Adfly is NOT an acceptable way of monetizing your download. The ads are malicious and try to trick you into running something that will infect your computer, and also take over your browser window with dialog boxes that cannot be closed. Many, many people use these links, but all they're doing is getting people infected.
Links to Adfly should therefore be prohibited in the future, for the protection of forum members.
Link shorteners should just in general not be allowed, although an exception could and should be made if you also post the original un-shortened link. The message size limits nowadays are lenient enough, we don't need them anymore.
I don't like it mostly because it obscures whatever link you're being directed to - they all look the same. How do I know it's directing me to mediafire afterward and not some shady meth dealing website?
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And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall, with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall, and not a soul to hear.
I think MCF and PMC should both ban adfly and similar services simultaneously while encouraging content creators to use Patreon or the Curse Rewards program.
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My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
I would like to point out that, if polled, the community might vote in favor of removing the ads from the Minecraft Forum. The Minecraft Forum needs ad revenue to survive, and while coding mods is more of a hobby instead of a job, Adf.ly is probably one of the only ways for coders to get a little cash from providing a mod. Just because a lot of people want (or don't want) something does not mean it is a good idea.
I think it should also being taken into account that the mod developer has probably spent many hours of his/her personal life developing the mod, so is it really wrong for them to ask you to see a ad for 5 seconds? I've never developed a mod, but I can imagine that VERY few people who download a mod are going to donate to the developer, but a larger amount would probably be willing to view a monetized link (even if it was optional, which I have seen many developers do).
On the other hand anything providing malware should not be tolerated (I'd rather donate 10$ than get my computer infected). Although a lot of knock-off Adf.ly companys may host malware, I am personally yet to see Adfly or Adfoc.us (the 2 main monetized link companys) serve malware (although that does not mean that they haven't, if they have, however, it was probably accidentally).
On the other hand anything providing malware should not be tolerated (I'd rather donate 10$ than get my computer infected). Although a lot of knock-off Adf.ly companys may host malware, I am personally yet to see Adfly or Adfoc.us (the 2 main monetized link companys) serve malware (although that does not mean that they haven't, if they have, however, it was probably accidentally).
Every time I've clicked an adfly link, it tries to download what's obviously malware. And I download a lot of mods, so we're talking close to 150 or so links. And every time it's some sort of malware link. Maybe I got really unlucky, but that's next to impossible.
Like I said, I've never seen any obvious malware or automatic downloads, but that does not mean it doesn't happen. Maybe you were unlucky, or maybe I have been lucky. Also, an advertiser does get to choose what country he wants the traffic that sees his ads to come from, so certain countries may be more likely to see malware than others, but any large amount of malware (regardless of the country it is going to) is unacceptable. Perhaps, however this should be looked into more before we just ban it.
Also, I'd like to point out that banning it would probably encourage mod developers to host on different, more spam/ad infested websites (or set up their own websites) and use and use adf.ly there. I'm sure that the curse rewards program does not pay 6$+ USD per 1k views.
Last, as you can see they advertise 100% malware free, however, as @FunVod pointed out, that is probably not the case. A little malware that slips by by accident might be okay, but it sounds like there is a lot.
Every time I've clicked an adfly link, it tries to download what's obviously malware. And I download a lot of mods, so we're talking close to 150 or so links. And every time it's some sort of malware link. Maybe I got really unlucky, but that's next to impossible.
Although in the end, before any decision was made then I would hope we would do some good research and consult the developer community before we just ban it.
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Playing Minecraft since 2013.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits -Albert Einstein
Yes, a small bump I know, but something needs to be done about this. I have NEVER had an adfly page not try to trick me into downloading malware or calling fake tech support. Here is an example. What's funny is that I wasn't even on windows. But yes, something needs to be done about this. Adfly is nothing but a cesspool of viruses and malware.
Yes, a small bump I know, but something needs to be done about this. I have NEVER had an adfly page not try to trick me into downloading malware or calling fake tech support. Here is an example. What's funny is that I wasn't even on windows. But yes, something needs to be done about this. Adfly is nothing but a cesspool of viruses and malware.
I get what you are saying, but there are 2 things that I feel we need to make sure don't get forgotten when deciding if we ban adfly or not:
First, no ad network is immuned to viruses in their ads. For example, here Google adsense (probably the biggest and cleanest ad network by a long shot) was accidentally distributing malware (the same company that the MCforum uses). While there may be larger amounts of malware on some websites all are going to have them occasionally.
Second, I feel that if the MCforum bans adfly and its alternatives, then most Mod, map, and texture pack makers will move to their own sites or third party sites, leaving us WAY more exposed to malware or scams. If this were to happen then there would also be nothing but honor enforcing terms of service for texture packs and mods, since they are built upon Minecraft (and mod makers or texture pack makers have no ownership of Minecraft itself) they have no real legal rights to prevent somebody from editing, rehosting, or even claiming ownership of other people's content (currently the MCforum prevents this from happening on a large scale thanks to their TOS). @Zarlog_Core24, probably something you'd want to consider, as I can tell by you signature you wouldn't like that.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Playing Minecraft since 2013.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits -Albert Einstein
Another bump - I just downloaded a file via an adfly link on these forums for the first time in probably 2 years. First try, got a fake "your computer is infected" message, complete with text to speech.
Ad.fly has always carried scams. They used to be just plain "click here to get ripped off" ads though. Now it's proper malicious "ads" that try to lock you out of stuff. Would not be surprised if there's "crypto" ransomwhere being distributed through there.
I think it's time ad.fly links were banned. Existing links should be either turned back to plain text, or be changed to direct to a page warning about possible malware being distributed through ad.fly, and allowing the user to continue at their own risk.
I think it's time ad.fly links were banned. Existing links should be either turned back to plain text, or be changed to direct to a page warning about possible malware being distributed through ad.fly, and allowing the user to continue at their own risk..
I think this might actually be a good compromise, for both sides of the issue.
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My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
I agree. Even using AdBlock doesn't work half the time; it blocks the ads that you see on the page leading up to the Skip Ad button, but then once you click on that, sometimes it just brings up a virus page anyway and doesn't even download the file.
However, with the site banned, how will modders make their money?
I think that AdFly itself needs to be changed so that the ad links are tested for viruses, and declined from being shown on the site if they do have viruses. I don't know how this would turn out though, or if it's even possible.
I actually noticed that AdFly doesn't even allow ads with viruses, they just can't moderate all of the links to stop them from having viruses, unfortunately. My suggestion would not be to ban adfly links, but for AdFly itself to develop some sort of anti-virus system that removes ads containing them.
I actually noticed that AdFly doesn't even allow ads with viruses, they just can't moderate all of the links to stop them from having viruses, unfortunately. My suggestion would not be to ban adfly links, but for AdFly itself to develop some sort of anti-virus system that removes ads containing them.
That's still no excuse.
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My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
No excuse for using AdFly links, you mean? The mod creators need money. Or AdFly having infected ads? Because the website can't control the people who put the ads up. That's why I suggested an automated virus check on any new ads that people have put on.
No excuse for using AdFly links, you mean? The mod creators need money. Or AdFly having infected ads? Because the website can't control the people who put the ads up. That's why I suggested an automated virus check on any new ads that people have put on.
Adfly having infected ads. They already have an automated virus check. And they can and do control who what ads are put up.
Adfly is NOT an acceptable way of monetizing your download. The ads are malicious and try to trick you into running something that will infect your computer, and also take over your browser window with dialog boxes that cannot be closed. Many, many people use these links, but all they're doing is getting people infected.
Links to Adfly should therefore be prohibited in the future, for the protection of forum members.
Link shorteners should just in general not be allowed, although an exception could and should be made if you also post the original un-shortened link. The message size limits nowadays are lenient enough, we don't need them anymore.
I agree, that's the reason why I will never use adfly. I believe people who put their user's computer at risk for a few pennies should be banned.
Also, having adfly as the first experience for your mod/creation is a bad thing, and will only turn people away in the future.
There are other alternatives for generating revenue for your project, like the Curse Rewards Program.
My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
I don't like it mostly because it obscures whatever link you're being directed to - they all look the same. How do I know it's directing me to mediafire afterward and not some shady meth dealing website?
And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall, with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall, and not a soul to hear.
Looking at the poll:
https://twitter.com/PlanetMinecraft/status/730960028388065280
It's pretty obvious what the community wants.
I think MCF and PMC should both ban adfly and similar services simultaneously while encouraging content creators to use Patreon or the Curse Rewards program.
My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
I would like to point out that, if polled, the community might vote in favor of removing the ads from the Minecraft Forum. The Minecraft Forum needs ad revenue to survive, and while coding mods is more of a hobby instead of a job, Adf.ly is probably one of the only ways for coders to get a little cash from providing a mod. Just because a lot of people want (or don't want) something does not mean it is a good idea.
I think it should also being taken into account that the mod developer has probably spent many hours of his/her personal life developing the mod, so is it really wrong for them to ask you to see a ad for 5 seconds? I've never developed a mod, but I can imagine that VERY few people who download a mod are going to donate to the developer, but a larger amount would probably be willing to view a monetized link (even if it was optional, which I have seen many developers do).
On the other hand anything providing malware should not be tolerated (I'd rather donate 10$ than get my computer infected). Although a lot of knock-off Adf.ly companys may host malware, I am personally yet to see Adfly or Adfoc.us (the 2 main monetized link companys) serve malware (although that does not mean that they haven't, if they have, however, it was probably accidentally).
Every time I've clicked an adfly link, it tries to download what's obviously malware. And I download a lot of mods, so we're talking close to 150 or so links. And every time it's some sort of malware link. Maybe I got really unlucky, but that's next to impossible.
-FunVod
Like I said, I've never seen any obvious malware or automatic downloads, but that does not mean it doesn't happen. Maybe you were unlucky, or maybe I have been lucky. Also, an advertiser does get to choose what country he wants the traffic that sees his ads to come from, so certain countries may be more likely to see malware than others, but any large amount of malware (regardless of the country it is going to) is unacceptable. Perhaps, however this should be looked into more before we just ban it.
Also, I'd like to point out that banning it would probably encourage mod developers to host on different, more spam/ad infested websites (or set up their own websites) and use and use adf.ly there. I'm sure that the curse rewards program does not pay 6$+ USD per 1k views.
Last, as you can see they advertise 100% malware free, however, as @FunVod pointed out, that is probably not the case. A little malware that slips by by accident might be okay, but it sounds like there is a lot.
Although in the end, before any decision was made then I would hope we would do some good research and consult the developer community before we just ban it.
Yes, a small bump I know, but something needs to be done about this. I have NEVER had an adfly page not try to trick me into downloading malware or calling fake tech support. Here is an example. What's funny is that I wasn't even on windows. But yes, something needs to be done about this. Adfly is nothing but a cesspool of viruses and malware.
I get what you are saying, but there are 2 things that I feel we need to make sure don't get forgotten when deciding if we ban adfly or not:
First, no ad network is immuned to viruses in their ads. For example, here Google adsense (probably the biggest and cleanest ad network by a long shot) was accidentally distributing malware (the same company that the MCforum uses). While there may be larger amounts of malware on some websites all are going to have them occasionally.
Second, I feel that if the MCforum bans adfly and its alternatives, then most Mod, map, and texture pack makers will move to their own sites or third party sites, leaving us WAY more exposed to malware or scams. If this were to happen then there would also be nothing but honor enforcing terms of service for texture packs and mods, since they are built upon Minecraft (and mod makers or texture pack makers have no ownership of Minecraft itself) they have no real legal rights to prevent somebody from editing, rehosting, or even claiming ownership of other people's content (currently the MCforum prevents this from happening on a large scale thanks to their TOS). @Zarlog_Core24, probably something you'd want to consider, as I can tell by you signature you wouldn't like that.
Another bump - I just downloaded a file via an adfly link on these forums for the first time in probably 2 years. First try, got a fake "your computer is infected" message, complete with text to speech.
Ad.fly has always carried scams. They used to be just plain "click here to get ripped off" ads though. Now it's proper malicious "ads" that try to lock you out of stuff. Would not be surprised if there's "crypto" ransomwhere being distributed through there.
I think it's time ad.fly links were banned. Existing links should be either turned back to plain text, or be changed to direct to a page warning about possible malware being distributed through ad.fly, and allowing the user to continue at their own risk.
I think this might actually be a good compromise, for both sides of the issue.
My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
I agree. Even using AdBlock doesn't work half the time; it blocks the ads that you see on the page leading up to the Skip Ad button, but then once you click on that, sometimes it just brings up a virus page anyway and doesn't even download the file.
However, with the site banned, how will modders make their money?
I think that AdFly itself needs to be changed so that the ad links are tested for viruses, and declined from being shown on the site if they do have viruses. I don't know how this would turn out though, or if it's even possible.
I actually noticed that AdFly doesn't even allow ads with viruses, they just can't moderate all of the links to stop them from having viruses, unfortunately. My suggestion would not be to ban adfly links, but for AdFly itself to develop some sort of anti-virus system that removes ads containing them.
That's still no excuse.
My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้
No excuse for using AdFly links, you mean? The mod creators need money. Or AdFly having infected ads? Because the website can't control the people who put the ads up. That's why I suggested an automated virus check on any new ads that people have put on.
Agreed 100%
PVP Legend
Adfly having infected ads. They already have an automated virus check. And they can and do control who what ads are put up.
My Github ด้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้дด็็็็็้้้้้็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้็็็็็้้้้้