Just a quick note that we’ve noticed that the latest version of Safari (1.2.4 (v125.12)) sometimes seems to allow pop under ads that we and other sites serve to appear even though “Block Pop-Up Windows” is checked in Safari. This never happened with any other version of Safari that we know of – and the network ad code (Fastclick) that we are using seems to be unchanged. It is happening to us on one of our recently updated machines (Mac OS X 10.3.8, Build 7U16, Safari 1.2.4 (v125.12).
MacDailyNews serves one pop-under ad per browser session per 24-hour period. We do not, have not, nor will we ever, run pop-up ads. You shouldn’t see more than one per 24-hour period per browser session from our site.
In the days before Safari, Mac users received these pop-under ads. Since Safari’s “Block Pop-Up Windows” feature, Mac users have gotten used to surfing without such ads. All along, MacDailyNews has continued to run such advertising to satisfy our need to actually pay our web host for the bandwidth we use. Before this issue with pop-under ads reappearing, the nice thing was that mainly the MDN visitors using Windows and Internet Explorer to visit the site were being served their daily allowance of one pop-under ad per day. Of course, they are used to receiving these types of ads and never even mentioned our pop-under ad. Oh, and the three Mac OS X users who are still using MSIE for Mac were seeing the daily ad, too. Thank you for your support.
So, the once per day pop-under ad has been running here as usual, you just might have forgotten it thanks to Safari’s ability to block it. It doesn’t seem to be happening to all Safari users, either. Please let us know what version of Safari (use “About Safari” under the Safari menu) you are using if you are suddenly receiving our pop-under ads even with Safari blocking enabled. Some users have also informed us that using the “Reset Safari” option has cleared up the issue.
We have not changed any code on MacDailyNews. If anyone has additional information, please let us know.
[UPDATE: 11:06 am ET: We have replicated the issue with Firefox v 1.0 on the Mac. This would indicate that it is not an issue with Safari. It is also happening on other web sites, not just MDN. We are investigating to see if the network ad service’s code has changed. We’ll let you know what we find out. If you encounter ads while visiting other websites that also aren’t blocked when they should be, please let us know below. Thank you.]
[UPDATE: 2/20, 1pm ET: The silence from the network ad service(s) is deafening. Or maybe they didn’t get our 50+ emails? Anyway, until we understand exactly what’s going on and/or Apple fixes Safari’s pop up blocker to once again effectively block our pop-under ads for users that desire to block them, we will not be serving pop under ads. We’ll work to make up the lost revenue in some other way.]
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Safari’s and Firefox’s Pop-Up Blockers broken? [UPDATE] – February 20, 2005
You asked: Safari 1.2.4 (v125.12). I saw the pop-under once, as you mentioned.
Magic word saw, as in I tawt I taw a puddy tat. Oh wait, that’s taw. I guess it means I saw the magic word. No, I saw the pop-under ad. I saw the light. I saw a way to make a funny joke about Steve Jobs’ saw. Steve sells saws served separately. hahahahahahahaha (snort) oh, dang, there goes my chocolate milk.
And only at MDN.
I’m [living] with it, but not liking it.
Yeah, I’ve noticed a handful of the “pop uder” ads in Safari, both the most recent update and the one before that, so it’s not totally new.
Not sure if it’s a Safari problem or a new way to “pop” without getting caught.
I have NOT noticed the same problem on OmniWeb’s pop up blocker.
Using Safari 1.2.4 (v125.12) and I am getting the pop-under ads. This seems to have started with version 10.3.8. I tried macdailynews.com from a user ID that had reset Safari several times since update and still got the pop-under, so the theory that setting Safari fixes the problem did not work for me.
Yep, got my first pop up in a year right after reading about Safari’s blocker being circumvented!
No biggie.
I’ll just wait for an update – and boycott every company that ‘pops up’.
Safari 1.2.4, OSX 10.3.8 & PB G4 (1.25MHz) – I have a real pop-up showing up in “Strategypage.com” – not behind, but in front.
At the same time some sites (professional medical) require pop-ups to function, so the togle is an absolute necessity.
Best of luck finding out what is happening.
sg
I read your site daily from my work PC…..A Dell with XP Pro and FireFox. I just noticed your pop under add this morning. I do no think it was there before.
Certainly not just a Mozilla issue. This page just gave me my second ever pop-up now in OmniWeb 5. And it’s definately a pop-UP at my end, not a pop-UNDER.
Tera, I am using OmniWeb and I am getting the pop unders. I got the occasional one before updating to 3.8 but they are becoming more frequent.
Tacitus
Ok, got the pop under ad also here. I’m using safari and it’s version is: 1.2.4 (v125.12).
PowerBook G4 1.5GHz, 15″, 512MB ram, 80GB hd model running Mac OS X 10.3.8 build 7U16
Double HA!! For those of you who cannot block sites by IP address but can block by keyword or domain name add media.fastclick.net to your keyword list. No more pop-ups, -unders, or anything!
Boy, it goes to show you show spoiled I am using Safari’s “Block Pop-Up Windows” feature. When I saw that pop-under ad, I thought I was being attacked!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Safari 1.2.4 (v125.12)
Mac OS X 10.3.7
I patched my Safari (1.2.4 on 10.3.8) with SaftLite. Forgive me if this is silly, but could that interfere with popunder blocking?
thanks
In the interest of helping MDN find the common ground…
I am not getting any pop-unders at all…
using an antiquated Ti500 (I hate all you people with new fast Macs)
system is 10.3.7 (haven’t put 8 in yet)
browser is Safari 1.2.4 (v125.12)
Did not do the latest upgrade but still receiving pop-under ads.
Safari 1.2.4 (v125.11) OSX 10.3.6
PowerBook G4 Aluminum.
Here’s the code from the MDN source that pops-under the ad. As you can see, it cleverly bypasses the normal Javascript pop-up routine:
<!– FASTCLICK.COM POP-UNDER CODE v1.7e for macdailynews.com –>
<script language=”JavaScript” type=”text/javascript”><!–
var doc=document; var url=escape(doc.location.href); var date_ob=new Date();
doc.cookie=’h2=o; path=/;’;var bust=date_ob.getSeconds();
if(doc.cookie.indexOf(‘e=llo’) <= 0 && doc.cookie.indexOf(‘2=o’) > 0){
doc.write(‘<scr’+’ipt language=”javascript” src=”http://media.fastclick.net’);
doc.write(‘/w/pop.cgi?sid=9769&m=2&v=1.7e&u=’+url+’&c=’+bust+'”></scr’+’ipt>’);
date_ob.setTime(date_ob.getTime()+43200000);
doc.cookie=’he=llo; path=/; expires=’+ date_ob.toGMTString();} // –>
</script>
<!– FASTCLICK.COM POP-UNDER CODE v1.7e for macdailynews.com –>
OSX 10.2.8 and Safari 1.0 (v85.5) YES!
Pop-ups… Pop-unders(?!)… is there really a difference?
Am I the only one that finds these annoying? In particular, I am amazed and upset that ANY software takes unwanted and undesired control over my computer’s OS to create windows. It is MY desktop, arranged and organized the way I want it. It is NOT the free and open domain of any asinine prick to create a window for their own use!! Why don’t you just throw a rock throw my livingroom window with this ad taped to it?! I feel it is a flaw of the OS and the browser to allow such a fundamental function of my computer to be controlled by an outside source. Placing a tacky ad in the middle of it only makes it worse!!
MDN: A “pop-under” is just as annoying. It STILL requires me to take unnecessary actions to eliminate a problem on my computer that YOU and caused!!! Your lame rationalization that pop-unders are somehow not as bad as pop-ups is totally moronic. Do you really think whatever minor benefit you may get from the rare few idiots that click on these ads is balanced by the thousands of viewers you are pissing off?
ANY Mac-focussed site that uses pop-ups is not any better than Microsoft, you BOTH utilize weaknesses in an individual’s computer system. MDN, take the high road and do what is RIGHT – NO POP-UPS/UNDERS AT ALL – and resist the urge to do something merely because you can.
The part that insults me with the latest pop-under ad is when I click it off, there is an announcer speaking about the product for the next minute which I have no way of stopping unless I close safari 1.2.4
Try using Camino as a browser…no pop-up
http://mozilla.org/products/camino/
Interfacelift.com now has the same juvenile and annoying practice as MDN. It appears the ad software made some code changes.
MDN – tear down the pop-under wall!
I now have three sites to un-bookmark.
version 1.2.4 (v125.12), i get pop ups on macosrumors.com also, only if it finishes loading though. All since the update. Ti 800mhz, 10.3.8, build 7U16.
Yes, I am seeing pop-unders here and at a few other sites.
I’m using Safari 1.0.3 (v85.8.1) on OS X.2.8.
As you’ve mentioned, it’s not Safari-related, nor OS X version related, nor is it even Mac-related. Any news on what those advertisers have done to bypass Pop-up blocking on various browsers & OS’s?
Thank you MDN. I wrote a complaint about this last night and today you have a huge article and discussion about it. I’m sure that tomorrow we’ll see articles on other sites that proclaim Safari broken. And that’s what i love about the Mac web. This seemingly minor annoyance (hey if I wanted pop ups I’d ask for pop ups/unders) hits a hot button with Mac users. We expect better, and damit we’re going to get better.
I tried your fix, Reset Safari too bad it didn’t work. I thought it might be NewsFire but others here said it wasn’t that. It now looks like Apple is going to need to do a Safari update. Maybe we can petition the Safari Blog. Don’t know the URL but I’m sure someone does.
Two ways to defeat:
1) Turn off javascript. (this works for me.) but not practical for all
2) -Delete your fastclick cookies.
-Quit Safari
-In date and time pref pane set your system date up a year (for instance to 2/16/2006) Make sure you have network time turned off.
-relaunch Safari load MDN and take the popup hit.
-lock your cookies file.
-Reset your date to current time.
Have fun browsing MDN fastclick popup free. The “future” cookie tells the java code that you already accepted the cookie for today and moves on.
Zac