LPup,

As much as we sometimes disagree on things, I would hate to see you not participate in the forum. Nobody knows
code like you do.

I will tell you that I use Foxfire browser and AdBlock Plus-- both free and unobtrusive-- and I wasn't even aware that there were any pop-ups / adware on the garden web site.

Here is a link that might be useful: AdBlock Plus

I hear ya lazypup, maybe try what I did. Google AVG anti virus and anti spyware and download the free version of their anti spyware. Its been doing a good job for me on a new machine running Vista Home Basic. I don't know how its doing running in the background but I do a quick scan when I log off this site and the machine hasn't given me any problems. I get bent outta shape too and leave but my desire to hlp folks if I can brings we back. Try AVG software.

Switch to firefox. I did at least a year ago specifically because of gardenweb & I never see the ads anymore. I forgot this site even has them!

I am currently running firefox and I still get bombarded with their BS survey notice walking across the screen every time i open a forum. Common sense should tell someone if i were even inclined to take their survey I would only do so one time, not every time i open a forum or every time i return to the forum after posting a response.

Now I could waste my time updating my anti spyware, anti spam and anti BS programs once a week, but why should I or anyone else have to change web browsers, load our computers with unnecessary programs or waste our time running a spyware remover a couple times a day just to avoid the greed of those who operate the forum?

Perhaps this wouldn't bother me so much if it weren't for the fact that I also participate in two other forums that absolutely do not permit pop ups and yet they seem to be able to afford real moderators to control some of the content. How do I know that to be a fact? Simple, I am one of those moderators and I am not only personally acquainted with the owner of the site, i am privy to the behind the scene decisions that make the site function.

I do not deny the fact that they must generate some revenue in order to keep the bills paid and keep the site up and running, but that is what the side bars are for. The pop ups are just plain greed and the spyware is not only aggravating it is an unwarranted invasion of privacy that is currently being decided by congress. Would you allow any third party to place a tap on your phone? Then why turn a blind eye when they load your computer with spyware?

Dude, it ain't that bad.

Might try Spybot Search and Destroy and update it and run its immunize feature.

Microsofts BitDefender too would be a good idea.

"Dude, it ain't that bad."

It is as annoying as hell.
There are even a few that wander across and do not have a kill selection.
I use Firefox and AdBlock PLus and it has clobbered most of the junk after a short learning curve for the SW.
The most annoying are some of the Hershey adds that consume a huge portion of CPU and slow everything down.

You must not have tuned your Firefox and Adblock very well. I *rarely* see any of the ads that have been mentioned. So rarely that when one does slip through I've forgotten they're even here. I typically check this board at least five times per day. I just scanned through eight forum sections, opened numerous threads, and saw not a single ad, either static-banner or scrolling. On the rare occasion that something appears, I 1) ignore it; 2) wait for it to move past; 3) tune Adblock a little more if warranted. It certainly doesn't sour my day or deter me from continuing to visit the board!

I use Firefox and have not seen an ad in years. I remember popups, banner ads, and those things along the side. I just upgraded to the Adblock Plus 0.7.5.3 add-on. Once you install Adblock Plus, don't mess with trying to learn how to use it. Instead go to one of the adblock subscription providers. They're free and very comprehensive.

I would say setting this up is easier than replacing a compression coupling.

I also no longer see annoying ads. I use Firefox along with it's Adblock Plus installed. It updates automatically, so no further worries.

(BTW, when you install the Adblock Plus (from Firefox's "Tools" menu), try the "Filterset G" option. That works very well.

I use Firefox and Adblock, and have for a while.
It does not mitigate the time I wasted having to download and configure.
But who cares...it was just time online doing something that might be useful.

Lazypup,

Any success with the pop-up issues?

I also use Firefox and AdBlock. AdBlock is a quick download and seems to kill most of the crap.

I used to help out in these forums all the time back when it was still privately owned. As soon as iVillage bought it, the popups started. Firefox was still very new, and even though I was using it, I was still getting annoying popups. Hell, I had cheeseburgers sizzling across the screen for awhile from the Burger King popups. The original website owner had a member fee to avoid the popups which I had paid, but iVillage didnt care, they started spamming us all.

There were complaint threads every day in the busy forums, and I even started a few to get myself thrown off the boards permanently. (GardenWeb was quite addictive, I didnt think I could go cold turkey on my own)

I check in here once in awhile, but prefer other forums these days. Im surprised GardenWeb has even lasted after annoying the hell out of all the members when iVillage took over. And after they drove away so many pro's, the DIY crowd would dole out terrible advice and get real pissy when they were challenged. That's another reason I left.

Get a Mac computer. No worries about spyware, malware, viruses, and it's really easy to block pop-ups. I know that might be an expensive solution, but they sure are trouble-free and have a great OS.

I would hate to see any of the "resident experts" leave the board!! If it were not for the wisdom they are willing to share with others, there would be no board to begin with.

Have you tried honey bunches of oats?

i did search for pop up stuff, here are a few that will help solve the problem

Here is a link that might be useful: pop up help