A Whirly Wiry Web article about Detecting TopText and Surf+ - Detecting eZula TopText and Spedia Surf+ Enabled Browsers Authored by RockinFewl.
Query words: ezula,surf,surfplus,detection script,yellow links,yellow link virus,contextual advertizing,contextual advertising,advertising,contextpro,hottext,toptext,smarttags,smart tags,spy ware,spyware,spy-ware.
This article applies to MSIE 4+ | Windows 9x, Me, NT, 2000 | Internet.
Article styled for generic XHTML1 capable agents. Parts considered incompatible are marked [Part not rendered to your browser].
You may obtain this article styled for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5+ here.
As a Web developer, I've committed myself to provide fellow Web owners the best technical support in their battle against eZula TopText (see the Fighting eZula article).
Lately, several have also expressed their concern about Surf+, an other plug-in that operates in the same way like eZula.
Spedia Surf+ is particularly to be worried about, as this one may insert less-than-decent (read 'porn') hyperlinks in Web pages, even in pages that are targeted to kids.
So I downloaded this viscious Surf+ thing, had a look at it, and am proud to now provide similar detection scripts for the TopText and Surf+ plug-ins.
You Web masters are now capable to check whether these plug-ins are active at your viewer's machine; you can now direct affected visitors to a special warning or blocking page.
Plug-ins are compatible with Internet Explorer 4 and up; I adapted my original eZula script to also work in IE4 without errors.
This page runs both of the featured Detection Scripts. Here's the result:
Detection is based on selected parts of the plug-ins, particular components that are vital to affect the browser and change content.
However, even if the browser is not affected, invisible trojan-like eZula or Surf+ components may still reside on the system.
For full uninstall directions for eZula, see our How to Remove eZula TopText Completely guide.
For full uninstall directions for Surf+, see our How to Remove Spedia Surf+ Completely guide.
To trigger the detection, I selected components that are indispensable for TopText and Surf+ in order to manipulate page content.
When the detection fails, this means that the component is not available, meaning that the Web page won't be manipulated.
You may advise affected visitors to either use Lavasoft's Ad-Aware or our guide 'How to Remove eZula Completely' to get rid of all of eZula or Surf+.
Next, you'll find two scripts that redirect visitors to a warning or blocking page as soon as they have TopText or Surf+ running. I called those pages youhavetoptext.html, youhavesurf.html, .. but of course, you're free to choose. You may even choose to write a short notice on the same page instead of doing an actual redirection (see the script at Fighting eZula).
<object CLASSID="clsid:3D7247E8-5DB8-11D4-8A72-0050DA2EE1BE"
width="1" height="1">
<img id="imgEzulaNA" src="" width="1" height="1" />
</object>
<object CLASSID="clsid:84B71424-B020-11D4-B198-000102C6D473"
width="1" height="1">
<img id="imgSurfNA" src="" width="1" height="1" />
</object>
<script type="text/javascript">
function check4Scum()
{
// 24 August Script by RockinFewl, WhirlyWiryWeb.com
if (document.all)
{
var fEzulaPresent = !document.images("imgEzulaNA");
var fSurfPresent = !document.images("imgSurfNA");
if (fEzulaPresent && fSurfPresent)
location.href = "youhavesurfandtoptext.html";
else if (fEzulaPresent)
location.href = "youhavetoptext.html";
else if (fSurfPresent)
location.href = "youhavesurf.html";
}
}
window.setTimeout("check4Scum()", 2000);
</script>You need to put the code somewhere between the body tags.
The smartest approach is to put it somewhere near the end. That way, a browser will render the page almost completely, before it attempts to create the ActiveX objects of our detection script. This attempt may take some time, so you'll want to have most of your page visible at that point.
Especially when you're using a table-based layout, you'll want to put the code AFTER the table. (Remember that a table gets only visible after all of it is loaded, including ActiveX controls.)
You're welcome to freely use the scripts. I'm doing this to provide fellow Web owners with good, appropriate tools in order to fight low life thiefs like eZula and Spedia.
The only thing I ask in return is a charming note, mentioning this humble site, www.WhirlyWiryWeb.com.
'Hope you have as much fun playing with these scripts as I did creating them!
Content is constantly evolving, quickly responding to the input of the ever growing community fighting this kind of advertisments. Thanks for the support guys!
Report any problem you may have concerning the effectiveness of the detection script to rockin at whirlywiryweb.com.
The purpose of the address is to collect information and quickly develop a proof script. We will not provide programming support through it.
[Embedded Script not rendered to your browser]
DHTML Gems
Fine DHTML tricks that may save your day. (Script)
Fighting eZula
The Web author's war against contextual advertising. (Script)
Detecting TopText and Surf+
Detecting eZula TopText and Spedia Surf+ Enabled Browsers (Script)
The Revealing HTTP Headers
View HTTP server response headers and unprocessed HTTP content. (Tool)
Launch-in-IE
Web pages can start applications. Securely. (ActiveX)
Open Office from a Web Page
Override IE's default behaviour to open Office documents in the browser window. (Script)
ShellExe launches HTML files from AUTORUN.INF
A ShellExecute wrapper that delivers (Utility)
Stealth Browser-Server Conversations
Exchanging data with the server without a page refresh. (Script)
Whirly Wiry Web Today
News, mission, and more skinnies you might be interested in. (General)
Dockyard
Material in test. (-)
The Whirly Wiry Web is RockinFewl's test bed and showcase in one.
All content, code and graphics are entirely crafted at our own premises, but material can freely be reused if charming credit is given.
WhirlyWiryWeb.com, 2001-2006. Address comments to Rockin at WhirlyWiryWeb.com