Firefox Ad Exploit; Automation Still Requires Humans

Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign-up here.

Firefox’s Ad Hack

Late last week, a Firefox exploit was discovered running through a corrupt ad on a news site in Russia. The malvert scanned sensitive files in search of developer codes and site configuration files and was tied to Firefox’s PDF viewer. Mozilla products that don’t support a PDF viewer, like Firefox for Android, were not vulnerable. Although the bug couldn’t execute code, it injected JavaScript into local files, which allowed it to search and upload those files. Users with ad blocking software may have been spared, according to Mozilla, depending on their filter settings. The firm released security updates to patch the hack and recommends users upgrade to the latest version of Firefox. More via Mozilla Security blog.

There’s No ‘I’ In C-3PO

In an interview with CMO, Adobe’s marketing chief, Ann Lewnes, debunks the idea that automation leads to fewer hands on deck. “Data is not so automated now that everything is triggered and just robots are doing marketing,” she said, “You still need judgement.” Because of this, Lewnes said Adobe has insourced a lot of resources, particularly in the area of creative. “If you are a data-driven marketer with a website, and you’re testing constantly whether the content is working, you need someone right there to rewrite it,” she said. “If you have a display ad that’s not working, you need someone right there to redo it.” Read it.

Radio RTB?

Speaking to eMarketer, Marketron CEO Jeff Haley says programmatic is coming to terrestrial radio – but not immediately. Marketron provides software to radio broadcasters, and is working with SSPs to lay the pipelines for programmatic trading for terrestrial. But according to Haley, it’s still early for RTB. “The potential for RTB in the radio space is only inasmuch as there’s enough velocity to manage it,” he said. “By this time next year there will be multiple broadcasters trading inventory programmatically on a spot basis.” iHeartMedia executed one programmatic test buy that got an ad on the air within 15 minutes. Steady as she goes. More.

Goliath Abides

A tough news cycle for ESPN notwithstanding, flagship sports programming is soaring above the rest of broadcast television. On the CBS earnings call last week, CEO Les Moonves said the company is already selling 30-second spots for next year’s Super Bowl for $5 million – an 11% jump from last year, according to Adweek – plus additional digital revenue. Meanwhile, The WSJ reports that NBC sales leaders are optimistic about the potential ad haul for next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics, with a better time zone for US audiences and little commercial skipping. Supposedly the company is demanding an advertiser spend more than $15 million before gaining access to premium digital and OTT inventory.

Cool Your Jets

Jet.com, a recently launched online membership store (think digital Costco), is butting heads with some of the nation’s biggest retailers, The WSJ reports. Jet had been linking out to unaffiliated online sites and giving member points and cash back on purchases made off its domain. Retailers like Walmart, Gap, Williams Sonoma, Home Depot and Macy’s have demanded Jet cease the practice (until they formalize a deal). Some retailers are perfectly happy to take Jet’s traffic and sales, but others view it as unwelcome competition. More.