Lots of Ads with Firefox

[Dantl7]

Hi--
I'm having a strange experience where whenever I use Firefox and then I do a Spybot check I get a huge amount of ads. I know that when I log into Friendster, for example, with Firefox, I get a lot.
So I started using Internet Explorer, which I thought was supposed to be less secure. So far I haven't gotten any more ads, even after I;ve been to Friendster.
I was just wondering if anyone had any advice about how I could configure Firefox better, or if there is another problem I might be having and how I might fix that.
I like Firefox better, but it seems that I can't use it because I get so many ads now.
Anyone have any idea what is happening?

Thanks!

[tashi]

Hello.
Have you tried the FireFox AdBlock extension?
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=10&application=firefox

but it seems that I can't use it because I get so many ads now.
That does seem a little strange though. To clarify; are the ad's popping up while you surf as well as showing in the results of a spybot scan?

Which version do you have of Firefox?

[Dantl7]

No there aren't really any popups, just about 60 ads when I run a spybot scan. When I use Internet Explorer with the popup blocker I don't get any really.
Also, I jsut tried to install the firefox adblock that you linked me to, but I couldn't open the file for some reason--it said my computer didn't recognize the type of file it was. Also, it just seemed like it got rid of ads online as you surfed, not necessarily the ones that go onto your computer.
I'm running (or was running) Firefox 1.0.7
Thanks very much for the advice, got any more?

[tashi]

Perhaps we are talking of cookies.

Please see:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/37.html

Let us know if that solves the problem. :)

[copmom]

No there aren't really any popups, just about 60 ads when I run a spybot scan. When I use Internet Explorer with the popup blocker I don't get any really.
Also, I jsut tried to install the firefox adblock that you linked me to, but I couldn't open the file for some reason--it said my computer didn't recognize the type of file it was. Also, it just seemed like it got rid of ads online as you surfed, not necessarily the ones that go onto your computer.
I'm running (or was running) Firefox 1.0.7
Thanks very much for the advice, got any more?

Sound to me like you need a good pop up blocker! There is a free edition called Pop-Up Stopper at www.panicware.com

[tashi]

No there aren't really any popups, just about 60 ads when I run a spybot scan. When I use Internet Explorer with the popup blocker I don't get any really.
I believe Dantl7 had a problem that might be resolved with the information in the link I provided.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/37.html

I hope it worked for him/her. :)

[Dantl7]

Hey thanks so much for your help.

I thought the problem was solved--I changed the firefox option and I started getting less ads showing up on Spybot. But now almost every time I search I get reappearing ads--
they are called something like AdSpace or something--
I get about 20-25 entries that Spybot to remove most times that I check.
If I use internet explorer I don't believe I get these.

[Dantl7]

The ads are from
advertising.com
doubleclick
fastclick
avenue A, inc.
and there are two from the windows security center

I don't know if that info helps

[md usa spybot fan]

Dantl7:

Advertising.com, Avenue A, Inc., DoubleClick and FastClick are tracking cookies. In addition to the settings suggested here:
Why do other anti-spyware applications detect so many more tracking cookies?
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/37.html

You could try the suggestion by Zenobia in this post and try SpywareBlaster to help block those third-party cookies in Firefox:
http://forums.spybot.info/showpost.php?p=2766&postcount=8

There are several different Windows Security Center detections:
Windows Security Center.AntiVirusDisableNotify
Windows Security Center.AntiVirusOverride
Windows Security Center.FirewallDisableNotify
Windows Security Center.FirewallOverride
Windows Security Center.SP2Update
Windows Security Center.TaskManager
Windows Security Center.UpdateDisableNotify
You will have to be more specific about which Windows Security Center detections you are getting.

[Dantl7]

The two windows security center messages are--

Windows Security Center.AntiVirusDisableNotify
and
Windows Security Center.FirewallDisableNOtify

Are these problematic and is there any way to get rid of them?
Thanks!

[md usa spybot fan]

See the following thread (at least the first five (5) posts):
Spybot & Windows Security Centre.....warning
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=75

[prophet]

The ads are from
advertising.com
doubleclick
fastclick
avenue A, inc.
and there are two from the windows security center

I don't know if that info helps

Hey Dantl7, I have your solution. While having Firefox open, click on 'Tools' + 'Options' and press the 'Privacy' tab. Make sure that the 'unless I have removed cookies set by the site' box checked. You then want to depress the 'View Cookies' button, select each unwanted cookie one at a time and select 'remove cookie' after each selection, after removing the above bastards... Firefox will not allow them back onto your system! Woot!

This will be a two or three day screening process because you will want to check on your cookie situation often so to basically 'train' Firefox into learning what you want and what you do not want. I would say... "I hope this helps" but I know it will so, Good luck!