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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

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#1226: Jun 3rd 2015 at 7:58:00 AM

I got a weird banner add at the bottom, which invariably somehow redirects me to a popup talking about viruses on my android. This then boots me to an advert page for some app, which then launches the Windows Phone Store.

When I try to go back, it loses the page I was on.

IE 11, Windows Phone 8.1 GDR 2.

GarinaRayne Since: Apr, 2013
#1227: Jun 3rd 2015 at 9:25:29 AM

Same problem on my windows phone here.

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
#1228: Jun 3rd 2015 at 10:08:14 AM

My Android is seeing those same ads, although some are just rectangles with down-pointing arrows thanks to the click-to-play option somewhere in the settings.

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
Godeskian Since: Jan, 2001
#1229: Jun 3rd 2015 at 2:09:44 PM

And me, it tells me my android booster is out of date, then forcibly redirects me to a page for the Trivago app. HELP. The site is virtually unnavigable on a mobile platform at the moment.

Lightblade Since: Jan, 2001
#1230: Jun 3rd 2015 at 4:26:28 PM

I just got an autoplaying audio ad on my thread watchlist.

http://mobile-video.grab-media.com/live_nation/2015/03/30/7f7d8a09b7e81ce9233867006b1cfd0911e5c5e3_h264.mp4

Odd1 Still just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Still just awesome like that
#1231: Jun 4th 2015 at 2:55:30 AM

Oh my God the bottom of the screen mobile ads are just way too big. Gimme a min to upload a picture because I can't grab the URL.

edited 4th Jun '15 2:57:39 AM by Odd1

Insert witty 'n clever quip here.
Ominae Since: Jul, 2010
#1232: Jun 5th 2015 at 1:02:47 AM

Got ads on bottom of screen when I was browsing via Iphone.

whizzerd Transcender of Gender from Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Transcender of Gender
#1233: Jun 6th 2015 at 2:56:46 AM

I'm having the same problem on my Windows phone as Hopey up there; a banner ad and pop-up forcibly redirecting me to this.

they/them || "Forgive me, regent of queer amphibians" - Lt.BGob
IchigoPockyChama from my new account Since: Dec, 2013
#1234: Jun 7th 2015 at 4:18:51 AM

I'm having similar issues on my Android phone: pop-up ads at the bottom of the screen and a redirect to the Google Play store. Luckily, if I return to my browser from Google Play, I don't lose the page I was on.

RustyBill Texan by Choice from Deep in the Heart of Texas Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
Texan by Choice
#1235: Jun 7th 2015 at 10:35:59 AM

Ads update...

Installed Ad Block Plus and Ad Block Plus Popup Addon to Pale Moon. 90% of ads all over, not just here, have disappeared.

Ad Block Plus is originally for Fire Fox, but it works in Pale Moon as well. FYI.

Money can't buy happiness, but it can let you rent it for a while...
Yinyang107 from the True North (Decatroper) Relationship Status: Tongue-tied
#1236: Jun 7th 2015 at 2:10:20 PM

The thing is, blocking ads means that the admin team doesn't get any money from you, and they can't afford to simply pay for the servers out of pocket.

Odd1 Still just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Still just awesome like that
#1237: Jun 11th 2015 at 12:43:46 AM

Honestly, a script blocker would probably be best if you don't wanna put up with the more obnoxious ads here. Ads will still show, but you don't have to worry about autoplaying video or what have you.

Insert witty 'n clever quip here.
PixelatedVolume Since: Nov, 2014
#1238: Jun 11th 2015 at 11:34:39 AM

So I have an interesting problem – whenever I try to load a new page on this site, it takes about twenty times longer to load than any other page anywhere on the entire internet does. Firefox helpfully informs me it is Connecting to, Reading and Transferring Data from sites which are distinctly not this one, such as ad4.liverail.com, tubemogul.com, ascalemedia? or something, anvil.rubiconproject.com, objects.tremormedia, s2c.open.liverail.com, rtb.adrail.arena, dtm.advetising.com, pixel.moatads.com, vox-static.liverail.com, tags.bluekai.com, t4.liverail.com, ad.turn.com, js.moatads.com, videohub.com (there was more to that one that I missed), ads.adapttv.advertising.com, soundwave.banana.com, apps.safescout.com, dashbida.com, match.runspd.com, rbt-altitude.arena.com, www.googletagservices.com (liverail.com is by far the worst offender), and various others ranging from unintelligible to fishy. Sorry for the miserable transcription, I only see them for a few seconds. The only explanation I can think of is that it has something to do with ads here. The UR Ls also seem indicative of such.

At the moment I have had to resort to Internet Explorer to get this site to work. Firefox is completely and totally broken. I cannot load a single page effectively after touching Tv Tropes. I cannot even typoe this post in brower, I'm copy-pasting just to make sure it's comprehensible. Will update as to how long it takes to go away. (Rebooted, Firefox can now load other pages.)

Strangely IE seems to work great. Seems I'm stuck with that for a little. . .

The problem with loading from other sites only occurs on this website, most often on the forums, and only in Firefox. My ping is fine. My connection is fine. I'm not multitasking. Physical memory usage steady as always.

Make good-Kraltan assist.

edited 11th Jun '15 12:20:30 PM by PixelatedVolume

chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#1239: Jun 14th 2015 at 12:18:26 PM

Ad keeps automatically redirecting me to this address:

http://www.logoadvs.com/flv/ca/index.html?sid=2823&dv1=ad2814-ca&kw1=ad2814-ca-lm&uuid=f8ace465-cb34-49f2-5ff7-0f4079ce6c56

dotchan My Own Mind-Altering Substance from The Warner Water Tower (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
My Own Mind-Altering Substance
#1240: Jun 15th 2015 at 9:27:24 AM

System: Windows 7 Professional Brower: Mozilla Firefox Issue: Autoplaying video ads (again)—it's the Nissan ad, if that helps. I once had it play twice on the same page. D:

Chabal2 Since: Jan, 2010
#1241: Jun 15th 2015 at 1:51:22 PM

I'm not sure this if it's due to the ads, but I just had a bug where all the texts jumps back to the left (in WL and CV) under the "Featured Backers" ad.

Another where the ad isn't malware (as far as I can tell), but it shows up at the top of the page and expands on its own, covering up the page links (related pages, page source...).

SetsunasaNiWa Parole Model Since: Apr, 2015
Parole Model
#1242: Jun 16th 2015 at 11:09:35 AM

that rubiconproject one is (also?) behind the streaming video ads that more or less successfully try to keep their sound volume down. screenshot of inspect element tech bits.

Edit: though to be honest, I've grown indifferent to it. It's a long story.

edited 16th Jun '15 11:15:08 AM by SetsunasaNiWa

Exxolon Exxolon from UK Since: Jul, 2010
Exxolon
#1243: Jun 17th 2015 at 7:01:01 PM

Literally every page is now autolaunching the App Store on my iphone and trying to install the William Hill Betting App and forcing my browser to reload the previous page when I cancel out of it, including this page. I don't know why I'm bothering to post this as it's clear the site owners don't give a shit that their site is now pretty much a malware installation attack site that attempts to hijack users devices. Quite frankly I'm surprised the entire site hasn't been blacklisted.

Ripsaw These are the voyages... from The Belt Since: Jan, 2001
These are the voyages...
#1244: Jun 18th 2015 at 5:53:19 AM

[up]I browse TV Tropes from Safari and iOS Chrome all the time, and don't get those redirects. The culprit may be your phone. What model (e.g. 5, 6, 6+) and OS version are you running?

edited 18th Jun '15 5:53:46 AM by Ripsaw

Be careful what you wish for, 'cause you might just get it all...
AceOfScarabs I am now a shiny stone~ from Singapore Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
I am now a shiny stone~
#1245: Jun 18th 2015 at 5:56:05 AM

Could be an app that's doing that to him.

The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
Ripsaw These are the voyages... from The Belt Since: Jan, 2001
These are the voyages...
#1246: Jun 18th 2015 at 5:57:20 AM

[up] That was my point. Half the time, when someone accuses a site of being a malware launch platform, the malware was already on their device from something they did themselves.

Be careful what you wish for, 'cause you might just get it all...
Exxolon Exxolon from UK Since: Jul, 2010
Exxolon
#1247: Jun 21st 2015 at 5:51:26 AM

I'm running an iPhone 4 with the most up to date IOS and Safari this thing can support. I stress it's ONLY this site that's causing issues - no other site I use is doing this.

PixelatedVolume Since: Nov, 2014
#1248: Jun 21st 2015 at 7:12:33 AM

Same for me, if my problems happened everywhere I'd think it was a system virus but it only happens here.

drewski MOD Since: Jul, 2013
#1249: Jun 21st 2015 at 8:15:08 AM

We definitely don't allow for redirects or malware installs. Do you have any more information on the app store redirects? Any URL's that appear to be doing the redirecting? We work with 5 different ad partners and it is really hard to figure out which one is the culprit - especially when they all deny it.


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