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I can't remember a single instance of people being infected by ads after the end of the IE era. And in 20 years on the internet, often without ad-blocking, I've

I can't remember a single instance of people being infected by ads after the end of the IE era. And in 20 years on the internet, often without ad-blocking, I've never been a victim of anything like that (as far as I can tell, yes. But I'm somewhat certain and don't much care about symptomless problems). As far as I can tell, the security argument is advanced mostly as justification for blocking even unobtrusive ads by people who love to both complain about the terrible state of "mainstream media" and to read what they publish.

jorvi 6y ago
I have a physicist friend who somehow installed a fake Google Chrome, which still blows my mind to this day. Either his searches must have already been hijacked or Google really doesn't filter the ads at the top of the first page. Luckily enough he never got pwned despite conducting basically his entire digital life through that browser. Badware is still alive and well, but it's mostly tricking people into installing it. The days of ActiveX zero clicks are indeed (and thankfully!) long behind us.
gorhill 6y ago
> the security argument is advanced mostly as justification for blocking even unobtrusive ads by people who love to both complain about the terrible state of "mainstream media" Here are documented instances of malvertising I collated over the years, and which is by no mean comprehensive and which I haven't taken the time to update in a long while: https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-Benefits-of-blocking-3rd-party-iframe-tags#malware-protection https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-Be... Additionally, excerpt from CISA's "Securing Web Browsers and Defending Against Malvertising for Federal Agencies"[1]: > Ad-blocking software prevents advertisements from displaying or removes different types of ads (e.g., pop-ups, banner ads) when a user visits a website or uses an application. This software reduces a user’s risk in receiving malicious ads or being redirected to malicious websites. One common ad-blocking technique is the use of web browser extensions that enable a user or agency to customize and control the appearance of online ads. CISA encourages agencies to evaluate solutions that would enable malicious ad blocking. --- [1] https://www.cisa.gov/publication/capacity-enhancement-guides-federal-agencies https://www.cisa.gov/publication/capacity-enhancement-guides...
LeoNatan25 6y ago
If only you bothered to do a quick search in Google before typing that ignorant comment...

jorvi 6y ago

I have a physicist friend who somehow installed a fake Google Chrome, which still blows my mind to this day. Either his searches must have already been hijacked or Google really doesn't filter the ads at the top of the first page. Luckily enough he never got pwned despite conducting basically his entire digital life through that browser. Badware is still alive and well, but it's mostly tricking people into installing it. The days of ActiveX zero clicks are indeed (and thankfully!) long behind us.

gorhill 6y ago

> the security argument is advanced mostly as justification for blocking even unobtrusive ads by people who love to both complain about the terrible state of "mainstream media" Here are documented instances of malvertising I collated over the years, and which is by no mean comprehensive and which I haven't taken the time to update in a long while: https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-Benefits-of-blocking-3rd-party-iframe-tags#malware-protection https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-Be... Additionally, excerpt from CISA's "Securing Web Browsers and Defending Against Malvertising for Federal Agencies"[1]: > Ad-blocking software prevents advertisements from displaying or removes different types of ads (e.g., pop-ups, banner ads) when a user visits a website or uses an application. This software reduces a user’s risk in receiving malicious ads or being redirected to malicious websites. One common ad-blocking technique is the use of web browser extensions that enable a user or agency to customize and control the appearance of online ads. CISA encourages agencies to evaluate solutions that would enable malicious ad blocking. --- [1] https://www.cisa.gov/publication/capacity-enhancement-guides-federal-agencies https://www.cisa.gov/publication/capacity-enhancement-guides...

LeoNatan25 6y ago

If only you bothered to do a quick search in Google before typing that ignorant comment...