If malware ever does get into the advertising stream, then the web has got a big problem on its hands.

It's already there, every now and than at least. IMHO, blocking ads, trackers and other crap like that is almost same essential for the security of a computer as using antivirus software and installing updates.

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I've never used bit.ly

Couple of weeks ago my Uni account started blocking several threads here on account of some metric or other. Curiously, most were threads started by Merle...

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merle - vote yes for freedom of speech

I've never used bit.ly

Couple of weeks ago my Uni account started blocking several threads here on account of some metric or other. Curiously, most were threads started by Merle...

It wouldn't have to be you. Just someone that comments in one of your threads. Looking over all of your threads on the first pages whomever was using it in your threads has since removed it. Probably using a different url shortener in their signature.

Looking over the rest of the threads I only found 2 users currently still using bit.ly. I has several blocks from bit.ly already in ad block, but I've since switched it to block bit.ly/*.

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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

I have ad block on my computer. I thought it just worked in the background. I have no listing of the program from the start menu. How do it get it to block bit.ly?

I've never used bit.ly

Couple of weeks ago my Uni account started blocking several threads here on account of some metric or other. Curiously, most were threads started by Merle...

It wouldn't have to be you. Just someone that comments in one of your threads. Looking over all of your threads on the first pages whomever was using it in your threads has since removed it. Probably using a different url shortener in their signature.

Looking over the rest of the threads I only found 2 users currently still using bit.ly. I has several blocks from bit.ly already in ad block, but I've since switched it to block bit.ly/*.

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merle - vote yes for freedom of speech

I have ad block on my computer. I thought it just worked in the background. I have no listing of the program from the start menu. How do it get it to block bit.ly?

I've never used bit.ly

Couple of weeks ago my Uni account started blocking several threads here on account of some metric or other. Curiously, most were threads started by Merle...

It wouldn't have to be you. Just someone that comments in one of your threads. Looking over all of your threads on the first pages whomever was using it in your threads has since removed it. Probably using a different url shortener in their signature.

Looking over the rest of the threads I only found 2 users currently still using bit.ly. I has several blocks from bit.ly already in ad block, but I've since switched it to block bit.ly/*.

Adblock does work in the background, but if there is something you want to added yourself then you can do so via the custom filters.
Getting to the filter options depends on the browser you are using.
For Firefox it is accessible via Tools > add-ons > Extensions > Adblock Plus > More... > Filter Preferences. I have it added to my add-on bar so I can get to it more quickly.
Another options is to right click an image, select "Adblock Plus: Block image...", & then "Show existing filters...".
Once you have the filters open you would select the Custom Filters tab. If you don't have any custom filters create a new one & then add: http://bit.ly/*

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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

Hal sorry,
You beat me to the answer. I have a red dot down at the botton of IE where I just set bit.ly. Thanks

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merle - vote yes for freedom of speech