I'm sorry, Internetz. You has forced me to install FlashBlock

[Papa Boule]

Dear Internetz,

I tried to be good. Really. I'm not one to steal free rides, so quite a while back I quit using AdBlock. I thought it was the least I could do to support Internet content.

But Flash ads have gotten larger and larger, taking more and more time to load, and more intrusive, and harder to click out of. Some start playing automatically at full volume, startling me out my chair.

I held out as long as I could. But it just got to be too much.

So I installed FlashBlock.

I'm sorry, Internetz, but you made me do it. I hope you'll understand.

Love, Papa Boule.

P.S. If it's any consolation, I didn't install AdBlock. So I still see the regular non-Flash ads. I'm totally okay with them.

P.P.S. I didn't mention popup ads, because the Google Chrome browser I use seems to have eliminated them and they haven't been a problem recently. If they come back, I'll have to install AdBlock again. Sorry.

[blogslut]

1. The Flash ads are obnoxious

But it's the damned scripts that piss me off and make my browser slow to a crawl.

I suggest adding NoScript to your plugins.

[kayakjohnny]

2. And what are the scripts exaclty, please, Blogslut?

Thanks.

[blogslut]

3. Basically, a script is just a command

A website adds a script to their page code and that script tells your browser how to behave while you're on that site. Some scripts have tiny footprints and don't interfere much with your browsing experience. Others put your browser through an elaborate process of locating class files and connecting to outside web applications and take a long time to load, even on broadband. There are also malicious scripts that install mean things like unwanted software or re-set your browser's homepage.

[jobycom]

5. Is that what prevents some websites from loading or giving me control of my cursor

until all the ads have loaded and taken over my screen? I'd love to know the different types of ads and their solutions. Like the OP, I don't have a problem with an ad that just sits there--websites need money from somewhere. I hate the ones that start loud videos, or that spread out of their box and force yo to look for a close button, or the ones that won't release your computer until they've loaded all the ads completely. How do I stop those? I feel like Mel Gibson sometimes, screaming "GIVE ME BACK MY MOUSE!"

This could turn out to be my favorite thread ever. :)

[blogslut]

7. Possibly

You might also want to run some anti-spyware software to see if somebody snuck something onto your machine. There are several and frankly I recommend you use more than one because each different program will find different baddies. Here are some anti-spyware programs that I have either used or am using:

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php">AdAware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/MalwareBytes]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html">SpywareBlaster[br />http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/">HiJackThis
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/">SpyBot Search and Destroy

As mentioned in the above posts the https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865/">AdBlock and https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/433/">Flashblock plugins help prevent Flash ads from overpowering your surfing experience and I suggested the https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722/">NoScript plugin to keep your browser from getting bogged down by scripts.

While I highly recommend that if you're using Internet Explorer, you switch to Firefox or Chrome, all three of the above plugins are available for IE.

EDIT ADD CORRECTION: No FlashBlock for IE but you can choose to block Flash from withing your Internet Options settings. You can also do that in Firefox but turning off Flash completely turns off the ability to watch YouTube videos, numerous online media players and fun animations and games.

[kayakjohnny]

6. Thank you. I suspected as much. But you articulated it very well.

Thanks for the reply.

:hi:

[Papa Boule]

4. Good suggestion. Thanks!

n/t

[Mojambo]

8. NoScript is simply the most necessary web browsing plugin in the history of the universe. n/t

[Amerigo Vespucci]

9. "NoScript" in Firefox blocks all Flash and JavaScript until you allow it, site-by-site

I remember a few years ago...someone interviewed some "executive" at Yahoo about their Flash ads. Yahoo jumped on the bandwagon of the most obtrusive, annoying, disruptive Flash monstrosities on the planet. The interviewer asked "Don't you feel these ads are obtrusive?" His reply was "They're not OBTRUSIVE ENOUGH."

MSNBC has recently been using one of those window shade-style ads that comes down from the screen and covers at least HALF of the total viewing area. As a result, we see the rise of Flash blockers, and people who design Websites for a living...like me...seldom (if ever) use Flash on ANY site because we know how many people choose to block all Flash content.

Too bad...it DOES have its uses, beyond annoying people.

[pokerfan]

10. Been running Adblock, Flashblock and NoScript for years

I also disable third-party cookies.