Trojan infects Google Adsense
December 26, 2007
If you clicked on a Google Adsense advertisement and strangely landed on a site that promotes Viagra, gambling, or pornography, chances are you have been infected by a trojan that targets Google Adsense ads.
Anti-virus software company Trend Micro reported that a Trojan called TROJ_QHOST.GC has managed to hijack Google’s text advertisements which prevents users from connecting to page2.googlesyndication.co which is the server that directs to Adsense advertisements.
When installed, the trojan points a user’s browser to another IP address that “functions as a rouge server to third party advertisements about gambling and pornography.”
To avoid having the trojan infect your computer, refrain from downloading or installing any file sent by an unknown sender.
Trojans, as well as viruses, are also easily transferred via peer-to-peer networks (such as BitTorrent, etc.) so make sure that you scan your PC every time you connect to those systems.
New Adsense ad format spotted again
December 17, 2007
It was just a few days ago when we spotted a new format for ad units that Google Adsense was testing. It included a new feature called the ad scroller or ad slider that lets site users navigate through the ads using the Up, Down, Left, or Right arrows (screenshot in the link above).
A few minutes ago, we spotted again here on our site a new ad format that Adsense might be testing. This latest format includes four (4) units of Button ads (125 x 125) — two (2) units placed side by side and two (2) more below it.
Pic of the new ad format below.
The new format is a welcome deviation from the traditional ad formats that Adsense has long been using. But the question is, can it increase the click-through-rate (CTR) of the ads?
Premium Adsense publishers get larger clickable ads, more ad units, other perks
December 14, 2007
Most Google Adsense publishers are not aware that Adsense has a Premium Publisher Program for the elite few — called such because not all websites can apply or be invited to the program.
The Premium Publisher Program is exclusive to websites that receive more than 5 million search queries or 20 million page views per month. When a site hits that mark, Google normally sends an invitation to the site to become a Premium Publisher.
What do Premium Publishers get? Apparently, a lot of the good stuff not available to “normal” Adsense publishers.
Take a look at how Google pampers their Premium Publishers.
Google tests new scrolling Adsense ads
December 12, 2007
Just saw the following in my Adsense ad units a few minutes ago: the Google Adsense ad scroller!
The scroller is nothing more than tiny “Up”, “Down”, “Left” and “Right” arrows at the bottom of the ad units. Basically, the arrows let you “scroll” the ad unit to show new advertisements. There are several variations of the arrows, both for horizontal and vertical ad units. Cool, huh?
Here are screenshots of three Adsense scrolling ad units I’ve seen. YouTube video of the Ad Scroller at work after the jump.
The question now: when visitors scroll the ad units, is that considered a page impression? And if they are, do publishers earn from those page impressions as well? Read more
Western Union branches have varying exchange rates
December 2, 2007
A friendly reminder to everyone encashing their Google Adsense earnings via Western Union Quick Cash: scout first for the Western Union branch that offers the highest exchange rate because you will “lose” if you received a low rate.
This I realized when I encashed my Adsense income for November today. First I went to SM Megamall’s Bills Payment section where they process Western Union transactions. I asked what their dollar-to-peso exchange rate is and got told it’s $1 to P42.35.
I decided not to redeem my earnings yet and instead headed to an RCPI-Western Union branch inside St. Francis Square which is just across SM Megamall. The staff told me their current exchange rate is $1 to P42.67.
Google Adsense to undergo maintenance this weekend
November 10, 2007
Google Adsense publishers won’t be able to log in to their accounts this weekend as the Adsense guys perform routine site maintenance. Don’t worry, though, because ads will continue to be served to sites and earnings will still be tracked.
Those in the Philippines can expect the maintenance to start from 2 am on November 11, Sunday.
Schedules for other countries are as follows:
- US - November 10, Saturday, 10 am PST
- London - Saturday, 6 pm
- Kiev - Saturday, 8 pm
- Chennai - Saturday, 11:30 pm
- Melbourne - Sunday, 5 am
Got paid $1,163.00 from Adsense via Western Union
November 2, 2007
Today I successfully received my first Google Adsense earnings sent via the Western Union Quick Cash option.
Here’s a guide on How to receive Adsense payments via Western Union, but read on to find out my own experience with this new withdrawal method.
First, what I did was search for a Western Union (WU) agent closest to my place using the Global Payment Solutions website. After making a search, I decided to pick up my Adsense payment from Sanry’s Foreign Exchange at the Glorietta Mall in Makati.
I went to Sanry’s and told the staff manning the counter that I am picking up a Quick Cash payment from Google.
He gave me a Western Union “To Receive Money” form and asked me to completely fill it out. This is where the Payment Details from Google becomes necessary. The form asked for the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN), exact Payment Amount, Name and Address of the Sender, and a few personal details, among others.
How to receive Google Adsense payments via Western Union
November 1, 2007
We reported a few weeks ago that starting November 2007, Google Adsense publishers can receive their earnings through the Western Union Quick Cash option.
This week I will try to encash my Adsense earnings using Western Union (WU) and will report my experience here.
Here’s a guide for those opting to use the WU payout method.
How to pick up a Western Union Quick Cash payment
1. Locate a Western Union agent that offers the Quick Cash service from the site http://www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp.
2. Prepare the following before visiting the WU branch.
- The amount of your payment
- The Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) for this payment
- Your government issued ID (Passport, Driver’s License, TIN ID, SSS ID, etc)
- Sender’s information:
- Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
USA
The payment amount and MTCN can be found by clicking on the ‘details’ link next to the Payment Issued line on My Account > Payment History in your Google Adsense account (see screenshot).
3. Go to the WU agent, show them the information in #2, and inform them you would like to pick up a Quick Cash payment.
$4,500 Adsense earnings in 1 day, fake or not?
October 23, 2007
Pinoy Money Talk member CookieMonzter dropped by the Google Adsense Earnings Survey discussion thread and made a lot of people drool when he shared that he earned $4,552.64 from Adsense in just one day.
The screenshot he posted also showed that, on the day after that, he has already earned $2,583.70 — and the day’s not finished yet!
Here’s the screenshot of his Adsense earnings:
Fake or not?
Google Adsense launches YouTube video units
October 9, 2007
Google Adsense's YouTube video units are now live and offered to Adsense publishers in the US starting today.
Adsense's video units stream relevant video from YouTube partners on an embedded, customizable video player. Publishers can choose the categories of videos they want to play, select content from individual YouTube partners, or have video automatically targeted to the site content. The color scheme and layout of the video player can be customized.
Targeted top banner and text overlay ads (which can be closed anytime) also accompany the video unit.
Below is a screenshot of a sample Adsense-YouTube video unit.
I just hope these video ad units will be offered to non-US publishers very soon.
