Block ads on RenGames lobby software

[Kmaster]

<center>
<img src="http://jpkmaster.googlepages.com/Image1x.jpg" width="600">
http://jpkmaster.googlepages.com/Image1x.jpg
</center>

Yup. No anoying ads. The new ads are really really anoying, they slow down ur computer while they change.

RG lobby software uses integrated IE to show their ads. I tried hackin the RG software but when u launch the lobby the site do a little CRC integrity filescheck (like MD5) to see if you have an outdated executable (or hacked, in this case) prompting you to update the lobby software.

Heres a temporal way to do this. Just simply disable all images on Internet Explorer. Open IE, choose Tools, Internet Options.
Click Advance tab, browse to Multimedia, uncheck "Show Pictures"

Other way is disabling javascript on IE.

That's not the right way to do it tho. Since there's still some people that use IE as a web browser (eww)

I tried blocking www.rengamesonline.com in the DNS host file. It works:

<center>
<img src="http://jpkmaster.googlepages.com/Image2x.jpg" width="600">
http://jpkmaster.googlepages.com/Image2x.jpg
</center>

but you can only access the RG site via : http://rengamesonline.com (since http://www.rengamesonline.com is completely blocked)

http://www.rengamesonline.com/ads240x120.php
http://www.rengamesonline.com/ad125x125.php
These are the infamous ads

I'll be updating this info during the day.
-Kmaster

[Phineus]

tools > internet options > security tab > slider to top > ok

then never open ie again.

If you need ie for any reason...

tools > internet options > security tab > default level > ok

when you're done, reset it as above to go back to normal.

[OLD_Fenderbender]

so even though i got FF as my default browser it still uses IE?

[Phineus]

yep. That's why it's safe to set ie preferences and leave them be.

[Slayer]

IE is a really useful programming resource, i dont think FF can be integrated into programs, at least not easily.

[OLD_Fenderbender]

hmmm, never really knew that, i'll keep that in mind

[Slayer]

yeah, at work we often use IE as the direction to open files. Since it is difficult to know which program each person uses to open files, say I want to open a TIF image, I can use a complicated command to open windows picture and fax viewer, or I can pass it to IE and let IE handle it as it sees fit.
IE can also be controled via code modules, which is both a strength and weakness. Many programs, especially those that offer internal browsers, use IE in the background. I could list a fair number of them, but its easier to say, a lot of programs do this.
It's likely that rengames runs out of a modded IE window. Just as zone and most other online lobbies.

[Phineus]

say I want to open a TIF image, I can use a complicated command to open windows picture and fax viewer

Not necessarily complicated: "open with" and select "picture and fax viewer" and make sure the checkbox to "always use the selected program to open this type of file" is checked. Even if you don't check the checkbox, once you "open with" one time, it's always available (in xp) as a right click option.

I agree, however, it should be easier to do.

It's likely that rengames runs out of a modded IE window. Just as zone and most other online lobbies.

Not modded. Just an ordinary browser page that uses javascript to rotate the images on a pre-defined timer. When you shut off javascript, the rotation stops. Hence my security level alteration noted above. One day, I hope browsers will allow you to enable and disable javascript 'per site' like you can do with cookies - would save a whole lotta bother.

For what it's worth, turboSlice60 uses an internal browser (because I didn't know how to provide the info without one) for the switches details but unfortunately since we lost karf.net the url doesn't work anymore =( I should really fix that one day.

I tried hackin the RG software but when u launch the lobby the site do a little CRC integrity filescheck (like MD5) to see if you have an outdated executable (or hacked, in this case) prompting you to update the lobby software.

Do you know what kind of check they are doing? Isn't it just byte size?

[Slayer]

Not necessarily complicated: "open with" and select "picture and fax viewer" and make sure the checkbox to "always use the selected program to open this type of file" is checked. Even if you don't check the checkbox, once you "open with" one time, it's always available (in xp) as a right click option.

I agree, however, it should be easier to do.

Actually top open tif files through code is very tough, command line is the easiest, and it requires you to pass several commands to rundll32.exe

Code: Select all

rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen "Path to picture"

is the easiest way, using the API shellexecute can do this no problem.
MSDN ShellExecute documentation

[OLD_Fenderbender]

i'm just gonna step back for now, u 2 lost me heh

[Phineus]

i'm just gonna step back for now, u 2 lost me heh

Slayer has that effect on a lot of people.

The thing to note is that if you use FF you can just slide that slider up in IE options and you'll be okay.

[Slayer]

i'm just gonna step back for now, u 2 lost me heh

Slayer has that effect on a lot of people.

The thing to note is that if you use FF you can just slide that slider up in IE options and you'll be okay.

pift, dont give me that lol
Im sure kmaster knows what im talking about :p

[Woody]

One day, I hope browsers will allow you to enable and disable javascript 'per site' like you can do with cookies - would save a whole lotta bother.

Why wait for "One day" FF with NoScript extension does that now. Also kills flash and shockwave garbage unless you white list the site.

[Phineus]

One day I will switch to FF.

(I "bought" my browser two weeks before the browser war. I'm gonna get my money's worth before I switch).

[OLD_Fenderbender]

i'm just gonna step back for now, u 2 lost me heh

Slayer has that effect on a lot of people.

The thing to note is that if you use FF you can just slide that slider up in IE options and you'll be okay.

pift, dont give me that lol
Im sure kmaster knows what im talking about :p

ahhh dunno, there have been times where KM got lost rarely though lol

[Kmaster]

>>Do you know what kind of check they are doing? Isn't it just byte size?

I actually edited the ren executable with a hex editor, so the filesize was not increased or decreased. I've also edited the creation and modification date. No luck tho. It must be a file integrity check.

>>I "bought" my browser

lol you bought your browser

>>Why wait for "One day" FF ..

For firefox, theres an awesome plugin called adblock plus. block images, scripts, flash, objects, anything. and blacklist is auto-updated and you can customize it.

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/1865
http://adblockplus.org/en/

>>Im sure kmaster knows what im talking about :p

yup

[Kmaster]

Not necessarily complicated: "open with" and select "picture and fax viewer" and make sure the checkbox to "always use the selected program to open this type of file" is checked. Even if you don't check the checkbox, once you "open with" one time, it's always available (in xp) as a right click option.

I agree, however, it should be easier to do.

Actually top open tif files through code is very tough, command line is the easiest, and it requires you to pass several commands to rundll32.exe

Code: Select all

rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen "Path to picture"

is the easiest way, using the API shellexecute can do this no problem.
MSDN ShellExecute documentation

rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1
DDE: App: shimgvw Theme: system

[ShadowPrincess]

lol well since you can't see the add
HEREyou go

Have to admit spades has gone overboard with those silly animations.

If you are in a game, minimise your lobby, it was coded so that the add rotation would then stop.

[Slayer]

I'm guesing by bought browser you use Opera or something that wasn't free way back when...?

[Phineus]

Netscape 4.06 in 1998