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A few years ago I got really into the daily challenges in Windows 10 solitaire. It had leaderboards and of course, advertisements. I generally browse with an ad

A few years ago I got really into the daily challenges in Windows 10 solitaire. It had leaderboards and of course, advertisements. I generally browse with an ad blocker so I was shocked by what I saw inside the unfiltered Windows app. About 95% of the ads were Taboola / Outbrain garbage designed to lead senior citizens into scams. Usually the ads are framed like they're stories from a news site. Secrets your doctor doesn't want you to know, (D or R) politicians just signed a bill that will let you save money refinancing your mortgage, your computer might have virus!!!!!1! All these ads are there to prey on vulnerable people. I don't know how Microsoft, Taboola, Outbrain, etc. get away with it.

BLKNSLVR 4y ago
Blocking advertising should be on a cyber security checklist these days. The fact that companies the size of Microsoft and Google refuse to properly sanitize their platforms is, just, gross behaviour begging for regulation. It obviously costs them less in lobbying than it would to properly vet the ads they show. Here's an example of Google advertising a scam: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-21/scammers-using-text-messages-calls-emails-fake-ads-to-get-money/101167848 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-21/scammers-using-text-m...