Banner at the bottom of the forum screen

[birdguy 3,943]

I had heard that payment comes only if you click on an ad.  Right now there is a banner ad at the bottom of the screen from LendingTree to refinance my house.  I don't need to refinance my house and if Lending Tree only refinances in the United States and half of the people on this forum lives in countries outside the United States then what's the point?

OOooops, it just changed to camera lenses.  I won't click on it because I don't need a camera lens.  Do any of you?  The sidebar ad just changed from New Mexico University to Hewlett Packard and as I am writing this to Century Link.

At Flightsim.com the ads are all flightsim related and I thing we are more inclined to click on something about a new A300 than Cisco Meraki which is on the sidebar now.

Now since I might be full of it here because I know very little about advertising maybe someone could enlighten me.  Ooooops, the sidebar just changed to vacuum cleaners.

Noel 

[charliearon 3,025]

Noel.  the ads you see reflect on your Google searching, past and present.  Everyone does not see the same adverts.  Folks who peruse the porn sites are likely to see adverts for dating/escort services, as an example.

[Ted Striker 338]

The banner ads are from Google. Chances are you will not be able to block them with google Chrome. I use Firefox on both my ipad and Pc and am able to block them with just the use of the built in firefox controls. I did not have to install an ad blocker plugin.

Before Google got more aggressive with the banner ads I was able to just block the google ads, which I never clicked on anyway, but the static flightsim ads remained, which I did click on sometimes. Unfortunately now to keep the more annoying dynamic google banner ads at bay I've had to increase the restrictions on the browser to where I don't get any ads. I donate to Avsim so I don't feel guilty about blocking the ads.

Being that we have only reached half way to the 2020 Avsim donation goal it looks like some more encouragement is needed. I know Avsim has access to a lot of user statistics so here's a thought. If Avsim could calculate and post what it costs to run the site on a per registered user hour basis it might give users a better idea of what their individual cost of maintaining the site is and provide more encouragement. One step further, Avsim could post each users running annual cost based on log in time, like a gas gauge, privately in their profile. Just a thought.

Ted

[birdguy 3,943]

Ted, I'm here a lot as are others I would call 'regulars'.  I donate what I can here.  Although I don't see it posted I recently donate $100 after the banner ads started appearing at the bottom.  I donate what I can when I can.  My  monthly budget already automatically donates to two children's hospitals, the Make a Wish Foundation, and the ASPCA.  So there are other things we donate to in addition to AVSIM.

Noel 

[W2DR 1,860]

First, let me say that this is in no way a recommended solution to anyone's problem.

What I was using for ad blocking stopped being effective in many instances. So, I called my Cyber-Security-Company-Owning-Son for advice. He told me to try this  https://adguard.com/en/blog/stayhome.html .

Problem solved. No ads of any kind anywhere. On either Chrome or Edge. I've roamed around on over a hundred websites now and have yet to see an ad anywhere. Free trial period for 90 days. For me it's a keeper.

Of course, all mileage is variable.

Doug

[HiFlyer 9,363]

6 minutes ago, W2DR said:

First, let me say that this is in no way a recommended solution to anyone's problem.

What I was using for ad blocking stopped being effective in many instances. So, I called my Cyber-Security-Company-Owning-Son for advice. He told me to try this  https://adguard.com/en/blog/stayhome.html .

Problem solved. No ads of any kind anywhere. On either Chrome or Edge. I've roamed around on over a hundred websites now and have yet to see an ad anywhere. Free trial period for 90 days. For me it's a keeper.

Of course, all mileage is variable.

Doug

I found a free solution... A VPN that simply blocks all ads. But, I figured the forum would not appreciate me linking it.

[W2DR 1,860]

Over the years I've donated my share  here. If they object to these kinds of posts I'll simply stop giving and move on.   -   Doug

[birdguy 3,943]

Thanks Doug.  I now have a clean AVSIM screen.  

Noel

Edited October 21, 2021 by birdguy

[W2DR 1,860]

Glad it helped Noel.....

[RichUK 474]

Adblocker ultimate works well here on Chrome. I find it a little confusing that Avsim are looking into the ads, ,they don't have control of the web site? Also, the ads are not always related to your browsing habits..I have had some pretty random ads recently. Either way, adblocker works and makes the site usable again. Plastering the site with ads that makes it impossible to use is not the answer. Lastly, people shouldn't be picking on random links (ads) on websites as a rule.

[birdguy 3,943]

If I were to click on an ad here, or anywhere, how much of my personal data is being mined?  Since I never answer telemarketer calls and calls from phone numbers I don't recognize why would I answer the telebrowsers messages on any website except perhaps Flightsim.com because their ads are all flightsim related and while the ads are side bar and a banner ad at the bottom they are unobtrusive.  They don't interfere with what you are doing.

Noel  

[goates 576]

1 hour ago, birdguy said:

If I were to click on an ad here, or anywhere, how much of my personal data is being mined?

They don't necessarily get your personal data (phone number, age etc.) directly, unless you give it to them (ie. Facebook account), but can still build a pretty detailed profile of you over time. Using the cookies that ads set when you visit a site, unless you block them, they can track what sites you visit and get a pretty good idea of what you like, and likely even a good idea of how old you are and whether you're a guy or girl. The ad companies will also do things like track when you visited a site, or searched for something on Google or Facebook, and then offer up more of that next year around the same time (think buying gardening supplies in the spring, or winter clothing in the fall). They will also try to link it to location data from your smartphone, to track where you go too. After a while they may well have a more detailed profile of you than you have of yourself.

There are a few articles out there that describe it in more detail.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/how-facebook-ad-tracking-and-targeting-works.html

Edited October 21, 2021 by goates

[W2DR 1,860]

37 minutes ago, birdguy said:

except perhaps Flightsim.com

Even there Noel.  You have no idea if those ads are genuine or spoofed (stuff stealing your info). My advice...NEVER CLICK ON ANYTHING IN AD...PERIOD. It's too bad it's come to that but that's just the way it is. That's why my son recommended the ad blocker I mentioned. He's a cyber security guy and he always tells be...the bad guys are probably more computer/web savvy than you are. Simply use a very good blocker as you have (the free ones are another issue worthy of another discussion) and the problem is solved. All I can say is..... Frank Sinatra had it right, 1955 was a very good year... I was just 17 back then.

[RichUK 474]

On 10/21/2021 at 12:03 PM, W2DR said:

NEVER CLICK ON ANYTHING IN AD...PERIOD.

Never a truer word spoken. It is dangerous to click on ads (or links). You have no idea where they are going to take you or what action might be performed. Ex-CSO ...been there seen that many times.

[Pascal_LSGC 298]

Ok, so, are we supposed to get used to it ? Because I won't.
Can we have an official stance from Avsim's staff that they really want to solve the issue? It's starting to look more and more like we are presented a "fait accompli".

Pascal