Bing Bans 'Computer Support' Ads From Its Network (mspoweruser.com)

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Bing Bans 'Computer Support' Ads From Its Network (mspoweruser.com)

Posted by msmash on Friday May 13, 2016 @07:25AM from the making-web-safer dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft has changed the terms of service for its Bing Ad network to disallow ads which offer computer support service. Its Bing Ads User Safety Policy now reads: Bing Ads disallows the promotion of third party online technical support services to consumers because of serious quality issues that can impact end user safety. These ads mislead users, tricking them to believe that their PC is infected. This is clearly a move to block scammers from making victims of Bing users, but any and all third party tech support ads will be blocked, including, perhaps legitimate ones.

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Easier way by Groo+Wanderer · 2016-05-13 07:27 · Score: 2, Funny

Wouldn't it just be easier to ban Windows users from Bing? Solves several problems at once. :)
1. Re:Easier way by SmaryJerry · 2016-05-13 07:32 · Score: 1, Troll
  
  Or computer users from windows?
2. Re:Easier way by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:33 · Score: 0
  
  Wouldn't it just be easier to ban Windows users from Bing? Solves several problems at once. :)
  No one would be tricked by any ads at all on Bing ever again, since no one would be using it.
3. Re: Easier way by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:47 · Score: 0
  
  Every Windows computer is infested with malware - by definition.
4. Re:Easier way by WarJolt · 2016-05-13 07:50 · Score: 0, Troll
  
  My mother called Microsoft and they tried to sell her a support. She got me on a conference call with him after she had already been on the call for quite a while. I actually listened to him until I realized he was blatantly lying to her to sell her some bogus overpriced piece of shit support plan that would have never actually solved her problem. Microsoft doesn't want their ad business to hurt their shitty support business.
5. Re:Easier way by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:54 · Score: 0
  
  Why just Windows users? Bing has the power to change their IP, and not let the DNS servers know, solving all Bing-related issues.
6. Re: Easier way by Opportunist · 2016-05-13 07:57 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  2 years ago it was a joke.
  Today it has become quite real. I mean, what is the definition of a malware infected computer? A computer that doesn't exclusively do what you want but is ultimately under the control of a third party whose motives you don't know but have to assume are against your interests...
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
7. Re:Easier way by JoeCommodore · 2016-05-13 11:51 · Score: 2
  
  No worries - I get calls at home from the nice guys at Windows Support all the time, whats the point of having them on Bing?
  
  --
  "Enjoy what you're doing! If it becomes drudgery, you're doing it wrong!" - Jim Butterfield
8. Re: Easier way by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-05-13 12:10 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  ...and it's software that collects all sorts of data on you and from you and sends it back to who knows where. You apparently cannot stop it and it can "upgrade" or alter itself at will without your permission (and sometimes explicitly against your permission).
  Windows fully meets the definition of malware. Not a joke.
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
9. Re: Easier way by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-15 15:21 · Score: 0
  
  Is your phone running out of RAM? Remove that virus or your battery will be damaged!
  (LOL good reason to block ads?)
monopoly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:28 · Score: 0

This reeks of anti-competitive behavior.
MS sells support, so they don't want third party support services thriving.
I'm all for blocking the scams, but how rampant is that, really?
1. Re:monopoly by bondsbw · 2016-05-13 07:40 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'm all for blocking the scams, but how rampant is that, really?
  Is this your first day on the Internet?
  
  --
  All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
2. Re:monopoly by Opportunist · 2016-05-13 07:58 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  It's kinda interesting. Even when MS is doing something that looks user-oriented and customer-friendly on the outside one can't help but wonder how they're trying to screw someone.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
3. Re:monopoly by Tablizer · 2016-05-13 08:02 · Score: 1
  
  If an ad says nothing about the current condition of the reader's computer, I see no legitimate reason to block it.
  MS risks getting into anti-trust legal problems again for blocking other IT co's. Perhaps they are willing to take that gamble in court now that they could argue mobile OS's are encroaching on Windows sales.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
4. Re:monopoly by Minupla · 2016-05-13 08:06 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Nah, just someone who uses adblockers.
  I'm always aghast when I look at the internet on a non-adblocked computer. The impact of having adblockers and tools like privacy badger is easy to forget until you don't have them.
  
  --
  On the whole, I find that I prefer Slashdot posts to twitter ones because I don't get limited to 140 chars before
5. Re:monopoly by Holi · 2016-05-13 08:14 · Score: 1
  
  Extremely, and I bet there really aren't any legitimate support services using these types of ads.
  
  --
  Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
6. Re:monopoly by L4m3rthanyou · 2016-05-13 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  It's hard to say without knowing what the specific limits are.
  Would an advertisement for an anti-malware product run afoul of this new policy, given that the ad is straightforward and not waving an alarmist "Your PC is infected" message at the user? technically that's not an ad for support, per se, but an actual software product.
  I can also understand the existence of "legitimate" third party tech support services, but I'm not sure how many use cases there are for such a service to be advertising itself via a search engine. That really seems like it'd be mostly scam/trojan territory.
  If Microsoft isn't overzealous about the rule, it's possible that any disruption of legitimate business would be minimal. However, I'd not be surprised if some fake AV peddler tried to take MS to court over it.
  
  --
  One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces.
7. Re: monopoly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 08:29 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Are you just conviently ignoring the fact that 99% of those tech support ads online are scammers?
  It's so bad there are dozens of YouTube channels dedicated to wasting the scammer's time.
  These scammers will say anything is a virus or hackers. Like they will tell people to run netstat and say these connections are all hackers. Or they will have them open msconfig and say "see, not all your services are running...you need to pay us $500."
  Then if you do pay, they delete everything or run syskey and try to make you pay for the password.
  In short they are being blocked because they are not legit.
  Also, let's not forget that bing is private property of Microsoft. It's literally their way or the highway.
8. Re:monopoly by omnichad · 2016-05-13 08:41 · Score: 1
  
  I'm not sure how many use cases there are for such a service to be advertising itself via a search engine.
  Some dumb user types a complete sentence into Bing - "Somebody please fix my computer."
  A legitimate computer shop could advertise on the keywords "fix my computer" and display an add, where their organic search placement might be low for those terms.
9. Re:monopoly by neoritter · 2016-05-13 08:59 · Score: 0
  
  That's called bias and probably some form of neurosis.
10. Re:monopoly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:00 · Score: 0
  
  Judging by your luser id, this could well be your last.
11. Re:monopoly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:12 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  No - it's called experience..
12. Re: monopoly by Tablizer · 2016-05-13 10:27 · Score: 1
  
  ignoring the fact that 99% of those tech support ads online are scammers?
  So is MS. They are just a bit more gradual in their screwification.
  
  let's not forget that bing is private property of Microsoft. It's literally their way or the highway.
  But a lot of their Bing traffic is due to their near-monopoly on x86 desktops & laptops. It has potential anti-trust (anti-competitive) implications.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
13. Re:monopoly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 10:45 · Score: 0
  
  To be fair, experience with Microsoft probably is some form of neurosis. My experiences with Microsoft often cause me to need psychological treatment afterwards.
14. Re: monopoly by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 11:01 · Score: 0
  
  Troll or delusional / funny? Can't quite figure out what to mod this.
15. Re:monopoly by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-05-13 12:12 · Score: 1
  
  I'm all for blocking the scams, but how rampant is that, really?
  Seriously, it's rampant. I get calls every week and so do a lot of people I know.
  Count yourself as lucky if you haven't gotten on their list yet.
  They have fully-staffed, pro-level call centers that work 24/7 calling people. I know a lot of legit businesses that don't have that level of "support".
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
In Microsoft's support . . . by mmell · 2016-05-13 07:35 · Score: 0

Remember that Bing is a decision engine, not a search engine. Microsoft apparently doesn't want Windows users deciding to use anybody but them to support their OS.
1. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by The-Ixian · 2016-05-13 07:40 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  "Computer support" scams are so common these days. I am glad that someone is doing something about curbing them.
  They pretty on the computer illiterate and at best part you from your money for no reason. At worst they install whatever the hell they want while they are providing remote "support".
  It's nice to see a company say no to revenue in order to help their users.
  
  --
  My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
2. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by omnichad · 2016-05-13 07:45 · Score: 1
  
  But banning ALL ads? Even for legitimate services? Like say if you're already infected by a scammer and you need help. This is a lazy measure with a real impact on legitimate businesses.
3. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by mysidia · 2016-05-13 07:58 · Score: 0
  
  "Computer support" scams are so common these days. I am glad that someone is doing something about curbing them.
  There was a 5-car pileup on the highway yesterday, THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY ALL THE CARS and legally ban them!!!
  Someone picked up a candy bar at the store the other day, but it had nuts in it, and they're allergic to nuts, and they died, because a "CONTAINS NUTS" warning was simply not enough, and they simply ate them anyways, THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY ALL THE CANDYBARS AND BAN THEM FROM BEING SOLD OR ADVERTISED, JUST LIKE CARS AND recreational drugs.
  Saving lives is much more important than saving peoples' computers.
4. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Rhipf · 2016-05-13 07:58 · Score: 2
  
  Its my understanding that it is just the ads they aren't allowing. If you specifically search for a computer repair service I'm sure you will still get hits.
5. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by jeffmflanagan · 2016-05-13 08:02 · Score: 1
  
  Scammers don't actually infect you, other than possibly with panic. Having an ad play that says your system is compromised, so you need to call this number, does not actually compromise your system.
6. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by omnichad · 2016-05-13 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  But if you offer a service and wanted to increase your exposure, you still can't buy placement.
7. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by omnichad · 2016-05-13 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  Scammers don't actually infect you
  I've seen persistent adware trying to get you to call their #. Very likely could have come from clicking a sacammer ad.
  There's also the tricks for making a persistent browser tab that a typical user doesn't know how to get rid of, even after restarting their computer.
8. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 08:24 · Score: 0
  
  But banning ALL ads? Even for legitimate services? Like say if you're already infected by a scammer and you need help. This is a lazy measure with a real impact on legitimate businesses.
  No, they are not banning all ads. What their policy says is:
  "Advertisers must not claim to provide a service that can only be provided by the actual owner of the products or service advertised,"
9. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by SeaFox · 2016-05-13 08:32 · Score: 1
  
  Microsoft apparently doesn't want Windows users deciding to use anybody but them to support their OS.
  Microsoft does not provide support their OS for the majority of people using that. That's the OEM's job.
10. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by omnichad · 2016-05-13 08:36 · Score: 1
  
  You're quoting the general policy, not the new policy:
  
  Bing Ads disallows the promotion of third party online technical support services to consumers
11. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 08:58 · Score: 0
  
  Good. I'd prefer the good tech support companies to rise from people linking to them, etc, whatever MS's algorithm uses, instead of some random Joe Tech-Monkey's Mosquitania Tech Support buying an ad to say how badly my computer is infected with Windows banana viruses.
12. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:32 · Score: 0
  
  Furthermore... when has ANY computer driven ad ever worked for a legitimate purpose other than installing shillware or causing harm?
13. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by SirSlud · 2016-05-13 09:33 · Score: 1
  
  How about we just take away *your* recreational drugs.
  
  --
  "Old man yells at systemd"
14. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Tablizer · 2016-05-13 10:35 · Score: 1
  
  Remember that Bing is a decision engine, not a search engine
  Their product naming and slogans are so PHB, it's pitiful. "Power Point", "Excel", "Outlook", and applications are "solutions" in Visual Studio. I bet a product named "Microsoft Synergy" is on its way.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
15. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2016-05-13 10:36 · Score: 1
  
  Chrome cleared up the unclosable browser tab a few years back, with the failsafe check box to prevent the tab from opening any more windows.
  A few weeks back someone found a way around that. I haven't stumbled across it again.
  
  --
  (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
16. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Fear+the+Clam · 2016-05-13 10:47 · Score: 1
  
  At worst they install whatever the hell they want while they are providing remote "support".
  Seriously, who the hell do these Sun Microsystems people think they are, anyway.
17. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by amicusNYCL · 2016-05-13 10:50 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, and if your doctor sends you an email that your prescription for Viagra is ready to be picked up, you probably aren't going to get that either. I'm OK with that.
  
  --
  "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
18. Re: In Microsoft's support . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 11:10 · Score: 0
  
  I love all your comments and dont want to risk missing any. What time does study hall end today?
19. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by phantomfive · 2016-05-13 11:36 · Score: 1
  
  PHB is Microsoft's primary target, it's who they sell to: not the fortune 500, but the smaller businesses. The consumer PC was just a lucky thing that happened to them on the side.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
20. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by wbr1 · 2016-05-13 11:53 · Score: 1
  
  At worst they indulge in credit card fraud or delete your files. I've seen both.
  
  --
  Silence is a state of mime.
21. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-05-13 12:15 · Score: 1
  
  Scammers don't actually infect you, other than possibly with panic.
  
  Ummm, yeah, they do. They either get you to go to a site that infects you or they con you into loading a "Remote Service" app that lets them infect you.
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
22. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Tablizer · 2016-05-13 14:43 · Score: 1
  
  There's a rant somewhere on The Register about MS trying to shift to Enterprise and throwing small customers under the bus in the process. Bigger PHB's with bigger wallets.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
23. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by omnichad · 2016-05-13 15:43 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah...but IE and Firefox both still have it. I see it more on IE than anything else.
24. Re:In Microsoft's support . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 16:26 · Score: 0
  
  Not all ads, just those for "Online" support. The best thing to do for someone who's already infected is to haul down to their local computer shop and have someone they trust take a look at it, and this shouldn't inhibit their ability to advertise those services.
HELLO SIR! THIS IS MICROSOFT ON YOUR PHONE. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:36 · Score: 0

Your personal computer has wirus! Please provide me with your logins so I may inwestigate.
Make the OS seem better than it is also. by Agent0013 · 2016-05-13 07:38 · Score: 1, Interesting

This will also help to hide how much support is needed for their OS and make it seem better than it is.

--

-- ssoorrrryy,, dduupplleexx sswwiittcchh oonn.. -Quote found on actual fortune cookie.
1. Re:Make the OS seem better than it is also. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:56 · Score: 0
  
  Please, if there was any money in it, they'd be advertising to scam Mac and Linux users too.
  But you see, IBM has that market all sewed up.
This really isn't thaaaaat bad of a thing. by blueshift_1 · 2016-05-13 07:46 · Score: 1

I will say for non-savvy users, many of these adds are pretty convincing in the way they masquerade as installed software notifications. Many average users just don't realize it's a browser window running some bogus add. Though it would be nice if malware detection could do a complete scan in 5 seconds.
1. Re:This really isn't thaaaaat bad of a thing. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 08:08 · Score: 0
  
  I will say for non-savvy users, many of these adds are pretty convincing in the way they masquerade as installed software notifications. Many average users just don't realize it's a browser window running some bogus add.
  
  let's just disconnect the internet entirely, it's really the only way to stop these things
mobile by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 07:47 · Score: 0

please do this for mobile too
Blocking legitimate businesses by mysidia · 2016-05-13 07:52 · Score: 0

but any and all third party tech support ads will be blocked, including, perhaps legitimate ones.
I hope they sue Microsofts' asses off for restraint of trade and tortious interference with business relationships.
I understand setting "standards" on what can be contained in an Ad, and taking measures to squelch deceptive or misleading advertising that could be a safety issue; However, banning an entire legitimate industry from doing business is anticompetitive, and a ridiculous abuse of their Search-Engine Duopoly status.
Commercial legal 3rd party support providers, IT contractors, managed service companies, and enterprise aftermarket support providers SHOULD be able to advertise their business, providing they are honest about their services, based in the country of the users they advertise to, are insured, and meet some basic standards.
It LOOKS LIKE Self-Dealing for Microsoft to block these, because (1) Microsoft sells support, AND (2) Microsoft sells a competitive alternative called Office365, to running your own IT infrastructure and hiring a remote support provider or managed service provider to assist.
1. Re:Blocking legitimate businesses by mrchaotica · 2016-05-13 08:06 · Score: 1
  
  LOL, as if "legitimate computer support businesses" were a thing that actually existed. Shysters and con-artists, the lot of them!
  
  --
  "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
2. Re:Blocking legitimate businesses by pr0fessor · 2016-05-13 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know about you but the number of ads I have seen for legitimate 3rd party support or anti-virus for that matter is very tiny compared to the crap ware masquerading as those services.
3. Re:Blocking legitimate businesses by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:34 · Score: 0
  
  Ad = scam
  search result...not so much
4. Re:Blocking legitimate businesses by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 10:08 · Score: 0
  
  The key word in Bing's new policy is "remote." Your local computer shop with a physical presence or Geek Squad is okay. Consumers can always seek redress in person by driving over to the store and speaking with a manager. What they are trying to shut down is support provided from a call center in the third world. These are the same people that cold call you and claim that they have magically detected virus on your computer and that you need to provide a credit card number to get it cleaned up.
5. Re:Blocking legitimate businesses by Just+Some+Guy · 2016-05-13 10:33 · Score: 1
  
  I hope they sue Microsofts' asses off for restraint of trade and tortious interference with business relationships.
  I, too, learned some big words this week. I didn't feel compelled to strut them about incorrectly in public, though.
  Back in the real world Microsoft isn't required to do business with anyone they don't want to, barring a short list of explicitly banned reasons for doing so. They certainly aren't a duopoly as they still have less than 5% of the search market.
  Are you also against Google dropping ads from payday loans? Or was it from comments on that story that you learned words like "tortious interference", and now you're trotting them out over here to sound clever and contrarian?
  
  --
  Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
Your idiotic comment. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 08:01 · Score: 0

Of course "politically correct" is just the Conservative term for not being an asshole. It's hard these days for people who think being an asshole is an essential part of their being, so they rant about "political correctness."

The ignorant Conservatives became reactionary dead-enders as soon as they circled their wagons around ignorance, superstition, and bigotry, instead of growing the hell up like the rest of us managed to do. Being a decent person didn't have to be political, but the Republicans decided to fight against decency, so here we are.
1. Re:Your idiotic comment. by Captain+Splendid · 2016-05-13 08:08 · Score: 3
  
  It's hard these days for people who think being an asshole is an essential part of their being
  
  Incorrect. In the US, our right to be an asshole is protected by the Constitution. Unlike other countries, we don't need some cobbled together justification to be dicks to other people, we embedded it into our cultural DNA. That's true freedom.
  
  --
  Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
2. Re:Your idiotic comment. by vandamme · 2016-05-14 05:56 · Score: 1
  
  In fact, the USA is such a great country that an asshole can grow up to be President.
WARNING!!! by Comboman · 2016-05-13 08:09 · Score: 1

Windows had detected a dangerous virus on your computer. Click here to remove.

--
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
Microsoft doesn't like competition by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 08:15 · Score: 0

If the seven figures a year we spend on useless support is any indication of what is typical, they're making most of their money from support. Well, from support contracts, not actually from providing any support.
Microsoft Help Is All You Need. by zenlessyank · 2016-05-13 08:17 · Score: 1

It is right on the Start Menu. It has the full documentation of all Windows features and settings and a fully searchable database of all the error codes and easter eggs. Well that SOUNDED good, didn't it???!!!!
selective content presentation by BenVis · 2016-05-13 08:41 · Score: 1

Weird. Yesterday there was a story about Google pulling ads for payday loan operations and today, this. The comments about the Google story ended up being mostly about the relative merits of the payday loan industry with a few about how this was Google suppressing its competition, although I don't know of any Google or Alphabet (I guess?) forays into consumer finance. The arguments that this is Microsoft protecting its business interests are more compelling here, because MS sells software and support services.
I wonder if this isn't all part of a larger game. Facebook is facing heat for using editorial discretion to alter what content it showed to its users. Suddenly Google and Microsoft announce initiatives to do (in some ways) the same thing. Effectively, the company is showing you stuff that you might reasonably believe to be selected by an agenda-free algorithm, but in fact the companies are modifying the results to align with some (not necessarily public) agenda. Are these new ad-suppression campaigns actually maneuvering to support the right of content/information providers to select the information that they show their users?

--
"Preceded by itself yields falsehood" preceded by itself yields falsehood.
Re:Dickriding google by justthinkit · 2016-05-13 08:41 · Score: 2

every time Google farts the entire internet takes one big inhale to smell the methane burst

Except that methane is odorless.

There are several chemicals that contribute to the smell of farts:
- skatole (by-product of meat digestion)
- indole (by-product of meat digestion)
- methanethiol (a sulfur compound)
- dimethyl sulfide (a sulfur compound)
- hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor, flammable)
- volatile amines
- short chain fatty acids
- feces (if present in the rectum)
- bacteria
Source

--
I come here for the love
Re:Dickriding google by omnichad · 2016-05-13 08:45 · Score: 1

To be fair, they said "methane burst" and not simply "methane", which could be defined to include your list.
When I call the gas company up, I say I smell gas. I don't say "I smell leak-detection odorant."
Censorship by Dcnjoe60 · 2016-05-13 08:56 · Score: 0

Isn't this just censorship? Banning ads that are misleading or otherwise harmful would be fine. Banning all ads for any company in a certain industry seems a bit draconian, particulary when M$oft sells services in those same fields.
Maybe a better solution would be to fix Windows, so somebody doesn't compromise their machine by inadvertantly clicking on a link that could do harm. We are on the verge of having cars smart enough to drive themselves. Surely AI has come far enough to determine that what you are trying to do may hurt your computer.
1. Re:Censorship by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:10 · Score: 0
  
  Maybe a better solution would be to fix Windows, so somebody doesn't compromise their machine by inadvertantly clicking on a link that could do harm
  Except Microsoft can't stop the biggest vulnerability. The human being who will whip out their credit card.
  
  Surely AI has come far enough to determine that what you are trying to do may hurt your computer.
  That's the same old story, how much security do you want when it comes to your own conveniences?
  I've had more people complain to me about having to enter a password to use THEIR PC than I can count.
2. Re:Censorship by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:38 · Score: 0
  
  What legitimate business will regularly pop up *ads* on your computer telling you that you are infected?
  ADS is the important point here.
  I don't think even Symantech will try anything this shady and they suck balls.
3. Re:Censorship by wierd_w · 2016-05-13 09:43 · Score: 2
  
  There are effective levels of compromise that can be done here.
  For starters, A power-users set of options may be turned on, after viewing a scare page.
  Something along the lines of:
  "If you are reaching this site at the direction of a technical support rep claiming to work for Microsoft, Close this window now and hang up. Microsoft support will NEVER tell you to change ANY options in this control pannel. By setting the options in this control pannel, you acknowledge that you are taking personal responsibility for the health and reliability of your system, and release Microsoft from any and all waranty coverage, without exception, agree that you are no longer entitled to any support of any kind from Microsoft, and agree to not hold Microsoft liable for any damages or loss of revinue involving this system. If you agree with these conditions, click OK below. If not, close this window now."
  Then have all the deep-system options a hardcore power user could want inside. To prevent these options being set programmatically behind people's backs by malware, it needs to have crytpographic exchange involving the user's input to enable, or some similar blockade to stop malware turning it on silently.
  For the people that really want to manage their device themselves, such an option should be available IMO.
4. Re:Censorship by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 11:39 · Score: 0
  
  Oh great, that'll work.
  Not. It's basically a way for people to bitch even more that Microsoft is abandoning responsibility, even if what you suggest is already in effect.
Victims of Bing users by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 09:12 · Score: 0

Aren't Bing users already victims?
Wrong focus... by friesofdoom · 2016-05-13 09:37 · Score: 1

If the adds on your add network are able to trick users into believing that the popup is not an add, then the problem does not lie with "computer support" adds, the problem lies with the capability/permissions that those adds have on the user's system. If the adds can do this shit, why does MS think the problems are limited only to "computer support" adds?
1. Re: Wrong focus... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-13 11:21 · Score: 0
  
  1- they are ads. Like advertisements. Not math operations.
  2- sounds like your beef is that people are free to author HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to do whatever it is they want. Would you prefer all text document editors refuse to write these strings, or would you prefer all web rendering engines only display content according to your requirements? Let me know so we can go get started.
Also-ran by pla · 2016-05-13 11:00 · Score: 1

"Look, we're relevant too! Google banned something abusive, and we did too! And anyway, no one using Windows will ever need tech support (and no one else uses Bing), so who needs those silly ads anyway?"
One scam per customer by mjm1231 · 2016-05-13 13:32 · Score: 1

If someone is using Bing for search, they've already been scammed once.

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Ideology: A tool used primarily to avoid the bother of thinking.
Hosts block all ads the most efficient way by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-14 03:23 · Score: 0

Via what your IP stack has natively APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-4 32/64-bit http://www.bing.com/search?q=%...
Less power/cpu/ram + IO use vs. DNS/routers/antivirus + less security issues/complexity. Compliments firewalls (w/ layered drivers blocking less used IP addys vs. hosts blocking more used domains) & DNS (lighten dns load). Gets data via 10 security sites.
Ads rob bandwidth/speed paid for, security (adnetworks abuse), privacy in tracking + anonymity.
Hosts add speed (hardcodes/adblocks), security (bad sites/poisoned dns), reliability (dns down), & anonymity (dns requestlogs/trackers). Hosts != blockable by ClarityRay (like. souled-out to admen inferior wasteful redundant slower usermode browser addons)
Works vs. caps & HTTP PUSH ads w/ firewalls.
Avg. webpage = big as Doom http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
APK
P.S. - Safe https://www.virustotal.com/en/... (Verified by Malwarebytes' S. Burn "I've seen the code & yes it is safe" http://forum.hosts-file.net/vi... )