Why do all external links have to go through an advertiser?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 2
From: Iraq and other places
Why do all external links have to go through an advertiser?
It seems that every external link placed within a post on the forum is converted to redirect via http://apicdn.viglink.com/
I often browse on my work laptop when travelling, and this domain is blocked as being untrusted and unsecure.
Every other forum I visit treats links as normal. Is this some way that PPRUNE has found to make money off of people? It's a real pain in the a**e.
I often browse on my work laptop when travelling, and this domain is blocked as being untrusted and unsecure.
Every other forum I visit treats links as normal. Is this some way that PPRUNE has found to make money off of people? It's a real pain in the a**e.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Every other forum I visit treats links as normal. Is this some way that PPRuNe has found to make money off of people? It's a real pain in the a**e.
Hosting something like PPRuNe is not something you can do on one of those cheap dollar per month hosting contracts !
There's no such thing as a free lunch, the money has to come from somewhere.
I'm sure the operators of PPRuNe would appreciate a suitably sized charitable donation from your chequebook in return for removing adverts....
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 2
From: Iraq and other places
Clearly you did not really understand my point.
I have no objection to the banner ads, etc. My issue is that every external link that people post is converted by the forum to instead point to an advertisers site, which then instantly redirects to the original link.
This goes against decent practice, as you're switching out the links that people post without warning, and redirecting to a site that at least according to our provider here is a security risk.
Of the many forums I have visited online, this seems to be the only one that does it. This, though, is the only one that is run for profit, so I suppose they are happy to sacrifice usability in return for more income.
I have no objection to the banner ads, etc. My issue is that every external link that people post is converted by the forum to instead point to an advertisers site, which then instantly redirects to the original link.
This goes against decent practice, as you're switching out the links that people post without warning, and redirecting to a site that at least according to our provider here is a security risk.
Of the many forums I have visited online, this seems to be the only one that does it. This, though, is the only one that is run for profit, so I suppose they are happy to sacrifice usability in return for more income.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
Likes: 686
From: Twickenham, home of rugby
Katamarino,
Can I suggest that you look at page 2 of this thread:
http://www.pprune.org/computer-inter...wont-open.html
It's worth persevering with, I can assure you.
SD
Can I suggest that you look at page 2 of this thread:
http://www.pprune.org/computer-inter...wont-open.html
It's worth persevering with, I can assure you.
SD
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Dorking
Are the links that you are seeing highlighted in green?
If so, it's probably something that you've picked up while downloading free software, and the simple work around is to install the 'adblock' extension for your browser.
If so, it's probably something that you've picked up while downloading free software, and the simple work around is to install the 'adblock' extension for your browser.
***RETIRED*** Do Not Contact
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 0
From: LA
Also, is it possible you're only seeing those viglinks while NOT logged in to your PP account? You should not see them if logged in to your free account.
If you are logged in and are still seeing them, please let me know your browser/version, OS, ISP and device and we can troubleshoot.
Paul
If you are logged in and are still seeing them, please let me know your browser/version, OS, ISP and device and we can troubleshoot.
Paul
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,397
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
When using Win8.1u1 with IE11, PPRuNe is s l o w.
If I use Win8.1u1 with Firefox, the pages loaad quicker, but there are a lot of 'transferring data from' flags at the lower left hand edge whilst these infernal 'tailored advertising' things load. Including viglink....
This applies whether or not I've logged in.
The odd advert is one thing, it's these links which cause issues.
I'm aware of how InternetBrands and Viglink use these systems for commercial benefit; however, as a miserable old git I make it a policy NEVER to buy anything from one of these 'tailored' advertisers.....and I suspect that I'm not the only one.
Too much advertising will only mean that more and more people will resort to Adblockers.
If I use Win8.1u1 with Firefox, the pages loaad quicker, but there are a lot of 'transferring data from' flags at the lower left hand edge whilst these infernal 'tailored advertising' things load. Including viglink....
This applies whether or not I've logged in.
The odd advert is one thing, it's these links which cause issues.
I'm aware of how InternetBrands and Viglink use these systems for commercial benefit; however, as a miserable old git I make it a policy NEVER to buy anything from one of these 'tailored' advertisers.....and I suspect that I'm not the only one.
Too much advertising will only mean that more and more people will resort to Adblockers.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
https://adblockplus.org/en/internet-explorer
That works a treat mate.
No more tailored Viagra advertisements any more
That works a treat mate.
No more tailored Viagra advertisements any more
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 970
Likes: 1
From: Timbuktu
beagle, adblock can't stop click-tracking redirection of links... Observe the URL to mad_jock's link:
Code:
http://apicdn.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=1e857e7500cdd32403f752206c297a3d&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pprune.org%2Fcomputer-internet-issues-troubleshooting%2F545949-why-do-all-external-links-have-go-through-advertiser.html&out=https%3A%2F%2Fadblockplus.org%2Fen%2Finternet-explorer&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pprune.org%2Fcomputer-internet-issues-troubleshooting-46%2F
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
