Ad Blocking removes Channel 4 On Demand play button and stops Demand five programs running!

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

The Ad Blocking feature in Internet Security strips out the play button on the Channel 4 On Demand website when trying the view a programme and prevents the Demand Five website from playing any programs by displaying a message that the latest version of Flash Player need to be installed. Ad Blocking removes the link and downloads the rest of the page.  If one simply turns off the Ad Blocking feature this issue is removed and returns when this feature is turned on again.

 

As I want to play the programme from both these sites and block the Adverts, how can filter out the adverts and allow the programs to run as the strings change?

:smileysad:

2

If you are using Norton 2006 or earlier version, you can try the solutions from the following Symantec Support Articles:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/docid/2003090213361336
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/docid/2003082911174336

3

hi Phil_D (Trojan Terminator)

As a novice to the kind of thing, please bear with me!

 

I'm currently using Version 10.2.0.30 (internet security 2007).

4

Hi comengtract,

 

Everyone is a novice at some point!  No problem.

 

Since you are using NIS 2007, you can try the links provided by Yogesh and see if they work with your version.

 

However, with a valid retail subscription to NIS 2007, you are eligible for a free update to NIS 2010. (OEM versions and versions supplied by your ISP are not eligible).

 

This product is lighter on system resources and has more sophisticated detection components to give you a higher level of protection. But, as mentioned, NIS 2010 does NOT have an ad-blocker. If you updated to NIS 2010 you would need a third party ad-blocker to use with your browser if ad-blocking is important to you.

 

Consider which will be best for you, and if you wish to update to the newer version, we will point you in the right direction.

 

 

[edit: grammar]

Message Edited by Phil_D on 09-25-2009 12:04 PM
5

Hi yogesh_mohan (Volunteer)

As a novice to this kind of thing, please bear with me as its all kind of new.

Anyway, many thanks for getting in touch

 

Having printed off the missive on overiding ad blocking using the link provided, this doesn't appear to be the answer to the problem since having entered both the channel 4 and demand five domain names et al, following the instructions. the result is a none starter, not sure if i've got finger trouble entering the worng information into the string box or not.

 

This is because the string for each program is different and i'm not sure  to cope with this point

Incidentally, how does one find the web assistant feature in IE8 so that i can try the automatic stup function?

For your information i'm currently using internet security 2007.

 

Regards :smileyhappy:

6

Hi comengtract

 

From your post, it looks like you need to use the latest adobe flash player to use that site correctly. I would suggest going to the Adobe website and download the latest adobe flash player. You have to find on that site how to remove the flash player you have now in order to upgrade to the latest ones. They come out with new versions to correct the security issues of the older versions. Perhaps after you update to the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, that site will work correctly for you.  Try that out and let us know if that helps your situation. Thanks.

7

Hi

I'm currently using the lastest version of flash player i.e.I have version 10,0,32,18 installed.

 

regards

Comengtract

:smileyhappy:

8

Hi

Many thanks for responding

As you can see, from my response to the  message from yogesh_mohan (Volunteer), this hasn't worked ether,

With regard to updating my NIS to the 2010 version, the free update causes alsots of installation issues on my machine, which results in a total software rebuild! So you'll understand my reluctance in attempting this again!

 

If i can't come up with a solution to this issue by programming the filter correctly, i suppose that i'll just have to remember to keep switching this feature on/off as needed. This isn't a pain as such, just a drag and it would be nice for the machine to do it for me!

 

regards

Comengtract

:smileyhappy:

9

Hi

 

When you tried upgrading to the 2010 product, did you first get the NRT tool? Usually clean installs of an upgraded product works better with a clean install of it. To do that you would have to get the NRT tool and the install package for the 2010 version. Then uninstall the 2007 version from add/remove, use the NRT tool a couple of times and rebooting between each use of it. After that, you would then install the new product and set it up the way you like it. However, when you use the NRT tool, it will remove all Symantec products from your computer. Also before trying this save your license key. The new install should still have your key, but in case it doesn't you would have it and would just have to enter that key into the new 2010 product. I have found with many products over the years, the installs go better when it's fresh rather than on top of another version. Of course then it takes a little longer to set it up the way you want it, but a clean install is worth it to me. That is if you aren't running another program that would conflict with Symantec.

10

Hi,

Yes i've used NRT in the manner you described and i still got some problems, its difficult to sort out these issue's and to be honest i'd rather not get in to these at the moment,

 

Away  this appears to be going away from the issue at hand!

 

Regards

 

comengtract

11

Hi

 

Since you are using the 2007 product, do you have the add on pack installed? I see from this link that there was an add on pack available at that time. I have found a link, but I don't know if it still works since it is from the 2007 version. If this link works, perhaps this will help to fix your problem. I see from the link that I pasted, that is for UK. I don't know where you are from and it probably isn't available from the symantec store any more, but perhaps you can find some place where it would be available so many years after the product came out. Let us know if you can still find this some place and if it works.

 

http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/v2/ec_main.entry25?page=NIS07addonpackUK&client=Symantec

12

Hi floplot,

you are correct in saying that there is an add-on pack for NIS2007 and that this pack contains several additional features, of which Ad-blocking is one of them. other features being pop-up blocking, privacy control, parental control, Norton Community watch and last, but by no-mees least is Norton Anti-spam. This link still works, as i've had to re-install NIS a couple of times quite recently and i've also saved the add-on pack to disc as a result!!

 

How i found out that it's an ad-blocking issue, is that Channel four (4 on demand (4OD)) Tech Support told me of this issue and suggested that i contact symantec for a solution because they don't have one! Demand Five tech support here in the UK haven't got a clue and they aren't aware that is issue exists!! i spent umteeen hours with them and in the end, they gave up!

 

Basically, what happens is that the ad-blocking thinks that the 4oD play button for each programme is a script etc for an advert etc and proceeds to strip it out and dowload the rest of the page! Thus, leaving a non-fuctional page with regard to TV programme, the weird thing is that the rest of the controls remain functional!!

 

As far as the Demand Five site goes, one selects a programme to play by pressing the appropriate play button and the software then ties to load it up using their streaming player. However, everthing grinds to a halt with the player showing a message to 'upgrade to the latest version of Flash Player! Using the embeded link has no effect ether!!

 

The gag is that this issue only cropped up a couple of months ago, as it was working fine before then. Its not a browser issue, since it occurs on all the popular browsers

 

Hope this helps explain the situation.

 

Regards

Comengtract

:smileyhappy:

13

Hi comengtract,

 

I'm willing to take a shot at this but I will have to base my advice on Norton 2004 configurations.  There was not much change in ad blocking from year to year, so it might work.  Give this a try:

 

Open Ad Blocking

 

Click Advanced

 

Do you see channel4.com and five.tv in the Defaults list?  If you do, select one of them and then click the Global Settings tab.

 

Under Scripts and Flash Animation, make sure the Permit options are selected for the site you have highlighted and OK your way out.

 

Repeat the procedure for the second website.

 

If channel4.com and five.tv are not listed, click the  Add Site button and manually enter the two URLs into the Defaults list and then follow the procedure described above.

 

Please post back as to whether any of this advice is even still usable, and, if so, does it work?  It is clear from your description of the problem that scripting is being blocked for the two sites.  If Ad Blocking is the cause, this might resolve the issue.  Good Luck.

Message Edited by SendOfJive on 09-26-2009 10:02 PM
14

Hi

 

I am going to take a stab at this problem you are having. I have a feeling that it has something to do with Adobe Flash settings. There is a settings manager for adobe flash. In this manager are all types of settings. I think there is a setting in there where you can allow certain sites to store their information and what not. I'm not sure just which setting would be the one that you would have to use. Please take a look at this site and perhaps there are some settings in there that you could adjust which would allow the sites to work properly. You can also restrict certain websites from storing their information on your computer also. Maybe those 2 sites need to be added to one of those settings. There are a lot of settings in that manager, so I am sorry I can't really point you to which one would be the appropriate one. I have a feeling that it could be a setting in the flash player itself that is blocking part of the program. from functioning correctly. Hope this helps.

 

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager.html

15

Hi Send OfJive,

Many thanks for getting in touch

How I know that it’s something to do with the Ad-Blocker, is that when it’s turned off, the problem disappears!

This appears to be a similar thread to an earlier one that asked me to look at the Symantec article on overriding the Ad-Blocker. Please forgive me if this information that you already know, but,  I think that it doesn’t hurt to express things and apologies for to rambling missive by way of a response.

The way one gains access to the Ad-Blocker in NIS 2007 and the way it’s configured appears to be slightly different. I’ve attached a description of the process to illustrate both the process and issues etc. This is because I’m not sure if one can use attachments here, as it would be easier to show a screen print etc (picture says a thousand words etc).

Firstly, the one gains access to the Ad-Blocker through the Add-on pack  tab on the NIS 2007 pane, one then clicks on the Ad-Blocker option and one has to choose between the on/off and configuration functions. Having chosen the configuration feature, the Norton Anti-Spam Panel is shown and under the General Option, one has the ability to turn both the Ad-Blocker and the pop-up blocker on/off by checking the appropriate boxes.

Also, under the General Option is the Advanced button, clicking on this, gets one into the area that is supposed to allow one to override the Ad-Blocker by entering information into the Web Content S Options panel and then entering the corresponding subsets into the ad blocking panel. It’s at this point that one has the ability to either block or permit a corresponding subset.

Secondly, having got this far, and tried various combinations for the Channel 4 site, as a test, ether I’ve not put in the information correctly or it STILL doesn’t work!

I’m still a bit confused as both sites didn’t appear in the Defaults list and also, I couldn’t locate the global settings tab ether. Also, some idea for the desired format would be helpful?. I’ve tired to enter information directly into the Defaults list, but, one can only block information as the permit option is greyed out.

As for both the SCRIPTS and the Flash Animation where they are is a mystery, as they aren’t present either.

As I have mentioned previously, I’ve entered information into both the with No effect and i’m STILL not sure where i can find it out.

Comments please!

Regards

Comengtract

:smileyhappy:

16

Hi Floplot,

Many thanks for getting in touch agian and your help is most welcome.

i've already tried messing about with this manager as it was one of the things that Channel4 suggested that i might that a look at!

I tried to maximise all the settings for memory etc, but this ddosen't appear to be the cause.

How I know that it’s something to do with the Ad-Blocker, is that when it’s turned off, the problem disappears and the site works fine!

 

Any thoughts?

 

Regards

Comengtract

:smileyhappy:

17

Hi comengtract,

 

You can post screenshots by using the icon on the post editor's toolbar that looks like a tree.  For an image size, select "medium" or "large," as "full size" will usually be too big for the page and require scrolling.  While you will be able to see your image, it will not be visible to anyone else until the mods approve it, so there will be a delay before anyone will be able to comment on the image.   I would most like to see the screen that appears after you click the Advanced button.

 

Also, just to clarify a bit, is it only these two sites that have the problem?  If you go to YouTube.com can you play videos with no Flash Player notifications or missing buttons such as you are seeing at channels 4 and 5?

18

Hi

 

I'm trying again. Not sure if this is the same link that was posted earlier in this thread. Maybe this will help?

 

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/db7dbf37ab6d8b5085256eda0045925a/e5959b918d5baf1c88256d910063b79c?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

19

Hi floplot,

This is the same link that was previously mentioned!

 

Regards

Comengtract

20

Hi SendOfJive,

Many thanks for responding,

I’d like to send an attachment containing screenshots, but, I’m not sure how to convert a word (.doc)/ PDF file into one of the desired formats i.e. jpg, JPG, JPEG, gif, GIF& png. Also there appears to be an attachment feature on the bottom of the posting window when posts a reply, but having tried the use this, I’m not sure what format this accepts as well.

 

The attachment will show the Channel 4 on Demand (4oD) site (Figure 1) with the play button removed and Figure 2 show the information on the Ad-Blocker panels. This screenshot (figure 2) shows the Ad-blocker in the original condition, without ether site showing in the web contents options box.  Also, attached is some notes on the subject and these might be of some use.

 

As, previously mentioned, everything was working in harmony until a couple of months ago, when the Demand Five site started to show the flash player update message. Having contacted the Demand Five tech support and despite their best efforts, they gave up! I also gave it up as a lost cause.

 

This situation remained until the other day, when I tried to use the 4oD site and found the play buttons missing. Having contacted their tech support, who came up with the following information:-

 

“We currently know of four 'shields' available on both Mac and PC that cause problems.

 

- Peer Guardian (this uses a blocklist of IPs/web addresses - unfortunately these lists vary and legitimate IPs have found their way on)

- Hotspot Shield (this hides your IP amongst other things, which would cause a problem)

- Norton Security Software (has ad-blocking functionality that can block4oD)

- Onspeed Compression Software (Speeds up your internet connection and conflicts with 4oD thus preventing it from playing)

 

Unfortunately, I cannot assist you with this enquiry.

 

I would recommend contacting the manufacturer of your security software.”

Around this time, Demand Five, changed the format of streaming programs, so that the ads are dispersed throughout the programme in a similar fashion to the other commercial channels. Previously their ads only top and tailed their streaming programmes. This may or may not form part of the problem, as one has to manually click the play/pause button to prevent the proceedings coming to a complete halt. On the other hand this may just be something to do with Auntie BT’s download speed!

 

As far as I’m aware, all the other streaming programme players (youtube, Iplayer, BBC news etc) seem to work without any issues and that these two sites are the only ones that have blocking issues!

 

When one turns the Ad-blocker off both these sites function normally, similarly, when it’s turned on again, the problem returns.

 

Apologies for yet another long missive, as I’m trying to help things along! 

Regards

Comengtract