What ads? I don't see any ads whatsoever when I'm in this group (or in fact at most messageboards, websites, etc).
That's because I use a
proxy server to block the ads from downloading in the first place. If they can't download, then they won't display on your screen, because the files associated with the ads will be non-existant as far as your computer is concerned.
From the Downloads page at the old XNC2 group @ MSN....
The Proxomitron is a proxy server that blocks pop-up and pop-under ads, but also in addition to this, it prevents most advertisments from downloading with web pages.
It does this by analysing each file that attempts to download with a web page and uses filters to block the ad files. Because in many cases, advertisment files comprise the largest proportion of a web page, blocking these considerably speeds up download times. In addition, as advertisers attempt to beat proxy servers such as The Proxomitron by designing new formats to defeat the built in ad filters, Proxomitron contains tools to create new filters to beat these new formats.
This program does not change any settings whatsoever on your computer, it is a totally stand-alone program, so if you ever remove it, you don't have any problems with trying to get all your settings back to normal. The only thing you have to do to get The Proxomitron to work is to change your browser settings to allow proxy servers, then enter a proxy address and port number for the proxy server to use. Naturally, if you ever remove Proxomitron, you will need to uncheck the "allow proxy servers" option. The instruction manual which downloads with Proxomitron gives full details of how to do this. Proxomitron can also be bypassed by opening it up from your toolbar and clicking on a bypass button. This is occasionally necessary for some tasks, such as uploading photos to MSN group message windows. The Proxomitron download installs an icon on your desktop, and it is necessary to start the program before using a browser, once the browser has been set up to use a proxy server.
Proxomitron was created by a brilliant software writer called Scott R Lemmon and made avaliable as a free gift to internet users as a tool for fighting unwanted advertising. It was updated at regular intervals until June 2003 when version Naoko 4.5 was released, then Scott decided to stop any further development and support for his software. It is however still avaliable from the above link (go to Files on that site) and because of the inbuilt update tools, it is possible for users to continue further development themselves. There are also a number of support websites for Proxomitron on the internet and a good Search Engine can be used to locate these.
I would highly recommend this software - it can be downloaded and installed in less than ten minutes.http://www.proxomitron.info/http://www.proxomitron.info/files/index.htmlProxomitron works as well today (including with IE7 and the latest version of virtually every other browser, as well as with Windows Vista) as it did when the last version of it was released in June 2005.
The best option is to download and install the ProxN45j.exe version (June 2005 release) from the Proxomitron Files page (see the above link). The Proxy Address (that you enter into your browser settings) is
localhost and the port number is
8080. If at any time you wish to peramently disable it, you don't even need to uninstall the program, but merely uncheck the box in your browser settings allowing use of a proxy server. Then if you change your mind at any time, simply check that box and Proxomitron is back up and running again. It doesn't change anything at all on your computer and if it isn't being used, it simply sits there as a totally inert piece of software doing absolutely nothing! You do however have to remember to start Proxomitron whenever you start up your computer if you are going to surf the web, but that is only a one-click action. When you shut-down your computer, Proxomitron automatically shuts down with it and doesn't start again until you click on it.
Try Proxomitron and never put up with advertisments cluttering up your screen again!