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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.

8 of 442 comments (clear)

  1. The FTC, not the FCC ... by taniwha · · Score: 3, Redundant

    'nuf said

  2. FTC, not FCC by GrenDel+Fuego · · Score: 2, Redundant

    This was the federal trade commission, not the Federal Communication Commission.

    I was curious when they became involved with net traffic.

  3. FTC not FCC by billscarwasher · · Score: 1, Redundant

    The title should be FTC, not FCC. BIG difference...

  4. Re:whoa....not at the top of my list by TBone · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Bah, the only reason my wife gets mad at me for looking at porn is when I don't share and show her some of the wierd crap that shows up in those popups :)

    --

    This space for rent. Call 1-800-STEAK4U

  5. kweh? by gunner800 · · Score: 0, Redundant
    While some sites are still operating, the FCC 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.


    Isn't the more pressing question exactly how much control the FCC can take over a private / corporate web site?

  6. the excluded middle by benedict · · Score: 1, Redundant

    There's nothing inconsistent about condemning bad law while praising good administration of a good law.

    I know libertarianism-soaked Slashdot doesn't like to think this way, but there does exist a middle ground between the positions of "laws are bad, mm-kay?" and "government is the answer to everything".

    --
    Ben "You have your mind on computers, it seems."
  7. Finally! by ukyoCE · · Score: 1, Redundant

    If I drove my car into McDonald's and the exit moved every time I drove towards it, it would be called Kidnapping, or something similar. But it's perfectly legal for some assholes to trap you on their web site? I hope the government takes this opportunity to give legally give us back control of our own computers.

  8. Re:OmniWeb for OS X fixes this elegantly by MaxVlast · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Best damned browser in the world.

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    There should be a moratorium on the use of the apostrophe.
    Max V.
    NeXTMail/MIME Mail welcome