BrettStarr
Premium
join:2003-11-07
Las Vegas, NV
| crappy ads at majorgeeks.com
I happened to go to majorgeeks site to browse for spyware tools. Clicked on the Spyware Tools link and all the great products are there... like Ad-aware, Spybot S&D, SpywareBlaster, Webroot Spy Sweeper, Giant Antispyware, CWShredder, HijackThis, etc.
»www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html
When you go to a specific product page, you get some words underlined in green. If you move mouse over the word, an ad box pops up (see pic).
What I find amazing is that ALL these ads point to rogue/suspect anti-spyware products, such as spyblocs/ebloc, Privacy Defender, Spykiller, etc.
»www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_ant···ware.htm
Those ads are called "intellitxt" ads. They don't look too intelligent to me.
My sympathies to those who get sucked.
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John2g
Qui Tacet Consentit
Premium
join:2001-08-10
England | That's the beauty of ZAP: I never see ANY ads at MajorGeeks. |
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Ctrl Alt Del
Premium
join:2002-02-18 | reply to BrettStarr
Those are all coming from www.intellitxt.com. Just block this site in your HOSTS file or in whatever content filtering program and all is fixed.
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less talk, more music |
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spooler
@cableone.net
| C_A_D said
"Just block this site in your HOSTS file or in whatever content filtering program and all is fixed."
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And what about the members of the general public who certainly wouldn't know about this, and even if they try to be well read on current tech topics, more than likely still wouldn't know.
I don't see news of this reported in popular press - only here. |
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Spy
Premium
join:2001-09-22
NE
| said by spooler:
And what about the members of the general public who certainly wouldn't know about this, and even if they try to be well read on current tech topics, more than likely still wouldn't know.
I don't see news of this reported in popular press - only here.
Become a member and enjoy the fruits.:D |
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stillrunnin
So What? You Gotta Problem With That?
Premium
join:2003-12-27
Frederick,MD
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| said by Spy  : said by spooler:
And what about the members of the general public who certainly wouldn't know about this, and even if they try to be well read on current tech topics, more than likely still wouldn't know.
I don't see news of this reported in popular press - only here.
Become a member and enjoy the fruits.:D could not have said it better. 
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Spazmatic |
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Ctrl Alt Del
Premium
join:2002-02-18
| reply to spooler
said by spooler:
C_A_D said
"Just block this site in your HOSTS file or in whatever content filtering program and all is fixed."
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And what about the members of the general public who certainly wouldn't know about this, and even if they try to be well read on current tech topics, more than likely still wouldn't know.
I don't see news of this reported in popular press - only here.
There are many sites that describe everything about the HOSTS file. A simple google search is all that is needed. Here was a quick one I pulled up in a few seconds: »www.accs-net.com/hosts/how_to_use_hosts.html
Simply add this line to your hosts file to block the offending ad site:
127.0.0.1 www.intellitxt.com
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less talk, more music |
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TheJoker
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2001-04-26
Alexandria, VA
| reply to BrettStarr
I never even saw those (I'd be annoyed too). I don't know if its because of ad blocking in NAV, or my HOSTS file though. MVPS HOSTS file has these entries all related to intellitxt:
127.0.0.1 compnet.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 devshed.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 forbes.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 icentric.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 lmcd.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 rydium.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 toms.us.intellitxt.com
127.0.0.1 tribal.us.intellitxt.com
I don't even get the green underlining, much less the pop-up. 
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TheJoker |
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BrettStarr
Premium
join:2003-11-07
Las Vegas, NV
| @TheJoker
The tribal.us.intellitxt.com hosts entry is why you don't see it.
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@others
Perhaps I should have added a little more to my post.
Yes, these popup ads are annoying and can be found on many sites. There are several ways to stop them too.
But, one of the main reasons I made this post was because of majorgeeks. I have seen the site recommended many times by folks here, as a reliable download source of respected products for removing crapware. Now, I can imagine a not-so-security-knowledged or newb going there to get Spybot S&D, or Ad-aware, or whatever, but sees a popup ad and decides to get some crap product. BINGO! Got 'em!.
Also, majorgeeks has a spyware forum too. Perhaps they are trying to drum up some more business for it (just kiddin).
Anyway, I just have one thing to say... Shame on you, Majorgeeks.
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Bubba
GIT-R-DONE
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-19
Around, Us
·Comcast
| said by BrettStarr :Anyway, I just have one thing to say... Shame on you, Majorgeeks. Couldn't the list go on and on and on if we are speaking of Ads....or are you only tiffed about the pop-up ads ?
Heck....even some well respected sites such as BBR\Dslreports, CastleCops, Spywareinfo....etc....all have at least some form of ad....and I'm not saying that's a bad thing. |
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BrettStarr
Premium
join:2003-11-07
Las Vegas, NV
| said by Bubba : Couldn't the list go on and on and on if we are speaking of Ads....or are you only tiffed about the pop-up ads ? I am not tiffed about the pop-up ads. I am tiffed about the ones being show and the QUALITY OF THOSE PRODUCTS. They appear in the SPYWARE TOOLS section, SPYWARE REMOVAL PRODUCTS, and they are calling attention to the CRAPWARE products, as previously noted.
And yes, I would also get a little tiffed if DSLR/BBR had popups with those crapware products too, here in the Security Forum.
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EGeezer
Go Bobcats
Premium
join:2002-08-04
Country!
 ·Callcentric
·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T CallVantage
| I agree, the disappointment I get from this isn't that Majorgeeks chooses to place ads, but that they have chosen to link to questionable products.
It's unfortunate to see a site widely cited as a help for users to maintain the integrity of their systems wasting their reputation on these things. It goes to show that one must be vigilant, even with well-known entities.
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IEC703 DISK ERRORABEND |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
1 edit | reply to BrettStarr
I side with Brett on this. Non-techies get fooled by spam and popups (and drive-bys) all the time. When they get a good recommendation from a knowledgeable techie friend to go pick up good software like Spybot from a particular source, and that source misleads its visitors with intrusive ads that almost amount to hijacks, then that is NOT a site people should be recommending.
PCWorld is guilty of this too, I believe. As you go to download something like Spybot, you're assaulted with misleading text ads for other products.
It's very easy for the non-paranoid to make a mistake and find themselves paying $60 for a piece of garbage.
I know, it's a free market and buyer beware; but personally I don't want to recommend a download site that may get my friend into more trouble than they're already in.
Edit: Oh great; the Geezer just said it way more elegantly and succinctly than I managed. Curse you, Geezer...
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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Spy
Premium
join:2001-09-22
NE
| reply to BrettStarr
said by BrettStarr :I am not tiffed about the pop-up ads. I am tiffed about the ones being show and the QUALITY OF THOSE PRODUCTS. 1. If you don't like what's on the television, turn it off. You're in control.
2. The majority of people who go to Major Geeks are from forums like these. They know their products and if they don't , they ask about them on the forum.
3. Even CNN.COM has crappy ads and pop-ups. If you don't like them, use AdBlock. No biggy. |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| said by Spy :2. The majority of people who go to Major Geeks are from forums like these. They know their products and if they don't , they ask about them on the forum. With respect, that's a little silly. If you have to be a security forum regular or paranoid geek to safely visit a download site, then that's not much of a recommended site, is it?
As long as there are alternatives, we'd best recommend them instead. In my opinion.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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Bubba
GIT-R-DONE
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-19
Around, Us
·Comcast
| reply to BrettStarr
said by BrettStarr : I am tiffed about the ones being show and the QUALITY OF THOSE PRODUCTS. They appear in the SPYWARE TOOLS section, SPYWARE REMOVAL PRODUCTS, and they are calling attention to the CRAPWARE products, as previously noted. My sincere appologizes....I normally do NOT speed read posts....BUT....in this case I read right by the part concerning....ALL these ads point to rogue/suspect anti-spyware products, such as spyblocs/ebloc, Privacy Defender, Spykiller, etc.
With that being said....I agree whole-heartedly. |
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keith2468
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB
| reply to BrettStarr
Those who don't see the advertising on MajorGeeks may not fully appreciate the complaint.
Having seen increasingly confusing advertising over the past few months at MajorGeeks myself, I have to agree it is getting to about the point where it can be called misleading.
To me it isn't that there are pop-ups. It is that the FAQ reader can be side tracked and decoyed away from the desired download. It is prominent links to products allegedly similar to the product I've recommended right next to a small link for the recommended product.
I don't like that the links in FAQs I write here take people to vendor sites, where people then click on a download link that then takes them to MajorGeeks, and that on MajorGeeks people are subjected to misleading web pages and advertising.
Advertising is okay in my book. The servers and internet connection have to be paid for somehow. And it is the vendors I'm recommending themselves that are choosing MajorGeeks as their download partners.
Rather it is that the advertising at MajorGeeks is often misleading and confusing to laypeople and newbies that bothers me.
I don't like being a part of that.
I assume that so freeware and donationware vendors choose this route because of the cost of the servers and internet connection necessary to host the downloads themselves, big enough servers and pipes to withstand DDoS attacks from hackers and malicious adware vendors.
CNet has advertising too, but their advertising is not so misleading.
If you have better download links to reliable reputable sites I'd be happy to consider using them instead.
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(Virus&Hijacking FAQ + Submit suspected malware + Backups FAQ + Security FAQ TOC) |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
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CNET/Download.com/ZDNet are pretty straightforward.
They host Spybot, Ad-Aware, CWShredder, and of course much more.
In my visits there I have never encountered a misleading ad such as those at MajorGeeks (and other sites).
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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Spy
Premium
join:2001-09-22
NE
1 edit | reply to B
said by B : said by Spy :2. The majority of people who go to Major Geeks are from forums like these. They know their products and if they don't , they ask about them on the forum. With respect, that's a little silly. If you have to be a security forum regular or paranoid geek to safely visit a download site, then that's not much of a recommended site, is it? As long as there are alternatives, we'd best recommend them instead. In my opinion. -- B Yes, I see, I was trying to throw in a tag for forum use.:D |
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Spy
Premium
join:2001-09-22
NE
| reply to B
said by B :CNET/Download.com/ZDNet are pretty straightforward. They host Spybot, Ad-Aware, CWShredder, and of course much more. In my visits there I have never encountered a misleading ad such as those at MajorGeeks (and other sites). -- B How about a bad product?
»Music Station from CNET |
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