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FTC Shuts Down 'Pop-Up Trapping' Sites

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the and-good-riddance dept.

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.

6 of 442 comments (clear)

  1. Thank God! by SpanishInquisition · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can know go back to browsing porn at work without the fear of getting caught.

    --
    Je t'aime Stéphanie
    1. Re:Thank God! by tbmaddux · · Score: 4, Funny
      You don't even have to worry if you are "caught" visiting porno sites. Just claim that you were "trapped!" From the original article: "The scheme is especially harmful to children or employees who may put their jobs at risk when they inadvertently call up pornographic or gambling-related material, the FTC said." (bold emphasis added)

      But seriously, I for one am glad the federal government is on top of this case. Just think of all the shoppers out there who were innocently looking to buy cupcakes online and got drawn into this insidious web of browser betrayal.

      Now, could they do something about my problem? Every time I buy a new car, the trunk turns out to be mysteriously stuffed with black 30-gallon trash bags full of child pornography, gambling tokens, and a substantial fraction of body parts that somebody must be missing...

      --
      Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?
  2. hey, he is trying... by Karmageddon · · Score: 5, Funny
    The district court has ordered Zuccarini to take his sites offline, the FTC said, while the case continues. But as of early Monday afternoon, at least one site registered to Zuccarini, Annakurnikova.com, was still functional.

    Hey, give the guy a break, he's trying. He closes down most of his sites, but whenever he hits the "back" button they all start up again. Those damn javascript-based admin tools...

  3. Neverending popup... by FortKnox · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hope this will include the "Neverending popup", where you point to a site that popups a copy of itself, which popups a copy of itself, which popups a copy of itself...

    I think the troll link "comp-u-geek.com" (DON'T GO THERE!) does that...

    --
    Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
  4. Re:Ashcroft's take? by isomeme · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if this would be considered as terrorism in Ashcroft's proposed law?

    Yes, but hacking your client to filter it is a DMCA violation. :)
    --
    When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a skull.
  5. Re:Does all this really work though? by tregoweth · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who is falling for all this and patronizing the sites that trap you like this?

    Horny people who don't type well?