NationStates Jolt Archive

I want to start up a boycot of all companies who advertise via pop-ups. Especially since I still get them despite my pop-up blocker. I have a small list that needs adding to, and a desire for comments.
The list is:

Jamster
Casino 888.com
PartyPoker.com
Quantas Airlines
Hilton Hotel
MSN search
MyOffers.com
Tickle IQ Test

The comments need to be supplied.

Edit: Jamster have been added to the list.

Not to start off the thread with a hijack (though, everyone knows of the flip off smilie-it was all the rage when we moved to Jolt, and now it just fell out of favor-but thats not the hijack...)

I've always been impressed with the confidence in the ad copy that the people with 'trojan horse spam' (made that up, don't know what it might be called) with titles like "I found your wallet." That person is sooo confident in thier copy that they believe that if you don't want to view an ad and wouldn't if you knew it is one, and would feel burned if tricked into reading an ad, that the copy is so good that all you need is that one second between "Hey, what does this have to do with my wallet" and when you hit the 'delete' button for the ad copy to win you over. That's a confidence you just don't normally see...

"Pop-up"? What's a "pop-up"? :D

*Currently using Opera with "Block unwanted pop-ups" option enabled.*

"Pop-up"? What's a "pop-up"? :D

*Currently using Opera with "Block unwanted pop-ups" option enabled.*

I'm surprised you don't still get pop-ups. I also have a blocker, and still get them. Usually when typing. That means that I have to type again. I'm convinced I've got adware on my computer, but I don't know what to do about it.

You probably do.

Ad aware, Spybot search and destroy, Microsoft has one too I believe. Go nuts.

For real popups, that I almost never see, I'll occasionally write a polite letter about how and why that ad makes me want to not by their product and the kinds of ads I'd like to see. I also have a fair amount of the big internet ad companies blocked.

You probably do.

Ad aware, Spybot search and destroy, Microsoft has one too I believe. Go nuts.

For real popups, that I almost never see, I'll occasionally write a polite letter about how and why that ad makes me want to not by their product and the kinds of ads I'd like to see. I also have a fair amount of the big internet ad companies blocked.

I've tried Adaware (don't like it) and Spybot tends to have odd problems with certain programs.

Alternatively, you could just get a browser with a pop-up blocker that works, like Mozilla Firefox.

Whilst all these are good ideas for removing pop-ups, it still doesn't adress the central issue; a boycot of products that use pop-ups to advertise.
If we send out a clear message to these people, then eventually they'll stop using them to advertise, and go back to real adverts. Do I have your support?

Alternatively, you could just get a browser with a pop-up blocker that works, like Mozilla Firefox.
Sage advice ... just do this my friend and all will be well

Do I have your support?

If you manage to make pop-ups unprofitable, then we'll just end up with huge banners splashed across web pages (even more so than we do now) instead.

At least pop-ups are incredibly easy to block.

Sage advice ... just do this my friend and all will be well

I've heard that Firefox has less than 10% of the browser market, so somehow even if I did get it (which I might), then they'd still be around to annoy others. Which is not cool.

If you manage to make pop-ups unprofitable, then we'll just end up with huge banners splashed across web pages (even more so than we do now) instead.

At least pop-ups are incredibly easy to block.

Then again banners don't interfere with your work if your typing as much as pop-ups, and are easier to ignore. Then again, they might just go back to better forms of advertising. Unlikely, but still possible.

I want to start up a boycot of all companies who advertise via pop-ups. Especially since I still get them despite my pop-up blocker. I have a small list that needs adding to, and a desire for comments.


Just add the offending websites to your windows hosts file with a redirect to 127.0.0.1.

Example:
127.0.0.1 PartyPoker.com

You can download a quite large hostfile from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

You can always remove the malware by hand. Safe mode, regedit, regedit32, a fine tooth comb, and an assload of free time. NTFS and "deny all" can be helpful too. There are a LOT of options. However, there are no panaceas

Hmm. This is all very good advice for removing pop-ups, and I thank you for it.

Oddly enough, only one person has told me what they think of the boycot idea. To be honest, I expected a lot of "Yay! Fight the Power" or "Teh MSN i5 teh e11t". God, that second one makes me feel unclean just thinking about it...

Oddly enough, only one person has told me what they think of the boycot idea.

I have never even considered doing anything else actually ;)
Except for programs that are free because they show adverts of course. Though annoying, I have in a sense asked for them - so boycotting them would be unjust.

Wasn't there some dude that developed a program or whatzit that would bounce and replicate pop ups back to their source, jamming the host up?

Obviously I'm not a super savvy guy when it comes to computers...

Hmm. This is all very good advice for removing pop-ups, and I thank you for it.

Oddly enough, only one person has told me what they think of the boycot idea. To be honest, I expected a lot of "Yay! Fight the Power" or "Teh MSN i5 teh e11t". God, that second one makes me feel unclean just thinking about it...
Honestly it would be like a boycott of Nike for me. I don't wear sneakers anyway, so I'm not sure how they're gonna notice...

Re the boycott:
It they're a scam company (eg the IQ test) they know what they are and they don't care if you do, they want to sucker the people who don't. If they're a real company, they'll likely listen to reason, and a single well articulated letter from you will play a role in how they ask for your money. If it's coming from ad ware, well, you need to attack that problem.

What most of here are trying to say (I think) is that there is more than enough free software to block pop-ups, like Opera, FireFox, etc. Private internet site owners are free to do what they want with their sites, so long as they're not really causing harm with viruses and whatnot. So basically, if you're surfing without ad-blocking it's your own problem. Kind of like having unprotected sex... :p

I have never even considered doing anything else actually ;)
Except for programs that are free because they show adverts of course. Though annoying, I have in a sense asked for them - so boycotting them would be unjust.

If you are talking about the internet, then think of it this way; are there better forms of advertising that don't muck up my computer? Answer; yes.

What most of here are trying to say (I think) is that there is more than enough free software to block pop-ups, like Opera, FireFox, etc. Private internet site owners are free to do what they want with their sites, so long as they're not really causing harm with viruses and whatnot. So basically, if you're surfing without ad-blocking it's your own problem. Kind of like having unprotected sex... :p

As I've said, I've already got a blocker, just one that doesn't block all pop-ups.
Adware is an evil on this planet (just thought I'd say that).

As I've said, I've already got a blocker, just one that doesn't block all pop-ups.
Adware is an evil on this planet (just thought I'd say that).

Which blocker are you using? Since I started using Opera I haven't seen a single one (and I've visited one or two rather seedy sites...).

A question: Who here has ever bought anything based on a popup advert? My guess is no one.

Re the boycott:
It they're a scam company (eg the IQ test) they know what they are and they don't care if you do, they want to sucker the people who don't. If they're a real company, they'll likely listen to reason, and a single well articulated letter from you will play a role in how they ask for your money. If it's coming from ad ware, well, you need to attack that problem.

If it's coming from a real company, they may listen to reason, or they may listen to a drop in profits. The second one speaks louder.

If you are talking about the internet, then think of it this way; are there better forms of advertising that don't muck up my computer? Answer; yes.

No, I am talking about those programs that give you an option of either
a. paying money to the programmer directly for the right to use the program
b. showing adverts every once in a while as long as you are using the program

I have nothing against this principle; as long as the advert displaying software is removed when I stop using the main program.

That said, the host file trick tends to block these adverts too.

Which blocker are you using? Since I started using Opera I haven't seen a single one (and I've visited one or two rather seedy sites...).

Google toolbar until I find something better (seems I have).

If it's coming from a real company, they may listen to reason, or they may listen to a drop in profits. The second one speaks louder.
Companies pay attention to the well written letters they recieve. I've done it more than once, I have yet to have one go unanswered.

I use firefox in combo with google toolbar, adblock, jumplink, and bugmenot. I never get popups, not a one since I started with firefox. Also if you have spyware I HIGHLY reccoment M$'s Anitspyware beta. It runs realtime protection like McAfee and Symantec's antiviruses and does not require regular extensive scans, except for the initial cleaning of whatever was on there when you installed it. That and well, its free.

Then it seems that the purpose of this thread has changed; from "boycot pop-ups" to "where can I get a pop-up blocker?". Rather than fight the change, I shall embrace it.
...
..
.
Where can I get a pop-up blocker?

microsoft.com, cnet.com, mozilla.org ....

microsoft.com, cnet.com, mozilla.org ....

Thanks.