Blocking page shows ads for 7search

[merodach]

I saw another thread that mentioned the ads on the blocking page. My question is not "why'd you put ads there?". I understand the need to make money off the people using the product for "free".

Instead my question is why put in ads for/via 7search? The site is home to a known browser hijacker/spyware program (7FaSSt) and anti-malware vendors have labeled it as such for a few years now.

[WebFooL]

Hi merodach,

I think that it exist a long long thread where they discuss way.
And in that thread they go thorough what steps they are taking so that not "badware" or "porn" ads but it can be that just this has slip by there inspection.

I guess that some UT staff will have to answer that part.

Edit:
here is the long long thread :P
http://forums.untangle.com/networkin...=Ads+webfilter

[hescominsoon]

everytime i've tried to click an add in the 7search it either doesn't resolve or gets blocked by the opendns backend i have up. 7 search is a bad idea.

[sky-knight]

The links presented are just text, and incapable of infecting anything. When a user clicks the link the new web request is still subject to the rack.

I've always laughed when I see an add, I click it, and I get another block page.

UT needs the AD revenue, but it is also protecting you from the negative aspects of that revenue generation. Untangle themselves have also gotten all over their advertising partner more than once because things were coming up that shouldn't have been there.

If you've got a link that is known to be bad, grab a screen shot, the full link to the destination and shove them into an e-mail to support. They WILL go nuclear on it. Untangle needs the money from the AD's sure, but they will not tolerate those AD's being destructive.

[hescominsoon]

use google ads..something reputable..

[sky-knight]

All I can add to that is...

I honestly hope that was in jest... because if it isn't you've got some good stuff over there and I demand you start sharing!

[merodach]

When a user clicks the link the new web request is still subject to the rack.

Odd - that's not what our Symantec Endpoint Protection said when I clicked on one of the links.....

[7searchguys]

I saw another thread that mentioned the ads on the blocking page. My question is not "why'd you put ads there?". I understand the need to make money off the people using the product for "free".

Instead my question is why put in ads for/via 7search? The site is home to a known browser hijacker/spyware program (7FaSSt) and anti-malware vendors have labeled it as such for a few years now.

Good afternoon Merodach,

Everyone is entitled to their opinions on the effectiveness of an ad group as far as earning potential. I respect your opinions and my intention is not to attempt to "sell" you on 7search.com pay per click advertising and affiliate services.

However, your reference to 7FaSST search is dated and no longer factual. Our association with this program ended in 2003 (at our request) as we found that the program creators used it to acquire data in a manner that we did not intend. 7search does not create, nor condone the use of malware, not support or promote 7FaSSt.

Our previous association with this program is something that we have dealt with for the past 7 years, and there are thousands of advertisers who can confirm that 7search does not spread malware or viruses of any sort.

Anti-malware vendors who have listed us as such likely haven't taken the time to review our service or actually test it to verify the substance of these claims. McAfee was one such authority that red flagged our services, and after much back and forth, finally reviewed 7search and found that we did not, in fact, attempt to install anything. Subsequently, they gave our service a "green" rating.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about 7search. We have been a leading PPC provider since 1999 and welcome your feedback! Pm me here or email me - cleo at 7search dot com and I will be happy to assist you.

Regards,

Cleo

[sky-knight]

That's because your end point protection is intercepting the web request from the browser as it leaves your workstation. You didn't give that request a chance to even hit Untangle.

[merodach]

That's because your end point protection is intercepting the web request from the browser as it leaves your workstation. You didn't give that request a chance to even hit Untangle.

Hmm...

<turns off sep>
"403"

huh. DERP!

Still, why bother with 7search if it's going to get blocked? Is this a left-hand vs. right-hand thing?