Google Ends Cryptocurrency Ad Ban For Certain Kinds of Ads (cnbc.com)

Earlier this year, Google updated its financial services-ad policies to ban any advertising about cryptocurrency-related content, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), wallets, and trading advice. Google appears to be reversing course with a new policy starting in October that will allow regulated cryptocurrency exchanges to buy ads in the U.S. and Japan. Advertising about ICOs, wallets and trading advice are reportedly still not allowed. CNBC reports: Google's updated policy applies to advertisers all over the world, though the ads can only run in the U.S. and Japan, and interested parties will need to apply for certification to serve ads in each country individually. Google's move follows Facebook, which started allowing pre-approved cryptocurrency advertisers in June. Google parent company Alphabet gets roughly 86 percent of its total revenue from advertising. The company booked more than $54 billion in ad revenue in the first half of 2018.

Comments

from the change-of-heart dept.

[rmdingler]

I'd like to enter a motion this front page story be reconsidered for placement in the it-was-only-a-matter-of-time dept.

Re:from the change-of-heart dept.

[Mathinker]

> it-was-only-a-matter-of-time dept.

Personally, I think it belongs in the dept. of it-is-only-a-matter-of-profits (or possibly it-is-only-a-matter-of-money, if you want to spin it with a double entendre).

google fucking sucks

[Anonymous Coward]

true geeks are too paranoid to fuck with data hungry megacorps although on slashdot some poser will probably go on about "muh linux" and "muh don't be evil" yeah well fuck you. google is trash.

Re:google fucking sucks

[Shikaku]

Google does suck in a lot of ways, not a lot of people are going to disagree with you. Even their open source projects are just vendor lock-in traps, you can't actually call a device "Android" and sell it without installing a number of apps including Google Play.

Cybermoney!

[Anonymous Coward]

It's the future of money!

Sports Betting

[Anonymous Coward]

Sports betting companies in Australia will close the account of any customer that is able to make a decent profit. You are only allowed to have an account if you are a loser. Apparently it is legal for them to do that. I imagine it's much the same everywhere. So why hasn't Goodle banned sports betting advertising? Rhetoric question I know the answer.

google has ads?

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought they only sold info on people.

54 billion?!

[glitch!]

More than two decades ago, I spent time in Radio Shack. The advertising expense to sales as seven percent. Assuming this is a valid number for retail, that implies that the Google advertisers got 770 billions of sales from their 54 billion in advertising expenses. Did these sellers really get almost a trillion dollars of sales from that expense?! Just wondering.

Re: 54 billion?!

[Anonymous Coward]

What was the company's profit margin? Most retail is around 3-4% profit. If 7% is spent on ads, does that mean Google makes more money on ads than the company makes on sales? Ridiculous.

Re:54 billion?!

[Zocalo]

Advertising RoI is a notoriously difficult things to pin down, no matter what the snake oil salespeople in ad-sales, SEO, and marketing would have you believe. For the right ad, that hits the right audience, at the right time, I have no doubt that you'd easily be able to exceed that 7% figure; the rest are far more subjective - there was a story doing the rounds recently that Google's ad-sales people know that statistically most ad-agencies - the middle-men between Google and the company trying to shift an actually product or service - will fail within a year, so just try and bleed them for as much as they can, while they last. Basically, it's an MLM model of blowing smoke and peddling snake oil all the way down, and with a failure rate like that the norm is probably indicative of an typical RoI that's better summed up as "don't bother".

There have also been several reports of quite high-profile companies that might be starting to realise that and have slashed their ad-budgets - especially for online spend - recently, usually accompanied by anecdotal evidence of near zero impact on retail turnover. YMMV though; there's a big difference between an established company/product - especially in cases of near monopolies or where the brand is synonymous with the product (Hoover vs. vacuum cleaner, for instance) and a new company trying to break into the market that currently has almost zero customer awareness they even exist, let alone why they might want to buy their products/services.

Re:54 billion?!

[rtb61]

That is a used to be figure, where due to the limited media market, you could go with saturation advertising. Flooding out all media channels and keeping your opposition out for a short time, to really pump up sales. But now, saturation is impossible, there is a veritable flood of advertising, whilst in total volume it is massive, any particular product or services, scream to buy me, are straight up drowned out by the flood.

Also as people become less used to ad, due to much ad free content being available, loud ads tend to cause offence and active product rejection. Like Youtube trying to force people to watch ads, oh yeah, that person forced to sit through the ad will consider the product, fuck no. I have never bought a forced Youtube ad product and never will, ohh yeah, I will remember those fuckers (sometimes it is better to be forgotten), have not been to Maccas for years, forced youtube ad really pissed me off at the time and just stopped going, plenty of others to choose from.

Want to kill your product with me, try to force me to watch a youtube ad, that'll do it every time.

Registered /.ers reviews #4/6

[Anonymous Coward]

I say the following as a caring human being who agrees with how useful HOSTS files are: Your zeal is to be respected - by dave420 (699308) on Monday September 08, 2014

But I love APK!The power of the hostfile compels you! by ratboy666 (104074) on Friday January 29, 2016

APK was right all along! C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS is the solution ;) - by sabri (584428) on Friday October 21, 2016

No complaints from me, I like APK's spam. Reminds me to use a host file. Also, his stuff is free. - by aaaaaaargh! (1150173) on Tuesday November 17, 2015

I'm a fan of apk. Yes he trolls, but he only trolls where it's contextually appropriate. I respect that - by Noah Haders (3621429) on Wednesday July 29, 2015

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliablity & anonymity online (along w/ 100,000++ others using hosts & this program)... apk

Registered /.ers reviews #5/6

[Anonymous Coward]

APK is kinda right... I've given up on JS based adblocking and gone to blackholing in /etc/hosts, just like it was back in the 90s. The computational load has gotten intolerable for any ad-blocking using JS. I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works. - by bmo (77928) on Thursday October 15, 2015

get around to 'installing' a hosts file list, not sure which one, likely the one from someonewhocares.org. If it works as well as what I used for a while about ten years ago, I'll be happy. And grateful to APK for the lesson and the reminder. - by kermidge (2221646) on Wednesday March 27

I actually went and downloaded a 16k line hosts file and started using that after seeing that post, you know just for trying it out. some sites load up faster. - by gl4ss (559668) on Thursday November 17

dammit MS, you proved APK right about something by lgw

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliablity & anonymity online (along w/ 100,000++ others using hosts + this program)... apk

Registered /.ers reviews #6/6

[Anonymous Coward]

the Host File Engine performs exactly as promised - by mmell (832646) on Thursday February 16, 2017

(APK) is still right a hosts file really does work. It even blocked a some of the video ads that were inserted into a stream OrangeTide February 10 2016

I do use APK's host file on all my systems at home by OrangeTide December 01 2017

I've never tried to belittle (APK's work), I've flat out said it's good - by BronsCon (927697) on Thursday February 11, 2016 @06:48PM (#51491263)

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliability & anonymity online (w/ all /.ers quoted & 100,000++ users of hosts + this program also!)... apk

Security pros QUOTED on hosts

[Anonymous Coward]

"classic Windows hosts trick to block the Coinhive or Crypto-Loot domains" - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/a-new-player-joins-coinhive-on-the-browser-cryptojacking-scene/ - BLEEPING COMPUTER

ZD NET http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-a-hosts-file-to-improve-your-internet-experience/ "Hosts files really shine by letting you block ads, spyware sites, malware sites, & tracking sites"

SANS ("A related approach to the DNS issue is to create a hosts file on each system that sends requests for spyware to some place else. Both Ramu and an anonymous reader have suggested this" hosts by myself & RAMU right @ START of "malware explosion" mid 2005 on) https://isc.sans.edu/forums/di...

Aryeh Goretsky/ESET/NOD32: hosts = good security http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=7442373&cid=49747129/

Oliver Day (SYMANTEC/SECURITYFOCUS) http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/491/

APK

P.S.=> See subject: For BOTH added SPEED & SECURITY... apk

Hosts efficacy recently (partial only) alone

[Anonymous Coward]

"It's working: Neville... it's working!" See subject & results from THIS past month alone https://it.slashdot.org/commen... & https://it.slashdot.org/commen... + https://it.slashdot.org/commen... + https://it.slashdot.org/commen... https://it.slashdot.org/commen... that's only recently while I've been on Linux (few months now only) & 100's of times vs. MANY other botnets/malwares etc. in the past circa 2006-early 2018 while I was on Windows: CONCRETE VISIBLE UNDENIABLE REALITY (see those links as proof).

P.S.=> ... & that's ONLY what /. reported on (there were FAR more)... apk

Even CHINA copied me (vs. DNS down/redirected)

[Anonymous Coward]

Who did it 1st: China or me? I did - dates are my proof http://theregister.co.uk/2017/... w/ the FACT China rampantly STEALS U.S. Intellectual properties & military secrets!

* IMITATION truly IS the SINCEREST FORM of FLATTERY!!!

(... & proves hosts work vs. DNS faults in tracking you via dns request logs (since you avoid it & resolve FASTER locally using hosts) + DNS being downed OR Kaminsky REDIRECT security flaw misdirected poisoned (or vs. DNSChanger)).

APK

P.S.=> Let me tell you ALL 1 thing: It's NOT EASY being "World-Class" like me (lol - 100,000++ users prove it for me) - enjoy the fruits of my labors for FREE + going FASTER/SAFER/MORE RELIABLY online (w/ a bit more anonymity too via my program!)... apk

APK just can't stop with the failure and lies

[Anonymous Coward]

Alexander Peter Kowalski just can't stop with the failure and lies
Like how he claims the Chinese copied him but can't produce any evidence.
How about when he states that hosts does port filtering but again can't backup his statement which was shown to be false.
There is also his list of "experts" who support him but it turns out they don't say what he is claiming.
This also ignores his out of context quotes he uses to lie by omission.
The problem with APK is that his entire reputation is built upon the lie he told years ago that hosts is an effective security solution. It has been exposed numerous times as being a lie and when exposed APK fails to argue logically and instead will try to deflect criticism, change the subject, move the goal posts, return to a previously disproved statement, demand you prove you did better than his file concatenator, or just call people names. Expect that he will used these tactics to try to deflect from these criticisms. He will continue to lie by stating that he won or "dusted" you while failing to refute anything you said, will never provide real evidence, and generally try to dodge the issue.

Face it APK is one of the most detested individuals here for good reason. When ever his poor behavior, awful logic, over statements, and horrendous writing are called out he has a fit and has done so for years across the internet. He is a spammer, and is an abusive insecure little man who is washed up and never amounted to anything. Until he produces actual verifiable facts supporting his case, which he can't, nothing he says should be taken seriously.

BAN ALL ADS... apk

[Anonymous Coward]

See subject: Via APK Hosts File Engine 2.0++ 64-bit for Linux/BSD h t t p : / / a p k . i t - m a t e . c o . u k / A P K H o s t s F i l e E n g i n e F o r L i n u x . z i p

Yields more security/speed/reliability/anonymity vs. any 1 solution (99% of threats use hostnames vs. IP address most firewalls use) more efficiently/FASTER + NATIVELY 4 less.

Vs. "Bolt on 'MoAr' illogic-logic" slowing you hosts speed u up 2 ways: Adblocks + Hardcode fav. sites u spend most time @ vs. competition loaded w/ security bugs (DNS/AntiVir) + overheads slowing u (messagepass 'souled-out' to advertisers easily detected & blocked addons + firewall filtering drivers) & their complexity leads to exploitation!

* ONLY 1 of its kind in GUI 4 Linux/BSD.

(Better vs. Windows model in speed/efficiency/merge)

APK

P.S.=> Protects vs. script trackers/ads/DNS request tracking + redirect poisoned or downed DNS/botnets/malware downloads/malcript/email malicious payloads... apk

Registered /.ers review of the Win64 model

[Anonymous Coward]

Your software is just fine - well written, functional... I'm going to continue using the Host File Engine by mmell February 17, 2017

Your premise that hostfiles are a good way to deal with advertising and malvertising is quite valid - by JazzLad April 20, 2016

his hosts program is actually pretty good by xenotransplant August 10 2015

his hosts tool is actually useful for those cases in which one does indeed want to locally block stuff outright while consuming minimum system resources by alexgieg September 25 2015

I like your host file system by Karmashock September 09 2015

that APK guy, I use his host file by rogoshen1 Tuesday March 03, 2015

I personally use a HOSTS file blocker produced from a genius called APK by 110010001000 October 27 2017

* Linux model = faster/more efficient...

APK

P.S.=> APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-1 32/64-bit for Windows https://www.google.com/search?...

Registered /.ers reviews #2/6

[Anonymous Coward]

Apk has the answer for that - really... kill automatic updates by adding a hosts file entry setting updates.steam.com or whatever to 127.0.0.1. You have to find the right hostname for each software you want to block updates on by raymorris (2726007) on Friday July 06, 2018

APK your posts on this and the hosts file posts, and more, have never been in error and/or bad advice by BlueStrat (756137) on Wednesday June 21, 2017

I support APK's stand on the hosts file and can't see why it's not used more than it is. My hosts file is 144247 lines long (4,332 Kb) it & a firewall serves me very well - by Trax3001BBS (2368736)

ABP is insufficient as a solid hosts file does everything APK reminds us about fast turtle September 17 2013

You need APK's hosts file - by Teun (17872) on Wednesday August 06, 2014

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliablity & anonymity online (along w/ 100,000++ using this program) ... apk

Registered /.ers reviews #3/6

[Anonymous Coward]

APK solution STILL relevant Thud457 June 11 2015

Actually, APK is totally right on this count. Adblock Plus on Firefox mobile is a dog on older, or lower end, phones. A hostfile based adblocker makes for a much better experience in this context. Of course, your phone has to be rooted, which isn't the case with Firefox + adblock." - by chihowa on Saturday May 16, 2015

In a footnote, I would like to note that I find your hosts file admirable - by vel-ex-tech (4337079) on Tuesday November 24, 2015

APK's monolithic hosts file is looking pretty good at the moment - by Culture20 on Thursday November 17

you're right about hosts files - by drinkypoo (153816) on Thursday May 26

APK, I know people give you a lot of shit regarding hosts, but please don't ever stop - by nasredin (958927) on Friday June 12, 2015 @03:34PM

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliablity & anonymity online (along w/ 100,000++ others using this) ... apk

Registered /.ers reviews #4/6

[Anonymous Coward]

I say the following as a caring human being who agrees with how useful HOSTS files are: Your zeal is to be respected - by dave420 (699308) on Monday September 08, 2014

But I love APK!The power of the hostfile compels you! by ratboy666 (104074) on Friday January 29, 2016

APK was right all along! C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS is the solution ;) - by sabri (584428) on Friday October 21, 2016

No complaints from me, I like APK's spam. Reminds me to use a host file. Also, his stuff is free. - by aaaaaaargh! (1150173) on Tuesday November 17, 2015

I'm a fan of apk. Yes he trolls, but he only trolls where it's contextually appropriate. I respect that - by Noah Haders (3621429) on Wednesday July 29, 2015

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliablity & anonymity online (along w/ 100,000++ others using hosts & this program) ... apk

Registered /.ers reviews #5/6

[Anonymous Coward]

APK is kinda right... I've given up on JS based adblocking and gone to blackholing in /etc/hosts, just like it was back in the 90s. The computational load has gotten intolerable for any ad-blocking using JS. I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works. - by bmo (77928) on Thursday October 15, 2015

get around to 'installing' a hosts file list, not sure which one, likely the one from someonewhocares.org. If it works as well as what I used for a while about ten years ago, I'll be happy. And grateful to APK for the lesson and the reminder. - by kermidge (2221646) on Wednesday March 27

I actually went and downloaded a 16k line hosts file and started using that after seeing that post, you know just for trying it out. some sites load up faster. - by gl4ss (559668) on Thursday November 17

dammit MS, you proved APK right about something by lgw

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliablity & anonymity online (along w/ 100,000++ others using hosts + this program) ... apk

Registered /.ers reviews #6/6

[Anonymous Coward]

the Host File Engine performs exactly as promised - by mmell (832646) on Thursday February 16, 2017

(APK) is still right a hosts file really does work. It even blocked a some of the video ads that were inserted into a stream OrangeTide February 10 2016

I do use APK's host file on all my systems at home by OrangeTide December 01 2017

I've never tried to belittle (APK's work), I've flat out said it's good - by BronsCon (927697) on Thursday February 11, 2016 @06:48PM (#51491263)

APK

P.S.=> Enjoy more speed/security/reliability & anonymity online (w/ all /.ers quoted & 100,000++ users of hosts + this program also) ... apk

Security pros QUOTED on hosts

[Anonymous Coward]

"classic Windows hosts trick to block the Coinhive or Crypto-Loot domains" - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/a-new-player-joins-coinhive-on-the-browser-cryptojacking-scene/ - BLEEPING COMPUTER

ZD NET http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-a-hosts-file-to-improve-your-internet-experience/ "Hosts files really shine by letting you block ads, spyware sites, malware sites, & tracking sites"

SANS ("A related approach to the DNS issue is to create a hosts file on each system that sends requests for spyware to some place else. Both Ramu and an anonymous reader have suggested this" hosts by myself & RAMU right @ START of "malware explosion" mid 2005 on) https://isc.sans.edu/forums/di...

Aryeh Goretsky/ESET/NOD32: hosts = good security http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=7442373&cid=49747129/

Oliver Day (SYMANTEC/SECURITYFOCUS) http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/491/

APK

P.S.=> See subject: For BOTH added SPEED & SECURITY... apk

Hosts efficacy recently (partial only) alone

[Anonymous Coward]

"It's working: Neville... it's working!" See subject & results from THIS past month alone https://it.slashdot.org/commen... & https://it.slashdot.org/commen... + https://it.slashdot.org/commen... + https://it.slashdot.org/commen... https://it.slashdot.org/commen... that's only recently while I've been on Linux (few months now only) & 100's of times vs. MANY other botnets/malwares etc. in the past circa 2006-early 2018 while I was on Windows: CONCRETE VISIBLE UNDENIABLE REALITY (see those links as proof).

P.S.=> ... & that's ONLY what /. reported on (there were FAR more) ... apk

Even CHINA copied me (vs. DNS down/redirected)

[Anonymous Coward]

Who did it 1st: China or me? I did - dates are my proof http://theregister.co.uk/2017/... w/ the FACT China rampantly STEALS U.S. Intellectual properties & military secrets!

* IMITATION truly IS the SINCEREST FORM of FLATTERY!!!

(... & proves hosts work vs. DNS faults in tracking you via dns request logs (since you avoid it & resolve FASTER locally using hosts) + DNS being downed OR Kaminsky REDIRECT security flaw misdirected poisoned (or vs. DNSChanger)).

APK

P.S.=> Let me tell you ALL 1 thing: It's NOT EASY being "World-Class" like me (lol - 100,000++ users prove it for me) - enjoy the fruits of my labors for FREE + going FASTER/SAFER/MORE RELIABLY online (w/ a bit more anonymity too via my program!) ... apk

Re:BAN ALL ADS... apk

[Anonymous Coward]

Why don't you go fist your own asshole instead of spamming that trash over and over again. It would be more productive.

Take your OWN advice, &? apk

[Anonymous Coward]

Take your OWN advice, & it sounds "too kinky" for me (but then, I'm normal - apparently you're not). You WISH you were this productive https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... since I've done it w/ relative ease to the benefit of society (be of service to others) - you, I wager (by comparison) can't... & you KNOW it.

* You WISH you were me (but instead you're reduced to STALKING me by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous "ne'er-do-well" trollings - that's useless (you can't STOP me)).... period.

APK

P.S.=> ... & you KNOW that too... apk

You WISH you were such a "failure" as me, lol

[Anonymous Coward]

See subject & 6 sets of registered /.ers good opinions of it who like & use it (w/ 100,000++ users worldwide) https://games.slashdot.org/com... https://games.slashdot.org/com... https://games.slashdot.org/com... https://games.slashdot.org/com... https://games.slashdot.org/com... https://games.slashdot.org/com...

  + RESULTS OF ITS EFFICACY FOR SECURITY recently (very partial list only vs. botnets & malware) https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... ... & of course SECURITY PROS opinions on hosts being effective for more SECURITY + SPEED too https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... PLUS
!

Even CHINA imitated PART of what my program does vs. DNS down or redirect poisoned & I did it 1st (only hosts program that does this part which also lets you RESOLVE FASTER from LOCAL system RAM + protects you vs. DNS requestlog tracking) https://tech.slashdot.org/comm...

APK

P.S.=> You WISH you were me (Benny & the JETS https://www.youtube.com/watch?... ) ... apk