Video ads kill your product

Hi Chess.com,

I used to pay. I lost my job. Money is tight is like saying something akin to money is tight. As in, I can't pay my bills. So anyway it's nice to visit chess.com.

I've seen "direction" from chess.com staff regarding the limitation of inserting videos in the forums. I understand why. But why aren't you so concerned about the video advertisements that make my browser crash? I have to use "Windows Task Manager" to close my browser  - seriously - more than 12 times per hour.

I understand that ads pay you, but can't you limit it to animated gif ads and stop the video ads? They must do hell to your server. They play audio which is really annoying supposing that someone wants to listen to music while wasting time in the forums. Etc. Etc.

I will tolerate ads. Making me put up with video and audio which crashes my browser in order to coerce me to pay seems like extortion. I really am living on the edge of money. You say ads pay you. Can't I take you up on your offer to enjoy chess.com free without having to reboot my browser endlessly? Please?

Thanks for your message. Sorry you're having trouble with the ads :( I'd be happy to look into the issue for you. I'd like to get some information from you so we can get you back up and running, and not crashing. 

So first, the normal questions. What browser and operating system are you using? Are you using any plugins or extensions on your browser? Do you run any additional security software (firewalls, antivirus, etc.)? Are there any other programs running in the background (skype, netflix, etc.)?

In regards to the ads specifically, would it be possible to grab a screenshot of your entire screen when the browser does freeze? There is a great guide on how to do so here: http://www.take-a-screenshot.org . 

Thanks for your help!

Thank you. By the way, I'd rather not use an ad blocker. If you get paid by ads I'm happy to see them. Just want it to work.

I use Microsoft Vista Home Premium on a Sony VAIO using Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T8100 @ 2.1GHz, Memory 3GB, 32 OS.

Browser is Firefox 27.0.1    Here is a screen grab of my add ons:

Security system is Kaspersky Pure 3.0 13.0.2.558  This provides the firewall as well.

Will grab a screenshot next time it happens, which seems to be usually at night eastern time at times when there is a lot of activity on your server. For instance when there are 15,000+ users on=line.

Edited to add: It also seems to only occur when I'm posting/reading on the forums, NOT when playing chess.

Off topic:

Oh my goodness! Update your Adobe Acobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player (Shockwave Flash)!

Thank you! I did both, however Shockwave Flash is still listed even after going through Adobe Flash update. Mozilla says this is the most current.

However the Acrobat Reader won't go away and won't update. I tried uninstall via control panel but no go. Best I could do was tell Firefox not to activate it.

Yeah, it's a quirk of Firefox that it says Shockwave Flash but really means Adobe Flash Player. Just make sure it's updated to 12.0.0.77.

Regarding Adobe Reader, it seems version 11 doesn't support Vista, which I guess is why you still have version 10.

http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/tech-specs.html

I would really try to uninstall Adobe Reader and install a substitute PDF viewer such as PDF-XChange Viewer or Sumatra PDF Viewer. (Foxit used to be a good choice, but it's recently crossed over to the dark side by installing bad stuff during the install. Avoid Foxit.)

Regarding your Adobe Reader 10 not uninstalling - I'm just concerned that some malware might have gotten ahold of it and won't let you uninstall it. Try harder to uninstall it, and then run lots of malware detection checks.

And if you can't get rid of Adobe Reader 10.1.4.38, you might try installing the latest 10.1.9 update here (and then ensuring it's disabled in the browser):

http://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotes/10/10.1.9.html#tenonenine

              Be careful with Adobe Flash. They have a virus. Look up Operation Greedy Wonk on Google. (Adobe Flash Zero Day).  Trojan viruses have been found on U-Tube ads also.

If your browser is crashing that often you probably have a malware infection. Download Combofix from bleepingcomputer.com (not combofix.org or anywhere else). Rename the file from combofix.exe to something else (blah.exe or whatever). Then disable your antivirus and run combofix. After that download malwarebytes. Disable the pro trial or it will interfere with kaspersky. Run a full malware bytes scan.

I believe the OGW zero-day was patched in Adobe Flash Player 12.0.0.70.

Flash Player is always a security risk (along with the other usual suspects like Java, Javascript, Adobe Reader, IE, and Shockwave Player). You're always better off disabling Flash Player unless you actually need it for something important.

I need flash player to watch cat videos

Well that's very important!

Just a doubt? Anything wrong in using Adblock?

I'm having the same problem.

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit

Running AVG free edition with Windows Firewall. No Skype, IM, etc. Steam client manager in background.

Firefox 27.0.1 browser, listed as "Firefox is up to date" in the info tab.

Plug-ins:

Adobe Acrobat 9.5.5.316 active

Java SE7 U51 10.51.2.13 active on request

McAfee Security Scanner 3.8.141.0 active

MS Office 2010 14.0.4761.1000 active

Shockwave Flash 12.0.0.77 active

Silverlight 5.1.30214.0 active

Windows Live Photo Gallery 14.0.8117.416 active

Java Deployment Toolkit 7.0.510.13 10.51.2.13 disabled

No other plug-ins. No extensions, no added services.

The browser crashes most often just after posting or navigating to a new page (ie: just as it is loading a new page).

The characteristics of a crash are pretty straightforward. The cursor is replaced by the spinning "wait" cursor. Then Firefox starts cycling between two states... the wait cursor and the normal cursor, with a delay of several seconds (ten seconds?) between states. One state has "Firefox is not responding" shown up in the ribbon, the other does not. The displayed screen image for one state is off-set sideways by about half a centimeter from the other state, so the screen image seems to shift back and forth (left and right) by half a centimeter as the browser cycles through its crashes and recoveries.

If I catch it at just the right point in the crash/recovery cycle, I can hit the red-X to close it... otherwise, I must kill the process via task manager.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I would kindly advise to keep Chrome Browser as  a backup. I haven't had any problems with it. 

EscherehcsE wrote:

RonaldJosephCote wrote:

              Be careful with Adobe Flash. They have a virus. Look up Operation Greedy Wonk on Google. (Adobe Flash Zero Day).  Trojan viruses have been found on U-Tube ads also.

I believe the OGW zero-day was patched in Adobe Flash Player 12.0.0.70.

Flash Player is always a security risk (along with the other usual suspects like Java, Javascript, Adobe Reader, IE, and Shockwave Player). You're always better off disabling Flash Player unless you actually need it for something important.

+1

             Disableling flash player; Do I need my gun for that??    I'm unable to disable.    Or  This Band should Dis-band.

Have you run Combofix before, and if so, was it fairly easy to use? I was previously aware of the program, but I was reluctant to try it because the Bleeping review cautions "Please note that running this program without supervision can cause your computer to not operate correctly. Therefore only run this program at the request of an experienced helper."

I guess if you're a good shot you'd kill it, but if you're off the mark you'd only disable it.

                When ever somebody post something I don't like, or an insult, I shoot the screen