Advert does not display in Virginmedia Homepage with IE9

Report · Jun 15, 2011

Flashplayer is installed and seems to be working but in Virginmedia.com Homepage there is a blank space where there should be an advert using IE9. Using Firefox the advert displays as it should. If I open Ancestry.co.uk in IE9 I get one of those yellow warning bars telling me "Add-on for this web site failed to run" and once again there is a blank space where there should be an advert that again displays as it should in Firefox.

The odd thing is that Flashplayer seems to be working and is enabled in Manage Add-ons. I really don't want to have to use Firefox and all my settings in Internet Options seem to be OK. (My daughter doesn't have any problems with her computer and we compared settings that seem to be the same).

Could this be a Flashplayer problem or does anyone have any suggestions please?

Report · Jun 15, 2011

I think I have solved the problem. SpywareBlaster is blocking the adverts. If I disable SpywareBlaster all is well. All I have to do now is find which of the 14393 entries is causing the problem.

Report · Jun 15, 2011

Hi, Any addons in your IE9 browser from SpywareBlaster would be the first thing to Disable and see which one is causing an issue. I'd disable all of them that are there. Then enable one at a time and check your website.

If you don't find that this is an issue, then take a look at this ActiveX Filtering that is a new feature with IE9. When the ActiveX Filtering is ON, it will block a site. You can read about it here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie-9/features/activex-filtering

And here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-to-disable-or-enable-turn-off-or-on-activex-filtering-in-ie9/

To turn on ActiveX Filtering
In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, point to Safety, and then click ActiveX Filtering.

To turn off ActiveX Filtering on a specific website
In Internet Explorer, click the Filter button in the Address bar, and then click Turn off ActiveX Filtering.

To turn off ActiveX Filtering on all websites
In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, point to Safety, and then click ActiveX Filtering.

See if that is helpful.

eidnolb

Report · Jun 15, 2011

Thank you very much eidnolb I will look into this, and thanks for the links. SpywareBlaster is the problem. I like your idea of enabling 14393 entries one at a time! Although I think this is a recent problem. Your help is appreciated. It might be an idea to remove SpywareBlaster and rely on the Activex Filtering.

Report · Jun 16, 2011

Hi Judesman, I'm late getting on the Forum today. Are you saying that there are that many addons from SpywareBlaster in your browser?

I have researched SpywareBlaster and have a very negative opinion on it. It is very intrusive and would never have it on my system nor recommend it to anyone.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware program. It does not install any addons into the browser and is very light on resources and easy to use. It does not contain a Firewall, but Windows Firewall works well.

I would go here and download it but SAVE it to your Desktop.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx

Then I would go to this website which is very good and follow the procedures to Uninstall SpywareBlaster.

When it is Uninstalled, then Reboot(restart) your computer.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/uninstall/2208/SpywareBlaster-v3.5.1.html

Then I would Close all browser windows, Run to Install MSE(Microsoft Security Essentials) when it is finished Installing I think it will update and run a scan. If not, you can do that from the Home page.

This will give you good protection along with your IE browser.

If you have any questions, let me know. Keep in mind that this is just a suggestion on my part. I use MSE and it has been able to prevent malware and also removing it.

Thanks,

eidnolb

Report · Jun 16, 2011

Hi eidnolb. Thanks for your input. Yes there are14393 items in the SpywareBlaster database but that includes IE and Firefox. Because of the original problems with ancestry.co.uk and IE, ancestry told me to download Firefox and there weren't any problems but on reflection I believe that was because Firefox protection was not enabled in SpywareBlaster.

With Restricted Sites in SpywareBlaster disabled the problem is resolved, in fact there are now Flashplayer type adverts running on all sorts of web sites and I am getting the odd Pop-up warning that I haven't had before. I am inclined to agree with you about removing SpywareBlaster and I may well do that although I have never had any problems in the three years I have been using it.

I understand what you are saying about MSE but I have been using Norton Internet Security for years without any problems. I know my way around it and that suits me because I am not much of a techie. I know some don't like Norton but I am very happy with it and I also do the odd scan with Malwarebytes.

I have also been looking at your advice on Activex Filtering in IE9 that I might use if I remove SpywareBlaster.

Thanks for your help it is appreciated.

Report · Jun 16, 2011

Hi Judesman, I appreciate your opinions and experience in using SB. With the browsers becoming more and more restrictive and many Anti-Virus programs doing the same, it is becoming time consuming to comply with them and use the computer.

I certainly believe in Security but not to the extent that is has become:-) I've dealt with Viruses/Trojans/Kill-bits and other malware since mid January of this year and many of the Anti-Virus programs were not able to prevent these, but when scanning the PC, couldn't even find anything. It took other Anti-Virus (Free) programs to find and remove them.

On your pop ups you can adjust that by using Tools>Internet Options and under the Privacy Tab. Cookies and the Pop up Blocker.

Also that ActiveX Filtering can be used to control some of that also. Sites you trust can be placed into the trusted zone or you can set it for particular websites.

A lot of changes came with IE9 and you may like to review them: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie-9/features

I'm sure you know that you shouldn't ever have more than one Anti-Virus program on a system. That causes conflicts and instability. MBAM is fine and a great Malware fighter:-) They find what many others don't even know are there, LOL

Anything new takes time to get used to and IE9/Win7 are no exception.

Thanks for considering my suggestion and whatever you decide, I hope it's successful for you. Also I appreciate you marking your thread as answered as well.

Regards,

eidnolb

Report · Jun 17, 2011

Hi eidnolb. Thanks for all your help it is appreciated. Something that concerned me at the outset, that is the Add-on failed to run warning in the Notifiacation Bar has turned out to be quite trivial in as much as SpywareBlaster seems to be blocking Flash type adverts. So I have to decide which I want. On the one hand SB seems to block a lot of dodgy websites on the other hand I don't want the Notification Bar to keep giving me warnings when I am not sure what the problem is. I have posted on Wilders under SB but haven't had any response.

I have updated Flashplayer and Shockwave and I know that it isn't an Adobe problem.

I will give all this some thought.

Many thanks.