OSNN Adverts

[Electronic Punk]

Ok, I think I have finally got the talking ads sorted... I have completely disabled Burstmedia served audio ads for the forums... but not the frontpage... they will stay on there. And in teh future, all audio ads will automatically be disabled from the forums.

 

[Mainframeguy]

Hoorah hoooray - talking applause and hurrahs for EP!

top bombing as you would say....

 

[rushm001]

Just asking though, why do I keep getting adverts for osnn?

 

[Mainframeguy]

Just asking though, why do I keep getting adverts for osnn?

LOL for real? Maybe EP has a sense of humour? Maybe he wants to take over the world? Naaaahhh probably just a php script error? Maybe Ep on Friday?

Don't ask me! - but I still think it is funny (unless it was photoshopped!)

 

[rushm001]

(unless it was photoshopped!)

No it's real.

 

[coathanger007]

WARNING: Do not click on screensaver/smilie adverts

OSNN.net and several popular sites such as 3dgamers.com are being paid to host smilie and screensaver adverts under this advertiser http://www.funwebproducts.com/
These contain the iWon dataminer spyware:
http://www.lavasoftnews.com/ms/display_main.php?tac=iWon
Adaware detected 152 spyware entries in total and it can't be uninstalled through add/remove in the control panel.

Behavior: 3

Auto-updates without user permission and/or knowledge
Opens unsolicited popups

Privacy: 2

Connects to a remote system with or without the user's awareness to transmit usage statistics and/or personally identifiable information

 

[Grandmaster]

Thanks for notifying us, we are currently dealing with the situation.

 

[NetRyder]

How does it get installed? ActiveX controls, tracking cookies, or something else?

 

[coathanger007]

The worst I've seen so far are popups from http://popuptraffic.com/
As soon as you see the advert, you've been infected by one of several viruses. No wonder they have the highest popup payouts in the industry ! These advertisers are scum of the Earth !!!

 

[Xie]

How does it get installed? ActiveX controls, tracking cookies, or something else?

Yeah I would like to know this as well.

 

[coathanger007]

ActiveX for popups and BHO for iwon:
http://sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.iwon.html
http://pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/i/iwon.asp

 

[Electronic Punk]

Merged these threads because it it a complaint against an ad.
The ad in question falls in my guidelines for the ads - it is not obtrusive here on osnn.
The advert is cpm, which means it pays per display, not per click.

If you do click the ad you are prompted to install some software, obviosuly you should be wise enough not to click on the advert, but obviously people do.

 

[coathanger007]

That's irresponsible. If you know people do click on the adverts then it really doesn't matter whether you're paid CPM or CPC. It's like placing a link to pirated software or porn and telling people you can look at the link but please don't click.

 

[American Zombie]

I clicked on every advertisement at http://www.funwebproducts.com/ and all the links mentioned but everytime Internet Explorer blocked the install of activeX control. It then gave a prompt in the information bar as to whether or not I wanted to install the control and of course I said no.
So, I wonder if this a case of saying yes to activex control install you are not sure about.

 

[NetRyder]

I clicked on every advertisement at http://www.funwebproducts.com/ and all the links mentioned but everytime Internet Explorer blocked the install of activeX control. It then gave a prompt in the information bar as to whether or not I wanted to install the control and of course I said no.
So, I wonder if this a case of saying yes to activex control install you are not sure about.

Yeah, that's the reason I asked for the mode of infection.
Firefox and IE6 SP2 shouldn't be automatically affected by ActiveX controls or BHO's.

 

[coathanger007]

Not everyone has SP2 or firefox and are still very much exposed. Anyway, I have no control over what adverts you guys put up. Just doesn't sit right with me though.

 

[NetRyder]

Not everyone has SP2 or firefox and are still very much exposed. Anyway, I have no control over what adverts you guys put up. Just doesn't sit right with me though.

I haven't seen the ads in question, so I'm not in a position to give my views just yet, but wouldn't a pre-SP2 version of IE6 also prompt you before it installs the malware?

 

[coathanger007]

It would give you the ordinary run/save dialog. Obviously the viewer clicked on the advert thinking he's downloading a screensaver.

Look, by showing alternative adverts, you'll only have a slight decrease in your CPM and more importantly, a clear conscience.

 

[Electronic Punk]

Made my stance very clear.
Also both our sites show google ads, which have had their fair share of scandals.
I have to balance my conscience with earning enough to pay for what I want this site to be, with whats right - I make sure the ads don't mislead people while they are on my site - off it, things are out of my hands.

 

[coathanger007]

Sure - it's your site. I've removed them completely off mine. lol - I now have "More Carrots, Less Cake" ads