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Bing Bans 'Computer Support' Ads From Its Network (mspoweruser.com)
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.
"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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
No - it's called experience..
...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...