Users viewing AdSense ads in Internet Explorer 6 or 7 over the last few days were prompted to install third-party software, according to forum posts on WebmasterWorld. The applications included QuickTime, Acrobat, Flash and Windows Media Player. The problem was first brought to Google's attention on August 11 and was addressed August 15. According to a forum post by AdSenseAdvisor, the problem has now been fixed.

Google did not immediately return a request for comment. Some forum posters, however, said they believe that Google was intentionally trying to install software without users' knowledge. And some users report that the issue has not been entirely rectified

View: The full story
News source: eWeek


There are 15 additional comments
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Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by markjensen on 17 Aug 2006 - 19:22
Was this a deliberate stealth install of software orchestrated by Google? Or the actions of renegade advertisers who created (accidentally or intentionally) code that installed the helper apps (quicktime, flash, etc.) needed for the ad? Or just an innocent error that prompted for installation of these helper apps?

Depends on your level of paranoia or hatred of all things Google. (and "all things" are what it seems Google wants to get involved in)
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by Co_Co on 17 Aug 2006 - 19:23
Most people have those applications installed already, why would google want to force users to have them?
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by acnpt on 17 Aug 2006 - 19:40
I was finding this on neowin, I first thought it was neowin being annoying lol.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by BigBoy on 17 Aug 2006 - 20:28
Ah, that's what it was... so many sites were suddently telling me to install Quicktime... I thought it was Apple being annoying but turns out it was Google eh...
Quote this comment #4.1 Posted by Ideas Man on 18 Aug 2006 - 01:19
Yeah same, I noticed IE prompting (or baring) quicktime to run, couldn't figure out why, didn't allow it though, quicktime doesn't deserve to run on any of my machines.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by rado354 on 17 Aug 2006 - 21:35
Google is the devil!
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by Un-Dead Soldier on 17 Aug 2006 - 22:19
INSTALL WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER...

*finds out OS is linux"

HMM!!!!!!!
Quote this comment #6.1 Posted by _BeanZ_ on 17 Aug 2006 - 23:04
Quote - Un-Dead Soldier said @ #6
INSTALL WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER...

*finds out OS is linux"

HMM!!!!!!!
well seeing as it say "Users viewing AdSense ads in Internet Explorer 6 or 7"....
Quote this comment #6.2 Posted by Word on 20 Aug 2006 - 20:40
there's a project called ies4linux that makes it very easy to set up wine to run IE on linux.
(4 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by billyea on 17 Aug 2006 - 22:58
Probably not Google's fault...
Quote this comment #7.1 Posted by RealFduch on 17 Aug 2006 - 23:13
Of course it's not Google's fault!!! It's f**king M$ trying to push their bloated POS to eliminate competition and take freedom from people.
Quote this comment #7.2 Posted by fergiej on 18 Aug 2006 - 00:43
Dude, WTH is your smilie? Please, please tell me you are NOT serious...IF so, idiot. if not, sorry...:dissapointed:
Quote this comment #7.3 Posted by TheReasonIFailed on 18 Aug 2006 - 03:02
Quote - RealFduch said @ #7.1
Of course it's not Google's fault!!! It's f**king M$ trying to push their bloated POS to eliminate competition and take freedom from people.


So how do you explain the fact that QuickTime was also being pushed?
Quote this comment #7.4 Posted by blx on 18 Aug 2006 - 10:20
Quote - TheReasonIFailed said @ #7.3
So how do you explain the fact that QuickTime was also being pushed?


Because Microsoft and Apple have entered into an unholy alliance to counter the impeding stampede of Open Source! Why do you think Apple switched to x86?

Oh, and for the record: I'm not serious.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by Redmak on 19 Aug 2006 - 13:07
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