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.
Consent Categories
Also Known As
Industries
Tracked Domains (1)
adlightning.comMarketingFrequently Asked Questions
Is cookie consent needed for Ad Lightning?
Generally no. Ad Lightning is categorized as an essential security tool that scans ad creatives to detect and block malvertising threats like forced redirects, cryptocurrency mining, and malware. Because it protects site visitors rather than tracking them, it typically does not require cookie consent under GDPR or ePrivacy rules.
What does the Ad Lightning script do on a website?
Ad Lightning runs alongside your ad serving process, inspecting ad creatives as they render. It analyzes JavaScript, iframes, and network requests within ad slots to identify malicious behavior patterns. When a harmful ad is detected, it is blocked from displaying. The script does not collect personal user data for advertising purposes.
How does ConsentStack handle Ad Lightning?
ConsentStack identifies Ad Lightning scripts and assigns them to the essential category. Since Ad Lightning provides security functionality by blocking malvertising, it is allowed to load without requiring visitor consent. ConsentStack recognizes it as a protective tool rather than a tracking mechanism.
Related Vendors
Manage consent for Ad Lightning
ConsentStack automatically detects and manages Ad Lightning trackers so your site stays compliant with global privacy regulations.