Ads are exploit gateways. Most ads convey a product promotion or endorse someone or something. Frequently the browser based kind are used as data collectors used to invade ones privacy. The worst kind of ads called malvertising are not legitimate ads but a con to get one to click and deploy malware. Malwarebytes Labs published an article in March of last year that details the compromise of these sites msn, NY times, BBC, AOL and others. The article was updated in November. The compromise of high profile sites continues. Many prominent web sites were compromised. Hundreds of others have been too or will be. Blocking ads makes sense.
Ads are exploit gateways
Years before Malwarebytes published their article Tekmar Solutions started using and recommending Adblock Plus. “Block all ads and never click on a pop-up,” I have told many clients. Some sites like Wired magazine will prompt that their content is free because it is available through advertising buys. A site like Wired needs to show you ads to keep their content available for the casual reader. If you have subscription to Wired’s print magazine you’ll be able to browse ad free through your subscription. This makes sense too not just that ads are exploit gateways, but it is right to treat paying customers well.
Some very large corporations don’t get it, as noted in Beware when updating. Some of the largest computer software providers sell dangerous ads,malvertisements that distribute PUPs. When updating Adobe and Java, one must be careful. Most browser based ads can be blocked. Adblock Plus is a tool that I recommend. It stops all ads, malicious or not and allows one to white list sites such as Wired.
Adblock Plus is freeware under a GNU license. Everyone can use and distribute copies of the program under this license document. Under the license one can install it for many popular browsers including a beta version for Windows 10 Edge. The browse ad on has forms for mobile devices too.
Adblock Plus blocks malvertising.
Beyond that, its flexibility is great and the free status makes it a clear value. I have used it since 2011. You should too. It is a protection against ransomware and other nasty exploits that could cost you. Initially running it in Internet Explorer caused some issues, but it was easy to uninstall and I came back to it later because it is a great tool.