Google analytics trying to load flash in IE

[tbow50]

I posted this on the Goigle Analytics forum but haven't had any response so I'm hoping someone here may have an idea...

When I view my website in Internet Explorer I get the IE pop up saying that it wants to install Adobe flash player. The exact message is:

"This website wants to run the following add-on: 'Adobe Flash Player' from 'Adobe System Incorporated'. If you trust the website and the add-on and want to allow it to run, click here..."

If I remove the analytics code it doesnt pop up.

Is it possible to stop this happening?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

[seo4rank]

install flash player it won't ask you for install flash player again.

[tbow50]

Thanks but it's not me that I'm worried about, it's the visitors to my site who get an annoying popup on every page they visit unless they have flash installed.

I've removed the Analytics code for now until I can resolve it.

Anyone else got any ideas?

Cheers,

Tom

[Kev Jaques]

As we can't see your site above, are you using AddThis Bookmark button too?
AddThis are now part of Clearspring and are using an extra flash element for extra statistics, it may pay to turn this off (by setting the flash var to false) and modify your privacy policy to reflect the changes.

[tbow50]

Hi Kev,

No I'm not using the AddThis bookmark button. The code I have for Analytics is what I copied from Google, I have checked and it is the latest:

<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-xxxxxxx-x");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script>

I just don't get why it wants flash installed.

Cheers,

Tom

[Kev Jaques]

Hi Tom
Look at your page info and media tab in FF, does it show a swf file as part of the media?
Have you flash elements on the page?
This might be worth a read http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/tracking/flashTrackingIntro.html

[tbow50]

Thanks Kev,

I don't have any flash objects in the site and now that I don't have the Analytics code in place the popup doesn't appear, so I'm 99.9% sure that is what's causing it.

I'll get FF reinstalled (rebuilt my PC recently) and see what that says.

Tom

[tbow50]

I've looked using FF and as I already knew (but nice to check ;)) there are no swf files as part of the media.

Cheers,

Tom

[ozbon]

I use Analytics on a lot of the sites I've created, and I've never seen it ask for Flash at all. After all, it doesn't actually use Flash until you're in the back-end and seeing the reports.

I've even added it to a new site today, but still not seeing anything about Flash. Then again, I have Flash installed already, so it probably doesn't affect me.

[tbow50]

Thanks Ozbon, I just visited your site and got the same thing so it must be the analytics code. Its only in IE (I guess that could be the problem right there!) that it does it but I think for the kind of visitors that I get to my site they would find it a put off.

The mystery continues I guess!

Tom

[ozbon]

Very mysterious.

I actually went through the process of deleting Flash from one of my PCs so I could test this, and while the iGoogle page throws the request for Flash, Analytics doesn't appear to.

Equally, chuck out your site's address here, and I/we'll have a look, see if we're getting the same thing when you're re-activated Analytics. (Equally, if anyone else wants to check my site www.ozbon.com to see if they get the same issue, feel free)

But I have to say, unless you're getting this on machines that aren't your own (or other customers/visitors seeing the same thing) I'd be checking your PC for viruses and unpleasant software first.

It makes me wonder if your PC has picked up a virus/malware of some sort that's redirecting requests from Google to somewhere else that's requiring Flash.

Out of interest, is it just you that's finding this as an issue, or something you've also had comments/complaints about from site visitors?

[tbow50]

I just tried it on another laptop which I reinstalled earlier today, that has IE version 6 on and having reactivated the Analytics code it didn't give the pop up. I'm just upgrading it to IE 7 to see if that does it. The version I have on my laptop is IE 8 so maybe its something to do with that.

The web address I'm having the problem on is www.wonderfulwraps.com if you want to see if it happens for you.

Thanks for the help so far.

Tom

[tbow50]

Tried it on IE 7 on the clean laptop and again nothing, upgrading to 8 now...

[tbow50]

Damn, IE8 on the other laptop didn't do it either, must be something on my machine I guess. Good thinking Ozbon. I hadn't thought it would be that because I reinstalled this laptop not that long ago too.

Thanks for all the help.

Tom

[ozbon]

Yeah, I'm getting nothing about Flash being needed on the site at all, whether in IE7 or 8, Firefox or Opera.

Sounds like Malware/Virus is your problem. I can't remember the address, but there's a few malware products out there that'll help. Have a look on other UKBF topics where people say they've got a virus etc., and you'll soon see them recommended.

I think it's called Malware Defender or somesuch, but don't take my word for that!