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Advertising and Computer Security Issues on TV Tropes

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We occasionally get reports of ads that trigger antivirus warnings or infect computers that are browsing the wiki. This FAQ is an attempt to consolidate all the information about such things into one thread. Please read the below before reporting any incidents.

This thread may also be used to report ads that violate our policies in other ways, such as being too "adult" or NSFW, automatically playing audio/video, etc.

REPORTING: try to get a screenshot of the console as well as this will help identify where it's coming from.

REDIRECTS: Its very tricky to get the first URL of a redirect trigger because they are designed to hide where it came from. So you need a redirect plug-in active while the redirect happens so you can find the first URL, not the last. Where you were directed to doesn't help track down the source.


    open/close all folders 
    The basics 
  • TV Tropes, as a site, does not contain malware. We are a text-and-image wiki; viruses and malware cannot be uploaded to or embedded in the articles. As always, however, beware of any external link that you don't recognize, since we cannot automatically screen edits or posts for malicious links.
  • 99.99% of the time, any suspected malware will be related to the wiki advertising.
  • TV Tropes does not directly control the ads that are displayed. We use third-party ad providers and we determine things like the size and placement.
    • We instruct our providers not to serve ads that redirect your browser, take control of the screen from you, forcibly scroll your screen, play audio without being clicked on, install malware, "pop up" or "pop over" your screen, or in any other way interfere with your browsing experience.
    • We have custom software designed to detect ads that do these things and automatically block them.
    • Malicious entities are constantly trying to sneak ads through the providers' networks in violation of these instructions. As providers have little incentive to proactively detect and block them, it's up to websites to report these sorts of problems.
    • We rely on our users to report ads that get through these measures.
  • Just because you see a particular ad doesn't mean everyone else sees it. Ads are customized by the ad providers to your location (by IP address), the content of the page you're viewing, and your browsing profile, which is tracking data accumulated by third parties over the course of all your internet browsing.
  • Just because you get a malware warning or infection that seems related to an ad on TV Tropes does not necessarily mean that it is caused by one of our ads. Pre-existing malware on your computer can intercept ads and replace them with malicious ones.

    What can be reported to our provider 
  • Ads containing malware, obviously.
  • Misbehaving ads, such as ones that load a pop-up or pop-under, redirect your browser to another page, hijack your screen or automatically scroll it.
  • "Adult" or NSFW ads. Scantily clad women alone may or may not qualify, depending on context, but we want this site to be work-safe.
  • Ads that automatically play audio — that is, the audio starts without you clicking on the ad first. Video ads are acceptable.
  • Note: Political content is not grounds for rejecting an ad. However, an ad that contains or implies hate speech, disinformation, or outright falsehoods may be objectionable enough to be blocked.

    How to protect yourself 
  • First and foremost, maintain current, updated antivirus software, and keep your operating system and browser up to date with all patches offered by the software vendors. This includes Adobe Flash, Java, and other rich media plug-ins. Turn on your software's automatic updates if they are not already on and act immediately when prompted to install them.
  • Never click on pop-ups purporting to have detected a virus, offering to "tune up" your PC, or otherwise inducing you to click on a link that you were not expecting. Any genuine message of this nature would come from your antivirus software and not from a web page.
  • Be careful clicking on external links. These are identified with a small icon next to them. Example: Google. TV Tropes does not endorse or control the content of external links and you open them at your own risk.
  • Never respond to any email or web page that asks for personal or financial information, including passwords, unless you have verified its identity. No reputable company will ever ask you for your password(s), other than to log in.
  • You may choose to opt out of having tracking information collected by ad providers. This does not stop malware but helps you maintain your online privacy. See here for additional information.
  • TV Tropes requests that you do not use ad blocking software while visiting us, as this site depends on advertising revenue to operate. If you do run an ad blocker, please add tvtropes.org to its exception list, or consider donating to the site to have certain ads removed.

    What to do if you suspect a malicious ad 
  • We (or the ad provider) place a "Report advertisement" link next to most advertising frames. Clicking on this will generate an automatic report and is the best way to do so. If you cannot click on this link or do not see it, continue for more advice.
  • Try to identify the source URL of the suspect ad (see below). You can also use the target URL (if you are redirected), but note that this may be intentionally obfuscated by the ad provider to hide the source.
  • Identify the ad provider. Some ads have a small area that links to the ad provider's page (like Google or AOL). In other cases, you can tell from the referral URL or you can look it up in a search.
  • Go to the ad provider's contact/abuse page and fill out their form. Below are some links to common providers' abuse pages:
  • Scan your computer for viruses. If your antivirus software will not operate (many malicious programs attempt to disable your antivirus software), you can download a scanning tool on a known clean system and run it on your infected machine from a read-only CD-R or flash drive.
  • If you suspect that you've been tricked into divulging personal information to a phishing attempt or other fraud, change your passwords to affected sites immediately and contact your bank, credit card companies, and the credit bureaus to request a fraud alert.
  • Please note that TV Tropes cannot assist you with the specifics of maintaining your computer. That's your responsibility. You may request general help in the appropriate forums, but please don't post new threads in the forums dedicated to wiki operation (Wiki Talk, Frequently Asked Questions, etc.).
  • Sometimes, the wiki administration can get better results from the ad providers in dealing with malicious ads. If you can identify a malicious ad by referral URL, you can post the link in this thread, but please omit the "http" component so it doesn't create a hyperlink that someone might click on inadvertently.

    Identifying the source of an ad 
  • For image ads, right-clicking (or a long tap on mobile devices) should give you the option to view and copy the URL that clicking on it will send you to.
  • For Flash, Java, or HTML 5.0 ads, it may be difficult to identify the source or the URL by right-clicking. In these cases, you need to view the page source to identify the ad so we can report it.
  • In Internet Explorer, you can right-click in a blank or text area of any web page, and choose View Source from the context menu. Firefox also has this option. In Chrome, you can use the Inspect Element menu option, which interactively highlights the portion of the page whose code you are hovering over. You can use this to identify the ad frame and its source URL.
  • For embedded ads, there will be a "frame" element with a "src" parameter. Drill down until you get to the lowest level. All we need to identify the ad is the "src" URL from that frame.

    Ad-free subscription 
As of May 21, 2019, users have the option of purchasing a subscription to use TV Tropes without third-party ads (ads that we create and serve ourselves may still appear). Please see this thread for more information or to discuss the service.

Edited by kory on Nov 15th 2023 at 10:36:27 AM

rimpala it's... HIM from Florida Since: Jan, 2001
it's... HIM
#451: Feb 24th 2014 at 7:17:35 PM

I normally don't like to complain but, is there a way to guarantee the auto play ads at least have a mute option? Got a series of ones recently that do not allow me to pause, mute, or do anything with the controls at the bottom of the video. If I can't use the controls why are they there in the first place? I hope I'm not sounding too unreasonable here.

Oh look I mispeled somethink.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#452: Feb 24th 2014 at 7:25:51 PM

Nope, because the autoplay ads aren't even supposed to be here at all. What is or isn't enabled on them is entirely up to the producing company, not us. If you see one, please report it here so we can tell the ad server to get rid of it. Our contract says that we don't have to accept them.

edited 24th Feb '14 7:27:56 PM by Madrugada

lrrose Since: Jul, 2009
#453: Feb 25th 2014 at 8:02:26 AM

I've been getting autoplay video ads everywhere on the wiki (including the home page, but not including the forums). The videos advertise things from Tampa Bay cruises, to Tokyo tourist attractions, to Clerisil, to an arm wrestling show on AMC.

edited 25th Feb '14 8:02:38 AM by lrrose

FastEddie Since: Apr, 2004
#454: Feb 25th 2014 at 9:08:23 AM

Reported.

Goal: Clear, Concise and Witty
randomsurfer Since: Jan, 2001
#455: Feb 26th 2014 at 8:15:32 AM

Gah! It's everywhere! They don't stop and can't be muted!

Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#456: Feb 26th 2014 at 12:04:52 PM

Same as [up][up][up]. I think another video ad started in the middle of the first, too. The ads have ads.

Should I be looking for it in the source code so I can report it properly?

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
porschelemans Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat from A Giant Hamster Ball Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat
#457: Feb 26th 2014 at 12:44:13 PM

Expanding advert appearing for "Ford Ecosport", which expands without interaction from user.

edited 26th Feb '14 12:44:32 PM by porschelemans

I'm so sorry that my avatar doesn't appear fully in the shot, but the cat was threatening the photographer.
Madrugada MOD Since: Jan, 2001
#458: Feb 26th 2014 at 2:02:16 PM

Giving us the code for the ads is best. If you can't do that, at least give us the product the ad is trying to sell.

Just screaming that they're showing up doesn't give us anything to go to the ad provider with.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#459: Feb 26th 2014 at 2:04:26 PM

How do I tell the ad code on Chrome?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#460: Feb 26th 2014 at 2:06:22 PM

Press F12 and hover your mouse over the element you want to inspect. You can then dig into the code to find the source of the ad script.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#461: Feb 26th 2014 at 2:18:01 PM

I think the video player (which shows up at the bottom of the page) cycles through different ads; some of them play on mute until you hover the mouse over them, but some (including one Genesis of Sport ad that talks about Shaun White) play with sound automatically. I'm not sure the pause button works at all, either. Maybe it actually just triggers the next one to cycle in.

My favorite option, of course, is that they ax the video player altogether. Weren't we supposed to get no video ads, with or without audio?

EDIT: Just saw the Genesis one again, but it was only playing audio when the mouse was over it. :/ I think the player is just glitchy. AX IT.

edited 26th Feb '14 2:21:49 PM by Knowlessman

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#462: Feb 26th 2014 at 2:26:52 PM

Yes, we're supposed to have no autoplaying video at all. I'm not sure why the ad provider is putting the burden on us to report them, rather than pre-screening their content. It smacks of a depressingly laissez-faire attitude.

edited 26th Feb '14 2:27:12 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#463: Feb 26th 2014 at 5:10:24 PM

I'm also getting pop-ups on my phone yakking about a FREE something-DU app. Something about, "Fixing your Android phone."

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
KesagakeBoy from Checotah, Oklahoma Since: Mar, 2013
#464: Feb 26th 2014 at 5:13:23 PM

I also get those; I might try and see where it's coming from next time it happens.

Well in 1941 a happy father had a son . . .
Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#465: Feb 26th 2014 at 5:18:11 PM

Just got it twice in a row. First one said "optimized-by-Rubicon.com says." Second one said "page at tvtropes.org says."

Also, apparently it's the DU Speed Booster app.

Please get somebody to kill it ASAP. I just know it's going to get spammed at me now that I've named it.

EDIT: Disabling Javascript disables the pop-up. And all the post buttons. And most everything else. Fuck these advertisers with rusty gardening tools.

edited 26th Feb '14 7:38:37 PM by Knowlessman

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
randomsurfer Since: Jan, 2001
#466: Feb 27th 2014 at 10:41:49 AM

[Some unknown ad with two dogs driving a car], New York City, Fiinsh Power & Free, different New York City, Friskies, the 2nd New York City again, Clearisil, Beyond the List, Friskies again, NYC #1 again, ...

Sometimes there are two on one page - even if you get one stopped the other one underneath can't be affected.

IDK if I'm doing something wrong, but hitting "View souce" in IE isn't bringing anything up.

EarlOfSandvich Since: Jun, 2011
#467: Feb 27th 2014 at 12:32:33 PM

I'd have to say that the latest Air Wick ads displaying at the bottom of some pages are really getting obnoxious. Plays without my input and doesn't pause when I tell it to.

I think it is here:

<iframe name="oauth2relay953619222" id="oauth2relay953619222" src="https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/postmessageRelay?parent=http%3A%2F%2Ftvtropes.org#rpctoken=780359727&forcesecure=1" tabindex="-1" style="width: 1px; height: 1px; position: absolute; top: -100px;"></iframe>

I now go by Graf von Tirol.
SpitefulFox Wizzard Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: I want you to want me
Wizzard
#468: Feb 28th 2014 at 12:11:17 AM

I've been getting autoplay ads with sound on every page today. Ads were for things such as Honey Bunches of Oats, Spike TV, and some other stuff. The ads would cycle into different ads and wouldn't let me stop or mute. I hate to do this, but I've had to re-enable adblock for TV Tropes since having multiple tabs open was killing my browser.

FastEddie Since: Apr, 2004
#469: Feb 28th 2014 at 2:50:19 AM

Yeah, one of the ad providers really sucks at controlling third party ads. It's like they say "Let the sites complain, that will filter out the bad stuff."

Too bad we can't just dump 'em. I'll keep after them.

Goal: Clear, Concise and Witty
Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#470: Feb 28th 2014 at 9:29:20 AM

On the plus side, I think the phone-only pop-ups have disappeared.

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
peccantis Since: Oct, 2010
#471: Mar 2nd 2014 at 4:30:24 AM

Obnoxious and "really tickling the edge" not-quite-NSFW ads for League of Angels (ya know, those with the ballooning boobs.

Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#472: Mar 2nd 2014 at 5:30:13 AM

[up] Yeah, those haven't stopped since Evony was a thing. I think there's a loophole or something protecting them.

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
Midna Blorbonmyoji (he/she/they) from way down south in the land of the traitors (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Blorbonmyoji (he/she/they)
#473: Mar 2nd 2014 at 10:18:28 PM

I keep getting a Mucinex ad at the bottom that not only plays sound automatically, but gets really really fucking loud when I roll over it, courtesy of d2jsa98b45howd.cloudfront.net.

pearlina brainrot affects millions of people worldwide. if you or a loved one are suffering from pearlina brainrot, call 1-800-GAY-NERDS
immortalfrieza Since: May, 2011
#474: Mar 3rd 2014 at 9:37:06 PM

[up]I've not only sometimes been getting a number of different ads that play and play sound automatically, typically at the bottom of the pages, but the sound is erratic. By that I mean the sound is cutting in for a split second randomly while the video is playing whether I put my cursor on them or not, but is otherwise silent. The only way to get it to stop is to go and pause the video, if it can be paused.

edited 3rd Mar '14 9:53:56 PM by immortalfrieza

Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#475: Mar 3rd 2014 at 10:05:24 PM

All things considered, the video player can go fuck itself. It showed up as an attempt to get around the promises made by the ad service to this wiki, and on top of that, it's glitchy enough to violate them on its own.

The Zazzle panel, I actually liked looking at.

edited 3rd Mar '14 10:05:58 PM by Knowlessman

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby

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