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[Paul]

Hi. I also just experienced that. An add about Normandy in France made it impossible to read a travel blog that I thought may be interesting.

[rbisset]

I'm still getting that annoying popup so the filter just isn't working.

[stevejames]

I'm still getting that annoying popup so the filter just isn't working.

Same here - for an example see the following person's profile:
http://www.travelpod.com/members/helsbells

[lucky]

I'm still getting that annoying popup so the filter just isn't working.

Same here - for an example see the following person's profile:
http://www.travelpod.com/members/helsbells

We can't replicate the problem here. If anyone sees this popup ad please post a screen shot and please capture the URL where the ad takes you to. That way we can block it if it hasn't been blocked already.

Thanks.

Hi. I also just experienced that. An add about Normandy in France made it impossible to read a travel blog that I thought may be interesting.

We're going to update TP so that this just doesnt happen anymore.

Thanks for the feedback.
Cheers!

[rbisset]

It does it with every travelogue and country profile page. Click on the link for random traveller and let the page fully load. The advert will take a few seconds to load. Then try clicking on the name of their blog and it'll popup the error.

Just got another new error. Theres no getting away from the fact it is the xedo advertising. I ran Spybot just now and had 90 items of spyware on my pc including 9 from Xedo.

<!-- begin ZEDO for channel: - TravelPod ROS, publisher: Travelpod , Ad Dimension: Super Banner - 728 x 90 -->
<script language="JavaScript">
var zflag_nid="355"; var zflag_cid="958"; var zflag_sid="46"; var zflag_width="728"; var zflag_height="90"; var zflag_sz="14";
</script>
<iframe src="http://c5.zedo.com/jsc/c5/ff2.html?n=355;c=958;s=46;d=14;w=728;h=90" frameborder=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0 scrolling="no" allowTransparency="true" width=728 height=90><script language="JavaScript" src="http://c5.zedo.com/jsc/c5/ff2.js"></script><noscript>
<a href="http://xads.zedo.com/ads2/r?n=355;c=958;s=46;x=3584;u=j;z=[timestamp]" target="_blank"><img border="0" width="728" height="90" src="http://xads.zedo.com/ads2/x?n=355;c=958;s=46;x=3584;u=j;z=[timestamp]" alt="Click here"></a>
</noscript>
</iframe>
<!-- end ZEDO for channel: TravelPod ROS, publisher: Travelpod , Ad Dimension: Super Banner - 728 x 90 -->

[rbisset]

Right just used spybot to remove all the spyware installed and tried loading up travelpod straight away. I end up with 11 bits of Zedo spyware after getting the popup.

[lucky]

Ok,

We've blocked tons of sites in our Google Ads but our advertising partner is advising that any Zedo spyware warnings you get are simply warning you that Zedo is setting cookies, which is fine. Don't worry about those.

That being said, it seems like the popups are related to a trojan going around the net.

It seems that there is a worm that is spreading on the net that can install dubious software without your consent. Once installed, it falsely warns you that certain ads are spyware and tries to get you to install their software.

Try scanning your PC with SpyBot:
http://www.spybot.com/

Here is a post about this which sounds very similar to what you guys are experiencing:

http://www.techshout.com/internet/2006/16/...e-stops-riding/

This would imply are that somehow your PCs got infected with this.

One of our members who was getting popups ran the above scan and found they they were infected with SmitFraud-C.toolbar888

More Info:
http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-smitfraud....CFSAeWAodIHiBoQ

Please check your PCs for spyware...

Apparently this may clean these buggers too but I haven't tried. The member that cleaned their PC used the above SpyBot link
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/Software/

If you are still getting the popup, try with a different PC to see if you still get the popup.

Cheers,

[radsolv]

For what it's worth or maybe help you to trouble shoot, I have not experienced any serious problems with pop up ads.

I am using a Macintosh Mini, OS X 10.3.9 my ISP is optonline.net -- a very fast and reliable cable system, my browser is Mozilla FireFox. My location is Yonkers, NY just North of NYC.

I am not really aware of my virus protection or spyware. Probably should be.

Hope that helps.

[cobi]

I'm still getting the popup ad that I last posted on my work computer, even though Norton AntiVirus (inc. spyware check) is up to date.

We have to get permission from our IT guys before installing software so I can't just download more spyware software as you suggest Lucky.

Nor do I want to make my readers download software in order to read my travelpod without being hassled.

I ran our spyware software at home, and all it found were the zedo cookies, which it pointed out weren't that sinister but it recommended to delete them anyway. I did, and I don't get the popups at home any more.

So that would suggest the cookies ARE the problem...

this isn't the first dodgy issue with zedo. I guess their advertising is worth enough to travelpod to make up for this consternation among members!

[lucky]

Cobi, apparently the spyware installs without you knowing so it's possible that your PC is infected.

This would have come from another site and not TravelPod.

The cookies are harmless. If our theory is correct, spyware already installed on your PC is causing this.

Please try from another PC to see if you still get this popup.

[rbisset]

Ok I believe it is spyware as well but nothing I have tried will fix it. A quick search for Amaena on google came up with the details on the worm and a couple of programs to fix the probs. Neither of them worked.

Looked through all the processes running on my computer and the only thing out of the ordinary was a file called AU_.exe. This is apparantly some spyware called Spyfox or something although it says there should be a blicking icon in the system tray and I don't have this.

Spybot does nothing, just installed AVG Spyware and trying scanning now. Don't hold out much hope.

Edit: Well that file disappeared after restarting Windows and AVG reports no errors. Can't see anything wrong with my pc.

[lucky]

Try the Look2me-destroyer.exe as suggested here:

Forum post

[rbisset]

tried it. makes no difference and finds no infected files.

[cobi]

As I said, I'm still getting it on my work computer even though I ran a spyware scan this morning.

Surely the answer is to remove the offending advertising, because you can't expect every travelpod reader to go through this process?

My mum freaks out when the antivirus software updates normally, there's no way I can talk her through all this!

[suebrewer]

Cobi, apparently the spyware installs without you knowing so it's possible that your PC is infected.

This would have come from another site and not TravelPod.

The cookies are harmless. If our theory is correct, spyware already installed on your PC is causing this.

Please try from another PC to see if you still get this popup.

[rbisset]

Anyone know any other sites that contain zedo advertising? It doesn't seem to effect google ads so I'd like to check on another site.

[suebrewer]

The same pop-up is occurring when I try to read my son's blog. it happened on my pc, on my husband's laptop and on my other son's PC. and now one of my friends have said they have had the same trouble too.
Norton is up-to-date and so is ad-aware. Nothing is stopping it or blocking it.

People will stop reading the site if this keeps happening and it seems to be directly related to your advertising.

[cobi]

Yes Lucky this is serious... I've been looking into setting up my own domain today because this is the second time zedo advertising has driven me crazy...

I enjoy being part of the travelpod community, but not at the price of this hassle.

[lucky]

We are doing our best to get to the root of this... your support and patience is appreciated.

I've just asked our ad partner to remove Google Ads, we'll if this helps.

We have already blocked many ads but this does not seem to be the root of the problem.

Hang in there, we'll get to the bottom of this.

[rbisset]

Seems weird cos it's not happening to me at the moment.