Malware and Viruses on Internet Sites

Shouldn't internet sites be held responsible for checking their advertisers and blocking those ads that carry malware and viruses?  Why should computer users feel like the internet is the Wild West?  Shouldn't the sites be liable for some of the malware that they let through?

Approximately a year ago, I got a nasty piece of malware on my computer.  When I called McAfee and spent hours trying to restore my computer ... which was only possible after I had also installed HitmanPro ... the technician that helped me said that I had probably picked up the malware when I had clicked on an ad on one of the websites I use.

Wait a minute!  Have you ever tried NOT to click on some of those ads?  Often they pop up just as you are scrolling down the page and your cursor happens to roll over them.  It can be almost impossible to avoid every single ad.

My reaction to this piece of information was to install AdBlocker on my computer, too, and I use it on many of the websites that I use.  However, while it is a big help, it doesn't prevent all ads from showing up.  In addition, I know that, without advertising, many websites would have to close down.  They rely on the advertisers in order to operate.

While I realize that advertising revenue is important, I feel that these websites have a responsibility to make sure that the ads they show are not going to install a virus or malware on the computers of their readers.

Recently I read about a similar danger in an ad that is being run on Facebook.  Here is the relevant information from Scambusters:

http://www.scambusters.org/cybercrime.html

In their report, Scambusters suggests that readers be careful not to fall for the "free $100 Amazon gift card, thanks to an offer that’s just popped up on your Facebook page."  Apparently, there is no gift card.  However, if you click on the link or share it with your friends, you will be "spreading a scam that phishes for personal info or plants malware on your — and their — PCs."

If Scambusters knows about this fraudulent offer, then Facebook must know about it, too.  Consequently, why doesn't Facebook remove it?

It seems to me that internet sites are not doing an adequate job of monitoring the ads that appear on their pages.  They receive revenue from many of these ads, of course.  It's time they stepped in and made sure the ads are trustworthy and are only there to promote legitimate products or companies.

Consumers need to let these websites know exactly how they feel ... even if it means they boycott some websites until they clean up their advertisers.

If we are ever going to feel safe on the internet, it can only happen when the professionals who run the sites take some responsibility for protecting the consumers.

You are reading from the site:  http://lies-and-liars.blogspot.com

Photo credit:  Photo taken by author, Deborah-Diane; all rights reserved.