Spotting Deceptive Pop Up Ads
Deceptive pop-up adds really frustrate me. Not because I fall victim to them, but because I can only imagine the confusion these ads cause new computer users. What are these things? Plain and simple, they are trying to sell you something by mimicking warning messages. Don’t be fooled- clicking on these ads is only encouragement to the advertiser. Let’s discuss some ways to identify these annoyances, avoid them, and close them.
Here is an example:
This is typically “popped up” or “popped” behind the web page you are viewing. The advertisement is mimicking a system warning message. This is not a warning message, only a web page in a web browser with all the toolbars removed. If you click on this message, you are forwarded to the website of whatever they are selling or offering. As always, be wary of any “free” offers on the web.
How to Tell it is an Advertisement
The obvious tip that the pop up is an advertisement is that it has some sort of free offer. No real “System Messages” coming from your computer will include such offers.
The second giveaway in this example is in the title bar of the window (top part in blue). In it is the word “Advertisement”. Not all producers of such pop-ups are so kind to include this, but be warned when they do.
Avoiding These “Pop Ups” in the First Place
An imperfect solution, because they don’t prevent all “pop-ups”, but helpful none the less is a pop-up blocker. Pop-up blockers are included with Windows XP2 and various toolbar extensions from AOL, MSN, or Google. They are also native to some of the more progressive web browswers such as Firefox and Opera (but more on those later).
If you do get one, just close it!
Close these ads by right-clicking the red X in the top right corner.
Best wishes and happy internet surfing.
