Google Ad Disguising Itself as www.gimp.org

LinuxBender wrote: post #2

Apparently the malicious ads are hidden when using uBlock [1] [1] - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin...

That's precisely the reason why I use uBlock

Re: Google Ad Disguising Itself as www.gimp.org

#6

Post by Pathogen-David » Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 3:36 PM UTC

This is also a huge issue with Blender and pops up on /r/blender from time to time.

(Here's a few random recent examples: https://redd.it/xxkx5s https://redd.it/vvrxko https://redd.it/xwkky8 https://redd.it/vuqu1r)

Ad networks and content providers get up in arms over widespread ad blocking but then allow stuff like this through.

Re: Google Ad Disguising Itself as www.gimp.org

#7

Post by captainmuon » Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 3:39 PM UTC

How is it even possible to spoof the shown URL?

Re: Google Ad Disguising Itself as www.gimp.org

#8

Post by dwringer » Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 3:41 PM UTC

tantalor wrote: post #3

Happens for me. Ad says "gimp.org" but links to "gimp.monster". Reported.

Well, it just took me to "giipm.org", a remarkable 10 hours after this was originally posted. It shows "gimp.org" in the status bar when I highlight it with the mouse, but of course "copy link address" just gets a link going through www.googleadservices.com/pagead/ with some long hashes at the end.

Re: Google Ad Disguising Itself as www.gimp.org

#9

Post by thethethethe » Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 3:42 PM UTC

tantalor wrote: post #3

Happens for me. Ad says "gimp.org" but links to "gimp.monster". Reported.

I just tried it and now it is 'gilimp.org'

The site looks legit

Re: Google Ad Disguising Itself as www.gimp.org

#10

Post by dvngnt_ » Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 3:46 PM UTC

nothing new same thing happens with crypto searches.

solution is to install adblock on every device