# Sick to death of the hacking attempts **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 14, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161 "2011-12-14T13:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/41 "2011-12-14T21:01:17Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Basic statistics tells you when you sample from a pool over 200 times smaller and find significantly more infections that something is wrong. Oh, please. I look on Gaia and here’s the first thing I see: > **[McAfee consider Gaia a risky site today. | Page 1 | Forum | Gaia Online](https://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-discussion/mcafee-consider-gaia-a-risky-site-today/t.75718743_1/)** > > Gaia Online is an online hangout, incorporating social networking, forums, gaming and a virtual world. > [@](#): > > McAfee consider Gaia a risky site today. > > How long does it take… > > I can’t surf Gaia without the big red bar appearing on the top of the page. I looked at the comments people are typing to McAfee about Gaia, and seriously Gaia needs to do something to improve the security/quality of the site. Sound familiar? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/42 "2011-12-14T21:06:50Z")
Based on some rough math based on the average #'s I posted upthread, 5,000,000 impressions a month should equal about 100,000 click-throughs per month. With a $10 avg CPM, the revenue would be about $10k per month. I have a feeling that the SDMB gets well below that average CPM though, so it’s probably less than that but that’s a rough guesstimate based on what I know of digital ad sales. With the costs involved with keeping this site running (I have no idea how much that would be), I think it’s safe to say that nobody is getting rich off of this board. I know this wasn’t really on topic, but I think it helps give some perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/43 "2011-12-14T21:12:24Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > Oh, please. I look on Gaia and here’s the first thing I see: > > [http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-discussion/mcafee-consider-gaia-a-risky-site-today/t.75718743\_1/](http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-discussion/mcafee-consider-gaia-a-risky-site-today/t.75718743_1/) > > Sound familiar? Oh, I hadn’t realized they had a McAfee alert six weeks ago. I’ll consider my argument thoroughly rebutted. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/44 "2011-12-14T21:39:06Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I don’t use AdBlock, and people who do piss me off. If I like a site enough to go there frequently, the least I can do is not deprive them of revenue like some entitlement-minded child. And if the site actually took a more proactive approach regarding stamping down autoplaying video ads, ads with sound, mouse-over rollout ads and ads serving malware, many people who have been forced to install adblocking software may not have done so in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/45 "2011-12-14T21:39:52Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Oh, I hadn’t realized they had a McAfee alert six weeks ago. I’ll consider my argument thoroughly rebutted. Giraffe, no disrespect. But you can’t seriously think what you’ve presented up to this point constitutes an argument. You and a few other people have this fixed notion that we’re being flooded with malware, and your idea of proof is some complaint threads on ATMB. This is what’s known as anecdotal evidence. I can spend ten seconds and find the same types of complaints on the board you’re holding up as a paragon. A reasonable conclusion would be that both boards have problems of unknown frequency and people bitch. Your conclusion is that our problems are way worse. You’re entitled to your opinion. Have a pleasant afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/46 "2011-12-14T22:20:05Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > Giraffe, no disrespect. But you can’t seriously think what you’ve presented up to this point constitutes an argument. You and a few other people have this fixed notion that we’re being flooded with malware, and your idea of proof is some complaint threads on ATMB. This is what’s known as anecdotal evidence. Yes, but the anecdotal evidence is stacking up, and it’s starting to sound convincing. The last thread complaining about malware on these boards was only two days ago: > **[Straightdope Malware](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=634603)** > > I’d really like to NOT be attacked by Malware when visiting this site. Is that really too much to ask for? Was yesterday when clicked on this forum. Was just now when I opened a thread in this forum. I have no other windows or programs open. People _are_ getting malware from this site, and it’s either Google or Rubicon that’s dishing it up. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/47 "2011-12-14T22:25:29Z")
It does seem to be a problem here and it is dissapointing to have such responses which sound so rude. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/48 "2011-12-14T23:02:26Z")
I’ve read these boards for nigh on a decade now on both PCs and Macs, and have never had any issue with malware. So there’s an anecdote for the other side. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/49 "2011-12-15T00:15:46Z")
> [@Suil\_Dubh](#): > > Yes, but the anecdotal evidence is stacking up, and it’s starting to sound convincing. > > The last thread complaining about malware on these boards was only two days ago: You’re right, we had an upsurge a few days ago and I’ve been remiss in not pursuing it. I have to finish up a couple things right now but let me get back to it later this evening and maybe we can start to get this sorted out. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/50 "2011-12-15T04:41:54Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Why? How are they hurting you? why do I have to be directly “wronged” in order to dislike something? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/51 "2011-12-15T07:27:54Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > Easy to say, my friend. Our piece of shit ad brokers include companies like Google. There’s this persistent belief that there are ad brokers out there who never ever let a bad ad slip through, and that if we dumped our present collection of incompetents and hired these saintly entities our troubles would be over. This is a fantasy. [Straightdope.com](http://Straightdope.com) delivers more than 5,000,000 ad impressions per week. If our ad screening were as half-assed as you think, we would be deluged with complaints. As it is we get occasional beefs. We take these seriously and investigate whenever we get enough information to make it possible to do so. We have had our providers block advertisers whom we believe have sent us malware and we’ll continue to do so. But it’s not possible to guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen. As for milking the cash cow … please. We make enough money on ads now to cover our costs, which wasn’t always the case. But we’re sure not getting rich. Maybe not rich, but you don’t seem to be [hurting](http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/15002533/who-is-cecil-adams). ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/52 "2011-12-15T07:38:27Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I’ve read these boards for nigh on a decade now on both PCs and Macs, and have never had any issue with malware. So there’s an anecdote for the other side. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/53 "2011-12-15T13:31:55Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > why do I have to be directly “wronged” in order to dislike something? Because most people don’t get "pissed off’ by something that doesn’t harm them. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/54 "2011-12-15T20:51:29Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I don’t use AdBlock, and people who do piss me off. If I like a site enough to go there frequently, the least I can do is not deprive them of revenue like some entitlement-minded child. I bet you play a mean game of Russian Roulette. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/55 "2011-12-15T22:04:48Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I’ve read these boards for nigh on a decade now on both PCs and Macs, and have never had any issue with malware. So there’s an anecdote for the other side. I’m considered malware by many, and I’ve infected this site since around 2003, so there’s another anecdote for you. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/56 "2011-12-15T23:42:50Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > It does seem to be a problem here and it is dissapointing to have such responses which sound so rude. I think the mods have been quite responsive about this, and not rude at all. It is a very frustrating problem though, and I can understand how angry a poster can get after having to deal with a very stubborn virus. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/57 "2011-12-16T00:32:23Z")
Adblock and anti-malware program suggestions are nice, but some people browse from work where we have little to no ability to modify anything. Got a pretty shitty bug on my computer Monday, so I’ll no longer be posting from work. Guess my time here will be cut down by something like 90 percent. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/58 "2011-12-16T00:42:24Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > I bet you play a mean game of Russian Roulette. She plays it with a pistol. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/59 "2011-12-16T23:19:28Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > With the costs involved with keeping this site running (I have no idea how much that would be), I think it’s safe to say that nobody is getting rich off of this board. > > I know this wasn’t really on topic, but I think it helps give some perspective. Thanks but Ed already gave us that perspective several posts ahead. > [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > We make enough money on ads now to cover our costs, which wasn’t always the case. But we’re sure not getting rich. I do get a chuckle from the comments about using a “quality” browser that [DEL]allows[/DEL] requires you to add on and configure ad blockers and flash blockers. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161/60 "2011-12-17T00:31:39Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > I do get a chuckle from the comments about using a “quality” browser that [DEL]allows[/DEL] requires you to add on and configure ad blockers and flash blockers. IE has a flash blocker built-in, but you have to know where to look to activate it, and reconfiguring it is an all-or-nothing deal (if you ever want to re-block a site after unblocking it, you have to unblock all sites and then do each one over). The adblocker is third party. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-to-death-of-the-hacking-attempts/606161.md?page=4)