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US iOS Users Targeted by Massive Malvertising Campaign (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the watch-out dept.

A cyber-criminal group known as ScamClub has hijacked over 300 million browser sessions over 48 hours to redirect users to adult and gift card scams, a cyber-security firm revealed this week. From a report: The traffic hijacking has taken place via a tactic known as malvertising, which consists of placing malicious code inside online ads. In this particular case, the code used by the ScamClub group hijacked a user's browsing session from a legitimate site, where the ad was showing, and redirected victims through a long chain of temporary websites, a redirection chain that eventually ended up on a website pushing an adult-themed site or a gift card scam.

These types of malvertising campaigns have been going on for years, but this particular campaign stood out due to its massive scale, experts from cyber-security firm Confiant told ZDNet today. "On November 12 we've seen a huge spike in our telemetry," Jerome Dang, Confiant co-founder and CTO, told ZDNet in an email. Dangu says his company worked to investigate the huge malvertising spike and discovered ScamClub activity going back to August this year.

61 comments

  1. This is not anything new... by ctilsie242 · · Score: 3, Informative

    It is not uncommon, if you don't have an ad blocker in place on iOS, especially if you use FB's browser, to wind up being dumped to a site offering free iPhones or gift cards. So much so, that an ad blocker is a must for browsing on iOS, otherwise, your browsing screeches to a halt by a redirect and a takeover for these scams. Even legit sites get these fairly commonly.

    On Android, Dolphin Browser is the best way to browse, and that also gets rid of this problem with its innate ad-blocking.

    1. Re:This is not anything new... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Even legit sites get these fairly commonly.

      Which pretty much confirms there is no such thing as a 'legitimate' ad network, and that the only reasonable conclusion is to block all of them on the assumption they're corrupt and broken.

      I say until such time as this problem is 100% solved, everyone who works for an internet ad agency is fair game for a beat down for every instance of shit like this, no matter what the ad agency responsible.

      Either the ad companies find a workable solution, or eventually we run out of people who work for ad companies. It's a win-win either way.

      And, sorry, but if you work in internet advertising, you really do deserve that beat down and I don't much care that you're doing it to pay the bills; that's not my problem. The people who helped the Nazis said the same thing.

      Internet ad companies are parasites who don't give a fuck about your privacy or security. Which means I don't care about their privacy or safety.

    2. Re:This is not anything new... by Sir+Lurkalot · · Score: 1

      Mod this dude up!

    3. Re:This is not anything new... by Hallux-F-Sinister · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, the ad blocker, in order to work, (if it works at all, I’ve tried a couple, and promptly deleted them,) on iOS needs permissions that would allow it to see everything you do. So if you use your iOS device for anything you don’t want whoever made the ad blocker to know, including keystrokes, don’t use an ad blocker.

      Whenever I start seeing these things, here’s how I stop them:

      Open Settings, go to Safari, then to Advanced, and set JavaScript to OFF.

      That should solve it.

      Unfortunately, it also renders roughly half the web completely useless.

      BUT, half a web is more useful than no web because of this goddamned malvertisement bullshit.

      ALSO, whenever it happens, complain to Apple. They get enough complaints, they’ll find a way to fix it, including building a blocker right into iOS, which is what they should have done a long damned time ago. Their site is “getsupport.apple.com” — bug them loudly and often. It’s the only way they’ll know that it’s happening.

      --
      Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
    4. Re:This is not anything new... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only sane way to browse the web is with javascript turned off and an ad blocker. If not having javascript breaks things who cares ? I just move along to the next site.

      Javascript and ads are both variaities of cancer of the internet.

    5. Re:This is not anything new... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Certainly not Hillary's e-mails.

    6. Re:This is not anything new... by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Which pretty much confirms there is no such thing as a 'legitimate' ad network, and that the only reasonable conclusion is to block all of them on the assumption they're corrupt and broken.

      I say until such time as this problem is 100% solved, everyone who works for an internet ad agency is fair game for a beat down for every instance of shit like this, no matter what the ad agency responsible.

      Either the ad companies find a workable solution, or eventually we run out of people who work for ad companies. It's a win-win either way.

      And, sorry, but if you work in internet advertising, you really do deserve that beat down and I don't much care that you're doing it to pay the bills; that's not my problem. The people who helped the Nazis said the same thing.

      Internet ad companies are parasites who don't give a fuck about your privacy or security. Which means I don't care about their privacy or safety.

      So why haven't you started the Anti-Google/Alphabet campaign yet? Remember, Google/Alphabet own 90% of the ad networks out there. The remaining 10% are the ones that advertise on the dodgier sites with fake download buttons, etc.

      Alphabet/Google is right there. Google Ads is hardly ever used anymore, replaced by Alphabet's other offerings for ads. And all your big ad networks are in there that you know and love.

    7. Re:This is not anything new... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Use Android and Firefox, and install NoScript to Firefox. With NoScript, you build your own whitelist of sites that you want to be functional. Everything else is blocked. Keep in mind, that this is Firefox for Android proper, not Firefox Focus.

  2. Simple solution by ceoyoyo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Sites that serve ads are held responsible for damages if visitors get hijacked by those ads. In turn, those sites can hold ad providers liable. The online advertisers would tighten up their security in a hurry when the lawsuits started rolling in. We might even get to go back to plain image ads.

    1. Re:Simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Good luck proving that though. The bad guys and the ad server people seem to have a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" relationship, so they can target older people, while leaving the people who know what they are doing alone.

    2. Re:Simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And until then, I will continue to use Adblock Plus, and continue to feel ZERO guilt when sites respond by explaining how much they need the money.

  3. Simpler solution: Ban all advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The internet was better before advertising.

    "Oh but how do you expect to pay for services without advertising, goy?"

    There was a wider choice of services BEFORE advertising. The advertising model has destroyed everything. It needs to fuck off.

  4. Second reason for an ad blocker by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

    This

    --
    http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    1. Re:Second reason for an ad blocker by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Brave browser for iOS. Get it

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  5. And this is why ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This shit is why I have zero qualms with blocking all ads, and why I would never surf the web on a mobile device.

    This "allow every third party to run script" mentality the advertisers want the internet to operate on so their business model isn't disrupted is basically the conduit to this shit, because it leaves you wide open to everything. This is like saying I should leave my doors unlocked in case someone I do want in my house comes by, it's stupid.

    No, I'm not letting third party scripts execute, no you don't get to set a cookie, and if at all possible, my browser will ignore your domain ... you are an advertiser, you can fuck off and die for all I care, because I have no choice but to assume you're dishonest.

    What needs to happen is mobile devices and browsers need to start from the position that you as a random web site should in no way be trusted, nor should whatever asshole third parties you link to. It's impossible for the average user to defend against this. If advertisers and web sites can't operate without requiring you essentially disable all reasonable security, that's their problem.

    None of this blanket consent of "you agree to our ToS and the ToS of the 20 parasites we link to", but a straight up "no, that's OK, I'm not running third party code on your say so just because you're a greedy sack of shit".

    Honest advertisers are like honest telemarketers ... they may exist, but I don't give a fuck, and it's not my job to sift out the good ones. I'm simply going to block all of them, because I don't care.

    All of advertising on the internet is tainted with this shit. It's time to start changing things so this garbage isn't allowed to execute by default.

    I don't care what website it is, I will ruthlessly block third party stuff. Your revenue model doesn't trump either my privacy or security.

    Fuck advertisers, they're the reason why security on the internet is so fucking broken.

    1. Re:And this is why ... by Sir+Lurkalot · · Score: 0

      Another "Mod this poster up!!"

    2. Re:And this is why ... by Hallux-F-Sinister · · Score: 2

      [...] I don't care what website it is, I will ruthlessly block third party stuff. Your revenue model doesn't trump either my privacy or security.

      Fuck advertisers, they're the reason why security on the internet is so fucking broken.

      It’s also the reason the internet exists. If all advertising went away, (and I hate it myself and wish 99% of it would disappear, then maybe I’d stop using ad blockers,) and all the money went with it, either every site you’d visit would have a paywall and you’d have to log in to use it, or it simply woulnd’t exist. Every name you typed in would give you a DNS error or 404 Not Found error.... you’d try to go to Google (or your favorite search engine if not Google,) and try to search around to see what happened, and it would be down too.

      You’d think it was the apocalypse and would wander outside and see a bunch of other people wandering the street in housecoats or else underwear, staring blinkingly at the sky. What’s going on, you’d shout to a neighbor, who’d stare at an object far, far behind you, and say, in a hollow, broken voice, ‘there’s no Google. It’s just... gone...”

      You’d look all around, the horror dawning on you... no web ads... no internet. No web ADS! No internet. No ads, no search providers. No ad revenue, no INTERNET! Then you’d but it all together and shout, NO INTERNET!

      Then the pitchforks and torches get broken out, and you don’t want to know what happens after THAT

      --
      Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
    3. Re:And this is why ... by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      I am fair and just (some might say a fair bastard and just a cunt, what the army can teach you) and I use script blocker https://noscript.net/. So some ad networks and websites I block and some ad networks and websites I allow to run. Advertise junk and you script is blocked, advertise reasonably and your script will survive, don't like you site, all your scripts blocked including the advertisers scripts (do not subsidise crap and lies). Also I run a cookie blocker which can block sites or allow session only cookies (goggle cookies are all session only, each start of the browser clears their cookies and they start again, youtube logins, no searches).

      Kind of have to be fair but part of being fair is forcing others to be fair as well.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  6. The bad guys are kinda fucked now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/29/key-takeaways-michael-cohens-new-plea-deal/

    1. There are conspicuous mentions of Trump and his family
    2. Putin’s spokesman appears to have helped cover this up.
    3. This ties the Trump family’s efforts to the Russian government.
    4) The deal apparently died the day The Post broke a story about Russian hacking.

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/deutsche-bank-offices-raided_us_5c00331de4b027f1097bc8aa

  7. fake news... by trumpai · · Score: 0

    notice the numbing problem with numbers? They want you to believe there are 300 million iOS users in USA alone. Sure they are talking only about "sessions", but still these cybersecurity professionals are nothing, but bookkeepers of cookbooks straight from ENRON. At the same time notice the problem with entire premise of public computing. In the 25 years of internet they haven't released a single OS or Internet browser that would be secure. You know as soon as they release any given internet browser - it becomes insecure right away. Probably due to the fact that it's falling into the hands of the enemy they are attacking.

  8. No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    You don't go far enough. By conceding that honest advertisers might exist.

    Let's rephrase it: Your attention is for sale. People are buying the right to try and convince you to buy shit.
    No, fuck that! All advertising is corporate propaganda. We never asked for a public spaces to be cluttered with this shit.

    Ads are a blight on the soul of man. All ads must burn. All products that need advertising are landfill-fodder fucking garbage that you definitely don't need.

  9. Sites like Imgur and eBay are unusuable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On iPad due to all the redirect scams. Apple dosen't care they are too busy counting the profits from their $1000 ipad pros.

  10. True, not far enough yet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/29/key-takeaways-michael-cohens-new-plea-deal/

    1. There are conspicuous mentions of Trump and his family.
    2. Putin’s spokesman appears to have helped cover this up.
    3. This ties the Trump family’s efforts to the Russian government.
    4) The deal apparently died the day The Post broke a story about Russian hacking.

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/deutsche-bank-offices-raided_us_5c00331de4b027f1097bc8aa

  11. Find them. Kill them. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Find them. Kill them. I've said it before and I'll say it again: sociopaths have as much right to live as tapeworms.

  12. Adult-themed site by PPH · · Score: 1

    Come on. Pics or it didn't happen.

    At least post the link. For science.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  13. In the immortal words of Bill Hicks.... by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 0

    By the way if anyone here is in advertising or marketingkill yourself. It’s just a little thought; I’m just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day they’ll take root – I don’t know. You try, you do what you can.

    (Kill yourself.)

    Seriously though, if you are, do.

    Aaah, no really. There’s no rationalisation for what you do and you are Satan’s little helpers. Okay – kill yourself.

    Seriously. You are the ruiner of all things good.

    Seriously.

    No this is not a joke. You’re [going], “There’s going to be a joke coming.” There’s no fucking joke coming. You are Satan’s spawn filling the world with bile and garbage. You are fucked and you are fucking us. Kill yourself. It’s the only way to save your fucking soul. Kill yourself

    Planting seeds.

    I know all the marketing people are going, “He’s doing a joke” There’s no joke here whatsoever. Suck a tail-pipe, fucking hang yourself, borrow a gun from a Yank friend – I don’t care how you do it. Rid the world of your evil fucking machinations. (Machi) Whatever, you know what I mean.

    I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too: “Oh, you know what Bill’s doing? He’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market. He’s very smart.”

    Oh man, I am not doing that, you fucking, evil scumbags!

    “Ooh, you know what Bill’s doing now? He’s going for the righteous indignation dollar. That’s a big dollar. A lot of people are feeling that indignation. We’ve done research – huge market. He’s doing a good thing.”

    Godammit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags! Quit putting a goddamn dollar sign on every fucking thing on this planet.

    “Ooh, the anger dollar. Huge. Huge in times of recession. Giant market. Bill’s very bright to do that.”

    God, I’m just caught in a fucking web.

    “Ooh, the trapped dollar, big dollar, huge dollar. Good market – look at our research. We see that many people feel trapped. If we play to that and then separate them into the trapped dollar”

    How do you live like that? And I bet you sleep like fucking babies at night, don’t you?

    “What didya do today, honey?”

    “Oh, we made ah, we made ah arsenic a childhood food now, goodnight.” [snores] “Yeah we just said, you know, is your baby really too loud? You know?” [snores] “Yeah, you know the mums will love it.” [snores]

    Sleep like fucking children, don’t ya. This is your world, isn’t it?

    --
    http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
  14. And you thought redirection had no impact by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    There was a reason they redirected all the streams through Russia and China.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  15. Re:And you thought treason had no impact by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/29/key-takeaways-michael-cohens-new-plea-deal

    1. There are conspicuous mentions of Trump and his family
    2. Putin’s spokesman appears to have helped cover this up.
    3. This ties the Trump family’s efforts to the Russian government
    4) The deal apparently died the day The Post broke a story about Russian hacking.

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/deutsche-bank-offices-raided_us_5c00331de4b027f1097bc8aa

    https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-manafort-confidential-mueller-trump-giuliani-20181129-story.html

  16. Re:And you thought treason had no impact by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/29/key-takeaways-michael-cohens-new-plea-deal

    1. There are conspicuous mentions of Trump and his family
    2. Putin’s spokesman appears to have helped cover this up.
    3. This ties the Trump family’s efforts to the Russian government
    4) The deal apparently died the day The Post broke a story about Russian hacking.

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/deutsche-bank-offices-raided_us_5c00331de4b027f1097bc8aa

    https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-manafort-confidential-mueller-trump-giuliani-20181129-story.html

    Please, please, please, keep on spamming this - over and over!

    By doing that you will annoy and alienate the few users who might have been sympathetic to your message. So please, I beg of you, keep doing this! You clearly don't deserve to be taken seriously, your actions prove that, so all you have to do is continue along your present course. Then water will seek its own level. Simple!

  17. Redirect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Damn good reason to kill off the ability to automatically redirect an end users browser.

  18. The iPhone commercial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Massive Malvertising Campaign

  19. speaking of malvertisment by zlives · · Score: 1

    I guess the users deserve this torture by going to zdnet in the first place.

  20. Hosts files to the RESCUE... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    0.0.0.0 hipstarclub.com
    0.0.0.0 luckstarclub.com

    * SOURCE https://www.zdnet.com/article/...

    APK

    P.S.=> For the best hosts file:

    APK Hosts File Engine 2.0++ 64-bit for Linux http://apk/ .it-mate.co.uk/APKHostsFileEngineForLinux.zip

    APK Hosts File Engine 10++ SR-2 64-bit for Windows https://hosts-file.net/?s=Down... (see download link @ bottom of page)

    1. Re:Hosts files to the RESCUE... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing a good ad-blocker (like mine) isn't already doing. A nice open-source ad blocker written by someone who isn't afraid to have the public review their source. Can you say the same? No, I don't care how many third-parties entered into secretive agreements with you to say how "fine and well written" your software is. I care about being able to view the source myself.

      For a man who uses his real name and once gave his real contact info, what have you got to hide? Why keep your sources closed? Are you afraid of something? It's not like a program that produces a text file is some kind of marvel of engineering. What's the big secret?

      And before you start on your obsessive-compulsive paranoid delusions, I'm not c6gunner or anybody else. I'm a guy who thinks the way you do things is highly emotional, pride-driven (as shown by your need to always be "right") and extremely suspect. Actual open disclosure in the form of source code would make all of that irrelevant. As it stands, to use your program I would have to trust a known spammer who routinely evades this site's filters/policies who routinely thinks people he doesn't like are behind every AC, out to get him, and that he always happens to be "right". You can see the credibility problem there? Or no, I suppose you can't. That's OK, plenty of others can.

    2. Re:Hosts files to the RESCUE... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry retard but your shitware doesn't run on iOS so offers no protection here. Must be hard being proven retard over and over again?

  21. ALWAYS block ads! (and mostly Javascript too) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ads are a cancer on the internet and need to die. It's not just crap like this, or any of the other javascript-based malware exploits foisted by ads over the years, it's the social costs of old or less mentally adept people being tricked into buying things they don't need and can't afford, or falling for scams.

    Keep javascript disabled by default! Run it selectively for things you trust which need it. This idea that any random site gets to run scripts in your browser is insane and idiotic and needs to die.

    I have utterly lost count of the number of times these two lessons would have prevented a large scale clusterfuck.

    uBlock origin FTW. uMatrix FTW. Install them. Use them. Love them.

  22. Addons=inferior/inefficient/faulty vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hosts protect when addons can't (or as well):

    Bad sites (past ads)
    Botnet C&Cs
    DNS down/poisoned
    Trackers (dns logs/ads/transparent ISP proxy)
    Dns blocks
    Spam/phish payload
    Ads in videostreams
    Slowdown 2 ways: adblocks & hardcodes
    Hosts = Ez edit.

    AB+ 151mb https://www.google.com/search?q=Adblock+memory+consumption&btnG=Search&hl=en&gbv=1/

    UBlock 64MB https://www.google.com/search?q=UBlock+memory+consumption&btnG=Search&hl=en&gbv=1/

    Hosts~16mb

    Addons = ClarityRay defeatable & crippled http://www.businessinsider.com/google-microsoft-amazon-taboola-pay-adblock-plus-to-stop-blocking-their-ads-2015-2/

    NoScript tag parses. Hosts block script prior to it!

    No 1 addon does as much.

    Stacked addons slowup.

    ADDONS = EXPLOITABLE https://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=11166303&cid=55266729/

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons use more, do less & are EASILY DETECTED by sites so they can block them... apk

    1. Re: Addons=inferior/inefficient/faulty vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Add-ons offer far more fine-grained protection than hosts, which is subject to false positives. Take, for example, your advice to block Github and Gitlab. That may be useful in preventing some types of malware, but at the expense of blocking lots of useful content. A more fine-grained solution is better to avoid false positives. Furthermore, hosts don't allow wildcards when they might be appropriate. You're fond of noting that the large majority of new domain registrations are for malicious purposes. Wouldn't you want wildcards to block everything within a domain that's registered for the sole purpose of malicious activity? Furthermore, a whitelisting approach is actually better because newly registered malicious domains are blocked by default.

  23. 1 word answers your question: EFast... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject: Google EFast BOGUS Chrome doppleganger malware built from OpenSORES code Google let out - won't happen to me & my code was audited by Steven Burn of Malwarebytes - you can see that much here forum.hosts-file.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4290 & he BOTH hosts & RECOMMENDS my program over all others like it (all came AFTER mine no less too - IMITATION is the SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY) there also.

    APK

    P.S.=> I've had TROLLS here on /. THREATEN to create a bogus version IF I opened up my code - a pity: It's POSSIBLE someone could improve it over my work (unlikely, but possible, lol) as for example, the Linux model is FASTER & MORE EFFICIENT vs. the Windows model (as I built the Linux one after it)... apk

    1. Re: 1 word answers your question: EFast... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The term "open sores" was coined by Slashdot trolls. Your use of it suggests you're not interested in a serious discussion, but I'll assume good faith anyway. Reproducible builds are essential along with code audits to ensure security. Otherwise, there's no guarantee that the code Steven Burn audited is the code used to build the binaries you're distributing. If you properly secure your private key, code signing is another way to ensure that your binaries are safe.

      Steven Black's software actually has an advantage over your work in this situation. This article is about malware targeting iOS. Your software only runs on Windows, Linux, and versions of BSD with Linux binary compatibility. Your software does not run on iOS. While you mock Steven Black for using scripts, his work can be audited by any end user and can run on any system that supports Python. With appropriate permissions, his software can automatically update the hosts file on iOS. Your software cannot.

      Finally, you mention that trolls have threatened to create malicious knock-off versions of your software if you release your source. You're fond of linking to lots of old posts to support your allegations. Prove that such threats wete actually made by providing a link to trolls making such threats. Since you claim to bookmark such posts, you should have no problem providing a link to prove this allegation.

  24. ad-infinitum by PaulHammant · · Score: 1

    https://github.com/paul-hamman... - a visualization of ad partners adding ad partners to a page (ad infinitum)

  25. Not IOS!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Heh, Ha Ha...

  26. I have a customizable falsepositive filter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have a customizable falsepositive filter in my program users can setup even moreso for themselves (faster than addon updates by FAR & more control (you talked "fine grain"? That's as FINE as it gets, speaking AS A USER vs. programmer here).

    It wasn't MY advice to block github - it was ESET's & they were right (github was allegedly unknowingly serving malware & who knows what other parts of it are that way too (I've seen this a LOT on those types of sites)) per https://www.welivesecurity.com...

    * Wildcards are BLUNDERING DOLTS compared to hosts specific accuracy & COST MORE TO PROCESS by far (especially via regexp but any decent programmer doesn't need those or that weight & slow).

    APK

    P.S.=> You'll LOVE my "starwars" reply on hosts next (why not? I'm in a good mood)... apk

  27. "This is the weapon of a jediknight"... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Not as clumsy/random as a blaster - An elegant weapon 4 a more civilized age" https://it.slashdot.org/commen...

    * "For over a 1,000 generations Jedi Knights were guardians of peace & justice in the old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the EMPIRE"

    (Hosts = light sabres & wildcard tools = blasters above per my essentially saying that to you here earlier https://apple.slashdot.org/com... ).

    APK

    P.S.=> Many here know https://linux.slashdot.org/com... & enjoy greater speed/security/reliability & anonymity hosts yield natively speeding you up 2 ways (adblocks & hardcodes that protect vs. DNS security issues in redirect poisoning + request tracking logs & RESOLVE FASTER locally from RAM driven by KERNELMODE speed vs. slow usermode in "solutions" packed w/ security issues (DNS/Antivirus) OR not working fully by default (adblock) in usermode addons easily detected by webmasters & blocked doing less but using more)... apk

  28. I am serious on EFast & dangers of like ilk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: Yes, it happened & hit a LOT of folks. OpenSORES is the cause, period - a double-edged sword & there's your e.g. thereof (there's others too - look @ crap snuck into node.js (or others like it)).

    * Speaking as a coder? You get STRONGER doing work yourself & have TOTAL control of the work too + understanding it's data.

    I'm on Linux/BSD/Windows & soon MacOS X etc. in NATIVE 32/64-bit FASTER vs. MSVC++ IN STRINGS & SECURE vs. string related bufferoverflow Object Pascal, multiplatform, single standalone exe form. NO RUNTIME ENVIRON NEEDED EITHER.

    Is the one below that good? No.

    Users go GUI & if Linux is to GAIN USERS cater to what they want (gui, not scripts).

    APK

    P.S.=> That Python script didn't check VALID tld/gTLD last I checked & nor did it do hardcoded favs (1st one stops portfilter errors + BLOAT in hosts something might TRY to bushwhack it with (slows loadtime) OR load w/ bad hardcodes (my program stops it) & 2nd = faster resolution + protection vs. DNSChanger &/or Kaminsky redirect poisoning)... apk

    1. Re:I am serious on EFast & dangers of like ilk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've been saying you shitware will run on MacOS for almost a year now. Your trivial software must suck if you can't get it ported n that time.

  29. Adblock and NoScript by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    Adblock and NoScript take care of virtually all this kind of crap. Adblock stops ads from displaying (and infecting) and NoScript stops the rest of the malicious junk.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:Adblock and NoScript by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure, but one cannot get NoScript on iOS. NoScript is an extension for Firefox and derivatives, which in mobile phones works only on Androids operating systems. Many iOS users with older iDevices are severely out of luck like that.

  30. Hosts files do... apik by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hosts files do though & yes, I know if you have Godmode access on iOS (apple folks do, & I know it for a fact) you can use my work's output (a custom hosts file) to import what it puts out.

    * I wouldn't trust the sites blocked I noted w/ a Linux/BSD or Windows system either to be blunt about it...

    APK

    P.S.=> My program's no shitware & /.ers disagree w/ you there too https://science.slashdot.org/c... & it's MORE than a weezil like YOU has ever done & that much about YOU shows in your HIDING behind UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts STALKING me all over /. for years now - get a life, do something w/ yourself that others like & use (as I do) instead of being a FREAK, ok? For your own sake... apk

  31. No, you & others impersonating me did by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: which I pointed out w/ proof here w/ MYSELF saying I don't have a MacOS version yet https://news.slashdot.org/comm... vs. your IMPERSONATION of me parent to that reply of mine vs. your lies.

    * Grow up - not only do you IMPERSONATE me but you also nigh CONSTANTLY STALK me by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts as you're doing now too - you have issues.

    APK

    P.S.=> Only reason I don't have a MacOS X version yet is that I don't own a Mac myself... apk

  32. Shut up newfag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're just a cuck. The internet existed before adverting, and it will be fine with the ads gone.
    Some services will die, but who cares because they're all 100% cancer.
    Did I mention that you are a cuck?