Google Ads & Service Pack 2

[southall]

Does anyone know about Google Ads not displaying in IE when Service Pack 2 is installed on XP?

[AlexDP]

No, I haven't heard anything. I have Service park 2 installed and can see the ads without problems.

Have you got Javascript turned off? (Tools -> Internet Options -> Secrity -> Custom Level -> Scripting).

Alex

[JAG0000]

Yes my partner and I recently updated to service apck 2 and found all Google ads bolcked by IE.
It is simple to change the ad/pop up blocking software so they come back but it seem a suspicios practice for the sofites to make this the default setting.
Guess they have plenty of lawyers to keep busy.

[swanweb]

Service pack 2 does this on any advert it profiles as suspicious, its doing you a favour in a way also blocks activex and more.

Although to the novice it can be frustrating knowing why and how, im sure theres a document explaining the changes the implications and the reasons so that any novice can reconfigure.

[ronniethedodger]

In a Digital Point thread (http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=2378) the problem was mostly attributed to a conflict with other ad blocking software which caused this to happen -- Norton was cited as one of these. It is NOT intentionally done by SP2.

AdSense are served via javascript. They are not pop-ups or active-x objects. Having javascript disabled will effectively block the ads, true, but it will block a lot more than ads (the buttons for bold, italic, etc. in the reply box I am using right now will not work either). This is not the "default" setting for SP2.

A systems Engineer with access to over 1,000 computers that he applied SP2 to was quoted as saying:


"Less than 1% of our user base reported problems relating to IE after the deployment of SP2. In the few cases where we reviewed the problem it was almost always attributed other software on the user's machine that was not functioning properly with SP2. We experienced a handful of cases where no other conflicts could be detected. In those cases a simple redeployment of SP2 solved the issue."

[Islands]

Hi Ron,
The source you quoted is no doubt correct but doesn't really address the problem. The problem occurs not so much specific to the computers where SP2 is installed but specific to the websites those computers visit.

Unfortunately the default settings for SP2 impose a level of security that blocks many legitimate web applications and it will take a fairly knowledgeable user to get the settings back to where they can view the application.

Not only is scripting turned off by default but there are also firewall provisions in SP2 that may prevent the import of legitimate files and the use of files resident on the hard drive. This condition has forced us to once again introduce the noscript tag in our documents in the hope that the document itself will load even if it doesn't work properly.

The instructive portion of the noscript text we use is:
"Since you are reading this message, your browser scripting engine is turned off.

To activate scripting go to the browser menu bar and locate your options/preferences

settings, frequently found under the:

Tools>Internet Options>Security>Internet>Custom Level>Scripting

Enable active scripting or possibly Javascript.


If you've recently installed SP2 for Windows NT, you may also have to go to:

Tools>Internet Options>Advanced and scroll down to the Security section; check the

box (allow active......files on my computer)>OK


Allowing JavaScript to run in the browser does not pose a high security risk. You

may also have to change certain default firewall settings imposed with SP2.


To read more about the SP2 security settings, go to:
http://msdn.Microsoft.com (http://msdn.microsoft.com/security/productinfo/XPSP2/default.aspx)


To learn more about PeddleGold storefronts, go to:
http://webPeddle.net"

It's great that MS is trying to beef up security but at ImagineNation we're concerned that they may have gone too far in addressing some relatively innocuous situations. The impact is already being felt with certain e-commerce sites and as one reader points out, with Google adds. We've read that many IT pros are delaying implementation of SP2 untill they have a chance to fully investigate the consequences.

Mel

[mikmik]

Islands, I don't agree with these claims:

Unfortunately the default settings for SP2 impose a level of security that blocks many legitimate web applications and it will take a fairly knowledgeable user to get the settings back to where they can view the application.

Not only is scripting turned off by default but there are also firewall provisions in SP2 that may prevent the import of legitimate files and the use of files resident on the hard drive. This condition has forced us to once again introduce the noscript tag in our documents in the hope that the document itself will load even if it doesn't work properly.



I have absolutely no problems with any script on my site, and sp2 IE settings are default.
This:
Contact Form (/info/contact/contpop.php)

I haven't seen a problem anywhere, yet, in a month, with ads or anything.

Then, on top of that, if anything is blocked, there is a popup warning, and an info bar quite prominantly displays at the top of the IE window so that: 1, you know someething is blocked - in no uncertain terms, and 2, you can allow it by clicking on the info bar.

I do not understand your claim that IE blocks all this 'scripting' by default.

I would suggest checking your script, if you are running unsigned activeX controls, or across domains, then maybe.

Otherwise, I have many times more problems with Mozilla browsers with script, and that is something to worry about if you are concerned witht reaching customers.

[mikmik]

Here are screenshots of the IE sp2 settings, which are all default:

http://factor1.net/media/IE_sp2/index.html

I don't know enough to claim that none of these will cause the problems you described, Islands, but if so, how chould they be changed?

It might be a good idea to warn visitors how to set them.

[minstrel]

Aren't graphics in the sig line specifically prohibited by the posted forum rules here?

[ronniethedodger]

Here are screenshots of the IE sp2 settings, which are all default:

http://factor1.net/media/IE_sp2/index.html

I don't know enough to claim that none of these will cause the problems you described, Islands, but if so, how should they be changed?

It might be a good idea to warn visitors how to set them.

Nice shots Mik. This one in particular, screenshot 9 (http://factor1.net/media/IE_sp2/photos/photo9.html), addresses whether or not javascripted ads will be displayed or not. Clearly scripting is still active.

[Phiber]

My question is:
why isn't anyone angry or at least dissatisfied at ads not showing on SP2 powered computers?
Or you guys maybe like less impressions, clicks and of course, earnings?