If you're seeing ads on Wikipedia, your computer probably has malware

A commentor on that page notes that it might not be malware, just an evil ISP. If that notion comforts you at all.

Or you're using a Chrome extension that serves ads. I flipped out the other day because I thought someone had hacked our application and decided all they'd do is serve ads. Bad behavior on the part of Chrome extensions.

I noticed this same thing when viewing YouTube on my daughter's laptop. Oddly spammy ads where there normally were no ads.<p>I guess the new model for adware/malware is to try to integrate so seamlessly that a normal person doesn't even realize they are seeing someone else's ads.

The worst are the adds with a picture of some guy called Jimmy and another one with long hair. Both asking for money. It takes up the whole top of the page.

Read the NYTimes blog post.<p>"Revenue eXtraction Gateway" (RG)<p>They tried calling the RG helpdesk, and the RG people hung up.<p>Classic.<p>Encrypting all internet traffic would put a swift end to this problem.

For what it's worth, I don't think it's strictly fair to call all plugins that inject ads onto pages "malware."<p>If the app -- suppose it's a toolbar or something -- gives the user valuable (to them) functionality, and it was installed legitimately, I think it's perfectly acceptable to monetize that way.<p>So the measure of the malware should be based on the app itself, and how it got onto the computer, and not the apps monetization.<p>While I can sympathize with site owners who could have their reputations tarnished by users seeing ads and assuming they came from the website, I also feel that if I, as a user, want an app and "pay" for it by accepting ads injected into my browsing activity, that strikes me as something I should be allowed to do.