Google Ads

[EA37TS]

I am running a MacBook Pro and within the past couple of days Norton keeps informing me that Google Ads is trying to download scripts to my computer whenever I access the Jayco Forum. Of course I always deny the request.

My question to the admins is what is google ads trying to download onto my computer and why? Is the forum becoming a carrier for spyware, which is a mild term for location and click tracking.

This is also happening on other forums run by RV Life.

[norty1]

The network that serves up the ads on JOF, a necessary evil on free forums, has recently changed.

We have been advised that it should be seamless. Please notify admin or a site team member if it is causing you problems.

[Jagiven]

I am using a windows PC and android phone. I have not seen anything.

[sturgissteele]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I am using a windows PC and android phone. I have not seen anything.

Same here.

[Marine71-76]

Something is definitely going on because JOF is causing slowness on the laptop. And we only use the laptop - no phone.

[Racinforthefinish]

I switched from a Mac to a HP Pavilion Lap top and since the switch sometime google ads cover up almost everything I am trying to read. Sometimes I just give up and turn it off.

[LuckyDuck]

I’m running an iPad Pro and have noticed the ads on the top right rail are continually drawing/redrawing, some pushing the “recent threads” list way down. Other times there is no, or s very minimal, ad. Pretty annoying.

[THE MEEKER]

Originally Posted by norty1

The network that serves up the ads on JOF, a necessary evil on free forums, has recently changed.

We have been advised that it should be seamless. Please notify admin or a site team member if it is causing you problems.

Yes, it is a necessary evil. Annoying for sure but it is what it is.

It seems Google Ads are popping up on everything online. There should be exclusions, such as obituaries. I had to click off about a dozen ads today just reading our local death notices, everything from Chevy Silverado Ads, Verizon Ads, cosmetic dentistry, plus all the “click bait”

Last week after reading the death notice of my uncle, I all of a sudden had a craving for Little Caesar’s pizza thanks to the pop-up ad next to his obituary. “Here’s to you Uncle Horace, Pizza Pizza!”

[EA37TS]

The pop up ads are one thing but Google Ads wanting to download a file to my laptop is an entirely different issue.

These downloads are not standard cookies either but text files that do who knows what. This is a recent development and has just started the past week with Norton first identifying them over on the Thor forum and then this week the issue migrated to JOF.

Depending on how you have your system protection setup you may not be aware of Google Ads downloading these files onto your system.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

snip.......Google Ads wanting to download a file to my laptop is an entirely different issue.....snip

I agree, I was getting the same 'download file request' for a couple days on JOF...., didn't get it today.

Bob

[norty1]

I haven't seen any requests but I do see the AD block on the upper right continuously moving up and down due to the size of the ad.

I think google has taken over my computer, they don't even ask me anymore!

[RAurand]

I run AdBlock Plus on all my computers. Run it on Chrome and Edge. Sure cuts down on ads dramatically.

https://adblockplus.org/download

[norty1]

Download the AdBlock Plus and it eliminates or decreases them drastically.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by RAurand

I run AdBlock Plus on all my computers. Run it on Chrome and Edge. Sure cuts down on ads dramatically.

https://adblockplus.org/download

X3 on Adblock Plus. It cleans up all the crap on multiple sites, not just here. I run it on Firefox. It make pages load so much faster without all that hidden advertising crap.

I'll go on my phone (on Chrome without Adblock) and read some same sites I read on my laptop and go, holy crap, what's all this advertising and junk on the pages?

[norty1]

I already had a version on my laptop, but after reloading it this morning, I have not seen even one ad!!!!!

[sturgissteele]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

X3 on Adblock Plus. It cleans up all the crap on multiple sites, not just here. I run it on Firefox. It make pages load so much faster without all that hidden advertising crap.

I'll go on my phone (on Chrome without Adblock) and read some same sites I read on my laptop and go, holy crap, what's all this advertising and junk on the pages?

I use duckduckgo and run through a VPN (most times) and the ad clutter is about null. Still some sites get thru all the hoops and that bites.

[GABob]

Norton 360 and Malwarebytes have been a good combination of protection for me over the past few years. You can catch the Norton, which includes VPN, that supports up to 10 devices.

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by Racinforthefinish

I switched from a Mac to a HP Pavilion Lap top and since the switch sometime google ads cover up almost everything I am trying to read. Sometimes I just give up and turn it off.

Are you logged in when you are seeing this behavior?

[Racinforthefinish]

Thanks for all the info. I just added adblockplus and it took care of my problematic ads.

[Jagiven]

As I stated earlier, I had not seen any change in the ads. But today, I have them overlapping an image I clicked on. Now that is annoying!



After posting this, I went and added https://adblockplus.org/download, and rebooted and I did not see the ads pop up