Open Letter To Internet Advertisers

[Uncamitzi]

I will not buy anything that is advertised by hijacking my browser to display your stupid advertising message.

Promising me better credit, unlimited movies or an enlarged penis will only send me flying in rage to your competitors should I have need of a similar product.

I don't want your drugs! I don't want your Credit Counseling! I don't want you to keep interrupting my Banking Session on what I was hoping was a secure connection!

I may stop watching the Discovery Channel because of you!

I will repeat this rant in every public forum I populate!

I will say bad things about your product to everyone I know both in person and on the net!

Leave me alone! Give me back my browser!


The fact that this is getting worse, day by day makes me want to go back to the days of telephone solicitors!

At least I could slam the phone down on a human ear!

[Chiketkd]

You're not the only one that's ticked off by those silly pop-up ads.

I seriously wonder how effective they are? I've never bought anything from a company that uses that form of annoying internet ad...and never will!

-Chike

[majeskyb]

I was on the phone with my wife, and she had a pop-up that looked like a normal window, saying that our computer was infected with parasites. I knew right away what it was because my virus software never uses that word, but she didn't realize it until I told her. Those pop-ups are getting to the point that if you're not a computer expert, you're going to click on one because they're getting extemely realistic. I don't ever have problems on the desktop though. I run Zone Alarm pro, with ad-blocking, pop-up blocking, and cookie-blocking, as well as the Google toolbar with the pop-up blocker enabled, and run ad-aware at least once a month

[Mr. Pockets]

The Google toolbar does a pretty effective job of blocking pop-ups. And, as an added bonus, it's the Google toolbar so you can search from it without actually having to go to Google.

http://toolbar..com/

Very unobtrusive and slick.

[dcarrb]

Originally posted by majeskyb
Those pop-ups are getting to the point that if you're not a computer expert, you're going to click on one because they're getting extemely realistic.

Those bogus Windows dialog boxes don't look the least bit realistic on my Mac.

dcb

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by dcarrb


Those bogus Windows dialog boxes don't look the least bit realistic on my Mac.

dcb

HA! I bet they don't!

I got one a few months ago that said 'DO YOU HAVE DIABETES?' The only button was 'YES.'

I didn't dare click it. I mean, these popups are getting out of hand - now they can give you diabetes.

[PhatWeasel]

Mozilla Firefox browser

The only time it doesn't work all that well is when you actually want to see the popups. Allows tabbed browsing...great for 'at work' useage as you can have thirty different web pages open, but only one tab on your taskbar. Good download manager that doesn't hog screen space but adding extra windows.

Takes a bit to get used to. Learn and love those hot-keys.

When I must use IE, the Google popup blocker works pretty darn well.

[shelfy]

i am reminded that i can reinstall my toolbar here at work since we no longer use the software program that conflicted with it. woohoo!

[PhatWeasel]

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets


I got one a few months ago that said 'DO YOU HAVE DIABETES?' The only button was 'YES.'

I didn't dare click it. I mean, these popups are getting out of hand - now they can give you diabetes.

Now that was funny!

Today's list:
1. Evidently I need to refill my 'scrip for: 0 X y Cod in, V 1 a g r a, C ia l 1s, V al 1 u m, X an A x, S o m a, M E r i di a

2. My mortgage application was approved. (at 3% WOW)

3. My bank is updating their information services and I need to reenter my information.

4. A bank I don't go to is having the same problem

5. A third bank in a country I've never been to is having the same problem also. Must be systemic.

6. I need to get my 'member' enlarged. This one offended me.

7. And last, I need to 'get legit' and buy pirated copies of Windows XP for $50.

Any one seen any unintentionally funny popup/spam? I have some good ones, but decorum prohibits the content from being displayed here.

[shelfy]

Originally posted by PhatWeasel


Now that was funny!

Today's list:
1. Evidently I need to refill my 'scrip for: 0 X y Cod in, V 1 a g r a, C ia l 1s, V al 1 u m, X an A x, S o m a, M E r i di a

2. My mortgage application was approved. (at 3% WOW)

3. My bank is updating their information services and I need to reenter my information.

4. A bank I don't go to is having the same problem

5. A third bank in a country I've never been to is having the same problem also. Must be systemic.

6. I need to get my 'member' enlarged. This one offended me.

7. And last, I need to 'get legit' and buy pirated copies of Windows XP for $50.

Any one seen any unintentionally funny popup/spam? I have some good ones, but decorum prohibits the content from being displayed here.

did you just hack into my email account?

[NikFu S.]

I don't get spam or adware, and I destroyed what my sister let crawl onto this machine.
I use Ghostsurf Pro and while it is time consuming, I systematically block every IP and web address that I will never use, or want to see again.

[Wiz]

Originally posted by PhatWeasel
Mozilla Firefox browser

The only time it doesn't work all that well is when you actually want to see the popups. Allows tabbed browsing...great for 'at work' useage as you can have thirty different web pages open, but only one tab on your taskbar. Good download manager that doesn't hog screen space but adding extra windows.

Takes a bit to get used to. Learn and love those hot-keys.

When I must use IE, the Google popup blocker works pretty darn well.

QFT, Firefox is the best. No hijacking spyware, no popups.

[Landshark]

i haven't seen a pop-up in a long long time. Google toolbar works just fine - easy to allow pop-ups if you want them on a particular page with just a click. McAfee Spamkiller takes care of my B.S e-mail.

another solution for spam mail is to get a "Spam account" (free Hotmail, MSN, etc.) in addition to your "real e-mail." use the "Spam account" for anything where you have to give out an e-mail address. use the other for friends and family only.

[Uncamitzi]

This discussion of what blocks what is even more disturbing to me because I'm of the opinion that the "anti virus" people are the ones writing the worms, horses (Trojan) and viruses so that we will buy their product... I see no reason for someone to create these things unless there is money to be made by their creation… ...a little cynical aren't we mitch?

[Wiz]

Originally posted by Uncamitzi
This discussion of what blocks what is even more disturbing to me because I'm of the opinion that the "anti virus" people are the ones writing the worms, horses (Trojan) and viruses so that we will buy their product... I see no reason for someone to create these things unless there is money to be made by their creation… ...a little cynical aren't we mitch?

And/or they are written by angsty teenagers who know a bit about computers and are out to cause distruction.
AKA, script kiddies.