Ad Lightning
Ad quality and security platform that detects and blocks malicious ads (malvertising) before they render. Ad Lightning's script scans ad creative for code that attempts to redirect users, mine cryptocurrency, or deploy malware. Used by publishers to protect their visitors from bad ads.
Overview
Ad Lightning is an ad quality and security platform that protects publisher websites from malicious advertisements. It scans ad creatives in real time to detect and block malvertising—ads that attempt redirects, cryptocurrency mining, malware deployment, or data harvesting.
What This Script Does
The Ad Lightning script runs alongside the ad serving process and inspects ad creatives before or as they render. It analyzes JavaScript, iframes, and network requests within ad slots to identify malicious behavior patterns. When a bad ad is detected, it is blocked from rendering and replaced with a safe fallback. The script reports detected threats back to Ad Lightning's dashboard for publisher review.
Consent & Compliance
Consent category: Essential
Ad Lightning performs a security function—protecting visitors from malicious advertisements. It does not collect personal data for marketing or analytics purposes. Its operation is limited to inspecting ad creative code and network behavior within ad slots. Under GDPR, security measures that protect users can qualify as a legitimate interest. Under ePrivacy, the script does not set cookies for tracking purposes.
Should You Block This Without Consent?
No. Ad Lightning is a security tool that protects visitors from malvertising. It does not track users or collect personal data. It can be loaded as an essential script without consent.
Is Ad Lightning GDPR compliant?
Ad Lightning typically loads marketing trackers, which are not strictly necessary for your site to work. Under the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, non-essential cookies and trackers must stay blocked until a visitor gives clear opt-in consent. So Ad Lightning can be fully GDPR compliant, but only if your site holds its scripts until consent is granted and lets visitors decline just as easily. Compliance depends on how your site loads Ad Lightning, not on Ad Lightning itself.
Consent Categories
Also Known As
Industries
Tracked Domains (1)
Ad Lightning's trackers are occasionally seen, seen on under 1% of the sites ConsentStack has scanned. Scan your own site to see which of these are firing before consent.
adlightning.comMarketingadlightning.com is a marketing domain operated by Ad Lightning, used to serve ads, build audiences, and measure ad conversions. Seen on under 1% of scanned sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Manage consent for Ad Lightning
ConsentStack automatically detects and manages Ad Lightning trackers so your site stays compliant with global privacy regulations.