Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Advertising May Soon Follow You From One Device To the Next

Posted by timothy on from the for-that-twilight-zone-feeling dept.

moon_unit2 writes "We're all familiar with ads that seem to follow you around as you go from one website to another. A startup called Drawbridge has developed technology that could let those ads follow you even when you pick up a smartphone or tablet. The company, founded by an ex-Google scientist, employs statistical methods to try to match and identify users on different devices. The idea is that this will preserve privacy while making mobile ads more lucrative, although some experts aren't convinced that the data will be truly anonymous."

132 comments

  1. Onenote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yep.

  2. My action on adds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I make an effort to avoid buying products that im bombarded with as much as possible , so im turning their advertising around,

    1. Re:My action on adds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree. I've never bought anything from an internet ad, although I may have clicked on a few out of curiosity. They actually impact me negatively, and I would probably avoid anything I saw being pitched like this, particularly if I got the impression it was geared specifically towards me. However some people fall for them, because it's a huge industry. Google being Google, however, it wouldn't surprise me if the order of search results are affected.

    2. Re:My action on adds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You must be an exception, otherwise how would you explain the huge popularity of Apple products at every release?

    3. Re:My action on adds by hazah · · Score: 2

      Lack of critical thinking.

    4. Re:My action on adds by GrahamJ · · Score: 0

      You're thinking of Samsung, they spend way, way more on advertising than Apple.

    5. Re:My action on adds by cdxta · · Score: 1

      Same here, all ads make me think is that a portion of my purchase price is going towards the ad instead of a better product. I tells me that their product does not have enough merit on its own that they have to advertize it to you instead of informed buyers choosing their product based on its ability alone.

    6. Re:My action on adds by TheRaven64 · · Score: 2

      The current plan for most advertising is to raise brand awareness. So, when you see two competing products you pick the one that feels most comfortable and familiar, because you've seen the brand before. I make a conscious point of avoiding products that seem more attractive for a reason I can't consciously bring to mind, but not enough people do for this to work as a strategy.

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    7. Re:My action on adds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same here, all ads make me think is that a portion of my purchase price is going towards the ad instead of a better product.

      Yes, that's the way advertising works. You'll probably be shocked to learn that a portion of your purchase price also goes to corporate lawyers, secretaries, and janitors who also have nothing to do with improving the product.

    8. Re:My action on adds by GrahamJ · · Score: 0

      haha silly /. giving fandroids mod points :D

  3. Two words: by oGMo · · Score: 1

    Got root?

    --

    Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage

    1. Re:Two words: by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1

      Does it matter? I'm logged in to google almost 24/7 on all devices. I think Google has a pretty good idea its me when serving up its ads. Almost all tech ads, very few video games, pharmecutical or fashion products.

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    2. Re:Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hearing these stories makes me wish I stayed logged in to Google all the time. As terrifying as having this much known about me would be, my mouth kind of waters to have meaningful ads served to me.

    3. Re:Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i have a separate account for each device

    4. Re:Two words: by wiedzmin · · Score: 2

      I stopped using Google services long time ago for that same reason. Used to be a huge fanboy... and I mean I used everything - email, docs, blogger, maps, adwords, adsense, freaking shopping site, everything. Now the only one I have left is Gmail, to make sure nobody steals whatever accounts I haven't moved off of it yet.

      --
      Bow before me, for I am root.
    5. Re:Two words: by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      If you're staying logged in on google services across several devices, then it clearly doesn't matter to you. You don't mind being tracked.

      I avoid it on my phone by using Cyanogenmod (so I can selectively allow and deny specific access types to specific applications) and using a firewall so that google and other advertisers can't be reached. Pretty much the same way I do it on my laptop, desktop, and servers.

    6. Re:Two words: by ickleberry · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Used to be a bit of a google fanboy myself. Now I realise they are no better than the rest and are also hell bent on world domination like Microsoft.

    7. Re:Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem with Google is it's using its domination. Like showing 2-5 times more Romney news during election. It wasn't coincident. At the same time Microsoft showed slightly more Obama (which is understandable, he was a president) . Looks Google was using so-called "filter bubble" to influence. I'm trying to diversify now staying away from their Google+ or whatever its called. If it gets mails/shopping/news/all personal info how will it use that, whom this all will be sold, "advertisers"? A lot of things can be done with this info, especially if the person starts playing significant role (in business, politics).

    8. Re:Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > I'm trying to diversify now staying away from their Google+ or whatever its called.

      It's called Google+. You know it's called Google+. You can't pretend you thought it was called anything else, or that you forgot it. It's Google - that company who's site you use every single day, with a + at the end of it.

    9. Re:Two words: by Desler · · Score: 1

      And you think that makes any difference, how?

    10. Re:Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it's using its domination

      Hallelujah, correct grammar, and from an AC to boot. I thought I'd never see the day.

    11. Re:Two words: by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1

      I'm just saying that the system being devised by this ex google engineer isn't really that spooky for most people ( who I think are like me) that already don't mind being tracked. I mean its kind of scary,but I think I'm adjusting to a world where real privacy as we used to think of it doesn't really exist. Between google and amazon, they know where I go, do, see and what I buy. So far those companies have done a good job not sharing that in a publically accesible way. Facebook, on the other hand, has in the past. Which is why I don't share anything meaning ful there.

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    12. Re:Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I recognized this behavior on Google's part ten years ago.

      What makes me so much smarter than idiots like you? Is it the fact that you're an idiot?

      Seriously, fucktard. This shit was obvious from the beginning. Google has absolutely been a wretched company utterly lacking in ethics from the start.

      The fanbois were as fucked up retarded then as apple fanbois have always been.

      You are a fucking idiot and a huge part of the problem.

      Go kill yourself.

  4. Oh Yeah? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Catch me if you can.

  5. Another Ripoff Article... by kc67 · · Score: 1

    http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&type=submission&id=2387715
    Seriously?

    1. Re:Another Ripoff Article... by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Insightful

      http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&type=submission&id=2387715 Seriously?

      You... don't understand how the firehose works, do you?

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    2. Re:Another Ripoff Article... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he knows, he knows...

      1. the firehose sticks out

      2. you piss on it

  6. good call by Trepidity · · Score: 3, Insightful

    some experts aren't convinced that the data will be truly anonymous

    You don't say? In particular, note the complete lack of incentives for the company to actually care how good its anonymizing is.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    1. Re:good call by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I

      A) Run a tor exit on my Android phone, unlimited bandwidth unlimited power just to fuck with them.

      B) I block every *king ad I can by running the phone's data through an encrypted VPN to home which which has a spam filtering box. The data will be split up WTF knows how as it's some black magic a kid made that will pick the 'most available' VPN depending on what it thinks is fast or high quality. It's a blade server and it's some linux concoction but I do not pretend to know what it is. I use six VPNs on two business DSL (*sobs*) links.

      I'm only a power user of Linux. Most of that is to serve porn for cash but the rest is some clowd stuff.

    2. Re:good call by davecb · · Score: 1

      This is a classic disambiguation effort, like figuring out that there is only one family in a postal code with children, and therefor associating my ad-tracking with them in particular. And then selling that information to other vendors.

      --
      davecb@spamcop.net
  7. The Tao of Poo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's only one way to accomplish this feat. It's too allow advertisers and all the other back end (no pun intended) interests to be able to track YOU in order to serve their own financial interests without regard for you, your privacy or your political preferences.

    Welcome to the future... are you there yet?

  8. How It "Works" by CanHasDIY · · Score: 2
    From TFA:

    Drawbridge works by looking at the cookie data that comes with a request from a mobile or desktop browser or app to an ad exchange, and using its “bridging” algorithm to assess the probability that any two arbitrary cookies from different devices are associated with the same person. The Web cookies that Drawbridge uses [allegedly] contain anonymous, relatively benign information, such as the browser client, the site accessed, and a time stamp. Unlike a method known as device fingerprinting, Drawbridge doesn't rely on technologies that directly track user activity, or report geolocation or other invasive device identifiers... Once they reach a threshold of certainty that two cookies represent the same person, they call it a match.

    Here's hoping my own browsing habits don't match too closely with any person the government has decided to put on its "disposition matrix..."

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    1. Re:How It "Works" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you for your cooperation. Your post has been added to our database.

  9. Just This Morning... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Just this morning, at breakfast as I stared over the paper at the wife, I said; I really wish that DVRs would listen in on us and watch us and feed us "contextually accurate" ads.

    She responded; it would be even better if the ads followed us from device to device, jump form the TV to your phone and then onto the tablet when you got to work.

    I mused; that would truly be a great world.

    1. Re:Just This Morning... by Gmooron · · Score: 1

      Huh no, it would not.

    2. Re:Just This Morning... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because the world isn't like the GP's world, this is why you are so negative. If you would only realize the GP's world is the greatest way to go, you would be much more happy and content.

  10. Trends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No matter how sophisticated advertising gets, human needs appear to be reaching an asymptote. One is left wondering how much effort will be put into advertising by comparison to actually helping people.

    1. Re:Trends by cvtan · · Score: 1

      I guess those people working for Lions International or Rotary or the Salvation Army or Building Minds in Sudan will have nothing to do. The impoverished will be advertised out of poverty.

      --
      Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
  11. Even more invasive by meerling · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In their continuing quest to impose their marketing scum on every aspect and moment of your life, they are now taking yet another step in their bid to become omnipresent and unavoidable.

    It's getting to the point where these marketing invasions need to have serious and painful repercussions to those creating or employing them.

    1. Re:Even more invasive by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Why? hmm? Don't use the products that use advertising. Otherwise deal with the way people get paid for the stuff you use.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Even more invasive by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      Why? hmm? Don't use the products that use advertising. Otherwise deal with the way people get paid for the stuff you use.

      No, I'll just block all the ads instead.

      If people want me to pay them, they can charge me money. If they're offering a paid version that doesn't include any ads, doesn't track me, and doesn't phone home, I always it.

    3. Re:Even more invasive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hint: There is still a such thing as a dumb phone. While I find it convenient to browse the web using a smart phone, I also did many years without a smart phone. If they make it so ads are permanent on a smart phone, I will go back to the dumb phone.

      Plus, my current smart phone gives me IP addresses that are geolocated in another city, miles away from my actual location. Even if the proxy server IP remains the same, my session IP address changes every power cycle of the phone.

      Also, they don't have a way of cookie sync from one device to another--not without sync software that I don't have to run--so their plan already fails.

    4. Re:Even more invasive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you seriously that retarded to think that you can /not/ use products that use advertising?

    5. Re:Even more invasive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just installing a simple adblocker should be sufficient for such a simple idea like this.

    6. Re:Even more invasive by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Do you really need statistical methods? I mean, the vast majority of internet users use Google in some shape or form, and probably have a Google account.

      Android phones account for 3/4ths of all smartphones out there, and most will also be associated with a Google account, most likely the same account as their desktop PC.

      That would match a good chunk of people right there - Google's already got all that information to tie people together. Hell, Google probably knows which computers are public use by seeing how many different people login from it (made easier with IPv6 - a bit tricky with IPv4...).

      Hell, Facebook's in an even better position - login from their PCs, tablets and smartphones, thus linking them all together. And I'd be surprised if Twitter didn't have such similar information as well.

      The three of them together can probably positively identify who owns what devices. (I'd add Apple, but they're a minority player - an Apple ID can only identify a PC and tablet, and a minority of smartphones...).

  12. Too late by davidbrit2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Adblock already follows me from one device to the next.

    1. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      custom hosts files do to more devices than adblock http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42210887

    2. Re:Too late by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      Hosts files don't follow people around, pretty much by definition. That's the point of having it local to begin with.

    3. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hosts files are already there natively on a device with a bsd based ip stack ahead of the user even owning it

    4. Re:Too late by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      Yes, congratulations on your Network+ certification. Each client has its own hosts file, which would have to be updated individually, manually, which is why FSM gave us DNS instead and, in this case, subscription-based ad-blocking.

    5. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      AdBlock is going to be really, really detrimental to the internet, for two reasons:

      1) Sites that rely on advertising revenue won't be able to succeed any longer, and the web will switch from being overwhelmingly free to pay services.

      2) Ads will become much, much, much more intrusive and unskippable. Why do you think interstitials started to become more and more popular? Just wait, and you'll see far, far worse things popping up and becoming very prevalent.

      So screw you ad blockers, You're ruining it for everyone.

    6. Re:Too late by PlusFiveTroll · · Score: 1

      I don't think HOSTS did it, but LMHOSTS could be loaded from a server you can reach
      http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc751132.aspx

      In theory on a VPN it could follow you.

    7. Re:Too late by antdude · · Score: 1

      Which ones? Where's Adblock Plus for iOS? :P

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    8. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, except, nobody came to the internet thinking bandwidth was free. I pay for my bandwidth, you pay for yours, and stop acting like your blog/vlog, childish jokes and pirated shit is worth ad money.
      1) Sites that rely on advertising are complete bullshit and should be taken down ASAP. If you need advertising to keep your site alive you have failed as a webmaster.
      2) No, they won't. It's all running on my side and I have control here.
      Screw you non-ad-blocker. You are ruining it for everyone.
      Once we get all this bullshit Ad sites removed our internet will have reasonable latency all the time again. Every time I try to connect to a site these days, there are all these extra 3rd party connections open that do nothing but pollute my monitor with hi-rez punch the bullshit monkey buzzer all those connections increase the time it takes to load a page and increase the amount of bandwidth I used, but I did not request so basically I'm paying to see ads? No, I'm not. I block them.. The internet was made for research not advertising.

    9. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Adblock doesn't fully work anymore by default http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/2213233/adblock-plus-to-offer-acceptable-ads-option

    10. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Adblock doesn't fully work anymore by default http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/2213233/adblock-plus-to-offer-acceptable-ads-option

    11. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Adblock doesn't fully work anymore by default http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/2213233/adblock-plus-to-offer-acceptable-ads-option

    12. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So screw you ad blockers, You're ruining it for everyone. by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06, @11:22PM (#42212455)

      When ads infect me with malicious code it's ok, right? When they suck up my bandwidth I pay for out of pocket, that's ok too, right?? When processing them adds to my electricity bill on top of that above also's ok, right??? Wrong. People like ourselves do something about it is all. The strong sites will survive, those that aren't, won't.

    13. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The nice thing about open source is that when the author sells out, somebody can just make a fork. In the case of Adblock Plus (already a fork of Adblock), that fork is named Adblock Edge (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/adblock-edge/).

    14. Re:Too late by davidbrit2 · · Score: 1

      Ads will do that anyway, as they all have to compete with each other for your attention. By accelerating the process, we're just drawing attention to the awful tactics, rather than letting everybody slowly get accustomed to them over time.

    15. Re:Too late by davidbrit2 · · Score: 1

      Nowhere, unfortunately, but I do at least have some black hole zones configured on my home DNS server.

    16. Re:Too late by ciurana · · Score: 1

      Privoxy (http://privoxy.org) follows me wherever I go with ad blocking.

      * Set it on my gateway.
      * Require my own authenticated proxy for computer + mobile device, that in turn connects through Privoxy.

      I haven't seen an ad in like, forever. Not on iOS, not on any of my systems.

      Cheers!

      --
      http://eugeneciurana.com | http://ciurana.eu
    17. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which ones? Where's Adblock Plus for iOS? :P

      Here it is

      Enjoy.

    18. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nicer is custom hosts which you have already are easily populated and end-user controlled. This make it easy to update them (from multiple reputable and reliable sources for that data vs. trackers, spammers, phishers, maliciously coded sites, servers that serve up malware or script exploits, & more) http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42211211

  13. Data is never anonymous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Given enough quantity you can deduct all kinds of things.

  14. Already done for at least a year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've been to conferences where advertising companies were bragging about doing this already. One of the problems they were working on was the fact that this would, for example, match a tablet that's used by several people to one person's computer. But yeah, not new.

  15. We are? by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

    We're all familiar with ads that seem to follow you around as you go from one website to another.

    Ads? Do companies still use those silly things? Between Ghostery and Adblock Plus when I'm in Chrome at work on my Windows 7 box and Adblock Plus and a modified hosts file when I'm at home in Safari on my Mac, I haven't seen an ad in months, let alone one following me around.

    1. Re:We are? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      There is NO EXPECTATION or REQUIREMENT that a visitor to a site be served ads. There is no implied contract, even. Stop being such a capitalist already. NO IMPLIED CONTRACT. If a site cannot make it via some other method besides ads, they possess a poor business model.

      I've not seen an ad on my personal machines in several years thanks to adblock plus, hosts files, no cookes enabled, etc.

      I already pay to access the Internet via my ISP; I will not pay with my privacy. I and everyone else has the RIGHT to privacy and anaonymity if we so choose to exercise that route.

    2. Re:We are? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I haven't seen an ad in months, let alone one following me around.

      You can escape from the ads that follow you, but not from the ones you follow. Any Hollywoodian movie, for instance, is filled with ads. Some subtle, others obvious. Even some games have ads. And people pay to watch them.

    3. Re:We are? by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      If you are in marketing, it is you who is the leach. I pay for my internet access and dont want you riding on my bandwidth.

      I remember when most "sites" were bulletin boards and they were not that bad for the time. There were mostly free apart from the phone call, for which I still pay the equivalent today. There were plenty of them on many topics, without adverts, and they mostly kept relevant to the topic.

      I have several web sites which are free, have no adverts, and anyone is welcome to visit. I pay for the hosting which is actually quite cheap. Here is one. As it happens it is about Mrs Thatcher who also believed that nothing could or should exist unless it was commercialised.

      I have no objection to web sites which are meant as advertising, such as when I want a new camera I go to camera shop web sites to see what they have got. The internet will always exist for such sites.

    4. Re:We are? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly! People should never get used to ads any more than getting using to a man poking a finger in your ass.

    5. Re:We are? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Read this, tell me that again http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42215249

  16. WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously. What in the fuck makes these people think that I want any advertisements at all? I purposely go out of my way to not buy things in advertisements.

    I know what I need and what I want. Nobody needs to come along and try to convince me otherwise.

    1. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What in the fuck makes these people think that I want any advertisements at all?

      Because their actual customers pay them to think so? You didn't actually think you were the customer did you? Silly product.

  17. Arhhhhh! by UK+Boz · · Score: 1

    I really hope they dont follow me from my VM Porn browser!!!!

    --
    www.boznz.com Simple solutions to complex problems.
  18. soon? by geekoid · · Score: 1

    what do you mean, soon?
    most ads are tied to your username into whatever software you are using.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  19. Not new... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I've encountered this some 4 years ago already. One day, while at the office, I noticed an ad on my work laptop for something that I just recently had spent a few hours searching for on my home machine. Nice coincidence, I thought. But it wasn't. I noticed over the next few weeks that it was not just one ad. I was being targeted with stuff related to that earlier search. I think they linked the two devices because both regularly go onto the network via my home router.

    Since that event I've become really extreme as far as ads & cookies & ... are concerned. Nowadays I block & filter & rewrite so much that I'd never see such targeting anymore even if they still manage to link my devices to each other. I also "dropped" all Google stuff from my set of regular web tools.

    Before any typical juvenile /. reader jumps on this story: No, the stuff in question was not NSFW rated. If it would have been, I'd never have noticed as it would not have gotten the company filters. I was at the office when it happened, remember?

  20. Kill them with fire! by Dunge · · Score: 1

    Down with intrusive ads and behavior monitoring!

  21. AdBlock goes cross-platform by wiedzmin · · Score: 1

    In other news - AdBlock Plus announces support for other platforms.

    --
    Bow before me, for I am root.
    1. Re:AdBlock goes cross-platform by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hosts files are already cross platform if it uses a bsd based ip stack.

    2. Re:AdBlock goes cross-platform by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Adblock doesn't fully work anymore by default http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/2213233/adblock-plus-to-offer-acceptable-ads-option

  22. Back to the land by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK, maybe not all the way back; but some. I see this in terms of the "progress" of technology:

    1. Scientific theory or curiousity. 2. Expensive device that serves as a toy for the wealthy, or for military purposes. 3. Availability to the upper middle classes. 4. Perception that you "must have" the device to be upper middle class. 5. Down-market sales. 6. De factor realization of point (4), due to the social ubiquity of the device.7. Realization that the device or technology isn't all it's cracked up to be, and a subculture develops of those who find a way out of it. The "find a way to avoid it" subculture bares some resemblance to (2) or (3) in terms of demographics.

    We've seen this progression with the automobile. Point (7) is well in effect, with elites preferring urban centers after a long hiatus. I don't think it's too early to trash your phone to some degree. I know I'm pretty happy with my "dumb phone" and have no desire for a "smart" one. Smart phones, dumb people. They're doing everything they can to make smart phones the "car" of the 21st century. Fuck 'em. I'm not moving to digital suburbia and filling up a data guzzler.

  23. I have seen no ads on my devices for a decade. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    None. Zero. I have no TV or broadcast radio, since I'm not a backwards redneck from the 20th century. I have an ad blocker in my browser and e-mail client, and ditto for my phone.

    What ads are they speaking of? Slashvertisements? RADdit posts?

  24. Like fuck it will. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    WTF would I do without AdBlock and NoScript? Have to look at ads I guess.

    1. Re:Like fuck it will. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Adblock doesn't fully work anymore by default http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/2213233/adblock-plus-to-offer-acceptable-ads-option

    2. Re:Like fuck it will. by lister+king+of+smeg · · Score: 1

      You can tun that "feature" on and off with a simple check box in the plugins configuration dialog.

      --
      ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
    3. Re:Like fuck it will. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Feature"? Crippler is more like it. How many do? Not most.

  25. If I don't buy first time I see an add by kawabago · · Score: 2

    If I don't buy something first time I see an add, showing it to me again is just going to fail again. Repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting a different result is one of the hall marks of insanity!

    1. Re:If I don't buy first time I see an add by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      uhh no its not. It's all about the formation of brand familiarity. you've seen 500 X-gina brand feminine hygienic napkins commercials in the past year. though you dont care about the product. what if you're s.o. asks you to pick some up at the store and there are 5 brands all in the same price range. Most people will pick the one they've heard of.

      Do you think pepsi or coke are doing billions in advertising to "get the word out" because people haven't heard of their product before?

      -Diptheria

  26. I'm sure it does, already by DogDude · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm sure that advertises follows people across devices, already. Most people I know are either logged into Google or Apple at home, at work, and on all of their gadgets. Of course, they're already being tracked.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  27. Google account by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What's the first thing you do when you set up a new Android phone? Log in to your Google account.
    You probably search for things on Google using your Google account.
    If you use Chrome, you probably log in with your Google account.
    Who is the biggest Internet advertiser?

    It already doesn't matter what device you are using.

    1. Re:Google account by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first thing I do when I set up a new Android phone is create a new Google account. The current one is something like kjagsjjgag@gmail.com. I then never ever use gmail or anything Google with it. See? I truly hate ads and tracking so much that I refuse to use gmail or google maps. I do use google search though.

    2. Re:Google account by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And who's the least intrusive advertiser?

      I don't mind ad's as long as their not screaming/singing/dancing for my attention.

      Advertising is fine as long as it's not equivilant of some glitzy hooker asking telling you she'll love you long time.

    3. Re:Google account by TractorBarry · · Score: 1

      I don't even set up a Google account. I can live without all that crap thankyouverymuch - The only two "apps" I wanted I wrote and compiled myself, temporarily allowed my phone to load unsigned apks so I could install them and er.. that's it :)

      --
      Sky subscribers are morons. They pay to be advertised at !
    4. Re:Google account by knarf · · Score: 1

      Actually that is not what I do when I set up an Android phone. I skip the Google account creation, root the phone, disable the Google services and re-enable them on demand. That way I only get to tell Google about my activities with the phone when I'm using the 'play store' (horrible name, that). As soon as I'm done playing with the store I press the 'disable' button and 'poof', there goes my Google login. The only disadvantage to this is that I have to enter my account details whenever I want to use the 'play store'. Since that does not happen all to often I don't feel this is a serious problem.

      If you have a rooted Android phone (or if you have any Android phone but have not gotten around to rooting the thing yet) you might want to look into the possibilities of the 'pm' command. Use 'pm disable package_name' to disable packages, 'pm enable package_name' to re-enable them. This, by the way, is often called 'freezing' and 'thawing' packages since those terms are used by the 'Titanium Backup' program. It should be clear that there is no need for such programs if you have a little bit of command line/scripting savvy, Android is a (rather odd) Linux distribution after all...

      --
      --frank[at]unternet.org
    5. Re:Google account by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 1

      Clearly, you are not a typical Android user.

  28. No it wont. by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In fact I get no advertisements on any of my phones, tablets, TV or computers.

    you see, I'm one of those evil terrorists that blocks advertising. I block it in my devices, I record TV with MythTV that strips out Commercials.
    I am evil incarnate. Children go to sleep hungry because of my actions, and the enture economic collapse is my fault due to the adblocking.

    Want to know what is even more evil? I block telemarketing calls, and I dont read any spam. I am evil Incarnate and utterly proud of who I am.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:No it wont. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I block it in my devices, I record TV with MythTV that strips out Commercials.

      Does it also strip out product placements?

    2. Re:No it wont. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is a good way to block ads at the router level?

    3. Re:No it wont. by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      Run a real router.

      Pfsense router with a transparent proxy that hits squidguard with advertising filtering files.

      Note: iPhone will pull ad's from the cellular connection if it cant pull them from the Wifi Connection.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  29. Re:You might like this for your Windows rig then by lister+king+of+smeg · · Score: 1

    If you are going to that much effort why not run your own DNS sever? Bind9 is fairly light weight. Hell I run it on my Linux laptop without noticing much of anything in the way of a performance hit, and it will fallow you from device to device if you set your dns service provider to your home server.

    --
    ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
  30. Idiotic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Targeted advertizing is stupid. People who see the same damn ad twenty times a day are still never going to click on it more than once. They won't click at all if they already know about the subject matter and consequently aren't interested. This is why advertizing revenues are going down. They need to do the exact opposite: make sure you don't show the same ads repeatedly, and show people ads about things they aren't already experts on.

  31. If data is the new oil, hand helds are oil wells. by Volastic · · Score: 0

    www.Flurry.com sells analytical services to it's customers (ASTRO, Angry Birds, to name two), ie what AD's to show on YOUR hand held. Flurry.com does keep identifiable information. Reading the Flurry.com ToS nowhere does it mention it's Google. That Flurry.com was Google could only be found (by me) through http://www.robtex.com/ also a Google service :} http://top.robtex.com/flurry.com.html#records To block Flurry.com tracking, download ANDROID_ID from the google store, obtain your ID (16 digits long) and paste it here http://www.flurry.com/user-opt-out.html anytime you change ROMS you will need to reopt-out as your ID will of changed.

  32. Say It Ain't So! by Taigitsune · · Score: 1

    "...some experts aren't convinced that the data will be truly anonymous." By virtue of the fact that advertisers are trying to link mobile data to desktop/laptop data, I'd say it's pretty far from anonymous. Advertisers will do anything to waste our time with irrelevant data in the interest of making a few bucks. In other news, the sun will rise tomorrow.

  33. What advertising? by Galestar · · Score: 1

    Adblock+Ghostery+Downloading all my movies/tv. I don't get any advertising, let alone that which "follows" me.

    --
    AccountKiller
  34. NO! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it motherfucking will NOT follow me from one device to the next.

    fuck you pieces of shit who even thought of this. fuck you hard.

  35. Saves electricity, cpu cycles, RAM, I/O & more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Plus, what I do adds "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth", for less cost, since I supplement using hosts with filtering DNS servers!

    However - Filtering DNS servers that are external to MY home & power bill here.

    Thus, saving the electricity on doing it with a separate system especially (or just on cpu cycles, RAM, & other forms of I/O dns has if run as a service or daemon) + added complexity.

    That's in BOTH my IP stack settings for DNS, as well as in my router, for "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth"... My p.s. below has the list I use.

    What I do in my last posts' no trouble - happens for me "automagically", every 12 hours (or manually if I wish) - I designed it that way!

    I do both (and a lot more security-wise) as a "security-supplement"'s to one another, & that's also no trouble @ all either - Despite DNS' known issues with recursive setups issues - yes, it's a known issue...

    * So, & even if say, ICANN gets compromised & you pointed your DNS to it? I won't be @ least... how/why?

    Well, since where I spend a good 99% of my time online's "hardcoded" @ the VERY TOP of my hosts file as favorites!

    Thus - I resolve them, myself... & they are "reverse DNS" ping resolved (vs. the in-arpa "TLD" that keeps that information...) right when the hosts file's built...

    APK

    P.S.=> FILTERING EXTERNAL-TO-MY-HOME DNS SERVERS I UTILIZE IN COMBINATION WITH A CUSTOM HOSTS FILE (and a lot more, like NoScript in Mozilla based browsers etc./et al):

    ---

    Norton DNS:

    http://setup.nortondns.com/

    198.153.192.1
    198.153.194.1
    198.153.192.60
    198.153.194.60
    198.153.192.50
    198.153.194.50
    198.153.192.40
    198.153.194.40

    OpenDNS:

    http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/

    208.67.222.222
    208.67.220.220

    ScrubIT DNS:

    http://scrubit.com/

    67.138.54.100
    207.225.209.66

    Comodo Secure DNS:

    http://www.comodo.com/secure-dns/switch/windows_vista.html

    8.26.56.26
    8.20.247.2

    ---

    Again - I use those BOTH my IP stack settings for DNS, as well as in my router - for "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth"...

    ... apkb

  36. Hosts = easily update controlled easily by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DNS has recursion issues and wastes cpu cycles, ram, plus other kinds of I/O (more if setup as a separate system but still does if only operating as a service or daemon) as well as adding complexity. AdBlock doesn't block all ads anymore by default, and Ghostery tracks you by ghostrank by default.

  37. Preaches to the Choir by Roachie · · Score: 1

    In current implementations of the scheme many of the ads I see on webpages using this type of system are to products and services I have already purchased.

    A good example is when I log into my student account at my local university and I then get start getting inundated with ads about what a cutting-edge school it is.

    Not quite as clever as it seems.

    --
    This sig is not paradoxical or ironic.
    1. Re:Preaches to the Choir by Roachie · · Score: 1

      P.S.

      As a matter of fact one company that does this type of marketing is literally across the street from the aforementioned university ( you know who you are ).

      --
      This sig is not paradoxical or ironic.
  38. 2 things you ought to know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Adblock Plus To Offer 'Acceptable Ads' Option:

    http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/2213233/adblock-plus-to-offer-acceptable-ads-option

    ---

    and

    ---

    Evidon, which makes Ghostery, is an advertising company. They were originally named Better Advertising, Inc., but changed their name for obvious PR reasons.

    Despite the name change, let's be clear on one thing: their goal still is building better advertising, not protecting consumer privacy.

    Evidon bought Ghostery, an independent privacy tool that had a good reputation.

    They took a tool that was originally for watching the trackers online, something people saw as a legitimate privacy tool, and users were understandably concerned. The company said they were just using Ghostery for research.

    Turns out they had relationships with a bunch of ad companies and were compiling data from which sites you visited when you were using Ghostery, what trackers were on those sites, what ads they were, etc., and building a database to monetize.

    When confronted about it, they made their tracking opt-in and called it GhostRank, which is how it exists today.

    They took an open-source type tool, bought it, turned it from something that's actually protecting people from the ad industry, to something where the users are actually providing data to the advertisers to make it easier to track them.

    This is a fundamental conflict of interest.

    To sum up: Ghostery makes its money from selling supposedly de-indentified user data about sites visited and ads encountered to marketers and advertisers. You get less privacy, they get more money.

    That's an inverse relationship.

    Better Advertising/Evidon continually plays up the story that people should just download Ghostery to help them hide from advertisers. Their motivation to promote it, however, isn't for better privacy; it's because they hope that you'll opt in to GhostRank and send you a bunch of information.

    They named their company Better Advertising for a reason: their incentive is better advertising, not better privacy.

  39. Speak for yourself by nukenerd · · Score: 1

    From TFA : "We're all familiar with ads that seem to follow you around as you go from one website to another"

    Speak for yourself moon_unit2. I never notice the adverts

  40. Two privacy concerns by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There are two privacy concerns:

    1. The data the ad companies collect about your activities and preferences.
    2. What they disclose about your preference to anyone who can see what's on your display.

    When ads are served that match your preferences then it's unavoidable that those ads disclose your preferences. Perhaps you don't want your employer to wonder why so many gay bsdm related ads appear on your smartphone. Ad companies have no business displaying your preferences when you haven't chosen for them to be shown at that particular moment.

    I don't see how following you across devices will preserve your privacy. The ad companies will know more about you, obviously, so that reduces your privacy, and your ability to keep private behaviour private will be reduced if they are succesful, then those bsdm ads or whatever it is you're interested in privately will show up in situations where you don't want them to despite your efforts to keep different parts of your life separate. Again privacy is reduced.

  41. sancho clause is cumin on ur town (ICLEI is sancho by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    bitchez!

  42. Multiple evidences to the contrary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    Adbanner content? Well, it may also be hijacked with malicious code too mind you:

    THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

    Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

    Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

    Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

    Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

    DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

    Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

    Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

    Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

    Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

    Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

    Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

    Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

    NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

    http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

    MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

    http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

    ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-launching-clipboard-hijack-attacks

    London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

    http://www.securityweek.com/lo

    1. Re:Multiple evidences to the contrary by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Dude, use your account to post stuff like this; it's insightful as hell but sitting at -1 because you're AC.

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
  43. The truly cross-platform solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the device has a BSD-based IP stack (most all, if not all, do) - Then this is your cross-platform solution, "1 device to the next": Custom hosts files.

    IF you don't want to be:

    A.) Tracked
    B.) Spammed
    C.) Speed/bandwidth hogged by ads (as well as electricity, CPU cycles, RAM, & other forms of I/O as well)
    D.) Hit by malware or malicious scripts (for better "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth")
    E.) Hit by DNS poisoning redirection (OR DNS servers being "downed") losing reliability
    F.) Blocked out & have even more 'anonymity' (to an extent vs. DNS request logs) + being able to "blow by" what you may feel are unjust blocks (in DNSBL's)... ...& more?

    ---

    APK Hosts File Engine 5.0++ 32-bit & 64-bit:

    http://start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851:apk-hosts-file-engine-64bit-version&catid=26:64bit-security-software&Itemid=74

    ---

    Custom hosts files gain me the following benefits (A short summary of where custom hosts files can be extremely useful):

    ---

    1.) Blocking out malware/malscripted sites.
    2.) Blocking out Known sites-servers/hosts-domains that are known to serve up malware.
    3.) Blocking out Bogus DNS servers malware makers use.
    4.) Blocking out Botnet C&C servers.
    5.) Blocking out Bogus adbanners that are full of malicious script content.
    6.) Blocking out known spammers &/or phishers.
    7.) Blocking out TRACKERS.
    8.) Getting you back speed/bandwidth you paid for by blocking out adbanners + hardcoding in your favorite sites (faster than remote DNS server resolution).
    9.) Added reliability (vs. downed or misdirect/poisoned DNS servers).
    10.) Added "anonymity" (to an extent, vs. DNS request logs).
    11.) The ability to bypass DNSBL's (DNS block lists you may not agree with).
    12.) More screen "real estate" (since no more adbanners appear onscreen eating up CPU, Memory, & other forms of I/O too - bonus!).
    13.) Truly UNIVERSAL PROTECTION (since any OS, even on smartphones, usually has a BSD drived IP stack).
    14.) Faster & MORE EFFICIENT operation vs. browser plugins (which "layer on" ontop of Ring 3/RPL 3/usermode browsers & are generally written in slower INTERPRETED languages (e.g. AdBlock = python/perl/javascript)- Whereas by way of comparison, the hosts file operates @ the Ring 0/RPL 0/Kernelmode of operation (far faster) as a filter for the IP stack itself which is written in C & Assembly language...).
    15.) Custom hosts files work on ANY & ALL webbound apps (browser plugins do not).
    16.) Custom hosts files offer a better, faster, more efficient way, & safer way to surf the web & are COMPLETELY controlled by the end-user of them.

    ---

    * There you go... & above all else IF you choose to try it for the enumerated list of benefits I extolled above?

    Enjoy the program!

    (However, more importantly, enjoy the results in better speed/bandwidth, privacy, reliability, "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth", & even anonymity to an extent (vs. DNS request logs & blowing past DNSBL's) + more, that custom hosts files can yield...)

    Of course, THIS is NOT going to "go well" with 3 types of people out there online, profiting by advertising & nefarious exploits + more @ YOUR expense as the consumer:

    ---

    A.) Malware makers & the like (botnet masters, etc./et al)
    B.) ADVERTISERS - the TRULY offended ones, as it is their "lifeblood" in psychological attack galore, tracking, & more, etc.!
    C.) Webmasters (who profit by ad banners, but fail to realize that those SAME adbanners suck away the users' bandwidth/speed, electricity, CPU cycles, RAM, & other forms of I/O they PAY FOR, plus, adbanners DO get infested wi

  44. Justify the downmod on valid tech grounds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can't - you know it, I KNOW IT, & anyone reading does!

    No big deal: You can't justify the downmod on valid tech grounds.

    * So, I just posted it again, lol, defeating your unjustifiable downmoderations of the post I am replying to...

    (Yes, it's THAT simple... & more and more folks will see it, regardless of the bogus downmods applied to my post days later!)

    APK

    P.S.=> Going to do your "effete retaliation" & downmod this repost of this -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42232789 too?

    (Go for it - blow those modpoints: I'll just post it again, so you can blow some more)... lol!

    ... apk

  45. Why was this downmodded? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Evidences of adbanners being malware infested http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42216061

  46. Downmods to hide truth? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of adbanners being malscripted -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42216061

  47. Adbanners & MALSCRIPTED CODE evidences... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since "someone" (marketers) *tried* to "downmod" this earlier here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42215249 ?

    I'm just posting it again, since it is DOCUMENTED FACT(s):

    ---

    THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

    Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

    Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

    Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

    Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

    DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

    Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

    Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

    Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

    Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

    Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

    Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

    Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

    NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

    http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

    MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

    http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

    ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-

  48. BannerAds + malicious code in 'em (evidences) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You keep modding this down: Why? It's only documented fact(s):

    ---

    THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

    Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

    Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

    Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

    Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

    DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

    Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

    Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

    Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

    Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

    Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

    Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

    Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

    NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

    http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

    MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

    http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

    ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

    http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-launching-clipboard-hijack-attacks

    London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

    http://www.securityweek.com/london-stoc

  49. Better cross-platform tool vs. Ghostery/Adblock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Modding down my other posts on it can't hide it - So, IF you don't want to be:

    A.) Tracked
    B.) Spammed
    C.) Speed/bandwidth hogged by ads (as well as electricity, CPU cycles, RAM, & other forms of I/O as well)
    D.) Hit by malware or malicious scripts (for better "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth")
    E.) Hit by DNS poisoning redirection (OR DNS servers being "downed") losing reliability
    F.) Blocked out & have even more 'anonymity' (to an extent vs. DNS request logs) + being able to "blow by" what you may feel are unjust blocks (in DNSBL's)... ...& more?

    ---

    APK Hosts File Engine 5.0++ 32-bit & 64-bit:

    http://start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851:apk-hosts-file-engine-64bit-version&catid=26:64bit-security-software&Itemid=74

    ---

    Custom hosts files gain me the following benefits (A short summary of where custom hosts files can be extremely useful):

    ---

    1.) Blocking out malware/malscripted sites.
    2.) Blocking out Known sites-servers/hosts-domains that are known to serve up malware.
    3.) Blocking out Bogus DNS servers malware makers use.
    4.) Blocking out Botnet C&C servers.
    5.) Blocking out Bogus adbanners that are full of malicious script content.
    6.) Blocking out known spammers &/or phishers.
    7.) Blocking out TRACKERS.
    8.) Getting you back speed/bandwidth you paid for by blocking out adbanners + hardcoding in your favorite sites (faster than remote DNS server resolution).
    9.) Added reliability (vs. downed or misdirect/poisoned DNS servers).
    10.) Added "anonymity" (to an extent, vs. DNS request logs).
    11.) The ability to bypass DNSBL's (DNS block lists you may not agree with).
    12.) More screen "real estate" (since no more adbanners appear onscreen eating up CPU, Memory, & other forms of I/O too - bonus!).
    13.) Truly UNIVERSAL PROTECTION (since any OS, even on smartphones, usually has a BSD drived IP stack).
    14.) Faster & MORE EFFICIENT operation vs. browser plugins (which "layer on" ontop of Ring 3/RPL 3/usermode browsers & are generally written in slower INTERPRETED languages (e.g. AdBlock = python/perl/javascript)- Whereas by way of comparison, the hosts file operates @ the Ring 0/RPL 0/Kernelmode of operation (far faster) as a filter for the IP stack itself which is written in C & Assembly language...).
    15.) Custom hosts files work on ANY & ALL webbound apps (browser plugins do not).
    16.) Custom hosts files offer a better, faster, more efficient way, & safer way to surf the web & are COMPLETELY controlled by the end-user of them.

    ---

    * There you go... & above all else IF you choose to try it for the enumerated list of benefits I extolled above?

    Enjoy the program!

    (However, more importantly, enjoy the results in better speed/bandwidth, privacy, reliability, "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth", & even anonymity to an extent (vs. DNS request logs & blowing past DNSBL's) + more, that custom hosts files can yield...)

    Of course, THIS is NOT going to "go well" with 3 types of people out there online, profiting by advertising & nefarious exploits + more @ YOUR expense as the consumer:

    ---

    A.) Malware makers & the like (botnet masters, etc./et al)
    B.) ADVERTISERS - the TRULY offended ones, as it is their "lifeblood" in psychological attack galore, tracking, & more, etc.!
    C.) Webmasters (who profit by ad banners, but fail to realize that those SAME adbanners suck away the users' bandwidth/speed, electricity, CPU cycles, RAM, & other forms of I/O they PAY FOR, plus, adbanners DO get infested with malicious code, & if anyone wants many "examples thereof" from the past near-decade now? Ask!)

    ---

    APK