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Banner Ads – Have You Been Tricked Into Clicking?

Like so many internet users, Ben Edelman, is fed up with banner ads on websites and the deceptive practices used by these advertisers. Many of us have been there, happily browsing a website and then we see a “system error” message from Windows and we immediately think something is wrong with our computer such as a computer virus. We click the message to figure out what went wrong only to find out we were duped into clicking on an advertisement. Fortunately, Ben Edelman is an anti-spyware researcher who is taking the extra step to actually do something about it.

Specifically, Edelman is targeting Right Media, an internet advertising company owned by Yahoo. He has found that approximately thirty-five percent of all banner ads delivered by Right Media use deceptive practices and claims that Yahoo knows about it and has done absolutely nothing to remedy the situation. A list of 160 banner ad categories as defined by Right Media is being used to demonstrate the fact that the agency purposely uses shady practices includes several appalling categories such as “False Buttons” and “False Downloading Messages”. Ever thought you were clicking to "scan" your computer with free antivirus software for viruses only to find out that in do so, you actually downloaded a computer virus?

What is concerning is that if these advertisers are allowed to use deceptive advertising practices by Right Media or other online agencies who provide ad space, what else will they be allowed to do? The threat of spyware and adware being attached to these advertisements certainly looms in the air as many internet users have been attacked in just this manner. Though it seems that a company as large as Yahoo would take extra steps to protect internet users in this regard, they have not. As a result, it looks as though Ben Edelman will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau against Right Media. If you are fed up with deceptive banner advertisements on various websites, we suggest you file a complain, too. If enough people stand up against companies who use such horrendous advertising practices, somebody in charge may just step in and take action to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Additionally, be smart and protect your computer. Unless you are absolutely certain about what you are clicking on, don’t be tricked into clicking. You can also purchase or download one of the antivirus software products which we have reviewed. A firewall and a good antivirus software package will keep your computer and personal information from being attacked by malicious advertisers such as those using Right Media.

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