It'd be relatively straightforward to produce unsolicited pop-up ads on people's computers.
You either lure the punter on to a Web page that has a Java applet on it or send HTML mail that loads the applet when opened. Or, if you don't know Java, you use the applet as the payload of a virus, or embed it as a secret component in a piece of freeware.
The applet runs invisibly for most of the time, but calls home to the spammer's server every so often. When instructed, it produces a pop-up window containing an advert. The pop-up can be as antisocial -- sorry, attention-grabbing -- as you want. It can refuse to close for a set period of time. It can force itself on top of other windows. It can disable the keyboard and mouse until the user acknowledges your important message. It must certainly arrange for itself to be reloaded at system startup, or the user will miss your investment opportunities if he restarts his computer.
The usual precautions apply. All together now: don't enable Java and ActiveX in your browser. Use a mailer that doesn't display HTML mail. Don't catch a virus. Even better, use an OS that isn't vulnerable to most viruses.
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It'd be relatively straightforward to produce unsolicited pop-up ads on people's computers.
You either lure the punter on to a Web page that has a Java applet on it or send HTML mail that loads the applet when opened. Or, if you don't know Java, you use the applet as the payload of a virus, or embed it as a secret component in a piece of freeware.
The applet runs invisibly for most of the time, but calls home to the spammer's server every so often. When instructed, it produces a pop-up window containing an advert. The pop-up can be as antisocial -- sorry, attention-grabbing -- as you want. It can refuse to close for a set period of time. It can force itself on top of other windows. It can disable the keyboard and mouse until the user acknowledges your important message. It must certainly arrange for itself to be reloaded at system startup, or the user will miss your investment opportunities if he restarts his computer.
The usual precautions apply. All together now: don't enable Java and ActiveX in your browser. Use a mailer that doesn't display HTML mail. Don't catch a virus. Even better, use an OS that isn't vulnerable to most viruses.