# I'm getting popup ads... in Firefox ::boggles:: **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947 "2005-02-19T22:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/1 "2005-02-19T22:16:29Z")
At first I thought it was a fluke. There, on the taskbar, was a second Firefox window; a window entitled - “WARNING!” Cold with dread, I opened the window, and sure enought, it was the “Your computer may be infected with Spyware!” pop up. I was flummoxed, but as I said, I figured it was a fluke. Later that day, there was another one. I can’t remember what it was for, but it was a very common, run of the mill pop up ad. I blame Snopes - I’ve been able to recreate it by going back to Snopes. I’ve double checked that I didn’t have pop ups from Snopes allowed, and I don’t. In fact, just now I opened Snopes again, and I got the standard “pop up blocked” message. Somehow, though, some of them are sneaking through. It’s still nowhere near as bad as an IE websurfing experience would be, but it is a little disappointing. Gone are the days of being able to boast that since getting Firefox, I’ve never had an unwanted pop up. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/2 "2005-02-19T22:20:03Z")
Got a couple of those myself - same message too. It was a little alarming at first. I guess the popularity of FF has caused the dinks that write these to target FF. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/3 "2005-02-19T22:21:07Z")
I’ve been getting the same thing, but it’s from “Lower My Bills” or some stupid mortgage (?) site. Multiple windows will open too. It usually happens when I’m on MSN or going into Hotmail. I’ve never understood this, is Microsoft so hard up for cash that they need to banners on their page? C’mon Bill, a plague of spam on your house. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/4 "2005-02-19T22:45:16Z")
> [@Dignan](#): > > I’ve been getting the same thing, but it’s from “Lower My Bills” or some stupid mortgage (?) site. Multiple windows will open too. It usually happens when I’m on MSN or going into Hotmail. I’ve never understood this, is Microsoft so hard up for cash that they need to banners on their page? C’mon Bill, a plague of spam on your house. I use IE, but [MSN.com](http://MSN.com) is my home page. It doesn’t have any popups. It’s possible that Microsoft created popups that target Firefox, but it sounds like you guys have caught some sort of spyware. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/5 "2005-02-19T22:45:42Z")
I’ve got Firefox AND the Google toolbar popup blocker, and I _still_ get the occasional popup, but it’s always out of left field, at some website I just Googled for something; all the regular popups like [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) and Snopes are still blocked. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/6 "2005-02-19T22:48:01Z")
Yup, me too. Some filth that walks like a man must have figured out a hole in Firefox’s blocking. Or maybe there’s an extension we all happen to be using that causes a bug in the blocking code. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/7 "2005-02-19T22:53:19Z")
Good. It isn’t just me. I get them at Snopes and TVTome. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/8 "2005-02-19T22:55:00Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > I use IE, but [MSN.com](http://MSN.com) is my home page. It doesn’t have any popups. It’s possible that Microsoft created popups that target Firefox, but it sounds like you guys have caught some sort of spyware. Either way, it’s still disappointing because I use IE for exactly one thing, and I am absolutely certain that that one thing is not a source of popups or spyware. Which means, if I have Spyware, it got in through Firefox. Although Revtim does bring up a good point… maybe it’s not even a bug, but some innocuous seeming extension that actually introduces a hole? ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/9 "2005-02-19T22:55:16Z")
I’ve been getting the occasional popup in Safari, which I think uses the same blocking tech as Firefox. I really don’t understand the logic behind this sort of thing. “Gee, this user hates popup ads enough to get software that specifically prevents her from seeing them…but if we can get OUR ad through, maybe she’ll miraculously change her mind and want to buy our product!” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/10 "2005-02-19T23:14:58Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Although Revtim does bring up a good point… maybe it’s not even a bug, but some innocuous seeming extension that actually introduces a hole? In the interests of pursuing this theory, I’ll list my extensions I have loaded. Oh, and Holy Crap! I didn’t realize I had so many. I loaded several and forgot about 'em, completely unused. DictionarySearch 0.7 ForecastFox 0.5.9 MapIt! 0.4 xMirror 0.1.1 Linky 2.3.0 BugMeNot 0.6.1 SpellBound 0.7.3 Tabbrowser Preferences 1.2.2 FoxyTunes 1.1 Card Games 0.16.1 Tab X 0.5 ieview 0.86 Yahoo! Toolbar 0.2b A9 Toolbar 1.2.22.73 FlickrFox 0.8.1 BBCode 0.3.7 Hotmail Tabs 0.9 Wikalong 0.12 Flashblock 1.2.9 ChatZilla 0.9.67 ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/11 "2005-02-19T23:18:57Z")
Using Opera, I don’t get popups at Snopes or TVTome, but I do get one at The Onion. It’s kind of depressing. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/12 "2005-02-19T23:20:34Z")
Autocopy Bandwidth Tester **Tabbrowser preferences** **Forecast Fox** GMail Notifier FlashGot **Dictionary Search** Googlebar **FoxyTunes BugMeNot** (Don’t laugh at me) Abe Vigoda Status (Bolded the ones in common.) However, I only recently noticed this, and the only extension I have installed recently was the slightly embarassing Abe Vigoda Status. The rest I installed at, or very soon after, installation. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/13 "2005-02-19T23:24:17Z")
I don’t have it installed now, so I didn’t list it, but I did have Abe Vigoda Status installed for a bit. Since it’s possible it was installed when I had my popups (and I don’t get one now when I go to Snopes), we should consider that a suspect. I’ll verify again I don’t get a popup now when I go to Snopes, then I’ll install Abe Vigoda Status and restart Firefox, and see if I get one. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/14 "2005-02-19T23:29:25Z")
OK, still don’t get one from Snopes with Abe Vigoda Status. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/15 "2005-02-19T23:38:07Z")
The only extension that I have is AV Status, and Snopes doesn’t give me a popup. I have no extensions at all on my work computer, and this is where I got one of the popups. My work computer is pretty tight, security-wise. I don’t think this is evidence of a virus. I think the _people_ (and I use that word advisedly) that code these popups have found a hole in FF to exploit. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/16 "2005-02-19T23:47:06Z")
OK, sounds like the extension theory is probably incorrect, thanks **Fritz**. ---
**Author:** ![Oat1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Oat1957](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oat1957)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/17 "2005-02-20T00:10:12Z")
[Adblock](https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&version=1.0&os=Windows&id=10) It’s a extension for Firefox and Mozilla. Copy and paste [this](http://code.gushue.net/mozilla/adblock.php) into the adblock program after you install it. If you find that you can’t visit certain sites that you want to see, you can remove that code from Adblock. I’ve been using it for months. No popups at Snopes or anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/18 "2005-02-20T00:11:41Z")
Mozillazine Firefox forums has a big thread about this: [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=220836&postdays=0&postorder=asc&postsperpage=15&start=0](http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=220836&postdays=0&postorder=asc&postsperpage=15&start=0) I haven’t read the whole thread, but I think it’s actually a Flash popup. This popup blocker test site: [http://www.kephyr.com/popupkillertest/test/index.html](http://www.kephyr.com/popupkillertest/test/index.html) has a test, #13, which results in a popup if I allow Flash to run. But, thanks to my Flashblock extension, it only comes up if I click the “Flash Indicator” that shows up on the page. Perhaps this extension is all one needs to block these new popups. Get it at: [http://flashblock.mozdev.org/](http://flashblock.mozdev.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/19 "2005-02-20T00:58:45Z")
I downloaded Adblock and Flashblocker. I got the message that said the extensions would be installed when I restarted Firefox. I did and it didn’t. What happened? I’m using Firefox 1.0. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947/20 "2005-02-20T01:01:52Z")
I just did this (thanks **Revtim** ) and it worked fine. Using FF 1.0, btw. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-popup-ads-in-firefox-boggles/290947.md?page=2)