It's generally delivered by third-party sites who take NO responsibility for the content, and sometimes that includes "drive-by malware." Ad-blocking isn't just stopping annoying ads. It's self-defense to avoid getting your machine compromised.
As a side-issue, it may not matter, since Windows 10 comes pre-compromised with Microsoft Genuine Spyware®.
Why Avid Life Media is running around filing bogus DMCA notices?
Because there's nothing else they CAN do.
The data is out, freely available to world+dog, and dealing with the damage is pretty much like trying to stop a tsunami by throwing spitballs at it.
If anything, the Streisand Effects from the bogus notices will make the damage worse, but try and tell that to a bunch of panicked non-technical executives who are watching their lives circling the drain.
Back in 1992, the SciFi channel (now SyFy) started, and dear, sweet Comcast offered me a five channel bundle with that and four other channels, none of which were worth spending thirty seconds on, never mind the $30/month fee to watch ONE channel. I was snottily told by their customer service that it was the package or nothing.
I chose nothing, canceled my account with them, and haven't regretted it for a minute. In fact, about ten years ago, the installed cable had rotted out to the extent that I threw it in the garbage where it belonged.
About the ONLY thing Comcast does for me these days is provide fodder for the paper-recycling bin.
Nice to see the rest of the public is catching on.
I'm not going to name him. He doesn't deserve the publicity.
[me]I was emailing him, and mentioned my opposition to DRM.
[author]The police should have the authority to search anyone's hard drive over the net and remove anything they deem suspicious. Anybody who objects to this is a thief or thief wannabe.
[me]I object. And aren't you being rather harsh to someone who has bought every book you ever wrote?
[author]Big deal. All the royalties I've ever gotten from you wouldn't even pay for dinner at my favorite restaurant.
My former collection of his stuff is now pulp fiction, and I haven't even been able to bring myself to pirate his stuff, much less read it.
Don Henley is just another jerk of the same stripe.
On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 42: Adblocking Wouldn't Be A Problem If Ads Didn't Suck So Much
There's ANOTHER problem with advertising.
As a side-issue, it may not matter, since Windows 10 comes pre-compromised with Microsoft Genuine Spyware®.
On the post: Getty Images Goes Copyright Trolling After A Meme Penguin
That's a nice meme you got.
On the post: City of San Jose Looking To Attach Automatic License Plate Readers To Garbage Trucks
Re: I see a possible new product market....
On the post: MLB Drops Trademark Opposition Against WalletHub For 'W' Logo After WalletHub Bows At The MLB Altar
Legal Staffs and Armies
On the post: Ashley Madison Still Trying To Abuse The DMCA To Hide Leak
Why Avid Life Media is running around filing bogus DMCA notices?
The data is out, freely available to world+dog, and dealing with the damage is pretty much like trying to stop a tsunami by throwing spitballs at it.
If anything, the Streisand Effects from the bogus notices will make the damage worse, but try and tell that to a bunch of panicked non-technical executives who are watching their lives circling the drain.
On the post: DA Claims He'll Charge Drone Operators Near Wildfires For Murder
"If it bleeds, it leads."
Remember that exchange in "Absence of Malice"?
Q: Is that true?
A: No, but it's accurate.
So:
Drones are flying. That's accurate.
Q: Are they interfering with fighting fires?
A: Ask me again after I figure out how much advertising we can sell based on our ratings.
On the post: Spain Government Goes Full Police State; Enacts Law Forbidding Dissent, 'Unauthorized' Photography Of Law Enforcement
It's a gag law, all right.
On the post: Insanity Rules In Ireland: Media Ordered Not To Report On Parliamentary Speech
Recursive Streisand
Get an injunction against talking about the injunction against talking about the charges.
Get an injunction against talking about the injunction against talking about the injunction against talking about the charges.
Continue until the legal system collapses under the weight of the injunctions.
On the post: EU Study Confirms: Hollywood's Site Blocking Campaign Is A Total Failure
One Pirate Enters, Four Pirates Leave!
On the post: UK Plans To Do Away With Free Speech... In The Name Of Free Speech
Orwell Was Incomplete
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
He left out: Censorship is Freedom of Speech
On the post: Broadcasters And Cable Companies Trying Harder Than Ever To Annoy Paying Customers With Ugly Public Contract Disputes
So the World Finally Starts Catching Up With Me
I was snottily told by their customer service that it was the package or nothing.
I chose nothing, canceled my account with them, and haven't regretted it for a minute. In fact, about ten years ago, the installed cable had rotted out to the extent that I threw it in the garbage where it belonged.
About the ONLY thing Comcast does for me these days is provide fodder for the paper-recycling bin.
Nice to see the rest of the public is catching on.
On the post: Washington Post's Clueless Editorial On Phone Encryption: No Backdoors, But How About A Magical 'Golden Key'?
Singalong Time
I got a safe encrypted telephone.
I hacked its golden key!
Wonder what other uses that master key might have for me?
Is this megalomania?
Can I rule the world?
'Cause I got a safe encrypted telephone
I hacked its golden key!
On the post: Canadian News Outlet Warns Canadians That US Law Enforcement Officers Will Pull Them Over And Seize Their Cash
Not "robbery at badgepoint"
On the post: LA School District Reluctantly Gives Up The Grenade Launchers The Pentagon Gave Them
Grenade Launchers as School Supplies
On the post: David Letterman Mocks The Eagles Over Refusal To License Their Music
Reminds me of an author I had a run-in with
[me]I was emailing him, and mentioned my opposition to DRM.
[author]The police should have the authority to search anyone's hard drive over the net and remove anything they deem suspicious. Anybody who objects to this is a thief or thief wannabe.
[me]I object. And aren't you being rather harsh to someone who has bought every book you ever wrote?
[author]Big deal. All the royalties I've ever gotten from you wouldn't even pay for dinner at my favorite restaurant.
My former collection of his stuff is now pulp fiction, and I haven't even been able to bring myself to pirate his stuff, much less read it.
Don Henley is just another jerk of the same stripe.
On the post: Intellectual Ventures Tries To Rewrite The Script, Pretends The Plan Was Always About Making Stuff, Not Trolling
What is the lab complex called?
On the post: Washington Police: 'We Have To Respond With Smartphones Almost As Fast As We Respond With Guns'
Message to Washington Police (and cops everywhere)
On the post: Tropico 5 Game Hits A Little Too Close To Home For Newly-Minted Thai Military Junta
So...
On the post: Language School's Blogger Fired For Writing A Post On Homophones; Director Fears Association With 'Gay Sex'
ET! Homophone!
On the post: Language School's Blogger Fired For Writing A Post On Homophones; Director Fears Association With 'Gay Sex'
Ecch! Homo!
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