ARS stats hacking investigation - GoFuckYourself.com

Frank W · 08-07-2002, 09:20 AM

According to ARS' messageboard, they're looking into the possibility of hackers planting trojans in their system to skim signups from other webmasters. ARS is probably the biggest player out there and this wouldn't be a surprise that hackers may target their tracking system. How else can you explain weekly disruptions going from 1:200 to 0:100000? Can't blame ARS cuz they've always been above board and one of the most trusted names in the industry. Can't blame the webmaster, if they're skilled enough to convert at 1:200 one week using the same materials, it's not their fault when ratio tanks to 0:100000 the next.

Every large sponsor should definitely hire a security expert to monitor, prevent, and catch skimming cheaters.

SR · 08-07-2002, 09:31 AM

I believe big companies like that have a few security experts.
Problem is that there are always guys that are smarter then them.
Plus when a site gets hacked you should format and reinstall everything to do it the best way since hackers usualy leave an opening for them to get back in easily but it's a kinda pain to format and reinstall everything I would say

[Labret] · 08-07-2002, 09:33 AM

They have to blame the shave on something or someone.

Jon · 08-07-2002, 09:36 AM

..or it could just be their shitty shaving schemes mashed into the slow summer conversion months.. either way, i'll bet they blame a "russian hacker" for it.

its a known fact - ARS shaves more than an olympic swim team.

Frank W · 08-07-2002, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NiteChatDotTV
..or it could just be their shitty shaving schemes mashed into the slow summer conversion months.. either way, i'll bet they blame a "russian hacker" for it.

its a known fact - ARS shaves more than an olympic swim team.

Listen, if ARS shaves as you claim, they would not have made it this far and this big. I truly believe its more of a technical [read: hacking/security] issue than anything else.

foe · 08-07-2002, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frank W
According to ARS' messageboard, they're looking into the possibility of hackers planting trojans in their system to skim signups from other webmasters. ARS is probably the biggest player out there and this wouldn't be a surprise that hackers may target their tracking system. How else can you explain weekly disruptions going from 1:200 to 0:100000? Can't blame ARS cuz they've always been above board and one of the most trusted names in the industry. Can't blame the webmaster, if they're skilled enough to convert at 1:200 one week using the same materials, it's not their fault when ratio tanks to 0:100000 the next.

Every large sponsor should definitely hire a security expert to monitor, prevent, and catch skimming cheaters.

for stats to do that it means 100% of people on the net jsut got infected with a trojan in a week, right.... shaving on the other hand makes a lot more sense

Frank W · 08-07-2002, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by foe

for stats to do that it means 100% of people on the net jsut got infected with a trojan in a week, right.... shaving on the other hand makes a lot more sense

Hmmm, not really. Another way to do it would be to hide the skim code in a gallery, submit the gallery to the top TGPs, link lists, etc etc. User checks out the page, does not buy, then moves on to other pages. If at some later point they decide to click on and buy via ARS link, the traffic is tracked to the honest webmaster but the sponsor code is swapped at the transaction/submit transmission phase.

Besides, even if we assume that your shaving theory is true, why would ARS be stupid enough to shave off 1/2 to ALL of some of their top affiliates' sales? Wouldn't you think if they used a razor that they would shave uniformly across their whole affiliate database so that no one gets socked with a heavy Sign Up decrease?

Skimming on the other hand, does not care what webmasters' prior conversion rate, it only depends on the pages the users go to. Naturally, the top webmasters get listed in the top TGPs more so they get skimmed more.

There's 2 ways to combat this skimming problem, assuming it exists:

1) ARS plugs the security leak -- does an audit, etc.

2) submit only to lesser known but higher traffic sites. I doubt this is much of an option since there are massive autosubmitters out there that submit to 80000000+ sites, etc.

Pipecrew · 08-07-2002, 10:10 AM

ars is for newbies anyways! flame away

Marc De · 08-07-2002, 10:25 AM

A webmaster suggested we do this to help make them feel better, so we will. Running a system audit is not that difficult. We didn't make this statement as an assumption that we felt something was wrong but just to make those that suggested feel better

We like to take care of our webmasters.

For those of you who 'suggest' we shave, show proof or STFU

Thank you!

alias · 08-07-2002, 10:34 AM

do a test signup, I did and the s/u was there instantly

Jimbo · 08-07-2002, 10:51 AM

every year it's the same story on ARS
stop saying they shave, right in the middle of last shave dilema last year, I was converting 1:50 with my AVS sites... I really doubt they shave...

ARS may be under attack and thanks god they are looking into it...

maybe hackers uses perm cookie to falsifiate who generates the signups? I have no clue, but seen that on referback, a gambling sponsor...

Jimbo

[Labret] · 08-07-2002, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc De

For those of you who 'suggest' we shave, show proof or STFU Thank you!

As you hug your servers.

Would you allow a third party audit of your program?

If not... STFU.

You know damn well nobody will be able to prove shaving unless they have unrestricted access to your leeto admin.

Kimmykim · 08-07-2002, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pipecrew
ars is for newbies anyways! flame away

Always the dumbass eh pipsqueak?

Gimmy · 08-07-2002, 11:00 AM

ARS will be the last to shave. Big Players, Sex-hit supercharge shave however

Pipecrew · 08-07-2002, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kimmykim

Always the dumbass eh pipsqueak?

where are you working this week again?

hahmike · 08-07-2002, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc De

For those of you who 'suggest' we shave, show proof or STFU Thank you!

oh believe me, if there was 'proof' then not only would you be out of business within a few months, and also, it is most likely that there would be lawsuits flying all over the place.

so anyway ---- are you saying that i could have ten friends sign up for one of your sites, and ten signups would show in my stats?

great.

(of course, when it is all over, i will let your guys know not to pay me for these signups) ---- i'm thinking of having some people test this system and i will reimburse them for the cost of a trial.

Chris R · 08-07-2002, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hahmike

oh believe me, if there was 'proof' then not only would you be out of business within a few months, and also, it is most likely that there would be lawsuits flying all over the place.

so anyway ---- are you saying that i could have ten friends sign up for one of your sites, and ten signups would show in my stats?

great.

(of course, when it is all over, i will let your guys know not to pay me for these signups) ---- i'm thinking of having some people test this system and i will reimburse them for the cost of a trial.

People do test signups fairly regularly on ARS boards - I have yet to see anyone say they were not credited. I think check signups are delayed - so make sure you do credit card signups.

Kimmykim · 08-07-2002, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pipecrew

where are you working this week again?

You continue to prove my point.

DrGuile · 08-07-2002, 12:42 PM

can we get a link to that ARS thread?

Chris R · 08-07-2002, 01:24 PM

http://stats.adultrevenueservice.com...t=6158&start=0

Is the link - and it is just what MarcDe said - not some investigation started for some reason other than people that REFUSE to ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY for their marketing to blame their lack of sales on just about everything BUT THEMSELVES.

08-07-2002, 09:20 AM	#1
Frank W Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: California Posts: 889	ARS stats hacking investigation According to ARS' messageboard, they're looking into the possibility of hackers planting trojans in their system to skim signups from other webmasters. ARS is probably the biggest player out there and this wouldn't be a surprise that hackers may target their tracking system. How else can you explain weekly disruptions going from 1:200 to 0:100000? Can't blame ARS cuz they've always been above board and one of the most trusted names in the industry. Can't blame the webmaster, if they're skilled enough to convert at 1:200 one week using the same materials, it's not their fault when ratio tanks to 0:100000 the next. Every large sponsor should definitely hire a security expert to monitor, prevent, and catch skimming cheaters. __________________ "If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us." -- Herman Hesse

08-07-2002, 09:36 AM	#4
Jon Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 2,578	..or it could just be their shitty shaving schemes mashed into the slow summer conversion months.. either way, i'll bet they blame a "russian hacker" for it. its a known fact - ARS shaves more than an olympic swim team. __________________ WickedFire.com - Stay here. We don't need more of you. Not unless you have money, then, fine...

08-07-2002, 10:34 AM	#10
alias aliasx Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 19,010	do a test signup, I did and the s/u was there instantly __________________ https://porncorporation.com

08-07-2002, 10:51 AM	#11
Jimbo Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Montreal Posts: 3,989	every year it's the same story on ARS stop saying they shave, right in the middle of last shave dilema last year, I was converting 1:50 with my AVS sites... I really doubt they shave... ARS may be under attack and thanks god they are looking into it... maybe hackers uses perm cookie to falsifiate who generates the signups? I have no clue, but seen that on referback, a gambling sponsor... Jimbo __________________ free sex videos

08-07-2002, 12:42 PM	#19
DrGuile Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,025	can we get a link to that ARS thread? __________________ LiveBucks / Privatefeeds - Giving you money since 1999 Up to 50% Commission! 25% Webmaster Referal Powered by Gamma

08-07-2002, 09:31 AM	#2
SR Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,239	I believe big companies like that have a few security experts. Problem is that there are always guys that are smarter then them. Plus when a site gets hacked you should format and reinstall everything to do it the best way since hackers usualy leave an opening for them to get back in easily but it's a kinda pain to format and reinstall everything I would say

08-07-2002, 09:33 AM	#3
[Labret] Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2001 Location: Са́нкт-Петербу́рг Posts: 10,945	They have to blame the shave on something or someone.

08-07-2002, 10:10 AM	#8
Pipecrew Master of Gfy.com Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 14,887	ars is for newbies anyways! flame away

08-07-2002, 10:25 AM	#9
Marc De Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 632	A webmaster suggested we do this to help make them feel better, so we will. Running a system audit is not that difficult. We didn't make this statement as an assumption that we felt something was wrong but just to make those that suggested feel better We like to take care of our webmasters. For those of you who 'suggest' we shave, show proof or STFU Thank you!

08-07-2002, 11:00 AM	#14
Gimmy Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: My ass Posts: 1,069	ARS will be the last to shave. Big Players, Sex-hit supercharge shave however

08-07-2002, 01:24 PM	#20
Chris R Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 1,151	http://stats.adultrevenueservice.com...t=6158&start=0 Is the link - and it is just what MarcDe said - not some investigation started for some reason other than people that REFUSE to ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY for their marketing to blame their lack of sales on just about everything BUT THEMSELVES.