Google Adwords on Top, Right & Pop-Up Left

Annoying and too commercial for SE like Google

[tommyleef]

This huge 1/3 of screen left side pop-up that takes forever to load with adwords results is going overboard.

I would hope for better from the most credible SE--Google.

We all know PPC is here to stay, but pop-ups have been sited as the most annoying internet reality (right before spam emails).

I respectfully ask Google to take the high road and not give in to selling out genuine content based web search results. Those good solid results are what made Google the best--not the PPC ads.

[digitalghost]

>>This huge 1/3 of screen left side pop-up that takes forever to load with adwords

Google doesn't do pop-ups. Check your system for scumware. Ad-Aware by Lavasoft or Spybot manages to kill most scumware.

[Stefan]

Pop-up? Sure you don't have spyware?

added: Beat me to it...

[tommyleef]

The results coming up are 100% google adwords order. I will do a check though. I did think it funny that they would totally crowd and surround the searchs like that--thank you for the tip.

I'll advise what I find...

[Stefan]

Spybot search and destroy - freeware dl - will get it, it's excellent.

[tommyleef]

When clicking the properties for the left side window of exact google adwords results...it shows coming from a popunder.info which will not load when directly putting the address in my addressbar.

Is anyone familiar with this spyware?

They match the Google style and bar exactly to the shade of colors used and the results are adwords precise.

I have this same pop-up on Yahoo now and they there use the style and color shade exactly for Yahoo and give adwords results from Google.

Can anyone help me get this off my system?

[digitalghost]

>>help me get this off my system

Yes, download SpyBot or Lavasoft's Ad-Aware. Install and click.

[bcolflesh]

As previously recommended:

security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download

Regards,
Brent

[tommyleef]

This is scary...I did spyware search and destroy just now...they ridded me of 20 programs.

Guess what though, after being called 'clean' by spyware...the pop-up left is still there when I search using Yahoo or Google.

This is a vicious one guys :(

[Stefan]

Try checking to see if there is a spybot list update "search for update" even though you just downloaded the program. Also, as DigitalGhost suggested, run AdAware on it too.

[edited by: Stefan at 9:30 pm (utc) on May 30, 2003]

[bcolflesh]

Assuming you are using IE, try going to:

Tools > Internet Options > General tab > Settings button > View Objects

Right-click on each one & examine the properties, including the whole link.

Delete suspicious ones.

- You may also have to do some manual registry removal, did you determine the name of the trojan causing your problem?

Regards,
Brent

[Neo541]

Did you check for updates to the program? I know Ad Aware puts out updates, and I think S&D does too, that might help...

<added>Stefan beat me to it!</added>

[edited by: Neo541 at 9:38 pm (utc) on May 30, 2003]

[tommyleef]

God Bless webmasterworld...they have a forum on this very spyware disguising as Google and Yahoo:

www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/9258.htm

I am still getting this thing off my computer but wanted to share the news.

I feel stupid for assuming the worst of Google. These guys did it exactly in Google toolbar and color shading fashion though--they are slick jerks for certain!

[Stefan]

As I recall, when you dl Spybot S & D they advise you to check for updates right away. The program doesn't come with the latest definitions and fixes.

[steve128]

You may have to use "Add remove programs" in my computer.

I have noticed sometimes using spybot, you need to restart your pc before the scumbag is removed, even though spybot says clean.

[tommyleef]

Hey guys thanks for the help...the updates and restart cleaned things up.

[cindysunc]

I've asked this before and probably won't get a straight answer about these things. What, if anything, does Google plan to do about this? You have competitors targeting your site(Google) If i'm paying for Adwords, i don't want any popping happening.

[tommyleef]

Cindy I understand where you are coming from...I used to play the PPC game to the tune of 3k per month until we established enough rankings in high sales converting keywords and started getting half our business as repeat customers.

I built my business on PPC until the free results came to my rescue.

I would not want to share my screen with other people that crowd out my PPC ad if I was doing those still.

This particular 'spybot' would show adwords results on Yahoo which of course uses overture PPC ads. This means that overture users are being cheated on the computers of users getting adwords results right beside the ones that are contractually there.

I hope Yahoo and Google can stop any hijacking of there search engines.

[Stefan]

Good to hear, tommyleef.

cindysunc, I guess Google could spend muchos dineros on lawyers to put a stop to it, but it's not really their responsibilty to keep user's computers free of scumware, viruses etc. All it takes to keep the stuff out is Spybot, not enabling active-x, and a few other simple things. I'd rather Google spent their time and energy on the SE.

[cindysunc]

There have been other cases of companies filing class actions suits to stop this type of behavior and there are current ones too. Nows a good time to do this and set some precedents. I agree its the user who downloads this stuff but sometimes they do so unknowingly, hard to get rid of for the normal user and there have been cases of driveby installs. All in all, Google owns Google and if you want to advertise on Google, you should pay Google. Right now you can pay somebody else to advertise on Google via popups/unders just like the problem mentioned in this thread.

[steve128]

Google can't do nothing about spyware, each machine owner is responible for his/her own machine.

It gets worst than pop-ups, some scumware actually targets your affiliate id.
So you have an affiliation with amazon for example, somebody has scumware on their machine, and most likely will be unaware of the fact.

A potential buyer clicks on your link to amazon, the scumbag will attempt to steal your sale. Through a pop up that replaces your link, with their id, your link in actual fact becomes a pop-under

[cindysunc]

yes google can do something about it as past companies have. NYTimes, UPS have filed some suits to stop competitors from popping on their sites. There are exclusion lists, lists of urls, you can be put on. In the end it doesn't matter what a user and some software(scumware) agree too. Its Googles site thats gets popped on. Google owns Google. Intelluctual property. Your argument is anybody can have a downloadable application and can pop ads on Google at will? Just look for cetain keyword triggers and pop. I just think Google should take a stance now and stop these downloadables and their competition from popping on their site.

Doesn't matter the agreement a user and some downloadable get into for the simple reason the action takes place on someones site. You own the site, you shouldn't let people advertise on your site for free without you consent.

[edited by: cindysunc at 10:51 pm (utc) on May 30, 2003]

[Stefan]

Sure thing cindysunc, and I wish them luck, but might they wait until they have this update mess straightened out? :-)

[Dynamoo]

tommyleef:

This particular 'spybot' would show adwords results on Yahoo which of course uses overture PPC ads. This means that overture users are being cheated on the computers of users getting adwords results right beside the ones that are contractually there.

Google does not syndicate AdWords to parasiteware pushers. However, Overture is happy to provide parasites such as Gator with results, and I and may other webmasters will happily waste Overture advertiser's money by clicking on the links.

Let's be absolutely clear.. anybody who uses their website to sell anything, either as a merchant or affiliate is fighting a war against browser parasites, whether they know it or not. And anybody who is using Overture to feed these parasites is going to get squished in the middle.

[Tropical Island]

To me the most obvious solution is for AdWords and Over to cut these guys off. If there are no PPC companies who will supply them with listings then there is no business.

[steve128]

>yes google can do something about it as past companies have. NYTimes, UPS have filed some suits to stop competitors from popping on their sites.<

Filing suits, scare tactics...whom are they going to sue?
If it was a simple matter of cival law, the pop-up brigade would be long gone.

What about cookies etc, set your pc not to accept, or sue every cookie supplier?

Like it or not, the pop-up/scumware etc are down to each machine owner to control.
As someone said, it is not google's problem but I bet they are not happy

PS will somebody tell M$ I do not want a digital/web/security camera...but they insist I do -;

[steve128]

Tropical Island
According to google adwords tos, pop-ups are not allowed, nor is disabling the back button