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Heidi — How Malware Works Via Banner Ads
Published: 2012-01-06 00:54:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 27135; Favourites: 147; Downloads: 0
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Description
by $Heidi
How Malware Works Via Banner Ads
As many deviants know, deviantART has been working hard to combat malicious banner ads that infiltrate
our advertising network, and we've previously addressed this issue in
April 2011
and August 2011 .
In our ongoing effort to keep the deviantART community safe, we wanted to share the following
USA Today-produced
video that explains how malicious ads inundate the Web.
How Malicous Ads Inundate the Web
(Source: USA Today )
Protect Yourself
Malware advertising is an Internet-wide problem that affects many of the Net's top sites.
Keeping your browser up to date is one of the best ways to ensure your computer's safety.
Additionally, anti-virus programs offer another level of protection against malvertisements.
We strongly recommend that you download the latest version of your favorite browser.
Reports of Malware and Virus Advertisements
Our Ongoing Battle Against Malicious Ads
Related content
Comments: 769
Yes. Bleepingcomputer.com is my usual go-to for virus removal (I usually go there first) This one is for Win Security (Win 7) but you can also find the one for XP: [link] You may need a flash drive and "clean" computer since Win Security doesn't let you go to many websites or run programs.
To prevent your computer from reinfecting, I also suggest (if you use Firefox) to use this add-on since I got Win Security from malicious viruses on dA's ads: adblockingfiltersetp 1.0
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Win Security isn't a virus. It was on my computer when i got it, but i somehow disabled it (I probably glitched/broke it.) It's like a firewall, but it pretends you have viruses and says you can only "fix" them when you buy it. THAT'S how you know a "firewall" is fake.
.. If i remembered what it was correctly, then that is what it is. o3o
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Computers come with it? That's irritating.
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Well, as you say, it may not be a virus, but it is just as annoying as a virus and is just as malicious since I couldn't use any of my .exe files nor could I go online to find a way to remove it.
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adblock+ just hides them, it still loads them.
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I would disagree. [link] RTM, JGI.
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It loads the page if a URL matches a known one it hides it, in this time the ad can have already been downloaded to your computer
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Do you know how blacklisting works?
[link]
If adblock plus was loading all of a site's elements, this attack wouldn't work.
Check out one of the filters. Adblock+ works by preventing http requests from being sent.
Normal way a page loads:
(User navigates to page)
Request made to server.
originalpage.fake loads
(Originalpage.fake points to other elements to load, I.E. pictures on originalpage.fake/pictures/, and ads on adnetwork.fake)
Request made to pictures.
Pictures load
Request made to adnetwork.
Ads load
Adblock+:
(User navigates to page)
Adblock+ detection rules go in to effect.
originalpage.fake does not activate any adblock+ detection rules.
Request made to originalpage.
originalpage.fake loads.
originalpage.fake/pictures/ does not activate any adblock+ detection rules.
Request made to originalpage/pictures/
originalpage.fake/pictures/ loads
adnetwork.fake violates adblock+ detection rules.
Adblock+ intercepts request for adnetwork.fake, it is never sent.
Ads are not loaded, placeholders are removed.
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Tl:dr
I got Adblock + and Adblock mixed up. Sorry for having wasted your time
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The only time AdBlock+ has ever loaded ads was when I tried the Chrome one. I don't know if it's been updated or changed since, but I've been using Firefox because that one actually gets rid of ads.
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It hides them and *tries* to stop them from loading but can be downloaded then hidden from a page, the Idea of Adblock isn't to stop Malware, it is to allow you to browse without seeing ads
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
someone needs to learn how to read code >.>
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Getting Adblock mixed with Adblock Plus, I'm sorry that I caused any trouble.
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I use adblockingfiltersetp 1.0
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No, it doesn't. Get your facts straight, before spamming everybody about how AdBlock+ doesn't work. I have it, and it's blocked all the malware-ads that have tried to get to my computer.
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3-4 people does not equal everyone. Plus how can you know there was any malware ads if you had ad block?
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Nice. NOW DEAL WITH ART THIEVES, YOU NOOBS!
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This video is very informative. I have Chrome and Adblock.
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Adblock works, don't listen to what they say. It stops them from loading altogether, though, at the cost of browsing speed.
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I'd rather lose browsing speed rather than deal with ad viruses.
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adblock just hides them, it still loads them
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The ones I dislike are the vertical kind that hang onto the sides of pages. The mouse cursor tends to wander off toward one side or other when you aren't using it so you may end up clicking on one by accident if you get distracted or aren't paying enough attention.
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Some JS sorcery + AdBlock.
Does buying prints and stuff support dA in any way?
I'd buy an account, but I think it'd be a waste for such simple art as mine. I mean, it may help full time artists and designers, but I'm just a hobbyist...
Yes, I'm a horrible person.
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yea DA gets a quite a bit from the prints they sell on here.(even though its not their art) don't worry though the artists get 
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adblock just hides them, it still loads them
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'uses automatically generated user stylesheets to hide elements such as text ads on a page as they load instead of blocking them, known as element hiding.'
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Then why's it called Adblock Plus and not Adhide Plus? Plus, there's even a subscription to block malware domains for adblock. If it only hid them, then there would be no reason for this to be posted Adblock Plus's actual web site, since Adblock Plus would do nothing to help protect your computer: [link]
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Called Adblock because it blocks them from being displayed, also taken from their website 'that will block access to the known malicious domains', it will only stop you from being able to click on the ads so they can't take you to infected sites.
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I give up. You don't seem to understand what the fuck you're talking about. But what do I expect from someone with a licking avatar?
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You give up because you cannot comprehend what I am telling you.
You base someones personallity and intelligence on the icon they use? You could easily extend this to names, but what can I expect from someone who calls themselves samurai and posts pictures of his desktop?
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The lick icons are really dumb, and you seem to be too. Maybe that's why.
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'The lick icons are really dumb' in your opinion they are, I created it because it was simple and easy to do.
'you seem to be too' Now throwing personal insults
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It's not an opinion if you really are dumb, it's a fact.
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Since you have no evidence for my level of intellect I could easily say no I'm not and that would prove you wrong.
In your opinion I am dumb but in my opinion I am not. That's all they are opinions.
Also how would you measure someone's intelligence? What would be the defining qualities of someone that you call dumb?
The intelligence of someone is all relative, someone stupid compared to someone really stupid might look clever, but an utter failure when compare with someone who is really bright
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OK, I'm not very informed about more technical stuff, but I kinda know the basics. Some ad blockers, indeed, load ads then hide them. The most effective (and popular) like Adblock Plus and so, stop them from loading entirely, thus explaining the fact that the page does load faster.
The other option would be editing the hosts file (making it long as sh*t), blocking the ads from the router, or even with a proxy server, among other less common methods which deal with networking sorcery beyond my mortal knowledge.
-The Javascript part of my combo is dedicated to hiding the frames where the ads reside (thus explaining the "horrible person" part 
I think you're both right. In a way. Just don't argue and defend your argumentations with solid evidence, instead of throwing personal insults at each other
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Thank you for explain where I was wrong, I ask him to tell me where I was wrong and he just blocked me
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Discussions, when done correctly, can be very educational. No need to call anyone a sentient lawn mower. Unless you are one. O.o
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I can comprehend it, but you're wrong, kid.
Only people I've seen with licking avatars have the IQ of a lawn chair.
Lots of people posts pictures of their desktops. There's a category for it in case you didn't notice. And most of what I post isn't even a desktop. I might post one every few months, but most of my stuff is drawings and photography.
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You didn't mention the fact about your name, the fact lots people also have licking avatars and the fact that many people who post screenshots of their desktop have to mental capacity of an amoeba.
'Look at me guys, I took a copyrighted picture and clicked 3 times, took sooooo much effort'
You are obvious an exception to still as you can hold your own in an arguement and not use obscenities as frequently as possible.
If I am indeed wrong please point out where I made a mistake/mistakes so that I can have the pleasure of being safe in the knowalage that I won't make the same mistake again. Please keep it simply, we lawn chairs can't think too much or we overheat
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I've had enough of this.
By the way, desktop screenshots have nothing to do with effort. I never said such a thing.
So, goodbye, kid. It's pointless to argue with someone like you.
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Thankfully I bought a subscription during the holiday season in 2010 and I'm covered for another year with no ads.
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Sorry dA, but before I got a sub, I got Ad block. There's no way I'm risking my computer over a stupid advertisement.
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Adblock just hides them, it still loads them
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do you have a life?
just asking.
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sorry, replying every post which talks about adblock just hides it, but you stills having a life.
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