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Being redirected to www.google-analytics.com. computer stalls. Virus?

  • 1 reply
  • 32 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by Helper7677

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I am having difficulity with re-directs ( the new pop-up?). I want to know how this happens and why, how to prevent this. Today I entered www.npr.org and when I got to the site was redirected to google-analytics.com. The window stalls and says"Loading." Google has not responded to my letter about this issue. What is Google-analytics? Is it trying to place ad content on a computer running Windows 2000, and the OS is so old it cannot handle the content, or is it a Firefox issue, or denial of service attack, a virus?

I am having difficulity with re-directs ( the new pop-up?). I want to know how this happens and why, how to prevent this. Today I entered www.npr.org and when I got to the site was redirected to google-analytics.com. The window stalls and says"Loading." Google has not responded to my letter about this issue. What is Google-analytics? Is it trying to place ad content on a computer running Windows 2000, and the OS is so old it cannot handle the content, or is it a Firefox issue, or denial of service attack, a virus?

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Google Analytics is a way for web site owners to measure traffic to their sites. I have seen postings in forums dealing with the issue that indicate the hanging problem is often with the way web site owners position that tool within the coding on their web pages.

I solved the problem with Google Analytics (and other) such "web bugs" by installing the extension Ghostery:

After installation and re-starting Firefox, go to Tools > Add-ons > Extensions, click on Ghostery, click Options:

  • Options tab:
    • check or un-check "Enable auto updates" (I un-checked). If you uncheck, do manual updates frequently for the icon in your Status Bar.
    • check or un-check Enable Ghost Rank" (I un-checked).
  • Performance tab: I un-checked "Enable Ghostery Lite mode.
  • Look and Feel tab: Set options as you wish.
  • Blocking tab: Check "Enable blocking", then click "All".
  • Whitelist tab: Nothing for me.


The information submitted with your question indicates that you have out of date plugins with known security issues that should be updated. To see the plugins submitted with your question, click "More system details..." to the right of your original question post.

  • Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5
  • Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape
  • Shockwave Flash 10.0 r45
  • Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_19 for Mozilla browsers
  1. Check your plugin versions: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
    • Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions
  2. Update Shockwave for Director
    • NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
    • Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below (Desktop is a good place so you can find it).
    • When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit)
    • locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
    • Restart Firefox and check your plugins again.
    • Download link and more information: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox
  3. Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):
    • From within your existing Adobe Reader (if you have it already installed):
      • Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
      • Click Help > Check for Updates
      • Follow the prompts for updating
      • If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
    • Download complete installer (if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed):
      • Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below
      • On the Adobe page, un-check any extra items (i.e. Free McAfee® Security Scan Plus) then click Download button
      • If you see message just under tabs, DO NOT click the Allow button, instead click below that where it says "click here to download".
      • Click "Save to File"; save to your Desktop (so you can find it)
      • After download completes, close Firefox
      • Click the installer you just downloaded and allow the install to continue
        • Note: Vista and Win7 users may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
      • Download link and more information: https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox#Installing_and_updating_Adobe_Reader
    • After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.
  4. Update Shockwave Flash
  5. Update Java:

Modified by Helper7677