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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

#71

Post by Artemis2 »

Spoom wrote: post #43
NoGravitas wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I tried earlier today in Chrome Canary in developer mode and after a short while the extension disabled itself. When I try to enable it back again the console on the Extensions page says "Unchecked runtime.lastError while running management.setEnabled: Extension kkendhmcacabobepidajpejenjinojhp cannot be modified by user."

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#72

Post by acobster »

nimbix wrote: post #20

"Company which makes its money from advertising bans automated click fraud extension from being used in its browser."

Not that I'm really surprised by Google's action, but "fraud" is a pretty strong word for what's happening, and pretty disingenuous IMO. No one's pretending to be anyone they're not.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#73

Post by Spoom »

cuu508 wrote: post #67
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…

> This directly costs Google money. Instead of playing dirty they could accept the challenge and tweak their click-fraud algorithms. Reminds me of the joke about Jesus and Moses playing golf.

Why get into an arms race when you control the battlefield?

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#74

Post by dpark »

_ofdw wrote: post #53
blauditore wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I can't name a single online service that is supported by ads and that I couldn't live without. >not all ads are inherently evil. All advertising is manipulation. Advertisers are bad and should feel bad.

> I can't name a single online service that is supported by ads and that I couldn't live without.

How about search and email? All the major players are ad supported.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#75

Post by deadcast »

iopq wrote: post #64

Installed AdNauseam on Firefox as soon as I heard. Never heard of this extension before, now I'll use it!

Yeah I just installed it as well and it's fun seeing all of the content that gets clicked on. Searching on Google shows at least 15 ads clicked/blocked. No wonder they hate this extension!

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#76

Post by abhv »

By clicking on the ads automatically, it seems like Adnauseum actually supports the underlying website (which earns $$) while also performing the function of muBlock. It is currently the best of both worlds!

I would like an AdNauseum type interface for video.

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#77

Post by abhv »

downandout wrote: post #48

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 som…

How can the Adsense distinguish whether it is AdNauseum clicking or the human clicking?

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#78

Post by notahacker »

siegecraft wrote: post #58
downandout wrote: post #48

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 som…

Were there really enough people using this to cause such an impact?

If someone creates a plugin with the stated goal of screwing up your clients' analytics to discourage them from paying you, do you really wait for it to work before you remove it from your platform?

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#79

Post by claudius »

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…

> But the whole attitude that this is some sort of tyrannical thing is a little over the top.

This is the exact sort of thing anti-monopoly laws are intended to work against: that a major market force in one market uses that power to intrude or support itself in another market. Since Google Chrome undoubtedly has a sufficiently large market share that this may be a concern and the removal of this extension certainly affects the advertisement market, this seems like a very dangerous move for Google.

Yes, it may be considered “self-defense” but is the cost incurred really so large that they want to risk another lawsuit?

Re: AdNauseam Banned from the Google Web Store

#80

Post by hedora »

siegecraft wrote: post #58
downandout wrote: post #48

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 som…

Were there really enough people using this to cause such an impact?

There is one more now. I completely forgot to install this until I saw this story this morning.
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