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> Calling ad blocking to prevent malware infection a BS excuse is ridiculous. There are other (quite simple) plugins to stop any malware from running (like nos

> Calling ad blocking to prevent malware infection a BS excuse is ridiculous. There are other (quite simple) plugins to stop any malware from running (like noscript, etc) while at the same time, not having an adblocker even installed. The two are not mutually inclusive. Thus, it isn't ridiculous in the least. It's actually ridiculous to imply that if you have one, you must have the other. More importantly, these days, you only find malware ads (consistently) on real shady sites. When it makes it to big reputable sites, it actually makes the news because of how rare it has been. There are dozens of other ways to get malware (software downloads, etc) but you don't see people ceasing to download anything off the entire internet, they take a risk because they want the product. The risk is virtually identical -- it depends on where you go and what you do. > Ads are being used to distribute malware through reputable sites Sure, that has happened. But it's rare and again, it makes the news when it happens because of how rare it is. You make it sound like reddit.com, facebook.com or news.google.com serves up malware every other day. That just isn't the case. Not even close.

diffraction 10y ago
Ok. Forget malware. How about malicious behavior? Stop Taboola and Outbrain from serving pornographic ads and I will gladly disable Adblock. Sorry, until your industry sets professional standards I will continue to block ads and not feel bad.
- mahranch 10y ago
  > Sorry, until your industry sets professional standards your crying has zero emotional pull for me. Oh, sorry if I mislead you. I'm actually not in the industry at all. I used to be a publisher though, had my own website until I sold it. My comments were me empathizing and seeing things from the point of view of a content creator. That's for whom I argue.
WalterSear 10y ago
Forbes doesn't run if noscript is enabled.
sspiff 10y ago
> More importantly, these days, you only find malware ads (consistently) on real shady sites. > ... > Sure, that has happened. But it's rare and again, it makes the news when it happens because of how rare it is. I don't care how rare it is. It's common enough that this year alone, I've read about MSN, The New York Times, the BBC, the Dutch commercial broadcaster RTL, and other reputable sites distributing malware through major ad networks including Google. If ad networks can't get their act together and value my security, I have no problem helping myself and boycotting their business. I don't need to investigate how to protect myself and help their business succeed if they don't have to do a better job stopping malvertising. I am more than happy to support organizations and publishers when needed, and most of the content I consume today I either support through subscriptions, donations, or have switched to in-line advertising ("This article/edition/episode of <publication> has been made possible by <insert sponsor here>. <section about sponsor product>. <Actual content>.") But I have no love lost on advertising companies. I realize this can't work for everyone, but it's time to adapt or die. Ad blocking is here, and given the terrible (at times deservedly so) reputation and status of advertising, it isn't going away. People dislike ads, and telling them they can't have what they want without being force fed ads will only direct them elsewhere.

diffraction 10y ago

Ok. Forget malware. How about malicious behavior? Stop Taboola and Outbrain from serving pornographic ads and I will gladly disable Adblock. Sorry, until your industry sets professional standards I will continue to block ads and not feel bad.

mahranch 10y ago
> Sorry, until your industry sets professional standards your crying has zero emotional pull for me. Oh, sorry if I mislead you. I'm actually not in the industry at all. I used to be a publisher though, had my own website until I sold it. My comments were me empathizing and seeing things from the point of view of a content creator. That's for whom I argue.

WalterSear 10y ago

Forbes doesn't run if noscript is enabled.

sspiff 10y ago

> More importantly, these days, you only find malware ads (consistently) on real shady sites. > ... > Sure, that has happened. But it's rare and again, it makes the news when it happens because of how rare it is. I don't care how rare it is. It's common enough that this year alone, I've read about MSN, The New York Times, the BBC, the Dutch commercial broadcaster RTL, and other reputable sites distributing malware through major ad networks including Google. If ad networks can't get their act together and value my security, I have no problem helping myself and boycotting their business. I don't need to investigate how to protect myself and help their business succeed if they don't have to do a better job stopping malvertising. I am more than happy to support organizations and publishers when needed, and most of the content I consume today I either support through subscriptions, donations, or have switched to in-line advertising ("This article/edition/episode of <publication> has been made possible by <insert sponsor here>. <section about sponsor product>. <Actual content>.") But I have no love lost on advertising companies. I realize this can't work for everyone, but it's time to adapt or die. Ad blocking is here, and given the terrible (at times deservedly so) reputation and status of advertising, it isn't going away. People dislike ads, and telling them they can't have what they want without being force fed ads will only direct them elsewhere.