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AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

adnauseam.io

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Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#41

Post by NoGravitas »

tyingq wrote: post #25
mtarnovan wrote: post #3

Wow, 'Do no evil' huh?

I assume AdNauseam's random clicking is viewed as click fraud[1] by Google. Then, I'm guessing click fraud falls under the "Interfering with Third-party Ads and Websites" section[2] of the developer policy. [1] https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/16737?hl=en [2] https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/program_policies (ctrl-f, then search for "Interfering with Third-party Ads and Websites") Edit: Hmm, below is co…

That's not the justification the store gave for banning it, though.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#42

Post by ben0x539 »

Spoom wrote: post #29

At the risk of downvotes: Is anyone really surprised? AdNauseam is silently clicking ads. This directly costs Google money . Google happens to control the extension web store for their own browser. Removing it from the store really isn't that bad. Uninstalling it from existing browsers as malware? A little more malicious, but I would still consider it self defense. There is even a method to install it directly[1] whi…

People should still be giving Google shit for decisions like that, even if they're not surprised.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#43

Post by Spoom »

NoGravitas wrote: post #34
Spoom wrote: post #29

At the risk of downvotes: Is anyone really surprised? AdNauseam is silently clicking ads. This directly costs Google money . Google happens to control the extension web store for their own browser. Removing it from the store really isn't that bad. Uninstalling it from existing browsers as malware? A little more malicious, but I would still consider it self defense. There is even a method to install it directly[1] whi…

According to TFA, they are also blocking manual installs and updates.

If true, that would be a bit more disappointing. Can someone verify?

Edit: Keep in mind I'm referring to developer mode installation per the link above, not directly installing the extension package from the store or a file.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#44

Post by square90 »

The Firefox extension review turned this up:

"If you have a YouTube channel (s) and your logged in to that channel it will get your channel suspended for Violation of TOU #4 Section H" [1]

Has anyone else confirmed this behavior on YouTube?

1. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adnauseam/rev...

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#45

Post by Aldo_MX »

tyingq wrote: post #17
tetrep wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea is to mess with advertisers' metrics. If people using ad blockers are peaceful protesters, AdNauseam is trying to riot.

Assuming they aren't detected as fraudulent, it's messing with more than metrics. The advertisers, in many cases, are paying per click. Edit: Not making a judgement here, just clarifying that the extension is doing more than messing with metrics.

The advertisers don't mind paying for disruptive, intrusive, battery-draining, bandwidth-consuming, rich-media advertisements, so I don't mind draining their wallets.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#46

Post by Pica_soO »

If Google where clever they would welcome this as creative destruction and search for a way to diversify there revenue stream mono-culture. But they cant, because they are the gold standard, and everything new will look like dirt besides the dairy cow that keeps the comfy live afloat. Thus google has become Microsoft, and Microsoft has become Google, the cycle is complete.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#47

Post by mcintyre1994 »

tyingq wrote: post #25
mtarnovan wrote: post #3

Wow, 'Do no evil' huh?

I assume AdNauseam's random clicking is viewed as click fraud[1] by Google. Then, I'm guessing click fraud falls under the "Interfering with Third-party Ads and Websites" section[2] of the developer policy. [1] https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/16737?hl=en [2] https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/program_policies (ctrl-f, then search for "Interfering with Third-party Ads and Websites") Edit: Hmm, below is co…

A policy of not "Interfering with Apps, Third-party Ads, or Device Functionality" in the Chrome Store sounds like it'd outrule every adblocker.

The description of that rule also doesn't seem to apply: "Ads associated with your app must not interfere with other apps, ads, or the operation of the device, including system or device buttons and ports." It's specifically under the ads section of the policy.

I'm not sure the policy applies in any way to Chrome either: "...ensure that together we continue to deliver the world's most innovative and trusted apps to over a billion people through Google Play." EDIT: The link has been changed and now points to the equivalent Chrome Store policy. My other 2 points remain true though.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#48

Post by downandout »

It's pretty simple: this has to be wreaking havoc with Adsense - depleting ad budgets, artificially inflating CTRs, and giving website owners revenue they didn't earn. This extension also exposes website owners to unfair Adsense bans for generating high numbers of invalid clicks, which can cost them two months of revenue that is almost always withheld when Google bans a site. So by using this you could be costing someone (your favorite blogger etc.) their livelihood.

If you are going to block ads, block them. Don't click on them.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#49

Post by philipov »

blauditore wrote: post #39
iUsedToCode wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's supposed to mess up the stats and inject uncertainty into ad analysis. They are trying to bring down the price of ads on the internet, thus making them unprofitable. I hope they succeed.

I find it a bit harsh to be so hostile towards online ads. After all, it's has been a significant source of income for innovative companies or services that couldn't exist otherwise, because users are notoriously reluctant to pay for virtual goods. Yes, tracking and overly intrusive fullpage popups are real issues, but not all ads are inherently evil.

Not all dictators are inherently evil either, but because of the state into which a dictatorial ecosystem inevitably declines, we don't want them either.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#50

Post by m-p-3 »

iUsedToCode wrote: post #8

This is why i don't use Chrome. Enough of my life is in google's hands. I believe they are already too big. I wish for a more open smartphone ecosystem and better tools for privacy.

I use Chrome, but I don't exclusively rely on it. I always have both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox installed on my systems/devices.
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