If you're seeing ads on Wikipedia, your computer is probably infected with malware

Translate This Post

We never run ads on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is funded by more than a million donors, who give an average donation of less than 30 dollars. We run fundraising appeals, usually at the end of the year. If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry (see screenshot below for an example) or anything but our fundraiser, then your web browser has likely been infected with malware.

Screenshot of the Wikipedia article on John Slattery, with an advertisement for Inkfruit injected by malware on the user's computer
Malware installed on your computer may inject advertising into a page on popular websites, such as this Wikipedia article. This is an example that we’ve seen in the wild. Note the tiny text “ads not by this site” immediately below the ad, which may or may not appear next to these types of injected advertisements.

One example that we have seen installs itself as a browser extension. The extension is called “I want this” and installs itself in Google Chrome. To remove it:

  • Open the options menu via the “pipe-wrench” icon on the top right, and choose Settings.
  • Open the Extensions panel and there is the list of extensions installed.
  • Remove an Extension by clicking the Remove button next to an item.

There is likely other similar malware that injects ads into Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and other popular browsers. If you see examples that you can document, please point them out in the comments.
Ads injected in this manner may be confined to some sites, even just to Wikipedia, or they may show up on all sites you visit. Browsing through a secure (HTTPS) connection (which you can automate using the HTTPS everywhere extension) may cause the ads to disappear, but will not fix the underlying problem.
Disabling browser add-ins is a good starting point to determine the source of these types of ads. This does not necessarily fix the source of the problem either, as malware may make deep changes to your operating system. If you’re comfortable attempting a malware scan and removal yourself, there are various spyware/malware removal tools. Popular and well-reviewed solutions include Ad-Aware and Malwarebytes. But be aware that these types of tools may also bundle software, or leave your computer in an unusable state.
If in doubt, have your computer evaluated for malware by a competent and qualified computer repair center.
There is one other reason you might be seeing advertisements: Your Internet provider may be injecting them into web pages. This is most likely the case with Internet cafes or “free” wireless connections. This New York Times blog post by Brian Chen gives an example.
But rest assured: you won’t be seeing legitimate advertisements on Wikipedia.
We’re here to distribute the sum of human knowledge to everyone on the planet — ad-free, forever.
Philippe Beaudette, Director of Community Advocacy
Erik Moeller, Vice President of Engineering and Product Development

Archive notice: This is an archived post from blog.wikimedia.org, which operated under different editorial and content guidelines than Diff.

Can you help us translate this article?

In order for this article to reach as many people as possible we would like your help. Can you translate this article to get the message out?

138 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

[…] or anything but our fundraiser, then your web browser has likely been infected with malware.” said the Wikimedia Foundation in a posting […]

[…] 以下に公式発表を引用します。 If you’re seeing ads on Wikipedia, your computer is probably infected with malware We never run ads on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is funded by more than a million donors, who give an […]

To remove this kind of malware is never install any update of any browser from untrusted sources and keep firewall on with antivirus updated. Visit saurabhpmandal.blogspot.com for more useful information on pc virus and malware protection.

Was just about to post a topic regarding this, as one of my laptops does show similar ads. Thanks for the post! 🙂

in china ,so many isp use “Deep packet inspection” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_packet_inspection ) change webpage content, insert advertisement like this: http://twitpic.com/96pwwe .
i think probability is your ISP doing same thing.

[…] تنظيف جهازك او إزالة بعض الإضافات، وهذا التحذير يأتي مباشرة من ويكيبيديا التي شددت على أن الموسوعة ستظل مفتوحة ومجانية […]

Yep, I had this Codec add on in my Google Chrome, which made the ads visible. I removed it, and the problem is fixed. Thank You.

[…] Wikipedia pages might signal that your computer has been infected with malware. The company has stated that it would never run ads on the site, saying that Wikipedia is funded by more than a million […]

For a moment there I thought Wikipedia had turned to the “dark-side” by making everything commercial, until I saw this post of course.
How did you remove the Codec from Google Chrome?

thanks for informing!! i was not aware of that, but i m fine with my lap. & my wiki.. 🙂

[…] ウィキペディアは14日、Wikimediaブログを通して、「ウィキペディアが広告を掲載することは絶対にない」という旨を明確にし、「万が一サイト内で広告を見かけた場合、ユーザーのウェブブラウザがマルウェアに感染している恐れがある」として、注意を呼びかけました。一部のユーザーから、以下のスクリーンショットのような広告が表示されていたと報告があったようです: […]

[…] A A A Wikimedia Foundation comunicou via blog que aqueles usuários que estiverem visualizando banners de publicidade na Wikipédia podem estar […]

[…] A A A Wikimedia Foundation comunicou via blog que aqueles usuários que estiverem visualizando banners de publicidade na Wikipédia podem estar […]

[…] por más de un millón de donantes, que dan una donación promedio de menos de 30 dólares “, escribió Philippe Beaudette, director de defensa de la […]

[…] Wikipedia explains in its official blog: We never run ads on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is funded by more than a million […]

[…] Monday, Wikipedia took to their blog to warn users that if you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry on their website, then it’s […]

ipensatori identified an ad injector that was exploiting wikipedia a few weeks ago (it doesn’t get picked up by modern a/v scanners):

Oh gosh I was annoyed to the core that Wiki has started ads just like Blog.com and all the other places, but it’s such a relief to see this post, and figure out that it was just a malware! No i don’t see no more ads 🙂

[…] said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. “If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry … or anything but our […]

[…] the official statement from Wikipedia, which warned its millions of visitors Monday that if they come across ads for anything except […]

[…] said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. “If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry … or anything but our […]

[…] said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. “If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry … or anything but our […]

[…] using the HTTPS everywhere extension offered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. See the Wikipedia blog post for more tips on preventing and removing the malware. And for advice and recommendations on […]

[…] a donc publié un article avertissant ses utilisateurs que non seulement ils ne diffusent jamais de publicités, mais que si […]

[…] using the HTTPS everywhere extension offered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. See the Wikipedia blog post for more tips on preventing and removing the malware. And for advice and recommendations on […]

[…] Wikipedia ha anunciado en su blog oficial que los usuarios de los servicios de investigación están viendo los anuncios de banner al navegar por las páginas de Wikipedia , probablemente, su navegador o su equipo está infectado. […]

[…] said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. “If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry … or anything but our […]

[…] said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. « If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry … or anything […]

[…] a official matter from Wikipedia, that warned a millions of visitors Monday that if they come opposite ads for anything solely […]

[…] If You’re Seeing Ads on Wikipedia, Your Computer Is Probably Infected with Malware: The Wikimedia Foundation reminds us that Wikipedia is donor supported and runs no ads. If you see ads on their pages, you either have malware or the ads are being pushed by your service provider (for instance a net cafe or other free wireless). [Wikimedia Blog] […]

[…] PSA from the Wikimedia Foundation: If you see ads on Wikipedia, it’s malware. […]

[…] pronounced Philippe Beaudette, executive of village advocacy for a Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. “If you’re saying advertisements for a for-profit attention … or anything though […]

[…] using the HTTPS everywhere extension offered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. See the Wikipedia blog post for more tips on preventing and removing the malware. And for advice and recommendations on […]

Can I opt in to those real ads instead of the fake Jimmy Wales ads? I might want to buy a T-Shirt, but I can’t buy Jimmy Wales and he keeps coming back.

[…] If You’re Seeing Ads on Wikipedia, Your Computer Is Probably Infected with Malware: The Wikimedia Foundation reminds us that Wikipedia is donor supported and runs no ads. If you see ads on their pages, you either have malware or the ads are being pushed by your service provider (for instance a net cafe or other free wireless). [Wikimedia Blog] […]

[…] Wikipedia representatives warn users that If you’re seeing ads on Wikipedia, your computer is probably infected with malware. […]

[…] Source […]

[…] Wikipedia Warns of Malware Injecting Ads on Pages 11:00 PM – May 15, 2012 – By Kevin Parrish – Source : Wikimedia […]

go away, spammer

read the article. also, no sane person would install a “coded” on google chrome or any other browser. get a clue.

Or it means you are using a spoof/custom miror/fork website like http://wikipedia (dot) orange [dot] fr
How to fix:
Methode (recommended) A:
– You can change the url in your adress bar to http://wikipedia.org
Methode B:
– You can edit your host file (depends on your operating system) and make wikipedia.orange.fr pointing to wikipedia.org
Methode C:
– You can use an add-on that bloc ads. Many of these add-ons are able to, on a clic/bloc this, hide ads.
Methode D:
– goto Methode A
؟

[…] ayer anunció a través de un artículo en su blog, que si entran en su sitio y comienzan a ver publicidad, es una indicación de que su navegador […]

[…] Wikipedia explains in its official blog: We never run ads on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is funded by more than a million […]

[…] “We never run ads on Wikipedia,” said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. […]

[…] said Philippe Beaudette, director of community advocacy for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blog post. “If you’re seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry… or anything but our […]

[…] Quelle: Wikimedia Foundation […]

[…] bir kuruluş olduğunu ve sayfasında reklam yayınlamadığını belirten Philippe Beaudette, blog yazısında , eğer Fundraiser reklamlarını görüyorsanız tarayıcınıza zararlı bulaştığını […]

Can you see that wrench shaped option on the top right of your Chrome? Click on it and select Settings. In that, go to ‘Extensions’. There you will see some unwanted add ons installed. Remove them.

[…] la organización responsable del site. Philippe Beaudette, ejecutivo de la compañía, dice en un post que Wikipedia no tiene anuncios y que si alguien los ve es que su “navegador está infectado […]

[…] The Wikimedia Foundation has issued a warning stating that if Wikipedia visitors are seeing ads on its webpages, then they are infected with malware. […]