Why do we have adds that start downloading software automaticly?

Download ringtones, I don't think so!

Thursday, September 15, 2005 by Reppiks | Discussion: WinCustomize Site Issues

Tonight around 9:50 I visited the Wincustomize "newest" page. At the top was a banner ad for Cell phone "ringtones". As I slid my cursor across the ad (I did not left or right click) Windows download dialog asked what I wanted to do with this file, open or save to disk. Just to be sure I didn't accidentally click my mouse I tried it several more times, each time it instigated an immediate download.
I understand the need for advertising revenue, as much as I don't like ad's, I'd rather the website be kept alive by advertising, than to have it shut down for the lack of $. What I don't understand is Wincustomize dealing with sleazy businesses that want to load our computers with software that we didn't request. It's just not the style I have become used to from this website.
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ALMonty
Reply #1 Thursday, September 15, 2005 9:29 PM
I was wondering the same thing, it did the same thing to me on music ringtones. I thought being a subscriber you didn't have to deal with banner adds.
Bichur
Reply #2 Thursday, September 15, 2005 9:31 PM
I saw the ringtone one in FF, a different one in IE but neither one attacked me.
but i had to log out to see them
Reppiks
Reply #3 Thursday, September 15, 2005 9:37 PM
I was already logged in. Like I said, if we need the ads to support the site, so be it. But not malicious practices like this.
mrbiotech
Reply #4 Saturday, September 17, 2005 9:34 AM
It's almost as annoying as all the ad-words that appear magically in posted articles here. Even the stuff we type inadvertantly becomes an advertisement. Don't click the "Download," "dialog", or "cell phone" links in the above message: I guarantee that Reppiks didn't insert those links, but someone's aiming to make money off your articles.
NightTrainthedark
Reply #5 Saturday, September 17, 2005 9:49 AM
As a subscriber I don't see anything.
Jafo
Reply #6 Saturday, September 17, 2005 10:41 AM
Access Class: Journeyman (4)
User Level: Subscriber (5)
Reppiks...at that 'level' you won't see any ads...unless there's a temporary bug...or you're logged out....
47songs
Reply #7 Saturday, September 17, 2005 11:11 AM
I'm a subscriber and I get the ads, too. Must be a bug in the system.
Reppiks
Reply #8 Saturday, September 17, 2005 1:24 PM
Jafo, it may be a bug since I'm logged in. Still I think it's out of character for WinCustomize to have adds that start a download automaticly without clicking on them. But thanks for the come-back any how.
Black Xero
Reply #9 Saturday, September 17, 2005 1:41 PM
Had the same problem .. but it seems fixed now
ama02
Reply #10 Saturday, September 17, 2005 2:05 PM
I'm still seeing the banner ad at the top, and text ads at the bottom, of the Newest page. I'm always logged in.
eieio
Reply #11 Saturday, September 17, 2005 2:16 PM
Periodically, the ads show up even for logged in subscribers. It's a bug that was acknowledged some time ago and, to the best of my knowledge, is being worked on. It was stated, as well, that WC is not purposefully serving ads to subscribers.

As far as the automatic downloads, it was also pointed out some time ago that WC uses some type of ad service that rotates various ads from a continually changing queue. It sounds like the ad service WC uses has, once again, let someone a bit shady in the pool.
I say once again, because something similar to this happened a while back and it was corrected by contacting the ad server and alerting them to the problem. I believe it was KarmaGirl that took care of it before, if memory serves.
Reppiks
Reply #12 Saturday, September 17, 2005 3:56 PM
I'm glad the ad server situation will be addressed. As far as the ads showing up from time to time, who would have thunk, a windows bassed system having a glich! Thanks Jafo and Pictoraus.
Frogboy
Reply #13 Saturday, September 17, 2005 6:09 PM

I've sent a note to the team to make sure this gets fixed asap.

I'm not seeing ads though.

Lantec
Reply #14 Saturday, September 17, 2005 9:36 PM
I'm not seeing ads though.


This is the Gallery page Saturday Night 10:35 EST

Reppiks
Reply #15 Sunday, September 18, 2005 9:22 AM
One extra note for the Admin's., I noticed in the screenshot it's the Opera browser. I have had the ads showw up using IE, Maxthon, and Firefox. But it is not every time I visit the site, and I always show as logged in.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #16 Sunday, September 18, 2005 9:55 AM
Looks like a cookie problem to me. Logout, close your browser, find and delete all WinCustomize cookies, then open your browser and login. Should be ok then
Erk.
Reply #17 Sunday, September 18, 2005 10:34 AM
I get the ads whilst logged in, have been for about a week now, but they don't bother me much ...as I don't get the auto-download if I mouseover them.

That said though, I'd rather they weren't there.

I only see them on the gallery page, and they don't effect the page loading time ...so if they stay, so be it I guess.

I thought it originally might have been a cookie problem, so I did as Fuzzy suggested above [a few days ago] ...no joy.
kona0197
Reply #18 Sunday, September 18, 2005 12:37 PM
Lantec - what skin are you using?
Lantec
Reply #19 Sunday, September 18, 2005 1:19 PM
Kona, it's DogmaX3. An excellent update by Brewman.
Reppiks
Reply #20 Sunday, September 18, 2005 2:16 PM
I tried resetting my cookies, burned the first batch, second reset didnt work either, using Kol's 5203 skin.

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