What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why?

arkoenig · 06-06-2008, 01:48 PM

My computer was recently infected with a virus that I was able to remove with some help from this list. Along the way, I followed the "First steps" outlined for dealing with spyware and pop-ups.

Now I find that some web pages are no longer showing information that I actually want to see. For example, weather.com no longer shows the weather maps, presumably because access to those maps go through a consolidator that is being blocked by ZonedOut.

For that matter, if you click on the red words "First Steps" at the top of every page in this very forum, you reach a page that has an image that is being blocked, titled "Important - Read This Before Posting For Malware Removal Help"

Anyway, it seems clear that sometimes I will decide I want to allow some sites through that are being blocked. However, it's not always clear how to do so. In the case of this forum, it's easy: I click on the icon in the status bar to show me what's being blocked and I see that the culprit is tribalfusion.com. But in the case of weather.com, that icon doesn't appear, which suggests that nothing is being blocked that way. So how do I find out what the blockage is?

**Glaswegian** · 06-06-2008, 02:34 PM

Hi

ZonedOut is just the loader for the new version of IE-SPYAD. Is your Java up to date?

Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 6

What browser are you using? You may need to clear the cache.

arkoenig · 06-06-2008, 11:51 PM

I am using IE7. Just downloaded the latest JRE. Still no weather maps. I get a placeholder message saying "Click to enlarge" and a little icon in an area the size of where the weather map should be. If I right-click it and say "Show picture", nothing happens. If I right-click it and select "Properties" I get a bunch of "Not available" indications where I woujld expect URLs, etc.

Ried · 06-07-2008, 12:03 AM

Hi arkoenig,

Quote:

weather.com no longer shows the weather maps, presumably because access to those maps go through a consolidator that is being blocked by ZonedOut.

What consolidator is weather.com using?

arkoenig · 06-07-2008, 09:05 AM

Before we hunt for what's going on with weather.com, here's a screenshot of techsupportforum.com showing where I can't download an image. Note the red text near the left side of the window about in the middle vertically.

arkoenig · 06-07-2008, 09:22 AM

Here's what's happening with weather.com; screenshot 1 is on a computer with blocking according to the "First Steps"; screenshot 2 is on a computer without the blocking.

Ried · 06-07-2008, 12:08 PM

I don't know what to tell you. I have IESpyAd ZonedOut installed, as well as Spyware Blaster, and I had no problem with weather.com displaying the weather map.

Perhaps someone else has some ideas for you.

**Glaswegian** · 06-08-2008, 04:29 AM

I'm struggling too. Have you tried a different browser such as Firefox?

arkoenig · 06-08-2008, 08:21 AM

I have found the problem: The block list includes imwx.com, which apparently hosts the maps. Remove imwx.com from the block list and the maps reappear. It appears that at one time, and perhaps still, imwx.com hosted a program called WeatherBug that may have some nefarious properties. I do not know for sure whether it is appropriate to unblock it, but perhaps we will find out before long.

06-06-2008, 01:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
arkoenig Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 47 OS: Windows XP SP3	What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why? My computer was recently infected with a virus that I was able to remove with some help from this list. Along the way, I followed the "First steps" outlined for dealing with spyware and pop-ups. Now I find that some web pages are no longer showing information that I actually want to see. For example, weather.com no longer shows the weather maps, presumably because access to those maps go through a consolidator that is being blocked by ZonedOut. For that matter, if you click on the red words "First Steps" at the top of every page in this very forum, you reach a page that has an image that is being blocked, titled "Important - Read This Before Posting For Malware Removal Help" Anyway, it seems clear that sometimes I will decide I want to allow some sites through that are being blocked. However, it's not always clear how to do so. In the case of this forum, it's easy: I click on the icon in the status bar to show me what's being blocked and I see that the culprit is tribalfusion.com. But in the case of weather.com, that icon doesn't appear, which suggests that nothing is being blocked that way. So how do I find out what the blockage is?

06-06-2008, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,486 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why? Hi ZonedOut is just the loader for the new version of IE-SPYAD. Is your Java up to date? Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 6 What browser are you using? You may need to clear the cache. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

06-06-2008, 11:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
arkoenig Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 47 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why? I am using IE7. Just downloaded the latest JRE. Still no weather maps. I get a placeholder message saying "Click to enlarge" and a little icon in an area the size of where the weather map should be. If I right-click it and say "Show picture", nothing happens. If I right-click it and select "Properties" I get a bunch of "Not available" indications where I woujld expect URLs, etc.

06-07-2008, 12:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ried Assistant Manager, TSF Academy; Moderator/Analyst Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,970 OS: WinXP and Vista	Re: What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why? I don't know what to tell you. I have IESpyAd ZonedOut installed, as well as Spyware Blaster, and I had no problem with weather.com displaying the weather map. Perhaps someone else has some ideas for you. __________________ Member of ASAP since 2005 Member of UNITE since 2006 "It is one life whether we spend it laughing or weeping." "Take the time to laugh--it is the music of the soul."

06-08-2008, 04:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,486 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why? I'm struggling too. Have you tried a different browser such as Firefox? __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

06-08-2008, 08:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
arkoenig Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 47 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: What's an easy way to find what has been blocked and why? I have found the problem: The block list includes imwx.com, which apparently hosts the maps. Remove imwx.com from the block list and the maps reappear. It appears that at one time, and perhaps still, imwx.com hosted a program called WeatherBug that may have some nefarious properties. I do not know for sure whether it is appropriate to unblock it, but perhaps we will find out before long.