We’ve done some digging around and the pop-ups are most likely coming from spyware you probably got from another site and already have installed on your system. For some reason this site happens to trigger the spyware, but we’ve gone through and are almost positive you didn’t get it from here. If you’re still experiencing pop-ups, download Spybot Search & Destroy (Mac users can try MacScan though I can’t vouch for it), run it, and that should remove the spyware from your system and stop the pop-ups.
NOTE: It’s possible a malicious ad slipped in from one of our third party ad providers, but it seems unlikely since none of our staff has ever gotten it and we’re on the site the most. Plus, some of you are reporting you haven’t gotten the pop-up since the last time we posted about it, but we haven’t changed a single thing on our end.
UPDATE: If you run Spybot and are still getting pop-ups please let us know. We let our ad brokers know about the situation and we’re still trying to pinpoint the source, so if the problem is still occurring we really want to know about it.
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Damn I must be on a streak FIRST!!
doodie | August 15, 2007 at 1:32 pm
first
Robert | August 15, 2007 at 1:34 pm
that’s a damn lie, I’m behind a firewall, its your website !
scot | August 15, 2007 at 1:37 pm
sorry charlie, a firewall won’t protect you if you click on a link that is malicious, but I loves that Spybot!
Tommy Mayo | August 15, 2007 at 1:38 pm
FRIFTH!!!!11!
Robert | August 15, 2007 at 1:41 pm
But anyway I haven’t had a pop up since the day you guys at Superficial asked the question, so something fixed it
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Hey doodie I’m first and a two time first winner at that
Joe | August 15, 2007 at 1:43 pm
I agree. It must of been something you guys did coz It hasn’t happend since you mentioned it.
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 1:43 pm
I like pop tarts…………..
lambman | August 15, 2007 at 1:45 pm
LIES LIES LIES
I don’t believe you for a second. This site is the only one that “triggers” it, meaning its most likely from this site. Also, it has happened to more than one computer but only on this site
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 1:46 pm
update 3-time first winner in one day on the Superficial and new record: Goodman
Nerd Girl | August 15, 2007 at 1:48 pm
If Spybot doesn’t work, try HijackThis. It looks like this virus embeds itself in your start-up program. Careful when using the HijackThis program, it’s pretty powerful. You may way to have a geek handy, just in case.
veggi | August 15, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I got spyware on my home PC from looking at porn.
gotspywear? | August 15, 2007 at 1:48 pm
this shit is not supported by mac.
anyway, it hasn’t happened since the last time you posted about it.
Adam | August 15, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Nice try, but that’s not your readers fault. First, I’m on a Mac. While possible, it’s extremely unlikely. Second, I know other sites that have had this happen. Every time it’s been a case of the ad provider running a banner ad that had something malicious slipped into it.
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 1:49 pm
@10 Isn’t that what this site is about? Stupid shit and lies……It’s kind of boring making fun of the same god damn celeberties every day. Shitney, Blowhan, Parasite, Bubblebut and lately some rehab singer who is my new idol. I mean, herion, E, coke, and Special K………I think i’m in love……….LOL
veggi | August 15, 2007 at 1:52 pm
OH Italian Stallion, I think I heart you. If I was gay, I would heart that herion, E, coke singer girl in which you speak of.
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 1:52 pm
@11
update 3-time first loser with nothing relavant to say on the Superficial a new douchebag record:
Goodman
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 1:54 pm
@17 Hold on a minute, is that a shot at me?
Luna | August 15, 2007 at 1:59 pm
The link of spybot only works for a PC. It would be helpful if you provided options for Mac users.
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 2:00 pm
@17 my bad, just realized what you were saying……..sorry, I’m high right now…..hahaha
veggi | August 15, 2007 at 2:01 pm
NO! I really do heart you….. and that new singer girl that loves alcohol and pills makes me gay for her…… why am I always misunderstood?
Jon | August 15, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Just because you guys who run the site haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it’s not there; most ads are served on a geographical basis, determined by your IP address, so it seems most likely that it’s a specific country or set of countries that get the popups.
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 2:21 pm
@ Italian Stallion I was being sarcastic to the assholes who actually do this shit for a living so uh……catch AIDS and die that’s right I went Noel Gallagher on your ass
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 2:22 pm
^you strung out fuck
th | August 15, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Hihi… suffer you puny Windows users.
Not a single popup/ad with Linux/Firefox/Adblock.
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 2:36 pm
@24 Fuck you bitch, big Oasis fan I see. You want to know how I know you’re gay? All you had to say is that you were being sarcastic. I think that first shit is fucking stupid. Seemed like you were a proud cocksucker. But after your last comment, you’re just a cocksucker.
As far as the strung out fuck comment. I used to do drugs fuckface. Now just smoke pot on occasion. No chance on getting aids, but if you keep taking it in the ass unprotected, you have a better chance of that faggot. Fuck off!!!!
Alex | August 15, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Are you sure it isn’t the result of some XSS attack?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-site_scripting
I doubt it’s spyware, since I was getting the popup on my Mac.
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 2:43 pm
God take a joke seriously I see Italian Stallion what’s so bad about being gay they’re the same as us only they went right instead of left so….come on
as for your comment on yeah I like them cause they got good guitar solos
by the way I’m black too does that make me gay
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 2:44 pm
^I meant to say on Oasis
Darling Nicky | August 15, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I’ve been browsing this site for a while and I’ve never seen one ad(besides the junk on the main screen from time to time at the sides. blech) or gotten spyware. but then again I use firefox and linux. VROOOMM!
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 2:45 pm
You’re black and you like Oasis? He’s a FAAAAAGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!
phloww | August 15, 2007 at 2:46 pm
hey, never gotten any spyware. surfing any sites. use linux and or firefox + adblock ;)
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 2:47 pm
^ Again what so bad about it and no I am not a homosexual however some might say if you persist on a flame war you may be a “fag”
Italian Stallion | August 15, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Yeah, you’re right. Actually, not so much. I don’t care what your sexual preference is or anyone elses for that matter. Just happen to think it’s disgusting and felt like fucking with the douchebag who kept putting first on every post and thought that person was, like I said, a douchebag. You can still fuck off though……….
Selder | August 15, 2007 at 2:55 pm
I think it has something to do with nameservers, and hacking thereof, not with triggering spyware …
Goodman | August 15, 2007 at 3:00 pm
why do you choose to flame me does it make you feel empowered or something it’s quite pointless when you look back ii’ve put down mygun why don’t put down yours because as I’ve put down mine
Roz | August 15, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Quit acting like idiots, people.
THIS SITE IS NOT CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ITS YOUR COMPUTER, WHETHER YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
I have never gotten a pop-up on this site, at work pc, at my work laptop, on my home laptop, or my home pc! NONE of them get it.
Brian | August 15, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I hate to say I told you so… especially when no one remembers my posts lol, but I knew this site wasnt to blame. So haha I told ya so lol.
Superevil | August 15, 2007 at 3:46 pm
It’s called “Firefox”, dump Internet Explorer and use it.
Amy | August 15, 2007 at 4:07 pm
never gotten any pop-ups. ever.
Berndog | August 15, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Definately this site. I’m on a mac and it happened twice on this site when clicking on an image, and it has never happened to me on any other site.
Nicklas | August 15, 2007 at 4:52 pm
It’s third party ad-linkage’s fault, not spyware. I’ve seen it on other sites that run banners from the same adfarm as you – so they are the problem.
Also, here’s the ad in action for those who missed it (screenshots)
in the comments
http://commercial-archive.com/node/136476#comment-117158
and the entire post is about these ads.
http://commercial-archive.com/node/136476
Nicklas | August 15, 2007 at 4:53 pm
ps – the post I linked to above are seen by a FIREFOX and MAC user.
Kareem OfWheat | August 15, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I don’t get any of these popups either (stoopid noobs) but they had the same problems on Stern Fan Network and it was rogue banner ad sources that were at fault.
Laurie | August 15, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Um, so five seconds ago i’m reading this site IN FIREFOX, and i start getting all these pop-ups and WinAntiSpyware is downloaded on my computer. It’s definitely your site, and it’s definitely a malicious program.
ITF | August 15, 2007 at 6:37 pm
It was the site. Given that it did it on two known good computers, including a Mac and a clean PC running Firefox. One of them having spyware I might have believed, but both? No. It was a dodgy ad being served, whether you like it or not.
Simon | August 15, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Sorry, not spyware, I regularly run Adaware and Spybot… nada… and I use Firefox.
My wife (on another computer) had this happen for a while on lastfm.com too… I’m going to say it’s ads with malicious code.
It hasn’t happened since a little bit before your last public post about it. I’ll say that the ads have been blocked by whoever you get your ads from, so it’s not that strange that it’s stopped without you guys doing anything.
Just don’t blame us, we’re a bit more computer savvy than you’re giving us credit for.
BYTES | August 15, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Spybot has a mediocre detection rate. In addition to running Spybot you should also run SUPERAntiSpyware and a-squared on-demand. Afterwards follow it up with an F-Secure online scan.
http://www.superantispyware.com
http://www.emsisoft.com
http://www.f-secure.com
bobdawg | August 15, 2007 at 7:40 pm
The only pop-ups ive seen on this site are the text pop-ups from Vibrant Ad.
There is a script for Firefox that will block these .