I have a feeling that the Escapist are hosting virus banners...

[anthony87]

Well the only ads I've seen are your standard "Your IP address had been selected for such and such."

If you're weary of them, then don't click on them. Simples. (meerkat sound)

 

[The Virgo]

That happened to me a while ago, but it was the way the banners were coded and Avast thinking they were malware. That happened about a month or so ago.

I haven't gotten it since.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

AdBlockPlus is preventing any banners, and thats free.

Don't quote me on this but I don't think the Escapist likes (or even bans?) people using any ad blockers.

No, just people who promote them on the forums. Of course I imagine the presumption is that if you're promoting it, you're using it.

 

[benoitowns]

Don't ban me for this post please....but

I have adblock plus, although I have it disabled on the escapist. Yet for some reason I usually don't see any banners. Why is this?

 

[AstylahAthrys]

Ok, you don't get viruses by browsing websites. People need to learn this. Ads cannot be viruses. They can lead you to pages where if you follow stupid instructions you might get viruses. They can lead you to pages that contain linkspam that will generate popups if your browser is too crappy to block them. But ads != viruses.

Yay, pretty much what this guy said, though clicking a malicious link can also automatically redirect you to download a program that will harm your computer. I've accidentally clicked on one or two ads before and my computer is fine at the moment, and I don't think my current Newegg ad will give me a virus, just make me feel compelled to spend more money on the gaming PC I'm in the middle of building.

 

[Calatar]

Ok, you don't get viruses by browsing websites. People need to learn this. Ads cannot be viruses. They can lead you to pages where if you follow stupid instructions you might get viruses. They can lead you to pages that contain linkspam that will generate popups if your browser is too crappy to block them. But ads != viruses.

This isn't true. It's possible to have a website contain script that activates upon loading the webpage. It's possible for flash objects to contain packaged malware. It's possible for pictures to contain viruses.* It's entirely possible for flash ads to generate a virus warning, because flash can definitely contain code. Take a look at browser games.

Nowadays, many security features are built into browsers to prevent automatic script activation. It's worse with certain browsers like IE6, which in some cases allowed sites to install ActiveX controls without permission, thus surrendering control of your computer. But you are never entirely safe.

You get viruses by downloading data which has viruses in it (and in most cases, running/accessing it). Whenever you load a webpage, you are downloading data(and your browser will automatically run/interpret it). Therefore, you CAN get a virus by merely loading a webpage.

Not that these ads are necessarily virus vectors. But there's no reason they couldn't be. It wouldn't be exactly a new phenomenon for ads to transmit viruses. It happens all the time.

*Edit: Or at least contain code which can be activated when it's opened on an already infected computer.

 

[FalloutJack]

See those banners above you about downloading and the ones to your side on the main page which says "blabla american life!"
Yeah, I never thought the Escapist would go that way, but I'm really dissapointed since most of them are viruses.

Any opinions upon this?

The possibility of viral ads and banners is precisely why Amasari Kane (who took one look at this place and decided it was WRONG) won't come here.

To explain, Amasari is this girl that I know and love for like years. She gets very passionate and enraged about things that basically should not be, and she's highly-protective of her computer and gaming stuff. When I told her about this place, her opinion was so-so UNTIL I mentioned the Escapist's opinion of ad-blockers.

Once I said anything about the bannings for talking about those things (in a manner which would threaten the site's ad-based revenue), she went from zero to pissed...and not without good reason. Before that, she'd received two massively-damaging viruses from Deviant Art. They were from the ADS. Revenue or not, she was right. We have to protect ourselves.

In her case, she refused to switch hers off and simply decided never to come here (unless by PS3 which can't be infected like that). She wanted to tell the Escapist off, but I pointed out that this would be a waste of time. They don't listen to anybody, not even the most helpful of suggestions like when I tried to HELP THEM.

Now, hopefully the Escapist is wise enough not to do anything that stupidly spreads a big virus around. They're in hot water as is. I, personally, shouldn't be too worried. I have quite the firewall.

NOTE: Mods do not get to draw whacking sticks for the report of factual information.

 

[thePyro_13]

I'm seeing ones that pretend to be windows dialog boxes and fake download links(the kind that you see plastered all over download sites that make it impossible to tell which one is the real download link)lately. I find it really unprofessional for the escapist to be dealing with advertisers that resort to such behaviour. I find it to be very scummy.

"You have 1 unclaimed prize"

They had might as well be virus's, It's like The Escapist is getting dragged down into the dregs of the internet.

 

[The Pinray]

After years on the internet I've about trained my eyes to gloss over those ads, as many of you others have too, I'm sure.

I think this is all quite silly. Report anything you don't like, I guess. Otherwise just don't click on the ads...

Now I'm going to start noticing them again. Dammit.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I've never seen any questionable adverts on the Escapist. Only ones for, you know, games and stuff. Not just that, but, seriously, if you're dumb enough to click on one of those adverts, you deserve a virus.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Wait, do people actually click on the advertisements? In all my time here, my mouse hasn't so much as waved over them.

That's what I was thinking. Ads on the internet don't even work. Especially on a site with so many people who are up to date on this sort of thing.

 

[Nostalgia Ripoff]

I'm only seeing ads for some of the Escapist's shows. And the Escapist store. Actually, now that I think about it, I haven't seen a shady ad since my old desktop, and that broke down three years ago.

 

[Braedan]

SNIP

Pssssssst. Against forum rules to mention this sort of thing. I suggest editing your posts to avoid mod wrath.

EDIT: I guess you've already been told, but it seems like 4 or 5 super smart individuals keep posting similar things even after warnings from other users... oh well, Natural Selection.

OT: All I see are Deus Ex ads, and ads from my local government informing me that minimum wage is increasing, with more info available.

 

[ilspooner]

Yeah, I saw one that told me I have one unclaimed prize. I hope we can get rid of the stupid scams.

 

[Nouw]

Aren't most ads filled with viruses? You shouldn't click them anyway.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well alot of these ad services are scammers because spreading sneaky spyware earns them the big bucks, every site hasto be real careful who they let put ads up and they usually won't find out about a rotten egg until users complain.

 

[mjc0961]

I think I'm in the right for things my antivirus does outside of my control, that is, unless you want to pay for my laptop replacement when another virus I get from here kills it.

What? I am pretty sure that there are no viruses out there that can actually break the components of your computer. This would mean that the worst that happens is that you have to format your hard drive and re-install an operating system. That is not "killing" your laptop and is not something that you or the Escapist should have to pay for.

That said, viruses and malware still suck, and I don't blame anyone for taking whatever measures they feel necessary to stop advertisements on any site from screwing up their computers.

Although, everyone mentioning the "you're the xth visitor you win a prize" ads they're seeing keeps reminding me of this:

Spoiler: xkcd inside

 

[Shuswah_Noir]

I never clicked ads before I had a membership.. I hardly even looked at them. Report it or ignore it.

 

[demoman_chaos]

The ads with videos need to be stopped. They steal bandwith and are killer to the unfortunate ones with internet limits (I am not one, but I know someone who is).