I just found out that Norton Internet Security, as a default, blocks ads such as affiliate links, and even... adsense! If you ask me, this is some kind of violation of webmasters' rights. Norton is defacing our websites by removing content the WEBMASTER has put on his/her own website. We have the right to display what we want, and Norton has no right to remove content it deems unacceptable. Especially when the software is installed on new computers, and the user never even knows what is going on. What if your mailman took out certain catalogs and pieces of mail before he delivered it to you? Or what if he scratched out certain parts of magazines because he didn't think you want to read it. Well you know what? As a reader, you can either read what is published or not. Nobody has the right to take original works from publishers, modify the content, and then show it to the readers. This is just disgusting. Norton has no right to modify the content we host. We publish our content as is, and nobody should have the right to change that.
I fully agree - time for a boycott? I can't boycott Norton because I gave up on it years ago as a bug-ridden load of trash.
I agree also.This should NOT be turned on in Norton by default.A lot of us webmasters put a lot of time (and sometimes money) into building informative websites and AS and the like is a nice bonus for the hard work/research we put in. This has got to be some kind of violation.
I agree there! Both great pieces of software and I have never had a problem with them which I cant say the same for Norton.
I'd say the bigger problem with NIS is that, by default, it blocks traffic to port 443. Not that I can see why anyone would have a practical use for that particular port. Nope. None at all.
I agree! Norton tryting to do something that is really bad for us and the users. AdSense isn't like a big flash banner that will appear in the middle of your screen. Yeah, Norton sucks!
This is the way of the future. People are so desperate to shut off big, graphical ads that linger over top of articles they are trying to read, even on main stream news sites, that many other forms of advertising are getting blocked in the process. As a website developer, I might perceive this as editing my content and republishing without regard to my copyright, but I doubt I will get far with that argument in the only place that counts in these cases -- a court. Usersl argue they ought to have the freedom to view a webpage without being assailed with ads which interfere with their reading/viewing pleasure. Now you know why networks hate TIVO.
Oh yeah, my son's default Firefox install blocks AdSense. And Google wants you to help them switch people!
That is incredible. Surely there is something that can be done about it, but if enough visitors request it, they will do it. Perhaps google will raise a lawsuite against them for impeding on their profit potential. Now that would be interesting to see. Agree'd also that norton sucks. ZoneAlarm is the choice for me. Brad
It actually is no longer the default for the Retail versions. Some manufacturers such as Dell specify what they want on or off in their OEM versions so it is up to them to specify Ad Blocking to be off as the default. As far as them even offering the service, they are responding to their customers, 99% of which are not webmasters.
Lol...Obviously people like just writing how crap something is just to post in this thread rather then discuss the actual issue
Web users want software they buy to meet their requirements. If some users do not wish to see adverts on websites then Norton and other companies will offer this option. If Norton allows me to block adverts then I should be free to use it if I wish. As a webmaster I firmly believe that blocking Adsense is a step too far but also acknowledge that a web user has the right to configure their own software in any way they wish. Norton are trying to sell their software and if there is a demmand for a certain feature then they will add it. Personally I also hate the way Norton blocks your referrer details as well (does anyone know how to turn this off?) as it blocks certain things like shawns geo ip tool.
I don't know so much.I think there is a very high percentage of "normal" users who dont mind AS at all.What they do mind is the constant pop ups,the browser hijackings and so on.So to block AS ads (for those who do by default) is way over the top IMO. Agreed...everyone should have the choice but it shouldn't be turned on by default.unlike me who always is
Does anyone here who uses norton, know if blocking the adsense code is a defaulted option in Norton. At least they could give you the option of it. Quite often adsense ads make my browsing much easier as if I find something I am genuinely interested in. Then I click on it. Brad