Replace Ad's through Guest Wifi

[DeltaBuilders]

I've been searching for a solution without success, yet I'm hopeful someone might have one.

We're interested in offering guest WiFi, with the aim of substituting the ads displayed on visited websites with our own curated advertisements. I'm aware that we cannot alter anything on HTTPS sites, but for non-secure sites, I'd like to implement our ads.

You might wonder why. The reason is quite straightforward: we are a small town business in Colorado, focusing on local advertising across our operations. As a commercial real estate firm, we integrate local ads into our commercial audio, signage, and video displays. Our goal is to swap out as many "national" ads as possible with local ones we manage, whenever someone uses our guest WiFi.

This would involve a man-in-the-middle injection, which would be addressed in the terms and conditions of using our guest WiFi.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice on this.

[RWelch]

Cloud-based location analytics and mobile engagement 

 

[RWelch]

Might also be worth checking out:

About Meraki Marketplace

Meraki’s Marketplace is an exclusive catalog of technology partners showcasing their apps developed on top of the Meraki platform for Meraki customers, sales and partners to view, demo and deploy.
Visit us at https://apps.meraki.io/

[PhilipDAth]

The closest I can think of is Splash Access's guest WiFi solution, which allows for advertising on your guest portal (it doesn't replace advertising on other web sites).

Splash Access Multi Pro | Splash Access

They also offer a "white label" mobile app (so you can apply your own branding and call it your app).  It does support geographic based pop ups (from memory).  For example, you could have it pop up a note when someone is within a certain distance of a property for sale.

Going sideways, replacing adverts from other web sites could easily lead to your firm getting sued (not the guest wifi users - but your company - you can't contract out of it).  For example, if a web page contains a trademark, you could be seen to be "passing off" using their trademark.  If it is shown you did that on purpose (and you would be) - that is tripple damages. 

Then there is the issue of creating a derived copyright work.

Then there is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to consider.

If you did this on a big brand, like Coke-Cola, you won't be in business anymore.

[thaack]

This is a frivolous endeavor for many of reasons:

Usage Statistics of Default protocol https for Websites, December 2024

87% of sites are utilizing HTTPS these days. Every site your users frequently visit will 100% beyond a reasonable doubt utilize HTTPS. Besides - with the advent of unlimited cell data I can't remember the last time I utilized guest Wi-Fi. Your impressions will be next to zero.

You are far better off running advertising/end user "engagement" on the captive portal with a tool like Splash Access, like others have recommended. Splash Access Multi Pro | Splash Access Theoretically you could sell that contact info/data to your pre-existing advertising customers - but personally I will just stick to cell data if a WiFi network splash page wants me to put in contact information.

[KarstenI]

British Telecom tried this 15 years ago with their "Phorm"-Project. And the bad press (*) was quite heavy. I would think twice before doing this, and if so, I would also put some money aside for the lawyers that you likely will need.

* The community software didn't allow me to use a word that combines the result of the digestive system and very heavy weather.