Minor Updates Related to Ads

Since June 2022, we have operated both a donation program and commercial affiliate advertising to cover server costs and maintain Kiosk, our primary service. These efforts allow us to offer Kiosk to the public free of charge.

However, we recently encountered several ad-related issues:

1. Scam Ads Redirecting to Malicious Websites (Since July 11)

• Issue: Users were suddenly redirected from the Kiosk V4 website to fake pages mimicking reCAPTCHA or offering fake file-sharing links.

• Cause: On July 11, we switched to a new advertising partner that unknowingly distributed scam ads without proper pre-filtering.

• Current Status: Resolved.
  We have removed all ads from this agency and are continuing our investigation into these malicious ads.

These fake pages are generally harmless if you simply close them without interacting. However, if you clicked on CAPTCHA elements or downloaded files, your device could be at risk of malware infection.

If you believe you may have done so, we strongly recommend running a full system scan using trusted antivirus software such as Windows Defender or Malware Zero Kit.

2. Service Malfunction Caused by Adblock Conflicts (Ongoing Since Mid-June)

• Issue: Users have experienced repeated password verification failures or "Network Connection Closed" errors.

• Cause: Some adblockers mistakenly blocked Kiosk API requests necessary for file transfers and password authentication.

• Current Status: In Progress.
  At our request, the Kiosk API URL has been removed from certain filter lists, but the update has not yet propagated across affected adblockers.

The root of the issue was AdGuard's attempt to bypass our anti-adblock system by adding a Kiosk API URL to its filter list without a full understanding of our infrastructure. (#1) This filter was later shared with uBlock Origin and other adblockers, which led to widespread issues. (#2)

Although the filters have been corrected (#3, #4), some adblockers have not yet implemented the changes. The situation should resolve itself once the updates are fully integrated and no longer interfere with our service.

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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Ads

Q1. Did you intentionally limit service features for users with adblockers?

No. The only restriction we enforce is a 10-second modal warning when ads are blocked. We do not disable any other features or intentionally interfere with your experience.

That said, we can’t always account for external factors like adblocker conflicts, browser compatibility (especially with Firefox, Opera, Brave, or Apple devices), or local network issues.

If you're experiencing any unexpected problems, please reach out to us. While we may not have an immediate fix, we’ll investigate thoroughly and follow up with a solution.

Q2. Why use commercial affiliates? Aren’t donations enough?

Thanks to your support—and the unexpected shutdown of Kiosk V3—we’ve been able to just barely cover our monthly server costs. However, beyond everyday operations, we also face ongoing expenses for infrastructure, development, licensing, and, when possible, labor to ease the burden, especially since no one on the team has been compensated since this project began.

Expanding our infrastructure is particularly urgent. Many file transfer issues—such as slow upload or download speeds—stem from our limited access to content delivery networks (CDNs), which cost more than ten times our current monthly donation income.

We remain committed to improving Kiosk. While monetization may not be ideal, we deeply appreciate your patience and continued support as we work to grow and sustain the platform.