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Spawned?

Spawned?

Is anyone getting “spawned” when visiting LI?

A reader has complained that links produce multiple “spawned” pages.

I’ve never had the problem, and our site is clean of viruses as far as we can determine.

Is anyone else having this problem?

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Comments

they may have some malware on their computer that brings up unwanted ads.

I’m assuming they’re saying they’re getting “spammed”.

they need to run some antimalware software and clean their computer up or it will happen no matter what site they visit.

P.S. from what I’ve heard, most malware gets put on ones machine when visiting sites that specialize in “shady” or “sexually oriented” fare. It can also be gotten from accidentally being directed to a malware site but the aforementioned sites are notorious for it.

Keep your computer clean and don’t click on suspect or unknown links. And if you get a warning that a site is suspect don’t click through anyway.

    WarEagle82 in reply to jakee308. | July 29, 2012 at 6:06 pm

    I have personally seen some otherwise reputable sites with links that allow drive-by infections of nasty stuff…

It’s happened to me several weeks ago, but I thought it was my browser. Try going to cnet.com download the free version of CrapCleaner and run, it may help.

If I visit LI via a kindle fire, a msg pops up saying “site wants top open a new tab, yes or no” or something like that. I think it is an advertisement. On my regular computer I have pop-up blockers and don’t see this. Maybe there is a setting on your ads?

no issues with firefox.
what are the odds its an Internet Explorer machine….

there was a wordpress issue 2 or so years ago where some people had htaccess files messed up (in web root) that caused this when any apache mod_rewrite happened.
I don’t remember details, I just fixed the persons site.

may be worth having your IT guy check the htaccess file if used.

    clarify, I phrased this as if it was specific to wordpress which was incorrect wording, sorry.
    but the data about htaccess is important part.

I am seeing pop-up ads I don’t remember seeing before.

But if someone is getting re-directed to other web sites they probably have one of a few very nasty malware infestations on their PC.

    WarEagle82 in reply to WarEagle82. | July 29, 2012 at 6:04 pm

    You can check http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ for help identifying and repairing this kind of issue.

    Also, take a look at http://www.Malwarebytes.org (malwarebytes) and http://www.safer-networking.org/ (SpyBot Search & Destroy) are good sources for help as well.

    And check the c:\windows\sytem32\drivers\etc\hosts file and see if it has lots of entries. Several fake antivirus programs load up this file to redirect you to their web sites.

    The normal file should look something like:

    C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc>type hosts
    # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
    #
    # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
    #
    # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
    # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
    # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
    # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
    # space.
    #
    # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
    # lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
    #
    # For example:
    #
    # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
    # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

    # localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
    # 127.0.0.1 localhost
    # ::1 localhost

      some of us use customized hosts file.
      a good thing to do is look at last modified date of it and if it is not a date YOU remember doing (or date of system install) then track down the changes.
      anything that can edit hosts file will probably just re-edit it after.

    Rosalie in reply to WarEagle82. | July 29, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    I’m seeing pop-ups that I hadn’t see before too.

    OcTEApi in reply to WarEagle82. | July 29, 2012 at 7:05 pm

    I haven’t seen any ads in a very long time, I use several programs that strip them out quite effectively.

    The last memorable popup seen on LI was for a Muslim Dating service that had popped up right next to the Professors post that was titled:
    Why I Am So Intolerant.”
    lol

      William A. Jacobson in reply to OcTEApi. | July 29, 2012 at 7:12 pm

      Don’t strip out too many ads, just because I don’t charge doesn’t mean this place is free.

        I always hate to strip out the ads supporting my friends, but last year I had to block a few.

        I don’t know whether the ad providers were having server technical problems, or were attempting to sabotage conservative sites. The end result was that the browser would be “waiting for adxxxx.adcompanyxxx.net…” forever, effectively blocking the page from loading.

        Really, really, really good page design (load all editorial content first, then load the ads) could prevent that problem on the well-designed sites. However, if I wish to visit the less-well-designed sites also, blocking the offending ad servers affects all sites with the ads.

        WarEagle82 in reply to William A. Jacobson. | July 29, 2012 at 8:04 pm

        You might want to check with your webmaster and see what impact NoScript has on your ads.

        It is clear your site is now using a lot of scripts and tools such as NoScript may impact your site in many ways. You may not be able to do anything about people using NoScript but at least you can see what using it does.

        BTW, you are the MOST AMAZING NON-MARXIST LAWYER I CAN THINK OF, though admittedly that is a small pool.

        I am a devoted user of NoScript because it works wonders in speeding up the web experience. But for sites like LI that I visit frequently, I generally click “Allow All At This Page” that usually allows all but maybe a second layer which I look at carefully before allowing. I generally go back and eliminate most google tools out of spite for google and any elements that serve only to slow down the site. So long as there are no problems, and there haven’t been, I then leave things alone.

        Generally, I wait until I visit a site before approving anything. That and a good virus blocker and and fire wall (both freeware)have kept me problem-free for years. And I spend most of the day online for professional reasons.

        I have a feeling those reporting problems have either neglected to check off “block all pop-ups” in their preferences or as others have said, have a malware problem.

          On looking through the many, many doodads LI uses (and which slow this site down considerably), I nominate yting.com as the prime suspect for any pop-up ads. I disable all of the analytics too because of how cumbersome they are to surfing speed.

        I understand this is commercial endeavor for you, if I were in the position to donate I probably would.
        I occasionally purchase from Amazon, and its not a problem to accommodate your online store for any future purchases.
        However, blocking these web ads and popups is how I prefer my web experience, and people who do that are highly unlikely to click on them ads anyway .. you can pound sand if you’re somehow inferring that’s stealing from you.

        I also work in the IT industry and design networks and optimize systems to run free of power taxing rapacious usury… I’m sure you wouldn’t advise doctors to leave some cancer cells or it may hurt their future bottom line.

No problem here. No problem here. No problem here. No problem here. Just joking, but I really don’t have a problem with eggs of aquatic animals. Nor with Spam, either. Does speak a little to their lack of computer literacy though, doesn’t it?

LukeHandCool | July 29, 2012 at 5:55 pm

Not sure what you mean by “spawned,” but it sounds fishy.

    WarEagle82 in reply to LukeHandCool. | July 29, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    You would KNOW if you had been SPAWNED!

    You would have this overwhelming urge to vote for Obama and watch MSNBC…

I’m good.

I have not had any trouble with your site.

Your site’s fine. But FYI, seems to me that you periodically have an advertisement come through that’s funky. If the person accidentally hits it…

It would help if everyone indicated their browser.

Firefox. Never had a problem.

theduchessofkitty | July 29, 2012 at 6:14 pm

No problems here. I use Firefox.

‘Spawned’? Nope.

But I do get a thrill that runs up my leg when I visit LI sometimes.

It’s been years since I last spawned.

Now, this is really odd, but I don’t see all of my posts when I am logged out.

The first time I assumed it was just me. The third time, it is just odd.

If I post, then shut down my browser and then restart the browser and return to LI, several of my posts don’t show up until I login again.

And there are 21 comments here but the comment counter shows only 18. That is NOT my browser.

BTW, this should be comment #22.

Ever since getting infected despite antivirus software, I use Firefox’s NoScript add-on to disable JavaScript by default.

I usually have to push the NoScript button multiple times—four on the current visit—before it pronounces the LI site fully loaded. My non-expert interpretation is that you have ads that connect to stuff that connects to other stuff etc.

So far I haven’t received a Norton or Google warning about LI being a dangerous site.

    WarEagle82 in reply to gs. | July 29, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    I used NoScript for a long time but it seemed like it was slowing down my browser. Then I turned it off for a week or so to test and it seems like browsing is just really slow. The Good Professor’s site does seem to point to a lot of other sites while loading…

    gs in reply to gs. | July 29, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Afterthoughts:

    Seven clicks of NoScript this time: four on arrival and three a few minutes later. Maybe the latter three had to do with my logging in. (?)

    I have Firefox’s pop-up blocker on by default.

    I set Firefox to delete cookies upon being closed. Since I arrived here, it has acquired 68 (sixty-eight) cookies.

    Per WarEagle82, I noticed that the number of thumbs-up’s might change with log-on status. On occasion, for a given log-on status, some thumbs-up’s have apparently dropped from my posts.

    As noted a month ago, the original Tip Line archive has disappeared.

    Addendum to Afterthoughts:

    Two more clicks on the NoScript button. Now up to 71 cookies.

    Afterthought to Addendum to Afterthoughts:

    To put a silver lining on a comment that Bill may not find terribly welcome, these are the kinds of issues that success breeds (or spawns :-)).

      WarEagle82 in reply to gs. | July 29, 2012 at 8:13 pm

      There were like 50 sites “approved” in NoScript. I removed them all.

      I must have hit “approve all” on some site without thinking.

      Check your NoScript settings if you use it…

Yes, I’m getting spawned. It started about two weeks ago.

    WarEagle82 in reply to Mike. | July 29, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    Go get MalwareBytes and SpyBot Search & Destroy and check out your computer. Then go to http://www.bleepingcomputer.com and a highly qualified volunteer will help you figure out what is wrong with your PC. Mind you some of these things can be VERY nasty and hard to remove so DO NOT go to your bank or credit card or bill pay sites until you are sure you have dealt with this problem.

    BTW, comment count seems to have caught up and I am no longer not seeing certain of my posts when I return to the site.

Doug Wright | July 29, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Well, I keep getting a “Coburns” pop up ad. Coburn is a home food delivery company, a lot like Schwann’s. Other than that nit, no other problems.

Just found that my IE pop blocker setting allowed pop ups from LI! Don’t understand why that happened, especially since this is a new PC too.

Malwarebytes is free for the basic purpose and I run that along with an anti-virus program too.

I’m not having any problems but like some others above, I have seen more pop-ups this summer than in the past. I assumed that was a good thing because increased traffic made your website more popular with advertisers.

Been having some problems lately with all my Google searchy’s… they mysteriously seem to only spawn results from decidedly liberal sources.

Liberal bias, taxing the knowledgeable and feeding the stupid of the world.

Doug Wright | July 29, 2012 at 7:00 pm

“Spawned?”

Salmon spawn, web browsers get spammed. And, most spam is delicious if fried but not eaten raw nor good to have in the email inbox either.

Althouse is a place where spammers like to bore into and generate new spam advertising their so-called products yet the good lady shyster doesn’t have any defenses to prevent that and “we” still love to follow her ramblings. 😉

No problems here. Firefox, NoScript, Ghostery and others.

No problem here!

Firefox 12.0

Spybot 1.62

Was not clear on contextual definition “Spawned”

….then off beat sites [NOT LI] where if I go there new windows keep popping up faster than I can “X” out of them.

If that’s the symptom the user is getting, reboot, get latest spyware & antivirus updates, and scan.

Yes, there is a pop-up lately. It could be a security setting at my end, or something wormed its way into the WordPress servers. Dunno.

Firefox w/ghostery. No problem either.

Oh, and I occasionally see the message that NoScript filtered a potential cross-site scripting (XSS) attempt… Just got one.

    I have found alot of those are false alarms. it means hidden links associated with objects on a web page. I finally got rid of that filter program.

Subotai Bahadur | July 29, 2012 at 7:43 pm

No problems here, however at other conservative sites, there seems to be an infestation. PJ Media sites, especially. I suspect that the Organizing for Obama web operation and minders are engaged in sabotage and that it will get worse. They are probably trying to keep anti-Obama memes from being generated.

Subotai Bahadur

    kobayashi in reply to Subotai Bahadur. | July 30, 2012 at 11:57 am

    Agreed
    I got hit with the dailycaller this morning [mentioned in this thread} …On the article linked in BadBlue about Jarret having stopped Obama 3 times from issuing the “Go” order.

    Google stopped me then Firefox; I went on in and it was gobbledgook, replaced 20 minutes later by Kosher website.

good on XP + firefox & chrome
good on Ubuntu + firefox & chrome

problems on W7 + IE9
— system has been checked and rechecked thoroughly
— happens intermittently
— also happens intermittently on other websites
— appears to be related to IE’s pop-up “blocker”
— seems to occur when I close a tab with a “blocked” pop-up, and then IE9 spawns multiple windows containing the tab I just closed
— started about 2 weeks ago shortly after a large group of MS updates (an update may have modified the pop-up blocker’s behavior)
— could also be an advertisement that started around that time (one trying to cleverly circumvent IE9’s pop-up blocker) that is being mishandled by the IE9 pop-up blocker

I sometimes get a box asking if I want to stop running script since it’s doing something (can’t remember what). Dunno what it means, but I always click yes. I think there’s a pop-up block notice at the same time, but can’t remember that either.

    Joy in reply to barbara. | July 29, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    Thanks for your comment barbara…..I was beginning to think that I was the only one here who didn’t understand all this ‘computer talk’ 🙂

    I’ve seen the same things as you for about two weeks.

    My remedy has been to click on the LI link another time and the pop-up block and script notices stop appearing.

IE popup blocker ….DOESN”T
its junk.

Never. I use AVG (the paid version) and it seems to work very well.

Working with Safari with its the pop-up blocker on. But my tracking blockers, (yes two of them) are blocking 11 and 10 attempts to track respectively.

Three Things I attest to

Avast! Anti-virus protection.

Spybot Search & Destroy to set up web browsers’ builtin defense systems with blocks for known malware and spyware.

Ccleaner – to get rid of 100s of megabytes of useless temporary files, fix registry errors, and manage what does and does not load at start up time.

All three are free downloads.

Avast! is free for 30 days and I subscribe to it on a yearly basis. It’s Best there is.

Juba Doobai! | July 29, 2012 at 8:16 pm

No problems here, but I use Safari and ruthlessly block every possible thing I can cuz the site was taking too long to load. Extensions like Ghostery blocks all kinds of data that slows site loading.

So, no I never get spawned pages from here or anywhere else.

conservativegram | July 29, 2012 at 8:20 pm

It has to do with a javaScript. Firefox was blocking a pop up when I first arrive at this website, but it didn’t block a pop up if I clicked on something. It would only happen once, but the first time I would click on anything (story, thumbs up, link), I would get a small pop up ad. Just this website. I disabled javaScript and no more problem. I have an anti malware and antivirus program, so I figured it was the website.

TrooperJohnSmith | July 29, 2012 at 9:01 pm

No problems.

Sometimes, it seems like there may be some bandwidth compression, but it’s a very smooth website from my end.

I use Firefox with Adblock shut-off on LI. No pop-ups. Nada.

    There are settings you can tweak within Firefox to improve throughput, it’s remarkably helpful in many cases.
    Google em’ and don’t be skeered to tinker wit settings, you can always reset or reinstall the browser if necessary.

    Whoops, there I go giving away IT tips and secrets that could cut my bottom line… I need a freakin’ tip jar.
    lol

I’ve never had any problem on LI. I use Firefox v.13 on Windows xP, with NOD 32 anti-virus.

Just tried opening it in IE8 and got a “Data execution prevention error” notice and IE closed down. I thought it was LI but then I tried doing the same with my own blog and got the same message. It’s either a wordpress problem on IE or I I need to update IE to v. 9.

It’s working beautifully in Chrome and Safari. But I have pop-up blockers and ad-blockers in all browsers. I can see the Amazon ads but that’s it.

Beginning several days ago I’ve started getting pop-ups on both my desktop (Firefox 13.0.1) and my iPad whenever I first load LI. Never received any before then.

Thanks,
Ted

No issues using Firefox with adblocker plus. I did get a “attack” window on Daily Caller when I clicked it just before LI through Hot Air. The attack note stated that Daily Caller was trying to install something on my computer. I have quit visiting the sites that have the “register or buy this book” popup when opening. Will they never learn.

    RosalindJ in reply to Tortuga. | July 30, 2012 at 11:39 am

    The Daily Caller got hammered overnight. They’ve fixed their problem, but you still have to notify whatever it is that you’re using that it’s AOK now.

jimzinsocal | July 30, 2012 at 8:16 am

^^sometimes our anti virus software confuses a typical thing as a threat of some sort. Ive even had Norton tell me on occassion that Althoyse and NRO are suspicious sites and to avoid them..dont look or its skull and crossbones.
It usually goes away after a few minutes.
Sometimes here..rarely..Ill get a Internet Explorer message that a script is running that will slow things. Again just an over sensitivity probably brought on by an update.

nordic_prince | July 30, 2012 at 9:22 am

I have no problems w/Firefox, but when I read LI through T-bird, it spawns a new tab in T-bird when I read the first article in a session (meaning: if I stay on the LI feed, subsequent articles don’t spawn, but if I go to a different feed and then return to LI, I’ll get another initial spawn). There are some other feeds that spawn tabs for every article I read, but those tabs open up in FF – very annoying, and I don’t know how to fix it, nor do I know why some feeds act this way and others are perfectly normal.

This behavior has only manifested itself within the past two-three weeks or so; never noticed it before, and I assumed you had done some tweaking or whatever with your site.

Just had one pop up when I clicked the “notify me” option.

Henry Hawkins | July 30, 2012 at 11:54 am

No problem here in NC with my Mosaic browser.

JimMtnViewCaUSA | July 30, 2012 at 1:03 pm

I consistently get an ad-pop-up the first time I click on an article.
Firefox, latest version. Corp computer with McAfee antivirus.

I don’t think the guy is meaning pop-up ads. I’ve experienced totally different pages propagated independently of whatever site I’ve accessed. At first I thought I might have clicked on an ad just before it appeared, but returning to the original page there was nothing for the “spawned” page. The spawned pages were mostly on-line dating or get rich sitting on the beach. One address had Cisco Systems in the URL, so I notified Cisco Sys which got back to me hours later and said it was a scammer in Ukraine. It’s happened a few times in last few weeks, but not in the last several days. Hasn’t happened to me on LI, though.