Why do we have adds that start downloading software automaticly?

Download ringtones, I don't think so!

from WinCustomize Forums
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.
9,505 views 28 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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....
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm a subscriber and I get the ads, too. Must be a bug in the system.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Had the same problem .. but it seems fixed now
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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

I'm not seeing ads though.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not seeing ads though.


This is the Gallery page Saturday Night 10:35 EST
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Lantec - what skin are you using?
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Kona, it's DogmaX3. An excellent update by Brewman.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tried resetting my cookies, burned the first batch, second reset didnt work either, using Kol's 5203 skin.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't believe it is a cookie problem. This is just anecdotal evidence, but I believe it is a problem with rendering the pages and a database link. Whenever I have seen the ads, which is very infrequent, they have always been on pages that took a very long time to load. Occasionally, I have also gotten pages that don't have me logged in at all as well as the ads, but always after an extremely long wait for the page to load. Usually, later in the same session, everything is back to normal (pages loading quickly and no ads); without doing any cookie cleaning or other maintenance procedures.

Not exactly foolproof troubleshooting, but maybe helpful to the nuts and bolts guys.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like cookies, with milk of course.

I get ads continially with a clean cache and cookies removed. Site issue, for sure.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#6 and #13 covers it....no need to go cookie burning......[yet].....
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I've cleaned up some of our code that was caching ads (which was causing them to be displayed when they shouldn't) so if you are a subscriber you shouldn't be seeing those ads any more.  Also I have contacted our Ad Services to make sure that they are not serving up any ads that try to automatically install any software.

If you still are seeing ads when you shouldn't be or a malicous ad please let me know.