InformAction Forums

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2012 2:55 pm**

I hope that this is the right place to ask this question.

I just downloaded NoScript to a new installation of Mac OS, and when it took me to noscript.net/?ver=2.3.9, there was an ad "We Recommend: Is Your PC Too Slow? by Enigmasoftware.com", and NoScript had blocked scripts from recomendedsite.com (yes, one "m"). This seem strange because (a) the ad is trying to run a script knowing I just downloaded NoScript and (b) it is for (I believe) Windows software. I have had other strange issues with this computer, and I just want to be sure that no one is messing with my internet connection and injecting code.

Have others seen this ad? (I went to noscript.net/?ver=2.3.9 on another computer with a different ISP and the ad did not show up).

Thx

A

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2012 4:25 am**

alanterra wrote:I just downloaded NoScript to a new installation of Mac OS, and when it took me to noscript.net/?ver=2.3.9, there was an ad "We Recommend: Is Your PC Too Slow? by Enigmasoftware.com", and NoScript had blocked scripts from recomendedsite.com (yes, one "m"). This seem strange because (a) the ad is trying to run a script knowing I just downloaded NoScript and (b) it is for (I believe) Windows software. I have had other strange issues with this computer, and I just want to be sure that no one is f**king with my internet connection and injecting code.

Have others seen this ad? (I went to noscript.net/?ver=2.3.9 on another computer with a different ISP and the ad did not show up).

I haven't seen that ad, nor that script, attempt to run at the NoScript page to which you refer.

I just loaded that exact URL, and I get the same page as always, which includes an ad for some Windows registry-scanning software. That's a long-term contract, AFAIK, due to the fact that donations aren't supporting what has become a full-time job (or more) for the developer.

I tried to find recomendedsite.com, and found

Code: Select all

http://d.recomendedsite.com/root.php

Who we are?

AfterDownload is the leading software-focused display advertising network, working with industry leaders both as advertisers and publishers. We have implemented strict compliance measures in order to protect our network's audience as well as our valuable advertiser and publisher partners.

Perhaps this ad is Mac-specific, as I (on Windows) haven't seen either the ad or that script.
Not unusual that a third-party ad tries to run script per se; their ads probably run at thousands of sites, all but one of which have nothing to do with script-blocking.

To be certain, I'll ask Giorgio if this is indeed expected to appear on the page.

On a side note, the issue of ads in general, this writer has many times observed that if each of the 2,000,000+ NS users donated even two or three dollars, pounds, or euros, if not the USD $15 suggested at download, then probably there would be no need for ads at all. Just an observation.

ETA:

(I went to noscript.net/?ver=2.3.9 on another computer with a different ISP and the ad did not show up).

What OS was on that machine?

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2012 4:39 am**

I certainly hope it doesn't take millions of dollars to keep No Script running, but guilty as charged (I'm usually pretty good, but wasn't here). I'll do it, and thanks.

I was feeling very paranoid because other things weren't working either, but now I think it was just an inappropriate ad, put up on the NoScript verification page in a really hideous manner. (I searched for "advertising" on the forum before posting, and didn't find anything, but it looks like everyone uses "ad" when talking about these things, which I never thought to search for.) Sorry if I am just causing problems, I'll go away now (and donate!)

Note added: This email confirms that you have donated $5.00 USD to Giorgio Maone...

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2012 4:50 am**

alanterra wrote:I certainly hope it doesn't take millions of dollars to keep No Script running, but guilty as charged (I'm usually pretty good, but wasn't here). I'll do it, and thanks.

Surely "everyone" wouldn't, and I wasn't chastising you; just a point about having ad scripts on a site famous for blocking them, which has struck many as ironic.

alanterra wrote:I was feeling very paranoid because other things weren't working either, but now I think it was just an inappropriate ad, put up on the NoScript verification page in a really hideous manner.

IIUC, Giorgio codes those into the page, so he should have control over appearance (versus just selling space on the page to an ad agency).
So I'm curious, too.

Sorry if I am just causing problems, I'll go away now (and donate!)

No problem at all. Better to find out, and if there *is* some infection in your machine, etc., you really need to know.
If not, then I"m sure that Giorgio will appreciate the feedback on the presentation.

Given that it was not reproduceable on a different machine and ISP (can you try same machine, different ISP, and different machine, same ISP?), and that "other things" aren't working, then malware is a definite possibility, inluding an adware infection. So I too would like to know whether this was expected behavior.

And on behalf of Giorgio, thank you for the donation.

(The entire Support Team is unpaid volunteers.)

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2012 8:11 am**

As Tom found, recomendedsite.com belongs to Afterdownload who's currently contributing to support NoScript & Flashgot development.
Of course, the scripts are blocked notwithstanding this partnership, because we don't add new sites to the default whitelist unless strictly necessary.

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