Firefox users - How to get rid of the WS banner ad (aka the infernal jet)

OK, I use Netscape. What do I have to do to see this jet ad? I have nothing special set up and never see any of the banner ads that everyone talks about.

Thanks tannic bastard!

I don't have that problem. I don't seem to get any pop-ups on this site, and I certainly don't hear any jets.

I'm using an iMac computer. Are they supposed to be better or something?

I got a better idea. Get rid of the F'n ad.

It worked, TB!! Bless you!

Firefox + Adblock is the way to go, but you should seriously consider getting a pre-configured filter set for Adblock. One of the best is at

http://www.pierceive.com/filtersetg

Read the file instructions.txt for directions on how to install the filter set.

Once installed, not only will it block the noisy ad here, it will block virtually every ad!

Mark

quote:

pre-configured filter set for Adblock.

very cool Mark, thanks for the tip, I will check it out tonight.

Regardless of the browser that you are using, in Windows (and Unix), you can just block the site (as listed above) by editing the HOSTS file with notepad or by using Windows firewall in XP SP2.

In Windows XP, go to “C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\” and edit the file called “hosts” (it has no file extension) with notepad by adding the following line (with the same spacing as in the line “127.0.0.1 localhost”).

127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net

To find out how to block a whole lot more, just google using the key words below.
“block ip address windows xp hosts”

You can also find lots of long lists of ad servers to block.

The HOSTS file blocks entire sites, a good thing for parents who want to keep their kids from accessing some of the seedier parts of the internet.

But it's a bad thing for ads, many of which originate on sites that have useful content along with the ads. In the example above, Adblock doesn't block the entire doubleclick.net site, just all images and javascript, so you could still access the site and view its non-ad content. Using a HOSTS file would completely block access to the site.

Adblock can also block the scourge of the internet, Flash content...

Mark

Mark,
It’s not a cure-all for all ad blocking, but if all a person wants to do is block the jet and other related ads on this site, modifying the HOSTS file works just fine, costs $0 and works for all browsers. That’s what I have done and it works with no problems with this site. You may have to reboot our computer.

And why are you now suggesting not using site blocking via a list when you just recommended a pre-configured filter set for Adblock via http://www.pierceive.com/filtersetg in your post above which is just a list of ad sites to block? And BTW, thanks for the rec, I just added the sites from that list to my HOSTS file list.

Be careful with the standard install of the FilterSet extension. The standard install includes a beta version of a whitelist for ads. So, the developer will be allowing some ads to slip through from sites he/she prior approves.

Make sure to uncheck the whitelist capability.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by GreenDrazi:
And why are you now suggesting not using site blocking via a list when you just recommended a pre-configured filter set for Adblock via http://www.pierceive.com/filtersetg in your post above which is just a list of ad sites to block? And BTW, thanks for the rec, I just added the sites from that list to my HOSTS file list.

But I'm not doing any site blocking!!! Adblock doesn't block entire sites, it only blocks page elements such as images, javascript files, and Flash. For example, if I set a "forums.winespectator.com" filter in Adblock, I would still be able to read messages. If you set the same filter in the HOSTS file, you would have no access to this site.

I hope you see the difference...

And FWIW, Firefox and Adblock are the same price as the HOSTS file: $0.00.

Mark

Mark,
Sorry, but you don’t see the difference - which is none. I’m not telling people to block web sites, I’m telling them to block Advertising sites. Adblock uses a blacklist of Advertising servers to block advertisements from appearing on any web page you wish to see. This is EXACTLY the same the thing as listing the Ad servers in the HOSTS file. Which is what I’m recommending, regardless of the browser to be used. I never said to list the WS Forum in your HOSTS file.

From the adblock web page:
“Adblock allows the user to specify filters, which remove unwanted content based on the source-address. If this sounds complicated, don't worry ....”
And what web address do you see on that page being blocked? *doubleclick*

Exactly the same site that I listed above to block in the HOSTS file.

Forget it Mark. This guy doesn't stop until you pass out from post reply exhaustion.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter:
I got a better idea. Get rid of the F'n ad.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter:
Forget it Mark. This guy doesn't stop until you pass out from post reply exhaustion.

Do you have any meaningful content to add to this discussion?

I can have a reasonable discussion/debate with Mark. You on the other hand can only offer profanity and hostile remarks from the peanut gallery.

Since when does Adblock use a blacklist of advertising servers?

I'll try one more time. Adblock blocks page elements such as images and scripts. Look in the filterset.G filter set -- do you see ad.doubleclick.net listed anywhere? No you don't, because Adblock is looking for specific patterns in the address of the page element. In the VERY SPECIFIC case of ad.doubleclick.net, it's blocking an advertising site. But the same regular expression which blocks the doubleclick ads here will, for example, also block most ads on the Bravo TV website by blocking the following script:

http://www.bravotv.com/js_scripts/ad_req.js

Adblock is not blocking the Bravo site, it is only blocking a script file which has "ad" with non-alphanumeric characters on either side. Which is EXACTLY how it blocks http://ad.doubleclick.net.

If you wanted to block ads on Bravo with a HOSTS file, you would completely block access to the entire Bravo website.

Do you NOW see the difference?

Mark

Trust me Mark,
I added "127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net" (see above for details) to my HOSTS file and I don’t get the advertisements on this forum anymore. No loud jets, no Amex, I get nothing in that banner and yet I get the entire WS Fourm. When I remove it, they come back.

Do you now understand how this works?

I wish you the best in your continued use of the HOSTS file to block ads. It's a shame about the ads you're forced to view because they are redirects from the site you are visiting. And I hope you don't create any problems for yourself because you block sites that did more than just serve ads.

This certainly explains why you see no problem with your office policy of swapping out hard disks when a system picks up some malware/spyware, as opposed to a policy of preventing malware/spyware from getting into the systems in the first place.

Wow. This "best isn't worth the time or effort" mentality is even evident in your signature...

On that note, I'm done with this thread.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Horvatich:
I wish you the best in your use of the HOSTS file to block ads. I hope you enjoy viewing the many ads you cannot block because they are redirects from the site you are visiting. And I hope you don't have problems because you blocked sites that did more than just serve ads.

This certainly explains why you see no problem with your office policy of swapping out hard disks when a system picks up some malware/spyware, as opposed to a policy of preventing malware/spyware from getting into the systems in the first place.

Wow. Even your signature makes sense now...

On that note, I'm done with this thread.

Mark

Why do you even waste your time with idiots?

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Horvatich:
On that note, I'm done with this thread.

Yeah, I saw that one coming.
Thanks anyway for the input.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Horvatich:
I wish you the best in your continued use of the HOSTS file to block ads. It's a shame about the ads you're forced to view because they are redirects from the site you are visiting. And I hope you don't create any problems for yourself because you block sites that did more than just serve ads.

Thanks, but there are no problems. I have no intention of visiting ad.doubleclick.net ever.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Horvatich:
This certainly explains why you see no problem with your office policy of swapping out hard disks when a system picks up some malware/spyware, as opposed to a policy of preventing malware/spyware from getting into the systems in the first place.

You have a nasty habit of overlooking key details of what I’ve said. As I stated in that thread, prevention is of primary importance to my office’s defense (note that it’s not my policy) against malware/spyware. They are just not naive enough to think that it can’t be gotten around. And when it does, they have a quick and cost effective solution. No work is lost.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Horvatich:
Wow. This "best isn't worth the time or effort" mentality is even evident in your signature...

We’ve gone over this before and previously, you’ve agreed with my position. Why change now?