Firefox users ignore online ads, report says
Published: December 6, 2004, 1:24 PM PST
By Ingrid Marson
Special to CNET News.com


Internet Explorer users are at least four times as likely to click on Web ads than Firefox users, a German advertising technology company said last week.

The company, Adtech, found that during October and November, only 0.11 percent of Firefox users ever clicked on an ad, compared with around 0.5 percent of IE users. The percentage of IE users clicking on ads varied depending on which version of the browser was being used, the company said: from 0.44 percent of version 6.x users to 0.53 percent of version 5.5 users. The survey was based on 1,000 Web sites in Europe that use Adtech's ad server.

Dirk Freytag, the chief operations officer of Adtech, said in a statement that the reason for this trend is probably the different surfing habits of Firefox and IE users, plus the inclusion of an integrated pop-up ad blocker in Firefox. Among IE users, only those who have version 6 and who have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 have an integrated pop-up blocker, although IE users can also choose to install a third-party pop-up blocker.

David Hallowell, a Mozilla contributor, said this trend may have emerged because nontechnical Web surfers, who tend to be IE users, are more likely to click on pop-up ads by mistake, because they think the ad is a system dialog box.

"People click on (pop-up) ads because they think the system's trying to tell them something," Hallowell said. "The average Firefox user is more aware that they're ads, not system dialogs."

Hallowell added that Firefox users may be more likely to click on targeted ads, rather than other types. "Most people I know are more happy with Google's targeted ads--they don't like big banner ads that are totally unrelated to what they're looking for," Hallowell said.

Adtech's findings could have significant implications for the online-advertising market. It may be bad news for sites that rely on online advertising, because as the number of Firefox users grows, those sites may get lower click-through rates. Alternatively, if Hallowell's theory is correct, then click-throughs from Firefox users could actually be more valuable--if a Firefox user is considered more likely to have intentionally clicked on an advertisement.

In some cases, Web surfers would be well-advised to stay clear of banner ads. Last month, ZDNet UK reported that hackers have attacked ad servers and have modified the banner ads so that they redirect users to Web sites that download malicious code.

Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.

Cause the vast majority that use IE don't know other Web Browsers exist out there. Those that know about FireFox and CrazyBrowser are much more likely to be more informed on blocking that kind of shit and not clicking stupid shit that will allow trackers and other files to infiltrate your system. They likely have much more skills on the computer, hence use a better browser then IE.

I actually prefer the older addition of Mozilla, granted I manually empty the cache, but I still like how simple it is.

I miss Netscape 3.1

i love firefox, i used to use ie, but once i found out about this i will never go back!!!

What's so great about it?

--PunkDavid (IE6)

believe me, this cant be further from the truth

people are just stupid when it comes to computers, it doesnt matter if they use netscape, IE, firefox or anything else.

people are scared that they are going to get a virus or a worm, and if something looks like a message window from Microsoft they will click it, then wonder what the hell happened.

alot of the sites our college deals with, you need pop ups, so using firefox or wsp2 to disable these is null and void

Sorry, but I don't believe you. People who aren't familiar with computers default to IE, it's that simple. You have to go out of your way to hear about, and try, something like Firefox - that sheer fact alone makes you not the standard user.

Agreed.

Spk5512 is my tech support hero and the wisest computer guy in the nation!

sorry, i dont believe you


i work on a campus of over 800 computers. netscape is the default browser on all these, unless the user specifies differently. on the student lab computers, both IE and Netscape are used.

so your argument is null and void

again, i stated on my personal expeirence, and for you to say you dont believe me shows a high degree of arrogance i have come to expect from people on the board, thanks for not letting me down

well, your school installed and set the default browser to Netscape. if it was a personal computer at home, i agree with stonecrest, a standard user would use IE. i've witnessed it personally over and over again. i do some consulting on the side to help these standalone users get there computers fixed after they click on those popups, install viruses and spyware.

i think calling you a standalone user was a compliment

i personally use Opera and haven't gone back and will never go back to IE.


for someone who asked what the difference is............



BEHOLD THE WONDER OF TAB'D BROWSING!!!!!!!

oh and i get less browser highjackers and tab'd download page etc

dude, in the US there's like 2 computers for every person and most use IE, that's just the way it is my boy!

Would you take a campus ration of Apple to PC as an accurate represenation of the general public? nope

no shit sherlock, thats why it was my personal expierence, way to point out the obvious

I'm one of the users that spk has had to help!

*basks in spk's glorious computer wisdom*

You are the man!

and you are the WOman!!! thanks for the compliments. i like helping honest, hard working, and cute individuals!

Well, hard working anyway.

wait you used your 800 computers as a......nevermind douche

what the fuck does you going to go douche have to do anything with this thread?