[Closed] Warning - unsolicited video download from STW ads can cost you money!

I have to agree with perthmtb's post above. I also assumed it was a gif or flash that doesn't use much data. I **ahem** do much of my STW browsing at work, and if the data usage is what perthmtb claims there's a real risk that IT ban STW. I have now obviously turned this ad off using my premier status but there is a serious risk that this site has now come up on ITs radar.

For the avoidance of doubt I understand that ads are an important/ necessary part of a free forum and I'm not suggesting that STW should stop ads. I do however feel that video streaming, without opting in, is unreasonable.

Can one imagine having to actually work whilst at work, rather than browse STW?

Even on unlimited data it's a bit annoying to have your connection slowed down by something like this.

I **ahem** do much of my STW browsing at work, and if the data usage is what perthmtb claims there's a real risk that IT ban STW. I have now obviously turned this ad off using my premier status but there is a serious risk that this site has now come up on ITs radar.

This was my specific concern!

Can one imagine having to actually work whilst at work, rather than browse STW?

This has gone too far now.

We are doing a few tests on the player now to see what the actual load is. 1GB sounds like a lot for just under 2 hours. I've also asked EpicTV some questions about the player so I'll see what comes out of all that.

Can one imagine having to actually work whilst at work, rather than browse STW?

[img] [/img]

Perhaps a header above any ads that stream content notifying visitors, viewers, users of the nature of the ad and possible consequences might be a reasonable compromise?

With a link to click to join as a Premium member that will enable you to disable the ad?

I can appreciate quite clearly, that despite the altruism of Singletrackworld, when first conceived and launched, of offering a forum to encourage new and maintain readership, has become a rod for their own back at times.

At least the default for the forum is free to use, with a few options available for those who do recognise the value of this service/resource and so by subscribing or contributing are able to control the content provided to them.

There are many more sites out there that constantly stream ads in audio and video, sometimes loads of boxes all playing something or other and it takes me ages to click on them to find out which one is playing. I visited Bikeradar the other week and was plagued by very intrusive pop-up ads, despite my browser settings. I left there very quickly and haven't returned since.

I personally feel, that while I appreciate where you're coming from OP, claiming a lack of tech savvy is quite lame if you only want or choose to pay for a limited data plan, especially from a mobile provider. If you want to be that careful with your outgoings (and no wrong or right in that), then you have to take responsibility for finding out what constitutes data and how certain online content can affect that.

Can we have a fix so that the login is persistent as well, please (or is it just me?)

[i]is it just me[/i]

It's just you.

does your browser auto delete cookies when you shut it down?

Can we have a fix so that the login is persistent as well, please (or is it just me?)

Anecdotally, the only time I seem to get logged out is if I change devices or if there's been a change to the site. It doesn't happen all that often, to me at least.

Mark, is there any way for sites to automagically profile the data use of your advertisers and thus have some way to pick up if one of them is being a bit spendy with user's bandwidth?

Not possible at the moment with the tools I have.

I can't see a way of stopping the Epic ad on Mac/Safari.

I presume if you just pause it it still chugs away sending data?

That's pretty shocking. A large unsolicited data usage is still exactly that even if your broadband is unlimited.

At the very least it should be limited to the UK if it's not against the law there, since that may not be the case elsewhere. UK law probably stands but it's pretty poor not to consider that you could be imposing on non UK site visitors in ways they might not expect. Access to and cost of unlimited broadband varies internationally, it shouldn't just be presumed it's ok. When I arrived in Perth 8 years ago you couldn't even get broadband in many areas. It also strikes me as annoying that we're locked out of all the UK on demand TV sites that we might actually want to watch, yet we can get this TV channel served unsolicited.

I can't see a way of stopping the Epic ad on Mac/Safari.

You can get various extensions that make media click to play. "click2plugin" is one IIRC, there are a few. And possibly built in stuff in recent safari.

[i]It also strikes me as annoying that we're locked out of all the UK on demand TV sites that we might actually want to watch, yet we can get this TV channel served unsolicited. [/i]

I expect sorting out getting the BBC's content delivered to Perth is next on Mark's list of things to do.

is it just me

It's just you.

Just me then. Fair enough.

we're locked out of all the UK on demand TV sites that we might actually want to watch

IA - Member
You can get various extensions that make media click to play. "click2plugin" is one IIRC, there are a few. And possibly built in stuff in recent safari.

Ta - it's a work mac so I can't install anything on it.

I can't see a way of stopping the Epic ad on Mac/Safari.

Preferences - Advanced - Internet plugins

The ad doesn't disappear, the video just doesn't load unless you click on it

wwaswas, cheers, that would be really good if you could get Mark onto that. 😉 A UK based VPN and RSA token for free would be perfect. I'm not so keen on potentially dodgy proxies. While he's about it, cheaper, faster, unlimited home and mobile broadband would be good too.

tomhoward, you're joking right? Should I use my passport to return to the UK for the TV?

maccruiskeen - Member
Preferences - Advanced - Internet plugins

plug-ins is under Preferences / security and I have already unticked "allow all other plug ins" (while java is allowed)

I presumed unticking java would stop loads of stuff that's needed for work.

Just me then. Fair enough.

Nah I got logged out on my phone periodically (and seemingly randomly).

A large unsolicited data usage is still exactly that even if your broadband is unlimited.

It would argue that it's not unsolicited. By accessing any web page or internet service you are making a decision to have the data on the website sent to your device.

I agree that it's not a great advert and sucking bandwidth unnecessarily is bad practice, but I doubt you'd very far with an 'its against the law' type argument. Happy to be proved wrong though.

Can we have a fix so that the login is persistent as well, please (or is it just me?)

Me too - randomly forgets about me, and all of a sudden my system grinds to a halt if I open more than a couple of tabs with STW in them (and its not a slow laptop!)

Nice to see the STW tradition of blame the victim is alive and well. For what it's worth I think it's poor form and the STW folk seem to taking it on board. I've just switched off EpicTV in my profile - nice one. An old man writes: does anyone else remember building 50k max web pages and measuring load times? 🙂

Just switched it off now too. I was ignoring it before, but no need for huge data usage figures for no reason.

does anyone else remember building 50k max web pages and measuring load times

What he said.....

Edit....By God that delete was fast...

Edit #2 If the revenue from ads is so important make the site subscription only.

What he said.....

Edit....By God that delete was fast..

I wondered why no one else had mentioned it. Now I know.

I wondered why no one else had mentioned it. Now I know.

yeah - same here 🙄 although I have just read the rules - sorry STW mods 😳

Edit #2 If the revenue from ads is so important make the site subscription only.

...or do the owners the courtesy of not mentioning unmentionable. It's not asking much.

Jamie, No mention in my posts of such things.

.......

<mod>
So we don't keep going round in circles here, a couple of points.

1) Please take a moment to review the forum policy on advertising over at http://singletrackworld.com/classified-rules/ . Whilst there may be issues sometimes, ultimately the adverts do actually fund the site. No advertising = no forum. I know that sounds far fetched, but it really is that simple.

2) The Powers That Be are aware of the comments on this thread (and the previous ones) and are actively working with the advertisers to try and improve the user experience.
</mod>

...

😆

The quicker there is an option to prevent it running for everyone the better. I don't think anyone has an issue with 'normal' ads, but this specific one is way to intrusive and bandwidth hungry.

How about disabling it while a better solution is found?

To those berating me for being so stingy and not going unlimited data - I think you're missing the point somewhat.

First, as Londonerinoz pointed out, internet access is way more expensive where I live, so unlimited plans is only really for gaming/video addicts and those whose company are paying for their plan.

Second, this ad isn't just gobbling data, as others have reported its slowing performance of the PC, clogging networks, and will 'out' quite a few closet STW fans at work when the internet usage figures hit the corporate IT managers desk at the end of the month.

I've done very nicely thankyou with 2.7 GB per month of data for the last few years, and I don't see why I should have to upgrade to a more expensive plan because of one advert on one forum!

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now, I just wanted to alert others to a potential problem, and as the mods are now looking into it I don't really have anymore to add.

However, I notice the ad is still there and starting automatically, so I for one will be kicking my STW habit until it is at least disabled - I just can't risk another big data bill. TTFN.

What he said.^^ Suspect the tethering bill this month might warrant a word from the Boss. If it does and I am obliged to pay the charges I will consider it the Premier membership I was getting round to signing up for after the free month that i got me accustomed. It may be a couple of years worth. Only time will tell.
In the office or at home the browser slowing is a pain. I suspect there may be a less non Premier footfall here due to this.

Ramble over.

I fully agree with you, that sort of unsolicited data use is just poor form for any site provider. I'm happy with ads of a reasonable size, I actually click through many on here, but even on my broadbean line I have a limited data/plan (I don't intend to stream anything, I've no reason to pay for what I won't use and its not even offered here anyway). Thanks for flagging this, problem is now solved for me!

There was a time when it was considered rude to impact peoples data use like that, seems basic consideration has gone out the window.

wwaswas - Member
thing is that the EpicTV thing is a known quantity. STW know exactly what it's doing so why is restraint needed?

I guess there's a commercial decision to be made about the revenue from runnign the ad v any fall off in site visitors that result.

I suspect that getting £15/head off 10 people will make up for the ad revenue from a 1000+ casual visitors not coming back over the course of a year.

Buy the magazine,be a premier member. Support where you spend your time. I hate the advert, but this gave me an enjoyable place to be. It's cheap compared too many things. Thankyou single track.

As a premium subscriber who only gets to see the ads when my login expires the Epic ones are a bit much, it's a trend across a lot of sites now though. I'll open 10-12 google links if I'm searching for something and all of a sudden I have 5 or 6 videos playing. So I either have to deal with random noise or as is normally the case turn the sound off in which case I get a heap of data consumed.

Not an issue on my unlimited home package but when on mobile tethering it is.