Unwanted gambling advertisements

Hello, I wonder if anyone else has been receiving - from Ladbrokes & Titan - web pages that keep popping up: not minor ones on an open web page, but a full, stand alone page
I repeatedly got an up-to-date Ladbrokes page - exhorting me to gamble, in some way, with them.
Never been a gambler, never knowingly clicked on possibly related links on that subject at all.
I emailed Ladbrokes, and got a pleasant reply from them, saying their tech department would look into it. It seems that they must have, because I no longer have my browser (Firefox) hijacked by their ads - I have, however, now got a regular appearance from "Titan gambling" in place of the Ladbrokes' one.
Don't believe in conspiracy theories, but a little too coincidental for me.......
I've emailed Titan, so perhaps they'll disappear soon - only perhaps to be replaced by another gambling concern!
Anyone have any thoughts/experiences of similar?
Cheers, Les.

In reply to a post by lelboy:

I've emailed Titan, so perhaps they'll disappear soon - only perhaps to be replaced by another gambling concern!
Anyone have any thoughts/experiences of similar?
Cheers, Les.

Is it worth a bet on which one it will be?

D'oh!

I get that sort of thing occasionally, along with pop-unders. Usually I just dismiss them, but if one gets annoying I add its domain to my hosts file, directed to 127.0.0.1.

I use a Mac, so next time anything tries to load the offending site the built-in web server (Apache) just spits back a 404, which still has to be dismissed but is less annoying and means the offending site doesn't register any more hits (from me anyway).

Not sure what would happen on Windows.

Run a scan on your PC from Malwarebytes for example to rule out any nasties on your PC.

Use a firefox based browser and install Adblock Plus and pop up blocker. End of problem.

Try AdwCleaner

Hi Ian,
First thing I did - along with a full SUPERAntiSpyware: alas no joy. Seems a little weird though, that one nasty should immediately be replaced by another after 1st said nasty left!
Cheers, anyway, Les
ps, I also ran a full Avast scan, too.

Hello prof,
I do run FF and Adblocker - always have.
First thing I did was run Malwarebytes - along with a full SUPERAntiSpyware: alas no joy. Seems a little weird though, that one nasty should immediately be replaced by another after 1st said nasty left!
Cheers, anyway, Les
ps, I also ran a full Avast scan, too.

Thanks for the advice, ecky.
I've used that before - I think I got it from Bleeping Computers, along with ComboFix.
No joy I'm afraid!
Cheers, Les.

Hi Bill, It's not a major problem really - just irritating.
If I close that browser page, it goes for a while, but always returns.
Perhaps it'll disappear up the dustpipe like the Ladbrokes' one did?
I can live in hope.
Cheers, Les.

As far as I'm aware it's usually just a different form of advertising that a site uses to get revenue. The url contains a reference that the advertiser can use to determine who initiated it and pay accordingly. Same for pop-unders.

Much the same as Google ads but more intrusive (hence counter-productive as far as I'm concerned), and not affected by adblockers.

In reply to a post by lelboy:

If I close that browser page, it goes for a while, but always returns.

Missed that on first reading. Haven't come across that.

It could be a pop-under running a timer to bring it up regularly� check the Window menu item to make sure you haven't got something open that you're not aware of.

Just so, Bill. More of a pain rather than being nasty. Just sent a report to Adblocker - perhaps they'll have some idea.
Cheers, Les.

Try Ghostery, blocks everything.

I also run Adblock Plus which is quite nice in that it blocks just about everything!

Sites such as this though which I find useful I override the AB+ settings and allow the ads through.

Just installed the ghostery, Bat - time will tell but, having done a system restore (from about 5 days ago) the bl**dy thing's not shown itself for the last 15 minutes.
We'll see.
Cheers, Les.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Try Ghostery, blocks everything.

Not quite, there is one site I use where some small integrated adverts appear, however it does stop all the others there.

Try SFF with Ghostery blocking and then paused.

I run Firefox and have <Block Pop-up Windows> selected in the options.

However, it often gets toggled - possible by a website, certainly not by me.

Just so, Ian.
I've installed the Ghostery program (recommended by BatBoy) as an extra.
It seems that doing a 5days back system restore "may" have cured the problem - at least it's not shown for the last 50 minutes!
Cheers, Les.

Make sure in the blocking options that you're blocking all trackers and cookies

I've greatly reduced this type of thing. I have Google Chrome with the free AdBlock installed. I also use ESET NOD32 Antivirus and can add URL's to a block list. If i spot a pop-up or pop-under, or some other junk I don't want to see, I cut/paste the domain name to the block list.

As time goes on, and more dodgy domains were added, I learned to use wildcards too so *.domain.name blocks any sub-domains of that domain name.

It works for me

I had similar problems recently; so I also downloaded Ad Muncher, now that I have checked back for recent installations of that nature.

Those ads, particularly the flashing/jumping ones are a real annoyance, particularly as all too often, they are for items etc that I have no interest in.

Cheers, T. I've started doing that now..
Les.

Hi ecky,
Installed the ad-muncher - it just blots out the ad itself, leaving munches everywhere! It certainly "munches" - which I then delete - but I'd prefer the bl**dy things not to get there in the first place!
Cheers, les.

Sure. Cheers, Les.

Strange!

I did not encounter that effect.

Yep, a little weird!
With the gambling page, it completely obliterated the advertising content - name of company/odds etc, but left about 4 "munchers" over the page. I still had to click close, though. At least the most irritating part has gone - the gaudy advert itself. I can't show you what I mean, as the bl**dy advert has yet to show its face since this afternoon!
Cheers, Les.

Sounds like you've got some crapware installed.

Offers toolbars, etc.

I see this kind of thing quite regularly with ads sometimes being injected into pages that contain no advertising.

If you don't actively use the functionality provded by the toolbar, get rid and if you do, well, there no such thing as a free lunch.

To be fair, the advertisers may not be aware of their ads being distributed in this way and may not be happy about it.

I have tried to get rid of these gambling full web pages with Ghostery, but without success. Has anyone found a better solution?

The pages typically appear late in the evening when my computer has been left idle for sometime.

Ghostery works for me. Are you sure ALL trackers and cookies are being blocked?

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Ghostery works for me. Are you sure ALL trackers and cookies are being blocked?

If I go to the blue Ghostery icon it show 4 things being blocked from this web site. I could try blocking the Analytics, Beacons and Widgets, as well as the Advertising cookies.

I don't have any sort of ad or popup blocker running, and don't get any full page popup ads when using this site.

As was said to lelboy back in December, malware on his/your computer is likely to be the problem.

I had something like this a few years back, nothing would get rid of it. I contacted www.malwareremoval.com which is a voluntary community just like TBB with people giving generously of their time and expertise. After running a couple of their reporting and detection programs they found malware which was then deleted by their provided utility. Chances are they have already experienced your problem, so good luck and thanks again to the MU.

Thank you for the suggestion. Hopefully I have found my problem.

Yesterday I using my computer without a web page being loaded. All of a sudden Firefox started and displayed a William Hill gambing page. This made me thing that I must have a virus / adware running.

Since Windows 8 came out I have been relying on Windows Defender for security, and this has not notified me of any problems. So I decided to revert back to AVG Free. This found and removed AdInstaller Astromenda and InstallCore in c:\users... I can't be sure where these came from but I did find that a few files that I have downloaded in the past where infected. Including a copy of Imgburn version 2.5.8.0

I am tempted to suggest that Microsoft should put more effort into developing Windows Defender rather than Windows 10. I am a little surprised that companies such as Ladbrokes and William Hill should rely on such dubious processes for promoting their products.

I'm pleased to read you've found the cause of the problem.

Windows Defender in Win 8 is not intended to be a full AV solution. As for spending more time on WD than Windows 10, I sincerely hope not. Windows 10 is needed to replace the diabolical Windows 8 variants whereas there are plenty of decent AV programs available, sadly I don't include AVG in that number.

Windows Defender is the default real-time (always on) protection program in Windows 8 and 8.1. Unlike the one in Windows XP, Vista and 7, the Windows 8/8.1 version does protect from viruses and other types of malware, not only spyware. It is much like the free Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP, Vista and 7, but it lacks several features, such as the ability to select a time or limit CPU resources used for scheduled scanning in GUI (Graphical User Interface), right-click menus in Windows (File) Explorer, Taskbar Notification area (System tray) icon, etc.

Windows Defender uses Windows Update to download and install new virus and spyware definitions once a day. If updates fail constantly, follow instructions in the Reinstall Windows Update article.

Please note that you cannot install Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8 or 8.1. If you choose to install any other real-time anti-virus program (such as avast! Free Antivirus), Windows Defender will be automatically turned off - there is no point in hogging system resources by running multiple virus protection software.

Edited by deleted (Sun 31-May-15 19:39:51)

So? It doesn't mean that Windows Defender is any good. In truth it isn't which is why a proper AV program should be installed.

In reply to a post by MCM:

So? It doesn't mean that Windows Defender is any good. In truth it isn't which is why a proper AV program should be installed.

It shows this

Windows Defender in Win 8 is not intended to be a full AV solution.

is nonsense.

is nonsense.

As is your post. Windows Defender is a poorly rated AV and does little or nothing to prevent adware (rather than viruses) as demonstrated in this thread.

Works for me. Note that Astromenda is not a virus

Why not put 360TS on your PC and phone. It's free and beats the pants of all the paid Internet Security. Tunes up your devices and see to updates also.
http://www.360totalsecurity.com/en/

Check out the performance and low false positives against the paid for software - Fifth column from right in graphs!
http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/20...

Edited by professor973 (Sun 31-May-15 23:31:37)

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/563649/360-...

I know - ALL rubbish. Just because when downloaded to the public, the other two engines are not enabled by default.
http://blog.360totalsecurity.com/en/qihoo-360-statem...

Try telling Microsoft!
http://blog.360totalsecurity.com/en/qihoo-360-and-mi...

Gets some good reviews.
http://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/win...

I used to spend a lot with both Kaspersky and webroot software. 360 now does the job of both for free.

Edited by professor973 (Mon 01-Jun-15 00:06:07)