The Ads - An update and ?

NOTE - This is NOT a whining complaint!

The recent changes adding advertisements isn't too awfully bad, but there do seem to be some quirks I'd like to point out.

(all observations are when logged into ATS)

Internet Explorer ver. 11 (on a PC or laptop) (no ad blocking) - No major issues, and seemingly no redirects as reported by others.

Firefox latest ver (updated yesterday) (on a PC / laptop) (no ad blocking tools) - Total Disaster! Every other page load of blows up. Page displays huge and broken. Refresh will fix, but usually takes 2-3 tries to get page loaded properly (doesn't matter what page). Also getting error message stating "Looks like you're using an ad blocking tool...some features restricted". Only problem is, I'm not using an ad blocking tool. Note - FF is my preferred browser, so this is disappointing.

Android (Samsung Galaxy S9) (fully updated) (no blocking tool) - Seems to work 'okay', but ad placement right at the bottom of the screen interferes with typing text, is highly vulnerable to accidental click (to ad), and also interferes with the 'back' function (again vulnerable to accidental click). I realize real estate on a phone is tight, but ad placement anywhere but here would be preferable. To me, this problem is so bothersome I've stopped visiting ATS on my Android device. Advertisers getting clicks through deceptive and predatory practices is just not okay in my book. Ads, fine, but not where they get these clicks by interfering with the operation of the site or a device hoping you'll accidentally click on their ad.

On a good note - Thank you ATS for keeping the terrestrial device ads on the left side of the page (or top/bottom), and off the right side of the page. That is huge and a big plus in avoiding erroneous clicks!

Now for my question / request - Can ATS somehow please move the pop-up ad on Android from the bottom of the screen? That location is highly disruptive, and forces a 'close' before you can touch anything else. Very irritating.

FWIW, just thought I would share, and I hope this information is helpful.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Actually this information is incredibly helpful and will assist greatly in our effort to identify things more specifically to our ad providers.

The greatest difficulty we are having is replicating this, so the more specifics the better.

Thank you on behalf of the staff for your post.

I run opera on my pc and don't have any probs either with or without my ad blocker...never seen an ad tbh

I get ones for chewing tobacco dangers constantly. Don't even know anyone who does that. They are sneaky. They materialize just as I'm clicking in that area. Ninja ads. Hate them.

I'm on a kindle, if that is necessary info.

LOL! I was just about to report that I haven't seen an ad in months (Windows 7, latest FF) and now all of a sudden I see ads. I think someone fixed something somewhere.

(Disclosure: I don't mind ads if they are not breaking site functionality. I just click close because I can't afford to buy what they are selling even if it was useful to me. I'm on welfare.)

I'm a big FF user (or rather was one).

ATS is usable just fine for me using FF. Still get ads, mostly a small one at the bottom of the page (which I'm able to close), and sometimes a ad on the left side of the screen (which again, I'm able to close). So completely usable for me. Of course this is on a PC and my Notebook. I do not use a smart phone to access the Internet (nor do I even own one).

I can report that Opera for PC does indeed make sites ad free as far as I can tell. I tend to use it for all other websites I access, while continuing to use FF for ATS, so as to not hurt site ad revenue as it's important to keep the site up.

So yes: we staff also make sacrifices to help out ATS.

No idea about Chrome. Stopped using it years ago.

One thing I have also noticed change today is the "share this topic" links at the top of each thread. I haven't seen those links in months either, just like ads.

Thanks for fixing things Mods. (Not that I ever use those facebook/google/whatever links but I noticed it at the same time as the ads for this desktop user started appearing again. Hope it helps. )

Opera (latest version) on Android (latest version) running in Samsung Galaxy S9+, haven't seen any ads?

I'm on Chrome and when I open ATS the ads are so bad they actually cover most of my screen. (desk-top monitor)
When I go to recents or off-topic it's just a ad at the bottom,
most of the time I can't close it so i just leave it there.
they never stop coming...ever...
I've turned my ad blocker on to see if they stop and they do, but i like to post in the funny pics forum so I turn it off for this site as you can't use the upload feature if it's on.
So instead of coming here a lot like i used to, I just check in once a day because i can't stand ads....

Still my favorite site though......

win 10 with chrome [ no apps or addons / expensions what interfere with adverts ]

SOME top and bottom banners = too big - reduce readable window = anoying when read a complex post // op

what really pisses me of = bitcoin scam ads - can you not block them ???????????????

other content = amusing . i is only person on this comp // network - and while a lot of "targeted ads " - make sense - there are some real WTF suggestions

so - banner sizers and bitcoin scams = only real complaint

I don't know if this is just my configuration but when browsing ATS on my iPad while not logged in safari constantly gets hijacked to some Win a Prize page.
This never happens while logged in.

The issue I have with the new ads on my android device is that some of them take control of my browser move me away from ATS and I cant even click back to get back to ATS. I need to close the browser window completely and start over again.

This is the ad that always does that

a reply to: DanDanDat

That is one hilariously awful ad.

For just so many reasons.

Thank you for the screen shot. And thank you to all who've posted specifics. It helps.

a reply to: DanDanDat

I've been getting that I-Phone9 ad on my Android phone for almost 2 months now, while surfing ATS. Always occurs within the first 5 minutes of browsing this site while logged in.

Like you said DanDanDat, it completely takes over the tab where I'm viewing abovetopsecret.com. I close that tab..open a new one..click on the ATS shortcut and am back in business. Sometimes it appears again during the second browsing session...sometimes not. Annoying, but since ATS is free, I don't file any complaints.

On my Windows-10 PC, using the EDGE browser, a new tab opens in the back-ground saying I need to update my "Flash Player". I simply close that tab without even switching to it. Only happens about once every 15 browsing days on the P.C., and is nowhere near as annoying as what happens on the Android smartphone.

I think ATS itself may have a virus. I know the owners wouldn't intentionally introduce ads that hijack the browser. Does anyone know if there an online service that we can use to scan specific websites for Viruses, Trojans, etc..?

So recently the ads in the mobile chrome browser are making it almost nauseating to try and read threads. The ads are changing height constantly causing the thread post to jump up and down in the browser. This is a horrible user experience as I am having to constantly scroll up and down to find what I was just reading, only to have it happen again when the next ad rotates in.

This is making it horrible to read anything. I just can’t anymore.

a reply to: DanDanDat

I am getting a spearfishing ad for “being an Apple iPhone user” and redirected to some web page that I can not do anything except click “OK”

And he’ll no I will not click that button!!

I too have close my browser and relaunch.

Not very good user experience.

Someone explain to me. ATS address starts out "not secure", WWW but most other sites start out HTTP. I know the difference with HTTPS and HTTP. Why is ATS still using WWW at this point and not HTTP or better?

Just seems to me that not secure WWW is just an open invitation to 3rd party hackers saying come one, come all, we are open to all exploitation.

a reply to: CharlesT

You should ask yourself what information my be gathered using HTTPS?

Googling HTTPS MAC hardware you get a different result list than HTTPS NIC hardware

using chrome on android and i cant even browse from the phone anymore

the little pop up at the bottom prevents typing but the big one is i will get a huge popup saying i won some # that takes up the entire screen and i can not close it or go back or anything.
i have to dump chrome and start from scratch

hat # that dandat is talking about it what i am talking about too

cant do anything