Click Here To Get Infected With A Virus!

from the and-people-click dept

Tue, May 15th 2007 9:48am — Mike Masnick

Remember back in the early days of internet banner advertising, when the "rules" were that you had to include the phrase "click here!" somewhere in your banner ad to let clueless surfers know that they could actually click on the ad and dig deeper into your advertising goodness? Apparently, that old "click here" trick still works -- even when the ad is promising to infect your computer with a virus. A security researcher put up a Google text ad reading: "Is your PC virus-free? Get it infected here!" Apparently, that was enough to convince 409 people to click on the ad over the course of about 6 months. As the Wired blog post notes, it's quite likely that some of those people figured it was a joke and were curious and another group probably only skimmed it quickly and naturally assumed it was for an anti-virus product. Still, it's an interesting bit of data -- made even more interesting by the guy saying that no one ever complained about the ad and Google never noticed it.

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81 Comments

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RandomThoughts, 15 May 2007 @ 10:12am

Maybe people wanted to check their virus protection programs.

I once watched a guy push on the barrel of a .45 with the palm of his hand and then pulling the trigger to see if the safety feature would actually prevent it firing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Az, 15 May 2007 @ 10:18am

Re:
you need to change the crowd you hang out with....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Andrew, 15 May 2007 @ 10:20am

And another group...
And another group of people were Linux users who wanted to laugh as the virus did nothing
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nice, 15 May 2007 @ 10:26am

Re: And another group...
how sweet it is
[ link to this | view in thread ]
chris, 15 May 2007 @ 10:47am

aww man!
why the hell didn't I get a virus?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Steven, 15 May 2007 @ 10:51am

Re: And another group...
That's what I was thinking. I'd grab it just to look at it, feeling pretty certain it couldn't do anything to my Kubuntu box. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Not Linux Users, 15 May 2007 @ 10:57am

Re: And another group...
98% of the machines ran Windows
[ link to this | view in thread ]
glitch, 15 May 2007 @ 11:16am

i am a recent convert to Kubuntu
and i never, ever want to be classified a typical linux user

i find Linux users everybit as distastefule as Microsoft shills
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mr. Magoo, 15 May 2007 @ 11:20am

Just like...
Paris Hilton found the same thing out long ago. "Touch here and get a virus!"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RSSONEPR, 15 May 2007 @ 11:23am

CLICK HERE!
Funny enough, we all clicked to read the posting.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2007 @ 1:08pm

You're all talking rubbish. It's impossible to get infected by any virus on a windows computer.

Windows firewall is simply too advanced. Viruses bounce off it like peas off a tank.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Grandfather Time, 15 May 2007 @ 1:23pm

Darn....
I was hoping to get my free virus....

I wanted to name him slappy......
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jay, 15 May 2007 @ 1:59pm

giggity giggity goo
and then the Linux users went to do an upgrade and had to rebuild their computer again...so the Linux user bought an Apple cuz that was much easier for the Linux user to use...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kevin, 15 May 2007 @ 2:02pm

virus...
Hey I know lets all put on penguin tshirts and then you can come over to my house to play dungeons and dragons...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
right..., 15 May 2007 @ 2:11pm

Re:
Like depleted uranium peas going .99c off a cardboard tank.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Former gunshop manager, 15 May 2007 @ 3:33pm

#1
Had a clerk shoot himself through his hand the way described in comment #1 above. Could not believe it. Lucky for him he was playing with his .25 auto. Unlucky for me the bullet still had enough energy to put a hole in the front display window!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Darryl, 15 May 2007 @ 5:21pm

"my ad was displayed 259,723 times and clicked on 409 times"

This is really newsworthy? With the percentage if the internet population tht are complete imbeciles, I'm simply surprised that the figure is so low.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TechNoFear (profile), 15 May 2007 @ 9:19pm

Limits to everything but stupidity.....
I worked creating on-line share trading software for a while.

We had a 'white label' product and resold it to different brokers, including two major banks.

The online account creation form had been used for over a year without issue (or much change).

For some reason 10% of the new bank's customers 'ticked' every box on the form, even the mutually exclusive choices.
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IronChef, 15 May 2007 @ 10:55pm

Yep, I fell for it.
I like admitting mistakes. But understand that the most influential person I've ever met in my professional life had this to say about mistakes "Only when sleeping do you make no mistakes. Mistakes are the privilege of the active person, who can start over and put things right."

I remember seeing this ad and clicked on it thinking it was a link to a dry-humor joke site. I figured that Google had some quality control mechanism-- possibly limit credit cards for ads to business credit cards.

When I clicked on it, it scared me because all it did was close my browser window. Spent a whole day virus-scanning, SpyBotting, and optimizing registry settings.

In the end I'm happy that I did because my computer runs quite a bit faster now, but that certainly doesn't excuse Google's lax QC standards...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Brutus Beefcake, 16 May 2007 @ 11:17am

Re: Yep, I fell for it.
"When I clicked on it, it scared me because all it did was close my browser window. Spent a whole day virus-scanning, SpyBotting, and optimizing registry settings."

You need a better OS.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ron Larson (profile), 16 May 2007 @ 11:03pm

In high school I worked weekends at an equipment rental yard. One morning this guy rented a sand blaster. So I hooked it up to his hitch and then fired it up to demonstrate how to use it.

He grabbed the hose from me and tells me he already know how to use it. He turns it on the air pressure, then the sand valve, but nothing comes out.

Then to my shock he decides to check the sandblaster by pointing the nozzle at his hand to feel for air coming out. I was shocked! I grabbed the hose from him and yelled at him for being such an idiot. "What if some sand decided to come out just then?", I screamed at him. "You would have lost your hand!"

The guy just looked at me stupidly. I showed him how to test for air pressure by sprinkling some loose grains of sand on the ground and pointing the nozzle at them.

I just remember looking at this idiot wondering how on earth he had managed to live to the age he did and still have his limbs intact.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
asp, 1 Jun 2007 @ 12:54am

Бараны
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MOO, 5 Aug 2008 @ 2:03pm

gentlebob@hotmail.com
gentlebob@hotmail.com
I got a virus
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kyle R, 5 Feb 2009 @ 8:21am

Trying to get a virus
I clicked this hoping it would download a virus on this school computer, it's hard drive is hooked up to the other 1000 computers in here...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
he who shall remain nameless, 1 Aug 2010 @ 1:48pm

Re: Trying to get a virus
then you wouldn't be able to use the computers at school. the teachers would have to keep you busy somehow, probably with more work.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
James, 1 Apr 2012 @ 2:46pm

Re:
sorry man, your a dumbass. windows firewall is a joke
[ link to this | view in thread ]
anony, 16 Nov 2014 @ 7:16pm

@11 win firewall bounces it off like atomic bombs were thrown at a tank.
@24 there are many viruses still out there (most are PUP though).
@26 yeah you wouldn't be surprised how much viruses it let through for me.

Posted from 3ds because computer only opens in safe mode without internet. If i try i just get a BSOD and it launches a restart
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dwee, 8 Dec 2015 @ 9:53am

grgrg
hrtokgrogrgrgrgr
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dwee, 8 Dec 2015 @ 9:53am

grgrg
hrtokgrogrgrgrgrrgrgrgrgrgr
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2015 @ 9:54am

EOMFOEMFOEMFOEMFOEMFOMEO
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bvm g, 19 Jan 2016 @ 2:13am

Re: Re:
dlvkrfm jkg bg l dl v vkfcnbj, vsd xcvx mxnvjkvbgvjsjksdbdbsnbs vsdvnjsndsjke636787800
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TRUMPODONALD, 2 Feb 2016 @ 12:27pm

yo mummy
yo mummy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dtfhy, 21 Apr 2016 @ 8:14am

.l
tfvtyubtybu
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Oct 2016 @ 4:05am

GEEZ A FUCKIN VIRUS YA SPAZZZZZ
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2016 @ 9:00am

no thanks im good
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2017 @ 8:42am

get meeeeeeeeeee a virus bitch
[ link to this | view in thread ]
htytr yt, 31 Jan 2017 @ 6:20am

gfhftgyuty
ur all gay lesbos with no lifes
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 24 May 2017 @ 10:38am

hi
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bob, 24 Oct 2017 @ 2:51am

Wite mense is racist
Yo wite mense, svae me a cookii asseblief. ek 'n baie poor person is an i is hngry. en al jou wite mense racist is
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mo, 12 Dec 2017 @ 3:45am

Re:
you mum
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Thomas Stiener, 8 Jan 2018 @ 7:41am

Re: aww man!
WOW i completly agrey if you want to find me to talk more about this my address is 3002 birch drive cedar park TX 78613 ;)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Nick Yermolenko, 8 Jan 2018 @ 7:48am

Re:
I TOO SPEak rUSiAn my friend cyka blythg we can go to my hous and squat like slav, here is a quack tutorial on how to squat like a slav, firsty, only true slavs can do the slav squat, to do the sla squat, you have to have your heals oj t he ground, and this gives you prerfect balance, so you can drink beer and vodak while you are doing russian slav squat, hopefiulky, my comtrrads, you can now too, do the slav sqaut.Бараны
come to my house ;)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
you long lost brother, 11 Jan 2018 @ 3:57am

Re: Re:
i l o v e y o uu
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Feb 2018 @ 11:20am

So where’s my virus
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Feb 2018 @ 7:09am

lo
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ass noger, 2 Mar 2018 @ 1:00pm

the back slach
hi my name is kunta kinte and i live in the ugangda village of oosakakan, uganada. i wold like ato say that this is the most populalr article in ugansdssA I HAT WHTIEW PEPO;ES
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cuntbag, 26 Apr 2018 @ 2:45am

Re: Re: And another group...
scoop me
[ link to this | view in thread ]
skinny phat slimy cock jesus, 16 May 2018 @ 5:25am

Re: nice
oh yes tobias this is nice
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jhgfdasaeryxedyr, 17 May 2018 @ 12:51pm

witchcraft,devil,porn
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ThatWhiteGuy, 22 Jul 2018 @ 11:54pm

Virus
Hello my name is thatwhiteguy and fuck all of you because im gonna cum toooo yor house and fuck all of you
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2018 @ 6:06pm

yujdtbtv
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2018 @ 6:07pm

staff,you website look of poor quality pls use better coding
[ link to this | view in thread ]
kujck, 13 Sep 2018 @ 3:48am

Re:
kjckck
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ur mom, 13 Sep 2018 @ 12:12pm

Re: Re: Re:
ligma'

}
whcode viral:..>]
ligmanutsvirus 1 o 0
whcode infected transmitting,...:>]
command: infected
}
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Oct 2018 @ 4:38am

Re: Re: Re:
Ican relate
[ link to this | view in thread ]
SWAG, 25 Oct 2018 @ 6:37pm

woolie
give me a virus right now.......,......../......
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AFabulous40YearOldMan, 28 Oct 2018 @ 6:49pm

Re: Re: Re:
me too :3
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 4 Jan 2019 @ 11:36am

Can someone give me a virus
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Feb 2019 @ 3:33am

maderfucker your viruses are shit
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2019 @ 8:37pm

ckjxnckzn
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 4 Apr 2019 @ 11:05am

i wanna virus! :I
:3
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Apr 2019 @ 9:25am

Re: Re:
gey
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2019 @ 12:31pm

GIVE ME A VIRUS PLZZZZZ
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 27 Apr 2019 @ 8:27am

Re:
WOW
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dickeds, 7 May 2019 @ 6:18am

virus
shit i wanted a virus but you didnt give me 1 i give 1 star
[ link to this | view in thread ]
iweyrwie, 30 May 2019 @ 9:53am

Re: Re:
no u
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 31 May 2019 @ 10:13am

bad didnt give virus
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 17 Jul 2019 @ 2:25am

SEXY VIRUS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
pusslayer, 7 Oct 2019 @ 8:11am

Re:
so whats your point?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 7 Oct 2019 @ 9:23am

Re: Re: Re:
sfgahdtghdgfjgdhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2019 @ 2:40pm

fuck i wanted a virus
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 24 Oct 2019 @ 8:19am

nice
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2019 @ 4:30am

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO i just clicked on a post 12 years ago and you are saying remember the good old days?????? WTF
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2019 @ 12:59pm

dis some bullshit
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2019 @ 10:06am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
shut up
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2019 @ 10:07am

Re: Re: Re: And another group...
nope
[ link to this | view in thread ]
thissiteisrubbish, 14 Dec 2019 @ 3:35am

this site is trash! give me a virus!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
can i see this, 20 Jan 2020 @ 5:02am

Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Feb 2020 @ 3:49pm

your bad kids
[ link to this | view in thread ]
me to, 25 Feb 2020 @ 6:16am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
boiiii
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2020 @ 7:58am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
no you cant
[ link to this | view in thread ]