and favorites and the whhole business. Lavasoft's Ad-aware was not ompletely able to get rid of it's nasty little re-install ".exe" file hidden away in my computer.
I ended up having to delete everything manually from the registry and in DOS and everywhere else.
Parasites are also something new and very nasty.
You are correct about Kazaa...that was a manual delete also.

[KingKongCobra]

You should skip Drudge, he's the culprit.

[beGlad]

"On any regular day I will go to Drudge then come to FreeRepublic,....."

Freaky!? That's what I do. But no, I don't have the pop-up problem.

[the_Watchman]

Using AdAware and Mozilla are probably the best ways to deal with these pop-ups. However, a new type is starting up which has nothing to do with your browser.

Most current versions of Windows accept messages directly from their TCP/IP ports via the "messenger" service. Someone sends you a message and it pops up in the middle of your screen with an "OK" button to close it. So far they have no active content, but you don't even have to have a browser open to get them.

One of my friends was on the phone with a person who got a very intrusive pop-up. The window informed them that "Windows had detected security problems on their machine". They were directed to a commercial URL to get a solution to the problem. It looked very official. This type of advertising is fraudulent. The person was alarmed by the message, but my friend recognized it and had them close the window.

Apparently, there is a business which sells the software which will send these types of messages. This person was connected with a dial-up on AOL. Supposedly, any good firewall will block them. I would suspect that since they are based on TCP/IP, ZoneAlarm (free) should block them.

[wienerdog.com]

All he has to do is set a bookmark for FreeRepublic and access it that way instead of linking in from Drudge...

[GeekDejure]

Cookie Pal works for me !!! Download at http://www.kburra.com

[LibKill]

All he has to do is set a bookmark for FreeRepublic and access it that way instead of linking in from Drudge...

Drudge hasn't linked to FR for a few years now.

[Texas_Jarhead]

try zone alarm from zone labs