Hi all,
This has been a pretty sizable issue, especially in the last two years of releases, and I feel it's time to have a thread to discuss it. While it's not breaking any rules, it often times becomes more than just an "inconvenience".
Recently, I had to bypass an adfly page in order to get to a preview video of a mod (In order to share that video ad free for the community). In order to get to the video, I had to "Allow notifications" (adfly notification), which you can see on the video below. You will also see that Norton was trying to block web attacks. These are not fake attacks, or "false alarms", these are real web attacks. For this particular download, about 15 different web attacks hit Norton after I ended the video (Malicious web attack 10, malicious web attack 15, etc). Going by all different names. If something looks like it stinks, it usually stinks.
After hitting "Allow" like you saw above, my FIREFOX browser became not usable, I have to use Chrome now until I can figure out the issue, or re-install firefox and hope that it fixes the issue. My browser is now riddled with ad's any time I open it, and I get notifications in the bottom right hand corner of the screen that say "YOU ARE BEING TRACKED". These are not Norton Notifications, either.
I posted this on Deiby's thread, but I want it on this thread so you can see where I am coming from:
I know you are keeping the adfly links on your releases, but the type of adfly links you use gave me a browser virus, because it forces you to "allow notifications" in order to get to the download.
In turn, now every time I open my browser, I get three pop ups that say "YOU ARE BEING TRACKED", and my browser in general is riddled with ads now. I have to run a virus can, roguekiller, and possibly reinstall the browser.
This is why people get frustrated Deibys. Again, I am not using your work right now, I got the virus from trying to get that preview video for other people on the other thread. Not only does it infect peoples computers at times, but it's also dangerous because it will sometimes put inappropriate adult content on a computer (via pop ups, porn pop ups, etc).
You have to understand something, you drive people away by using adfly like this. Even if I wanted to use your work, I wouldnt even try because of this, and I certainly wouldnt support you. Many people feel this way. Someone donated to you recently just so you could get rid of them, that's how bad they drive people away.
You make hardly anything on adfly, I've been on the NLSC for years and talked to many people about it. It takes A TON of clicks to even get to $5 earned. You need to understand that you will make more off of DONATIONS by just being a great community member and giving people direct links.
This goes for anybody on the forum that is viewing this. Please think about the big picture, about how much of an inconvenience adfly links are and how dangerous they can be to the end user. Think about putting a donation link in your signature instead, the hassle of adfly is not worth it, and you frustrating people and giving them CPU issues isnt worth it for the $5 you make.
If you have trouble reading this, pleas put it in a translator, like google translate. I really want to drive this message home.
Modders, stop acting like adfly is an innocent practice, or just a minor inconvenience. It can hurt computers, as the service can track individuals, pummel them with ads, make software not work, give people porn ads and pop ups, etc. It's not just adfly either, there are a couple others that people use that cause similar issues.
The $5-$10 you make if you get THOUSANDS of clicks is NOT worth it
So many modders have told me that they make mere pennies most of the time using services like adfly, literally pennies. Do you really find that to be worth it to cause so many headaches to NLSC community members and lurkers alike? And do you really believe that in any way shape or form that it makes people want to keep coming back? You have a much better chance to make more money off of donations by being an amazing community member than you do off of frustrating people with adfly. People would be more apt to try your work, which will in turn have them return to your thread, which in turn will also want them to continue to use your work, which in turn gives them a better chance of making a donation.
I am not stating that anybody has to donate, or even to expect donations. However, it's not against the rules to have a donation link (Basically a tip jar) where people can donate a little money here and there to support you. I STRONGLY suggest going that route, as opposed to the adfly route.
You get adfly redirect viruses
https://www.2-viruses.com/remove-adf-ly-redirect-virus
It can give you malware
https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding-java-edition/minecraft-mods/mods-discussion/2748890-stop-using-adfly-it-can-give-you-malware-dont-just
It will send you to malicious sites
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/625447/when-using-ad-fly-skip-ad-redirects-to-malicious-sites/
Are the pennies you make really worth this? Is the mod you created worth this much of a nightmare for the end-user? Using something like "ad-block" is not the solution, either. You are exposing hundreds and sometimes thousands of people to these issues (depending on the number of downloads you get) when you use adfly, etc.
Please do your best to be a better member of the community, and not cause so many issues for others.
Suggestion for bypassing adfly
eirik wrote:I've personally have had no problems with ad.fly links and other link shorteners by using the extensions Universal Bypass and uBlock Origin which are both available for chrome and firefox.
