Okay. Now, it has come to my attention that users of Windows Internet Explorer 7 are encountering an annoying script message whilst perusing safeweb.norton.com. In my testing, this occurs due to something pertaining to Facebook attempting to load on the status bar (see first Safe Web Screenshot). By the way, I like froggg’s avatar. Anyway, I have also noticed this behaviour on an alternate portal for Safe Web known as siterating.norton.com. Please see (Siterating.norton.com Screenshot). And, if you look carefully, when the script message appears, what is loading on the status bar but an element pertaining to Facebook.
I should’ve known FB would be behind this. I have to admit, I am not a fan of Norton’s implementation of Facebook. I especially abhor the “f” on Norton’s Toolbar. Facebook is ruining people’s lives. Employers are seizing on FB posts and then using that as justification to fire their employees. I’m sorry, as long as something is not directly interfering with their ability to perform their job - - it should not be used against them. Furthermore, I was speaking with a Penetration Tester (someone who looks for vulnerabilities in Websites) and he explained that it is mind-boggling how unsecure FB is. I am encouraging people everywhere to abandon use of Facebook; at the end of the day all it is is anouther avenue for the already intrusive Government to pervade your lives. Not to mention all the viruses associated with their games, lest we not forget the infamous Koobface. My conclusion on this subject at least is that Facebook is a never- ending nightmare and no, I do not represent or endorse ANY “social networking” platform. I apologise for this aside, but some things just have to be said.
Getting back to the scripting issue, I also visited the WOT Web of Trust at mywot.com to see if this “scripting” issue would appear there as well. Please note- the first picture of the WOT Screenshot, we see something for Facebook trying to load…. now, scroll down to the second picture of the WOT Screenshot and you will notice that as the Facebook element continues to load, that is when Windows prompts with the scripting message. Please also note- that both Facebook elements between Safe Web and WOT look to be the same referencing “version equals 25….” I also went to McAfee SiteAdvisor to see if this issue would arise there, it did not.
Now that I knew what was occurring, I embarked upon a series of potential remedies. Enabling third-party cookies in the browser did not help. Updating Java to the most recent version did not work. “Disabling” Active Scripting under the advanced tab of inetcpl.cpl allowed Safe Web to briefly load, but then was hit with a message that scripts had to be allowed to run. I tried various “script debugging” procedures all for naught. Turning off automatic Website checking - - to no effect. The most efficacious solution came (believe it or not) from increasing the security tab to the highest. That allowed Safe Web to function without the annoying script message. It is interesting because in that setting, “Active Scripting” is disabled and yet Safe Web worked without giving me the message that this site needs scripts to run. If that isn’t odd, I don’t know what is. Although the procedure of increasing the security tab to the highest in Windows IE 7 seems to allow the core functionalities of Safe Web to work, there are still some items that are obviously disabled thanks to the high security state. For example, in Safe Web Screenshot 2, clicking under “user reviews” (where I have circled in red) will NOT expand that section. Moreover, as you can plainly see, the screenshot generator is blank as well. (In some cases that might be a good thing). Overall with this, you will be able to look up ratings and see user’s reviews from the “Community Buzz” page of Safe Web. Although not perfect, at least you will have some functionality without the pestering script message until Norton ultimately gets to the bottom of this (so to speak); maybe a patch could be issued?
Many will argue to just update the Browser. Upgrade to what? I really don’t trust anything outside of IE and IE 10 seems to be crashing every second and then Microsoft prompts me with a message that it is supposedly “searching for a solution to this problem” (rolls eyes). In addition, attachments with G-Mail will NOT work with IE 10 for whatever reason. This has been documented Online as well.
Let me say this, there are still many users who are utilising IE 7 and I believe it behooves Norton Symantec, WOT, and any other venue where this is occurring to come up with a patch for this “script” issue if purely from a consumer relations standpoint. I love it, I have so many other issues I should be covering (like a quantserve cookie inconsistency pertaining to Norton 360) and yet, I have to waste time documenting this thanks to what appears to be a lousy Facebook element’s interference with sites that (primarily) have always worked!
Have a good evening,
H.B.