Solved Recent addition to web pages

[Anak]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know the purpose of this recent animated addition to some, but not all web pages?


It flashes continuously from small to large rectangle. I have tried left clicking on it to no avail, right click only brings up the generic browser context menu.

I am thinking, a new type of activity or tracking monitor

 

[Golden]

Hi,

It looks very similar to the avast webpage security thingy. Or is it soemthing different? Mine doesn't animate (that I know of) so perhaps its soemthing different altogether....?????

Regards,
Golden

 

[Anak]

Hi Golden, It does look similar.

I do not have anything so far that incorporates it outside of a web page. Your example is a new one for me.
It may just be like you suggest, and is related to security.

Anak...

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Do you use avast, or something different? The avast application I am thinking of is called WEBREP - similar to WOT.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Anak]

No, no Avast, just MSE, but I do have WOT.

 

[Anak]

Golden, upon closer inspection what you have there is Avast's color indicator bar.
The site that Avast is referring to in your screenshot is unrated.

Source, Using the WebRep Figure I. B: https://support.avast.com/knowledgebase_viewarticle

 

[Golden]

Yep, thats correct. I realised it was the WEBREP icon, which is why I posted it because I thought that was what you were seeing.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Anak]

To give everyone a better idea of what I mean, go to this eHow page, and scroll about half way down.
It is flashing below, and to the right of the Money picture link.

 

[mickey megabyte]

i think it may be a facebook thing, as this appeared once the feed had loaded:

 

[Hellriser]

Facebook web api.

 

[Anak]

i think it may be a facebook thing, as this appeared once the feed had loaded:

I think you may be right. Ever since you pointed that out I have noticed these indicators will flash towards an empty space on the web page, but the recent activity box will not appear.

Almost all of the links on this Facebook page Social Plugins - Facebook Developers will show it flashing towards an empty area of the page, but nothing appears.

See: Activity Feed - Facebook Developers

I think it may be due to the fact that I do not have a Facebook account.

And, I have not noticed it with any of the other 'social networks' i.e. Twitter, Google Buzz, RSS, or Mobile Site.

Facebook web api.

I looked at your link, but could not find any references to Facebook.

Can you elaborate?

 

[BriceH]

As others mentioned, I am quite sure that this is related to Facebook. Try logging into Facebook and typing a bunch of random characters into the search box. You will see this same animation appear.

 

[Anak]

Brice that cinches it for me, when I went to hit the log-in button the flashing started immediately to the right of the log-in button.

It would be interesting though, if there was documentation as to Facebook's time-line, and reasoning for research and development, but that would be like asking a black hole to give up its secret's.

Thank you's to all for helping me understand this!