Thoughts on SEs vs. thiefware
 

Had an interesting thought while I was checking my PPC accounts at Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. |goodidea

If an infected surfer go to say Google and searches for online dating, and this thiefware pops a console in front of the results. So if the surfer clicks on the popup, Google will show an ad impression, my CTR will drop, and Google doesn't collect any PPC $$$.

Jim mentioned David vs. Goliath in one of his posts. I wonder what the effect would be if a bunch of us people doing PPC started hammering their reps over this thiefware stealing huge money from the SEs. |club|

Hell, we might even be able to get M$ to do a custom patch to rip this shitware out of the surfers computers.

I could be wrong on this, but I believe that when someone clicks your PPC ad your link still comes up and the thiefware pops over it. Which means SE still gets paid and CTR does not change.

I have done some PPC in the past, still doing a tiny bit now, but thats what bothers me. Google still collects my money yet I have lesser chance of a sale.

Once again, I could be wrong with this :)

I don't do PPC, but you make a good point Robert. If the surfer doesn't get a pop-up on the search results, they may get one the moment they land on your page.

Seems like both the PPC traffic provider and customer could lose out on more than just CTR. |sad|

Maybe I should open up some accounts so I can complain too! |club|

I think from samples that have been showed that if you do a search on Google, their popup comes up full-page over top the search results.

I'm out of town at a clients at the moment and don't have a computer here that I can infect to test it.

I would be interested in your findings or anyone who has infected their system for testing purposes, anyone??

If what you say is correct than I am surprised Google with all their money has not done anything. Their earnings, which were greater than wall street expected recently, come directly from advertising. Which is why they recently purchased YouTube for a gear up in video ads has a great deal of revenue to be lost if the surfer never gets to their/your ppc ads.

Well here you go direct from MetricsDirect page on how they deliver ads.
http://www.metricsdirect.com/whatwed...ngyourads.aspx
a woman types in “women’s discount shoes” on Google. Google delivers a page with its usual list of search results and sponsored listings. Zango delivers a new browser window above this listing, displaying the advertiser’s landing web page.

Thanks for that and Holy Crap! I am now truly surprised Google has not done anything, yet, since they are mentioned.

With that being said my CTR is the same as last month, how about yours? I am sure over time it could and probably will get worse. Maybe a question sent to Google asking them what are they planning to do.

10hrs a day at my old job has left little time for anything else. Thanks again for the info.