That's how I ended up purchasing xoftspy; since it was advertised here, I thought it was being 'recommended.' I know better now, but I've wondered myself if there isn't a way to screen the advertisers.

I've dealt with this in the past regarding advertisers on the site. Dani does have the ability to filter out certain ads, and she's done so for me in the past. If you know of a site that is particularly undesirable, and it's showing up in the ads we're rotating, please, PLEASE let Dani know-- we don't want to be the source of our own problems, I'm sure.

Thanks Alex, if I notice anything again, I'll be sure to do that!

Alex is correct, but I just want to comment on this. I do have the ability to filter out certain advertisements that are inappropriate, etc. And I did so to the WeatherBug ads, granted I was told that the software is spyware.

However, please keep in mind that when I filter out ads, they are not replaced with other ads. Instead, they become unsold advertising revenue. For example, turning down the WeatherBug campaign has cost DaniWeb $XX per day, but that is something I have no problem doing on an ethical ground.

I just want you guys to keep this in mind when suggesting that I remove advertisement campaigns. For example, it is simply not practical for me to turn down advertisers who would like to advertise products I simply don't like, don't feel are of good quality, or are based on anything that is at all objective. It's simply not a practical solution for a business which receives all of its revenue from advertising.

However, if you guys stumble upon any advertisements that are illegal, spyware, etc., then I have no problem turning away the advertiser. Please just keep in mind that I don't personally endorse any advertisements on the site.

Thats to bad really ,but I guess money is important !
So let this be a warning to people reading this post ,The NO-Adware program is a RIPP OFF .

Just say NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmm ... Do you think that I am sounding too money hungry? Please keep me grounded I am open to suggestions. But take the following scenerio ... an advertiser contacts me and says "I would like to purchase $XXX worth of advertising. They prepay, and then send me the link to their site. Do I then turn them down and say, "sorry, I think you're overcharging, your product is a rip-off, here is your money back" ... from a marketing perspective, word will spread VERY quickly among advertisers and that could be the demise of Daniweb.

No Im not saying you are money hungry ! Just running contradicting Adds .
I sit here for HRS' some times helping people with Spyware /Trojan problems and You have Adds for Programs that put spyware on a persons computer to trick them into buying the product to clean there computers,when we use FREE program that will do exactually the Same thing ! Maybe even better .
The End

I think this is a very genuine problem, both for Dani and for Forum readers. There's more than side panel ads to consider, because smaller links show up in various places as well. The one mentioned here, No-Adware, is reported to generate its own blasted nuisance popups, and that's certainly not a good thing when it emanates from software purported to get RID of such stuff.

No, I don't think you're being too money-hungry Dani, you're merely confronting the reality of keeping the site going.

But it certainly IS an indication that other methods of financing the site need to be continually pursued. This is a site which offers assistance to people in need, and advertising DOES have an impact. And let's face it, if people obtain products from advertisments on this site which cause problems for them rather than fixing their problems, then that will send out a 'message' of its own, and in the long run do just as much harm as turning away advertisers.

I have certainly noticed lately that an increasing amount of 'Spyware' product advertisements appear. We most certainly can't afford to have those advertisements generating problems on people's PCs rather than leading to a solution for them.

As I said, I am definitely willing to remove advertisements that are simply spyware. If you find such an ad, please do let me know, and I will filter it out. However, it's somewhat of a different story if it is an opinion that an advertiser is selling a product you disagree with or think is a rip-off - because that is more of an objective opinion. If I cancel an advertiser's campaign, I need a viable reason that would hold up in court should the need arise, as my advertisers often prepay me and therefore there is a legal binding to not drop their advertisements midway through a campaign.

However, if there are any advertisements that are definite spyware or malware, please do let me know with as much detailed information about them as possible. Thanks!

- Dani