Websites with ads that have voices

[Keeve]

I do my email with Juno. I get the free version, via the web, which is supported by several ads on the screen, etc. The vast majority of ads are unobtrusive enough that I really don’t mind them. I’ve had this same email address with Juno for close to 15 years, and I really don’t need to switch.

But lately (or maybe it’s not so recent and I’ve only started to notice it recently) some of the ads (especially from one particular advertiser) are making sounds. Specifically, a person is talking to me to get my attention and buy his product. It is very short, maybe 8 words in three seconds. And it is not very often, maybe once or twice an hour. But when it comes out of nowhere, it startles and bothers me.

I wrote to Juno and asked if there’s a way to silence the ads, and their response was:

Thanks for taking the time to contact Juno email support.

I understand your concern. Please be informed that it is not possible to turn off the
sound playing the Ad’s.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

I do not want to turn my speakers off and on whenever I read my email. Does anyone know of any file settings or registry entries that might help?

PLEASE DO NOT CLUTTER THE THREAD WITH SUGGESTIONS ABOUT OTHER EMAIL PROVIDERS.

Thanks!

[friedo]

Get AdBlock

[Stathol]

Depending on which browser you use, you may have some options. The type of ad you’re describing is almost certainly a Flash-based ad. There are several Firefox extensions that will block Flash content either globally on a site-by-site basis.

It would also probably be possible to craft some kind of proxy server filter to squelch Flash ads for any browser capable of using a proxy server.

[Keeve]

@friedo

Get AdBlock

I’ll consider it! Thanx!

[Tim_T-Bonham.net]

NoScript may also help with this. Many such ads use scripts to produce the audio; NoScript can prevent that.

[Alex_Dubinsky]

In Opera there’s a quick-access option called “Disable sounds in webpages.” I keep it on.

[Shamozzle]

@t-bonham@scc.net

NoScript may also help with this. Many such ads use scripts to produce the audio; NoScript can prevent that.

I came in to suggest NoScript. It’s very, very useful. I use it to prevent keyloggers.

[Chronos]

I’m not sure that any browser-based solution would work. Juno internet uses its own dialer program to contact the ISP, and it’s the dialer that’s displaying the ads, not the browser. The dialer is not designed to be modifiable or plug-in-able, and no other dialer will work with Juno.

[Alex_Dubinsky]

@Chronos

I’m not sure that any browser-based solution would work. Juno internet uses its own dialer program to contact the ISP, and it’s the dialer that’s displaying the ads, not the browser. The dialer is not designed to be modifiable or plug-in-able, and no other dialer will work with Juno.

Well in that case, use Vista and tell it to mute that application.

[The_Tao_s_Revenge]

@Chronos

I’m not sure that any browser-based solution would work. Juno internet uses its own dialer program to contact the ISP, and it’s the dialer that’s displaying the ads, not the browser. The dialer is not designed to be modifiable or plug-in-able, and no other dialer will work with Juno.

Actually a nit pick maybe with the right tools (atleast in 2002, maybe not now) you could configure windows dialer to work with it. It worked by making a dialup connection then connecting with windows dialer. Then deleting the connection immediately. With the right tools you could copy the username, password (it’s different then the one the service uses), and number and make a standard windows dialup connection.