Are there others sponsors besides Top Bucks doing this?

[Sam I Am]

I received the email below from Top Bucks and was shocked. Are there others Sponsors besides Top Bucks that are proactively going after
webmasters using trojans, etc AND actually refunding the sales back to the correct webmaster? It makes me concerned about my ratios at other sponsors.

Recently during a routine analysis of our webmasters, we identified some unusual activity from one of our webmasters. It appears that over the past 90 days, a certain webmaster utilized a Trojan to target some of the TopBucks webmasters traffic.

Rest assured, we have located missing sales and you will be issued a payment of $1290. We have taken action against this webmaster and we will continue to monitor and payout any future sales to webmasters that may have been affected.

Furthermore, we believe that the anti-virus software companies have identified and implemented a program to prevent this Trojan from attacking end users machines in the future.

Thank you and please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Best Regards,

Jenn
Operations Supervisor
TopBucks
ICQ: 168289515

[gleem]

wow! that's insane!

[PainThing]

sounds like Zango or something similar

[Phoenix]

one of the many reasons topbucks is at the top

[gandalfuy]

thats not looking good!

[mpahlca]

Twistys/Shapcash and a few others for sure all do that

[JFK]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

one of the many reasons topbucks is at the top

YUP

[FreeHugeMovies]

Topbucks doesn't take shit and they are in this biz for the long haul.

[bigalownz]

some other company got hacked a few months ago too

[p1mpdogg]

Epic Cash does this, but we do not feel the need to brag aobut it to everyone.


EpicCash rocks and we have our affiliates backs. always all the time rain or shine.

[FilthyRob]

I hate those hijacker mother fuckers that steal money from others hard work.

[JD]

holy shit...

[Sam I Am]

So that's it.... Only 3 sponsors actively refunding sales to the correct webmaster? I was hoping there would be more :-| I know there are sponsors who are shutting down accounts for this but I had never heard of a sponsor actually tracking down who was the correct recipient of the sales and paying them for the stolen sales.

[Tempest]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

So that's it.... Only 3 sponsors actively refunding sales to the correct webmaster? I was hoping there would be more :-| I know there are sponsors who are shutting down accounts for this but I had never heard of a sponsor actually tracking down who was the correct recipient of the sales and paying them for the stolen sales.

I asked someone "in the know" this type of question while ago.. Basically I asked that if a program discovered that there was something wrong with their system that wasn't crediting affiliates properly etc. would most of them do the right thing by their affiliates... he laughed..

[sortie]

Originally Posted by p1mpdogg

Epic Cash does this, but we do not feel the need to brag aobut it to everyone.


EpicCash rocks and we have our affiliates backs. always all the time rain or shine.

Top Bucks wasn't bragging.

[StarkReality]

Let's face it, the number of users infected by these kinds of affiliate code changing trojans should be a not too small seven digit number and the question is no longer which sponsors are affected and which are not...it's which programs recognize it and take steps against it and which just sit there and don't care or don't recognize it, since overall sales won't change.

It's an industry wide problem and I'm happy Top Bucks steps up to fight it.

What really makes me mad is that most TGP owners ignore this problem because they don't care for their traffic quality, just for quantity and selling submitter accounts. All those sites made to infect users rank high for a broad variety for heavy traffic keywords in google and other searchengines and once surfers is infected, they are sent to TGPs to get fresh traffic to infect back.

It's millions stolen out of affiliate pockets every day in the industry, not just a few script kiddies making a few thousand a month !

[Sam I Am]

this is disappointing. i was hoping to hear that the bigger sponsors like Nasty Dollars, BangBros, Brazzers, Traffic Cash, PimpRoll, etc were doing this.

[JD]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

this is disappointing. i was hoping to hear that the bigger sponsors like Nasty Dollars, BangBros, Brazzers, Traffic Cash, PimpRoll, etc were doing this.

dude... they don't care and never will

[Matt 26z]

Governments all around the world are seriously lagging in getting laws out there that make this software illegal in the first place.

[xxxjay]

Topbucks...they is standup guys (and gals) - what can I say?

[Trixxxia]

Originally Posted by p1mpdogg

Epic Cash does this, but we do not feel the need to brag aobut it to everyone.


EpicCash rocks and we have our affiliates backs. always all the time rain or shine.

Trey, Trey, Trey, twisting and turning things to make it ALL about you!

If there is one program that doesn't go around tooting their horn and getting loud on boards, it's Topbucks. They didn't 'feel the need' to post anything - they did, however, have to contact the affiliates concerned - or they would have questioned why they were getting extra money.

If there's one large company that has their affiliates' back, it's Topbucks. Having worked there for 3 years - take my word for it. No need for fanfare - actions speak louder than words. I can tell you that they proactively work to analyze all threats/issues and take corrective measures.

As for the other program that had a similar issue, I know NaughtyAmerica also did the same.

[amateurcanada]

Originally Posted by Trixxxia

Trey, Trey, Trey, twisting and turning things to make it ALL about you!

If there is one program that doesn't go around tooting their horn and getting loud on boards, it's Topbucks. They didn't 'feel the need' to post anything - they did, however, have to contact the affiliates concerned - or they would have questioned why they were getting extra money.

If there's one large company that has their affiliates' back, it's Topbucks. Having worked there for 3 years - take my word for it. No need for fanfare - actions speak louder than words. I can tell you that they proactively work to analyze all threats/issues and take corrective measures.

As for the other program that had a similar issue, I know NaughtyAmerica also did the same.

Ouch, why don't I get such praise ;) lol

[SmokeyTheBear]

good going topbucks..

this is one of very few threads that make me want to promote a sponsor

[SmokeyTheBear]

Originally Posted by p1mpdogg

Epic Cash does this, but we do not feel the need to brag aobut it to everyone.

they didnt they informed an affiliate why he was recieving cash.

the only sponsor that has tried to brag about it so far is umm you.

[Cash]

I didn't know about this, but if so, TB rocks!

[BOSS1]

good stuff topbucks for raising the bar

[u-Bob]

[StarkReality]

I know other sponsors did it and do it as well, but it's like the posting of exploits: Even if it's bragging, it's creates public attention, increases awareness about this problem and forces reactions.

Most program owners probably know about these trojans for a long time, and it's really appreciated if they silently fight the problem and just tell their affiliates...but without more awareness among affiliates, the programs that don't care will never even consider stepping up, too.

So, even if chances are slight, it's certainly a good idea to push this topic on the boards as much as possible, it should be a standard question to your affiliate manager how they handle this kind of theft.

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by StarkReality

I know other sponsors did it and do it as well, but it's like the posting of exploits: Even if it's bragging, it's creates public attention, increases awareness about this problem and forces reactions.

Most program owners probably know about these trojans for a long time, and it's really appreciated if they silently fight the problem and just tell their affiliates...but without more awareness among affiliates, the programs that don't care will never even consider stepping up, too.

So, even if chances are slight, it's certainly a good idea to push this topic on the boards as much as possible, it should be a standard question to your affiliate manager how they handle this kind of theft.

Very well spoken and that's a great idea. I'm going to start contacting my sales reps at sponsors to find out how they are handling trojans.

[tranza]

Damn, I wish I had received an e-mail like that too.

Maybe I should contact my rep to take a look over this issue too??

[Trixxxia]

Originally Posted by StarkReality

I know other sponsors did it and do it as well, but it's like the posting of exploits: Even if it's bragging, it's creates public attention, increases awareness about this problem and forces reactions.

Most program owners probably know about these trojans for a long time, and it's really appreciated if they silently fight the problem and just tell their affiliates...but without more awareness among affiliates, the programs that don't care will never even consider stepping up, too.

So, even if chances are slight, it's certainly a good idea to push this topic on the boards as much as possible, it should be a standard question to your affiliate manager how they handle this kind of theft.

Actually - you should be asking every program how they handle ANY kind of threat to your income.

As for public awareness - I think this year is the year that affiliates and sponsors alike have removed their sideblinders and are doing something about it - although they've been on the boards, described in full detail what is done and how to prevent it for over two years. Not everyone 'wants' to do something about it. It's up to you to promote who, with the responses to your questions, is going to look after your best interests.

Tranza - I know they meticulously reviewed and credited the proper affiliates in this case, should you feel that there is ever something amiss, you should get in contact with your rep. I know not everyone wants to deal with their reps, but the truth is, when you're in constant contact with your rep, you get more insight on what the trends are, advanced notice on new sites and basically, you're filled in more than your weekly/monthly/holiday email that lands in your spam box and you get to read after the fact.