AdSense & Norton Internet Security blocking AdSense

Ad blocking and the future of online publishing

[Webwork]

It's my understanding that Norton InternetSecurity, which comes bundled with many new PCs, has default settings that automatically blocks the loading/display of many forms of advertisements, including AdSense.

If this is true and if Norton continues to 'perfect' it's ad-blocking capabilities then this would have to have a significant impact on Google's bottom line, plus a multitude of other ramifications.

Does anyone know if there are peace talks underway between Google and Norton?

I can see counter-measures being launched, such as software/programs being written that would block people's access to websites if they are running Norton in default mode, lauching a message

You are unable to view this website because your computer is running Norton Internet Security which blocks all forms of advertising, even simple banner ads. We DO NOT use pop-up ads on this site. Ad revenue is necessary to support the expenses of operation of this website, including the bandwidth costs incurred to send webpages from our servers to you. Please either disable the ad blocking settings or send your complaints to Norton.

What does the future hold?

Under different scenarios of how the battle lines may be drawn what are your contingency plans?

[JohnKelly]

I'd like to see numbers as to what percenatage of users have the ad-blocking version of Norton's installed.

[Webwork]

I've asked a number of my friends what they use. I'd say at least 1 in 3 use Norton.

Here's a greater concern: Broadband. More people are moving to broadband. Intrustion threats are greater wtih broadband connections. Therefore I see an increasing number of people using Norton Internet Security.

Ad blocking comes bundled with Norton's Internet Security.

Also, Norton does a great job on selling subscriptions for annual updates. Actually, hackers, virus writers, etc. do a great job of helping Norton sell updates.

People have probably been updating their Norton anti-virus but not their N.I.S. if they are on dial-up lines. If they move to DSL or cable chances are they will update.

Since the trend is towards broadband this will increasinbly become an issue if unaddressed.

[skipfactor]

This horse has been flogged:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Jenstar]

The latest information is that it doesn't target adwords specifically, but it does target certain words that are common to advertisers url tracking strings. Ad (ad*), ads, advertising, etc are directory folders that Norton IS flags as being advertising.

AdwordsAdvisor reported on this and suggested advertisers rename any URL strings that have those kinds of words in it.

Thanks for the links skipfactor - you'll find anything and everything to do with NIS there :)

[Webwork]

Thanks for the links. I just read through the threads you listed. If I can summarize: It's an issue. No, it's not an issue. NIS blocks AsSense. No, it doesn't block.

Okay, I have recently installed NIS 2004.

I turned NIS ad-blocking on, back to it's default: Whammo! The link in the AdSense ads disappears, but interestingly - when I move the mouse cursor across the plain text AdSense copy - it transforms, indicating a link. No visible link though. (This was at the site of one of WW's more savvy members, so I assume he/she is clued in to any possible alterations that might allow the ads to appear.)

I turn NIS off: Shazam! The blue links, telling me "you can click here buddy", reappear. I now have a clue. I might actually click.

My questions remain:

1) Can anyone speak with authority about whether Google and Norton are "in talks" and where those talks are headed?

2) Someone mentioned CJ was in talks. Status?

3) Status of effective counter-measures?

4) Are the major publishers - that also rely on AdSense for revenue - joining the chorus and proposing to raise the ante by developing counter-measures, alerting the public etc. Any status report? News?

The frenzy for privacy and surfing the web without interruption or distraction isn't likely at an end, although I think the days of people assuming "it's all free" will soon - mostly - be behind us.

If you think this horse has been flogged then go ahead and put her away wet and tired. Chances are she will develop pneumonia and things will get worse.

I know there were several long threads. Just no answers. It's a real and growing concern. And no real answers.

[edited by: Webwork at 3:11 pm (utc) on April 14, 2004]

[PCInk]

Norton does not block AdSense (as stated above) but blocks certain strings in URL's.

Therefore if 7 out of 8 adverts have a URL that points to /ad/enter.php or /banner/trackroi.cgi then Norton will block them (contain /ad/ and /banner/ strings). But if the last advert points to WebmasterWorld.com/forum3.html, then the advert will display.

I have ad blocking switched on all the time - so I can ensure that my AdWords adverts are displayed correctly.

P.S. I think that there is little that an AdSense customer can do, but the AdWords customers currently have a way around this problem.

[Webwork]

Ah-ha. So, AdWords okay. AdSense - screwed? Publisher - screwed? Easy fix for AdWords, no fix for AdSense?

Still looking for status info about talks and counter-measures 'in the works'.

Fascinating about AdWords. Just toggled ad-blocking on and off. Noticed how, as I went deeper into a popular advertising subject, the deeper I went the more AdWords ads that lacked clickable links.

So, does this suggest that people paying less have fewer clues about how to circumvent this issue, or that these "cheaper advertisers" may not even be aware of the issue. I mean, page 1 of SERPs - 7 of 8 have visible links. Page 8 of SERPs - ONLY 2 of 8 have clickable links.

OR, maybe, they are being clever? The ad gets posted but since there's no hotlink they aren't being charged?

Oh, the tangled webs we weave....

[edited by: Webwork at 3:19 pm (utc) on April 14, 2004]

[Jenstar]

Also, looking beyond Adwords/AdSense, it will also block ads if they images contain any of the trigger words in the path. So example.com/ads/banner.jpg would be blocked.