Virus targets Adsense
It was only a matter of time before someone figured out that data mining was only going to get them so far
Not that data mining isn’t profitable, by all means, it is! But, adsense is more profitable in the short term.
Jensense writes about a new virus that installs itself on your computer and then subtly changes the adsense ads you would otherwise view, to be ads the virus author wants you to see.
I could see this affecting a LOT of computers eventually, and becoming a problem because people 1. don’t know it’s there, and 2. don’t care if it’s there, because they don’t want to see the adsense ads anyway.
Not good news for adsense publishers.
Filed under Technology by John
Comments on Virus targets Adsense »
This “trojan” shouldn’t be much of a concern for firefox users and those that regularly patch their specific browser. As long as you have software like McAfee running in the background the files will be updated to stop such a threat. I don’t really see this affecting a LOT of computers nor adsense publishers.
Synchronicity and some other users at WritingUp are very concerned about the virus. Is there anything that they should be told? Or is Vince right & maybe some of us are exempt from worry (most of the people I’ve been getting to know on WritingUp are diehard Firefox users).
Thanks again for all your help. Wish I could make some more money for you (and esp. for me).
You’re right vince, about it not being a concern for firefox users and adsense publishers…If you’re only concerned about the virus affecting YOUR computer. However, what about the non-technical high school and college kids who are clicking on your ads? What about the grandma clicking on your ads. They’re the ones you need to be concerned with. They’re the ones without the anti-virus software, they’re the ones using IE. It’s not the poeple publishing content for adsense you need to worry about, it’s the ones clicking on your adsense ads. Are they going to be clicking anymore? That’s the big concern.
The ones clicking on your adsense ads are NOT the ones using firefox.
I would like to see the “actual” percentage of users in this group who DON’T have any type of hardware or software firewall nor anti-virus software through a third party vendor or their ISP. I think you’re pushing the fear mentality of the non-techie’s out there a bit. I would hope most Internet users in general have some sort of anti-virus software that auto-updates as well as a firewall. It’s not Grandma or the non-techies who will be visiting such malicious sites as they really do nothing more than email and little net surfing. Now to find that % to end my speculation. Good day!