You might not hear it but I did!

[ameastre]

While I normally have a peaceful surfing experience between the Firefox StopAutoplay plugin and StartXChange giving me the choice whether to see sound-enabled sites, I was recently blasted with sound when I surfed on my second computer.
The culprit? Trafficswarm. I know at least one of the times I reported the page and at least three times have blocked the page, but it keeps showing up and if I have sound enabled while surfing on my second computer, I get a sound blast.
As much as I also love TrafficSwarm, I do not surf so I can listen to people blabbing (or to hear their favorite music which I probably won't like). So please save us both a headache and actually make sure there is no autoplaying sound so I don't have to report your site.

I open my pages in an IE window (which has lower security) before submitting to traffic exchanges. This also helps me make sure that there isn't a ridiculous amount of pop-ups or scripts too.

[inge]

I use IE7, and most of the music is blocked when you block ActiveX, which is used to start external programs (so it's also a security risk).
IE7 can also play sound and video files without using ActiveX, but you can block those by disabling video and animation in web pages. All this is done in the Tools, Internet Options, Security section.
Annoying sound is very rare when using StartXChange, but since I have chosen the "no audio" option I always report such sites when I see them. But support isn't on the job 24/7, and it may take a while to get everything up-to-date.
I wish too, that people would check their sites better before submitting them! :)

[tizzyloucat]

Marie, I totally agree with you...I hate it when an advertiser tries to talk to me while I am surfing. I can read about the products being offered. I think of the annoying sounds as an invasion of my privacy. Sound on SX is VERY rare and I am so grateful that there is at least one site where I do not have to be annoyed while I am surfing!

[palladan]

I have to agree also that music and someone speaking is not what I'm looking for on the site unless I request it using a link option on the site.

[drkelp]

I always surf with the sound off.

[bobigean]

I mark all my pages that I add as having sound just in case they change something along the way.
Though my sound is usually on, I have my headphones plugged in and hanging on the door to my desk, so it does not usually bother me.
Marie,
The reason the traffic swarm page keeps showing up is when you block a page you are only blocking that refferal id not the url. Or at least that is what I assume.
Kayla

[inge]

You're right Kayla, and if you block a site in SX you only block it here. In other TEs they are still unblocked.
I block sites from my computer, so when it's blocked it's blocked, and the user ID doesn't make any difference.
Turning the sound off stops you from hearing, and you can't select to hear the sounds you actually want to hear.

[lajab5]

I too have gotten tired of sounds blaring out of my computer, I just shut my speakers off now...which sometimes gets annoying when my phone rings.....(dial up) and I have to turn speakers back on to hear who is calling........such is life.........would rather not hear the noise.

[nsant46]

I am safe with the last Firefox edition.
Have a nice Easter
Noemi

[soph142]

Got my sound turned off too - oh dang that TS page - its on PTC/PTR sites as well!
Mutter Mutter - not sure, but on the odd affiliate pages I advertise, I have instructions how to block sounds/ popups etc by using a few keystrokes after my link!

Does this work for all sites? or does WM have to have the ability for link still to be recognized?

[erzsebet108]

I use only Firefox for surfing in which can be embedded Flashblock that stop in general any sound. But if there are videos or rarely used sound format i use Adblock Plus.
When they appear the first time one a site i block them and remain so, doesn't matter in what TEs they are. And i can listen to my favorite music or audio book.

I've tried them in AvantBrowser or CrazyBrowser, but don't work, only in Firefox can be used these two little programs/add-ons.

I hope this information can help some of you.

Happy Easter to all,

Erzsebet

[inge]

Crazy Browser was improved a couple of years ago, and is no AM Browser. It's very good for blocking sites, either by security traps like ActiveX, or by domain filtering.

[holidayfreak]

I use Firefox latest version. I use it with the extension named NoScript installed.
This enables me to only allow scripts run by trusted websites. Since it is very user friendly, I use it to block TrafficSwarm scripts to run, when I am not also surfing Traffic Swarm (what is actually my home/start page).
When I use TS, I simply set TS to allowed in NoScript within 3 seconds!!! NoScript can be accessed with " right click" on your mouse.
NoScript simply blocks every website from executing whatever .exe file on your computer, until you tell NoScript (once or temporarily) that the specific website is trusted.
For example: StartXchange is trusted in my settings, since it needs to run the rotator by executing a script on my personal computer and a few other things. But the websites that we see in rotation are still blocked.
I would say: that's excellent protection. Not to forget, the ease of use that Firefox browsers offer.