Blonde:

I use IE6.x (still clinging to my guns and religion) and the latest version of Firefox Portable (for specific sites).  I have not seen the pop-up, even placing my cursor over every ad and icon on the page.

One reason I may not see it is I am using a free application called B.I.S.S. Hosts Manager (download here) which loads a blacklist of IP addresses.  Blacklisted IP addresses are not allowed to connect/download to your harddrive (internet cache) and therefore are never seen on the monitor or infect your harddrive.  The application is updated (irregularly) and is customizable.  A couple of the redirector sites, like "tinyurl", are blocked out, but, there are always workarounds such as removing that site from the blacklist.  It really is quite easy to install, update and modify (though you probably won't need to).

B.I.S.S. Hosts Manager is for Windows XP.  Vista users at your own risk per website.

Search for a "Vista Hosts file manager" if using Vista to add more security to your internet browsing.

A second thing that helps protect my web browsing is turning off or restricting both "Cookies" and  blocking "Ads/Pop-ups".  Many, many applications exist for these purposes, starting with your internet security application and/or web browser options/add-ons.  Others here can recommend what to use for Vista.  (I'm still clinging to my guns, religion, and Windows XP)

A third extremely useful and free application I have started using on occasion is called Sandboxie.  I just used it to check out the link which showed the pop-up you and others have been getting.  Sandboxie can be used to run most any application and acts as an invisible layer between the application and the harddrive.  For instance, you can run your web browser via Sandboxie - browsing will work as usual.  You will notice two "#" flanking the title of the app at the top of the screen - that's it while browsing.  What ever happens while using the web browser is completely eliminated when you close the web browser (unless you purposefully want to save something) and nothing gets saved or makes changes to your harddrive - at least that's the theory.  It's like a table cloth catching the crumbs, leaving the table clean when the table cloth is removed.  I highly recommend Sandboxie to those who find themselves in an infection jackpot all too often or have other people using their computer who might not be as cautious as the owner.  There is a simple walk-through once Sandboxie is installed to get you started (you'll need to be online to do the tutorial).

I could not get Sandboxie to work with AOL Desktop but I it did work with AOL 9.  Maybe the pay version will work, but the free version did not for me.  The Sandboxie forum has some discussion on this topic.  Sandboxie works with IE and Firefox. 

Using Sandboxie while browsing NewsBusters will not affect making posts or seeing "new" posts because those functions are performed on the NB's server(s) and not "saved" on your harddrive.

Using Sandboxie and saving a website to your Favorites list, or saving a downloaded file, will require you to tell Sandboxie to keep the file after you close the browser/application.  It is easy and you can automate these functions so you won't have to remember to manually save things.  It's in the tutorial and/or the online help file.

A fourth consideration for you is to dump IE8.  It is riddled with weaknesses to attacks and certain functions and has been outclassed performance- and security-wise by the new Firefox and Google Chrome.  If you want to stick with IE then revert back to IE7 if possible.  From what I've read, Microsoft really outclassed themselves with this merde which remains unpatched on some security issues.

I looked at the link provided in yesterday's Open Thread that triggers the pop-up.  Google quickly identified this crap.  About two weeks ago I helped someone who had been infected by a similar phoney antiviral app.  It seems that there are many variations on this theme and may be from the same people (eastern european, ie old soviet union types).  This particular tricky hijacker I worked on would not allow you to go to antiviral websites, like Symmantec and many others, nor would it allow one to search for information about it.  It hijacked a number of functions, including the Hosts file.  This is a good reason to lock one's Hosts file - no infection can then change it... hopefully.  (B.I.S.S. Hosts Manager can lock the Hosts file so no unauthorized changes can be made)

There are many ways and applications to help keep you safer on the internet.  You just need to find something(s) that you are comfortable using.  Still, the biggest deterrent to infection is self-awareness - don't click that link that pop-ups and has nothing to do with what you want, looks a little too juicy, or a little too good to be true.  The blackhat viral/trojan/worm/etc writers are using "human engineering" to defeat what would otherwise be common sense. 

We all get fooled or unknowingly compromised sooner or later.

Hope this helps!

Not silly at all....and remember, YOU got me started.

Would you believe....All of the Above?

As part of Timmy returning for his senior year (and to a lessor extent to prepare John Brantley for 2010), the Gators brought in an NFL quarterback coach, Scott Loeffler to prepare Tebow for the NFL (he takes almost every snap at shotgun). 

Now, my own personal opinion.  I don't think Tebow will be interested in playing any position other than quarterback.  I think he'll probably go in the second round as a QB, rumor has it Jacksonville is really interested in their home-town boy.  He's such a dynamic personality (although who knows how much of that is Urban, truly, he's such a maven of the "team", prima donnas not welcome) that his leadership ability alone (I refer you to THE SPEECH after the Old Miss loss last year) would be worth it in and of itself, even if he played the bench.  Think about THAT...any NFL prima donna would be taken down a peg or three with Tebow razzing them to play for the TEAM and not themselves.

And who knows, he has really changed the position of QB in college ball (there have been running QB's like Vick, but none like Tebow).   Who's to say he won't do the same thing in the NFL? 

Regardless...football won't be his only career, and as much as I shall miss him over center at UF next fall, it will be a pleasure to be his fan for life, I know he'll do great things no matter what direction he takes.

Oh, and a Gator saying...."Superman wears Tim Tebow shorts". :)

Aren't you glad you asked?

I hope he fails, too.

Just moving your mouse over a certain ad is enough to trigger it.  That's why I said watch your mouse movements carefully, to see if you can figure out which ad is triggering it. 

The same thing happened over on the Gator boards a couple of weeks ago, and it was embedded in their ads...I'd imagine the same thing has happened here, not on the NB servers per se, but in one of the ad subscriptions. Hard to pinpoint as the ads rotate on and on and on and on....

Annoying to say the least.

Thanks for the Timmy sentiments....you can't imagine some of the vile stuff that has been linked from the TN and FSU boards (and one little jerk from Bama, but he's just a stupid child).

I hope he fails, too.

Yes why do congressional bills garner support from other congress critters? In most cases it is like most business in the bowels of congress hell and that is simply quid pro quo; you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours. This bill seems to transfer some of the power over the FED from Comptroller General to the congress.

A summary of the bill. Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 - Repeals the authority of the Comptroller General to carry out an onsite examination of an open insured bank or bank holding company only if the appropriate federal regulatory agency has consented in writing. (Retains the authority of the Comptroller General to audit a federal agency.) Directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress

It seems innocuous on the face of it but ya never know. And Paul is a loon as he wants us as Duh One does to go back to pre WWII era foreign policies. Paul if he had been there would have gleefully signed the treaty of 1938 with Germany. Paul has a few good ideas, sort of like a broken clock is right 2 times a day, but the problem is he has too many deal breakers – the major one is he is a weenie when it comes to military might and the use of.

Keep track of the bill and I bet you it will not get out of committee as most of Ron Paul’s bills don’t. I used to live in the Houston area and know this clown; in fact I used to like him in my more liberal years.