Spotify is serving malware-infested ads to its users

[captain_to_fire]

 

Article from The Next Web & 9to5Mac: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2016/10/05/spotify-malware-infested/#gref   https://9to5mac.com/2016/10/05/spotify-free-malware-mac/

Original Post from Spotify Community Forum: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Ongoing-Issues/Spotify-Free-ads-causes-browser-to-launch-on-malware-virus/idi-p/1461222

 

Good thing I have Premium. Although it seems to me that they're not filtering the ads they display. Which means the problem is social engineering malware.

Quote

It seems Spotify is in for trouble as numerous music lovers are reporting that its freemium streaming service is pushing malware-infested ads to its users.

According to a user report on the company’s forum, running Spotify Free on the desktop periodically causes your browser to open various malicious websites without your permission.

Spotify has since responded to the complaints, saying it is currently looking into the affair.

This isn’t the first time music giant has dealt with ad controversy. Back in 2011, the streaming service issued a public apology after displaying malicious ads to some of its users. The company was quick to resolve the complication though.

We’ve contacted Spotify for further comment and will update this post accordingly if we hear back.

Update 19:05 CEST: Spotify claims it has successfully identified and eliminated the source of the problem. Here’s the full statement:

Quote

A small number of users have experienced a problem with questionable website pop ups in their default browsers as a result of an isolated issue with an ad on our free tier. We have now identified the source of the problem and have shut it down. We will continue to monitor the situation.

 

[ivan134]

Nice

[deleted_member_030719]

This has happened before.

[DrMacintosh]

Dont use them :^) YouTube and random websites hosting .m4a and .FLAC files. 

[Joe Brainer]

Spotifad would inject ads into your brain while you're on your deathbed to make an extra buck. We need laws on Advertisements because they're getting out of hand. We also need advertisement profiles without utilization of cookies and such so ads are more personalized to your searches.

I don't mind ads I'm interested in, but Spotifad is the king of raping your ears with the most annoying, ear shattering, and unrelated ads out there. "What's this? You're enjoying some System of a Down? Oh, how about a Digsters top love songs playlist!" "What's this? You're smashing your head through the wall to some Slayer? How about a Don't shake your baby ad, with a baby squalling in the background for 30 seconds straight!" 

-Sorry for the screwy font, I Ctrl + V'ed on the wrong tab and it took the font aaand now I can't fix it. 

[AlTech]

I use Spotify Premium so I wasn't affected BUT I know a number of people who use the free version.

[TheElt]

Well, makes me happy I use the web version with uBlock. I wonder how many machines could have gotten infected from this

[vanished]

I suspect a good HOSTS file could have helped in this case... I have premium though so wouldn't have mattered.  Still, that's bad, m'kay.

[Prysin]

I have premium so no issues here. But atleast Spotify responded quickly. Unlike some other massively popular sites who hasnt cleaned up their infected ads for 14 days despite users complaining loudly about which ads it is

[AresKrieger]

That's what you get for not pirating music like normal people

 

Side note: am I crazy or was this posted before, because I feel like I posted on a prior thread but can't find it for some reason

[Orangeator]

My problem on the free desktop version is not malicious ads, my problem is I get condom ads! Like I don't want to listen to a guy on my Bluetooth speaker during a party talking about how condoms can keep you safe from STD's. I am not lying or BS'ing this, Spotify really does give me ads like that.

[NinerL]

Malwarebytes found some malware that was in my Spotify folder, I've never used to the free version of Spotify. Weird....

[AlTech]

6 minutes ago, NinerL said:

Malwarebytes found some malware that was in my Spotify folder, I've never used to the free version of Spotify. Weird....

It's the same application in both cases.

[Energycore]

Spotify quickly became the LimeWire of the second decade.

[Sir Asvald]

Mr Robot. Did you do this with Tyrell Wellick? /s

 

 

[dragosudeki]

Another reason for me to avoid Spotify and other music streaming services. If I recall correctly, they still don't give that much to the artists, which is why one of the artist I follow has not made all of his music available on it. Not sure if it has changed though.

[AlTech]

17 minutes ago, dragosudeki said:

Another reason for me to avoid Spotify and other music streaming services. If I recall correctly, they still don't give that much to the artists, which is why one of the artist I follow has not made all of his music available on it. Not sure if it has changed though.

70% of the money is not enough for artists?

 

Goddamn. Do they need 100% or what?

[dragosudeki]

8 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

70% of the money is not enough for artists?

 

Goddamn. Do they need 100% or what?

Well here's a fairly recent article: http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/7/9861372/spotify-year-in-review-artist-payment-royalties

Judging from the article, the amount that the labels make was fairly low compare to how much you can spend for an album (especially if you consider some artists release multiple albums). You can argue that it is based on how much the label pays their artist. However, the artist that I'm talking is Tech N9ne who actually owns half of his independent label "Strange Music", and if he still has problems with the payments from streaming services, then there is likely a problem with it. 

[BuckGup]

I have Apple Music so yeah

[Sanderspool]

1 hour ago, SamStrecker said:

I have Apple Music so yeah

My preferred music streaming service as well sir

[Joelbanks5]

At Christmas I was playing Spotify freemium on my bose speakers... a Trojan bare skin condom ad came on. I turned the volume way up though so everyone could hear it. That was a hilarious Christmas. 

 

Later I kept getting the ad so I started prank calling my friends and family with it. I think I also prank called Panda Express and played the ad at one point.

[BuckGup]

6 hours ago, Sanderspool said:

My preferred music streaming service as well sir

I don't pay for it personally but it is great just looking up any song anytime and downloading it as I please

[Sanderspool]

3 hours ago, SamStrecker said:

I don't pay for it personally but it is great just looking up any song anytime and downloading it as I please

Also love being able to ask Siri to play pretty much whatever I want at any time haha

 

[Misanthrope]

22 hours ago, hey_yo_ said:

Good thing I have Premium. 

If that's how they're gonna be, It's a good thing I'm not a motherfucking customer at all and won't start anytime soon.

 

Saying "good thing I have premium" is akin to say "Good thing I have enough fucking ransom money!", just...No.

[BuckGup]

1 hour ago, Sanderspool said:

Also love being able to ask Siri to play pretty much whatever I want at any time haha

 

Yeah I hate Siri and have her disabled