Ad Blocking on this website?

Cutnose

Here is the solution, which I just confirmed on my Windows machine.

There is a built-in site-blocking file on EVERY Windows machine, called the "hosts" file (no extension.) Macs may use a similar file. On my Windows XP machine, it is located in the following directory:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

Look for the "hosts" file. Open it for editing with Notepad. Use <ctrl>-F, to open Notepad's "find" window, and search for "buysellads". (I found two instances in my hosts file.)

Append a "#" character to the beginning of the line. (This will cause the line to be treated as a comment line, rather than a valid block entry.)

My case:
...
127.0.0.1 buytraffic.cn
127.0.0.1 s3.buysellads.com
127.0.0.1 stats.buysellads.com
127.0.0.1 buzzclick.com
...
When edited:
...
127.0.0.1 buytraffic.cn
#127.0.0.1 s3.buysellads.com
#127.0.0.1 stats.buysellads.com
127.0.0.1 buzzclick.com
...
Save the file. Reload your browser. (I use Chrome, and don't have to reload. A page-refresh is sufficient.)

The problem: Uploaded images and attachments being stored at an internet address that is a recognized ad/spamming source.

Many ad-blocking programs revise the "hosts" file, as part of their blocking methodology. You can always edit yourself, if you encounter a website that is being blocked, and you need to permit access.

If SketchUcation is going to continue to use "buysellads" or comparable host for file storage, these instructions need to be posted as a "sticky"

-Taff

This eventually worked, but took near 5 hours to end up at given that no web search I attempted pointed me to either this thread or that post.

Hopefully now I can participate in the site and SketchUp somewhat better, and that the plugins between here and Ruby Library Depot can correct some of the issues I'm either causing or receiving.

Happy drafting.

notareal

I'd prefer hosts file to be clean and locked so that malware cannot change it. If you let any program to modify hosts... results can be surprising if you forgot it (or someone else uses computer that don't know that hosts file is modified). To protect hosts, you can take ownership of hosts. Then disable inheritance. Remove the modify permission from SYSTEM. Make sure you or even better a secondary administrator account only have full control on the file (don't mess with system if you don't know what to do).

For blocking certain domain/ IP - use a firewall or some DNS proxy can be used, like http://sourceforge.net/projects/acrylic/, http://www.peerblock.com or similar... and naturally for name resolution better use DNS, like usually, not a relic "hosts" file.

BTW Windows defender in Windows 8 may overwrite your hosts file entries, so better have also a firewall at "router level" on your network (keep in mind that NAT is not a firewall). If I have understood correctly in Windows 8 facebook.com and ad.doubleclick.net cannot be blocked by hosts file when defenter is used... might me more.

winstonford

If using AdBlock on Safari,
goto preferences > extension > adblock
check 'show me options..'
goto customize
paste below rule into the filter at the bottom and be sure to save:

@@http://sketchucation.com/$document

TIG

@winstonford said:

If using AdBlock on Safari,
goto preferences > extension > adblock
check 'show me options..'
goto customize
paste below rule into the filter at the bottom and be sure to save:

@@http://sketchucation.com/$document
Because SCF also links into 'buysellads.com' you'll probably also need to add that to your 'exceptions' list...

TIG

SketchUcation is free.
BUT it has to be paid for...
Servers etc all cost something.

SCF receives a modest income from its discreet advertising banners: however, the advertisers need some comfort that their adds are at least visible to members.

The 'terms of use' you agreed to when you became a member require you NOT to block advertising.
To ensure that you are reminded of your promise, if you have an ad-blocker app on your browser that is set to block SCF's ads, then in reply SCF blocks your ability to see forum attachments [i.e. files and images]...
So set your ad-block app to allow sketchucation.com AND buysellads.com [the latter is the company arranging the ads on SCF's behalf].
try emptying your browser's cache too...

If you still get missing attachments, then check your firewall settings also don't bar such things...

If this also fails please let us know and we can try to come up with some more suggestions...

Many thousands of members successfully set up their connections to SCF without any difficulty, and then enjoy full access to all aspects of the forums...

The SCF ad-banners are carefully selected and all relate to services and applications relevant to SketchUp - commercial-plugins, renderers, CAD, 3d-printing and so on... So they can be a useful source of information too...

jojo9

Since i came back to the restyled forum, i saw and see no more zip's nor images of other users postings. I'm good equipped with plugins so i have no particular needs for plugins to download, but it would be -it would be- very nice to look also at images, if user concepts aren't so implicit to understand.
To adjust things, i tried to deactivate all me browser ad-blocking plugins, but nothing changed: Sketchucation continues to block me images and zips.

? which relationship exists between advertisements and users attachments ?
it seems absurdly.

jojo9

Hi Tig and all other Moderators,
to put it in the right direction:
i've no problem with SCF ads. Really.
But what i do to change my situation, nothing changes. I de-activated all my safari-plugins, have no firewall protection and cleaned my browser cache. Some service is yet running, protecting me from spam but http://buysellads.com and SCF is on the whitelist. What can i do?

TIG

OK... can you post the exact 'whitelist' for sketchucation.com and buysellads.com ...
My ad-block entries are set like @@||sketchucation.com^$document etc...

Have you tried another browser like Chrome ?

jojo9

Hi,

not even Chrome changes displays me SCF attachments. So, it isn't the Browser to be the problem.
i added sketchucation.com and buysellads.com to my firewall whitelist, then i cleaned the Cache. Unfortunately, nothing changed.

TIG

Without access to your OS directly we have to guess here...

Failing in Chrome at least suggests it's not a browser add-on.
Therefore it's either a firewall issue or perhaps some other app that you have running [like an anti-virus tool] that is blocking websites and therefore being interpreted by the SCF side as a deliberate ad-block...

Have you done this:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-mac-os-xs-builtin-firewall.html
or
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-mac-os-x-snow-leopards-builtin-firewall.html
or
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/should-you-use-a-firewall-with-os-x-mountain-lion.html

| ehow.com

ehow.com (www.ehow.com)

The page you were looking for doesn't exist – OpenDNS

(support.opendns.com)

etc...

Gábor

@jojo9 said:

Hi,

not even Chrome changes displays me SCF attachments. So, it isn't the Browser to be the problem.
i added sketchucation.com and buysellads.com to my firewall whitelist, then i cleaned the Cache. Unfortunately, nothing changed.

May I ask if you're connected to the internet via a corporate network or not? If yes, is it possible that the corporate firewall blocks buysellads?

Mike Lucey

Thanks TIG for spending so much time trying to sort out this problem for jojo9. At least having it documented may save time for others in the same predicament.

jojo9

@mike lucey said:

Thanks TIG for spending so much time trying to sort out this problem for jojo9. At least having it documented may save time for others in the same predicament.

i can't agree more as what Mike already said. I'm not the person who demands that somebody is jumping in for my requests right in the next moment, but ya.

I organized my web browsing settings long time ago, to live a half-way relative secure browsing experience. Nobody likes the man in glass, now lesser than yet before. (…)
I forgot what i set up so carefully, but i modified several things, who aren't "standard" preventive methods, to block spam from the outside world.
Time to go back and study what i modified.

Mike Lucey

@jojo9 said:

I forgot what i set up so carefully, but i modified several things, who aren't "standard" preventive methods, to block spam from the outside world.
Time to go back and study what i modified.

Or become a Premium Member and have the option of AB or not

Bryan K

I'm getting the same message. Can't view posted images but see the ads just fine.

Using FF22,Vista and AT&T home and nothing has changed or been updated in the last 2 days.

Just tested with IE and same issue. Images loads and then disappears with Ad Block notice in its place.

Ad Block is turned off. All other software settings set to allow SCF.

No problems with other websites.

Something changed in the last 2 days.

Bryan K

Now working again.

How odd.

Took Sketchucation off Ad Block whitelist and then reloaded and re-added it and it now seems to be working just fine.

Things that make you go "hmmm".

Rich O Brien

no, we are tweaking the site. so you're suggestion is just related to timing.

toggling adblock doesn't fix it since we have it currently disabled

TIG

There were some IT gurus beavering away in the background at SCF this morning.
Seems something got briefly broken giving false positives on the ad-blocking.
It's fixed now...

jojo9

Now i see users attachments again. Thanks for helping out.