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FTC Shuts Down 'Pop-Up Trapping' Sites
Masem writes: "The FTC today ordered the shutdown of 5,500 sites owned by John Zuccarini, all of them the so-called 'typo' sites that common mis-entered URLs for popular sites (such as Annakurnikova.com); when the user visits these sites, their back button behavior in most popular browsers is modified as to open multiple pop-ups featuring ads for adult entertainment and gambling sites when pressed, and uses other technology to basically 'trap' the browser until the entire application has to be closed. While some sites are still operating, the FTC is going to take this matter to court, which may decide exactly how much control a web site can take over the end browser using JavaScript and ActiveX. CNet has the full story." Le Marteau contributes a link to the same story at the Washington Post.
This is a wickedly ingenious trick.
To get caught by this you have to do 2 stupid things:
1) type the wrong url
2) Have JavaScript / ActiveX enabled
I'm not sure, but running Windows probably makes you a lot more susceptible. That would make 3 stupid things.
Is it so wrong to capitalize on that?
Speak for yourself, and the slashdroids. I don't hate amazon at all, I use them all them time, they're extremely convenient and have reasonable prices. As far as I can tell, they really were the first site to offer one-click shopping. If you can prove otherwise, go collect your $10,000 Bounty
Everything is obvious in hindsight.
The only detail I'm curious to know about this whole thing is... why the fsck did Netscrape and Mafiasoft put these alleged "features" into their defective browsers in the first place?! A back button should do what it says, namely, go BACK, not open 6.02x10^28 pr0n windows!
Shameless plug: I just use Opera. It costs money, which I gladly paid, because it actually WORKS unlike the previously mentioned excuses for browsers! Version 5.12 is great, as nearly all sites work the same as on the defective browsers--this includes online banking and bill-paying that didn't previously work with version 4.
And even if you don't use Opera... Friends don't let friends use Mafiasoft products!
What I want to know is what kind of programmer sunk so low as to agree to do this sort of stuff? The lack of ethics displayed by some dot-com programmers makes me ashamed to be part of the computer industry.
Well, here it is. Perfectly LEGAL sites are being shut down because a government agency simply doesn't like them. Kiddie porn is one thing, but what this guy was doing is LEGAL! We're already waaaaay doen the slippery slope, now, people. This is the biggest threat yet to the Net. Be careful about what you put on your website. Too many popups, or annoying ads, and the FTC can shut you down. Who knows what's next? CONTENT they don't like??