# Congratulations!! You have WON! Click here to claim your prize! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313 "2003-07-14T04:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/1 "2003-07-14T04:33:40Z")
“You have 2 messages waiting for you. Click here to read.” “Warning. Your internet conncetion is not optimized. Click here to fasttrack your connection.” “You have been selected to win a trip to Hawaii! Click here to continue!” How stupid do they think we are? Does anyone actually click on these things? Grrrrr! I would do something to block them but because I use the internet mostly from work, I can’t! I can only hope that one day in the future these pop ups / banners will cease to exist, simply because enough people stop clicking on them and making them profitable… (sorry this was slightly lame, but I needed to vent) ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/2 "2003-07-14T04:38:42Z")
So where’s my prize? Oh. **Unleashes a stream of obscenities.** ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/3 "2003-07-14T05:06:05Z")
I once accidentally clicked on one. As I attempted to close out, it asked me why I wasn’t continuing (with options like “do you not believe you’re going to get your terrific prize?”, you know, options that set themselves up for an easy pitch to counter it). I, of course, gave no answer as I exited, because “you’re lying bastards who think I’m stupid” wasn’t on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/4 "2003-07-14T05:07:45Z")
Some of my favorites: “Why didn’t you IM me?” “I want to meet you.” “WOW, that’s big.” Yeah, I’m _married_, idiots, and quite happily. Nice try. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/5 "2003-07-14T05:17:21Z")
The ones that really bug me are the ones designed to look like a dialog box. Complete with fake “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. WTF? They are so desperate for clicks that they try to sucker you in with fake dialog boxes? ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/6 "2003-07-14T05:23:38Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by samarm_ > I would do something to block them but because I use the internet mostly from work, I can’t! Your system administrators would probably be interested in any way to boost productivity and employee morale. Point them to [this site](http://everythingisnt.com/hosts.html) and have them implement the solution on all networked computers. Presto! No more ads. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/7 "2003-07-14T08:15:18Z")
**aas** : Admins would be more likely to block such sites at the firewall. I’ve seen people get confused with just the _regular_ window widgets. I’m not surprised that faking entire dialogue boxes works on enough people for it to be worthwhile. Unless you need ActiveX or something, try [Mozilla](http://www.mozilla.org%5B/url) or Netscape. Mozilla has built-in popup, banner, and spam blocking. (NS has most of them, but took some stuff out IIRC). Heck, if you have the freedom to surf to places with such crap, I’m sure you could install one of the many free popup blockers for IE even. ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/8 "2003-07-14T09:50:55Z")
**Nanoda** The OP expressed inability to do anything to block the ads. Installing another browser might require administrator privileges that the OP doesn’t have. (If he did have them, then the link I provided should be a workable solution.) On the other hand, some Mozilla [variants](http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/) can be installed in the user’s home directory without administrator privileges. ---
**Author:** ![fizzygoodmakefeelnice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@fizzygoodmakefeelnice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzygoodmakefeelnice)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/9 "2003-07-14T11:27:31Z")
And now someone has made one which perfectly resembles an MSN conversation box. I see it on the task bar, click on it, then think “Wait a minute, I don’t know anyone called 'GETYOURGREENCARDTODAY”. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/10 "2003-07-14T12:13:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > \*\*Some of my favorites: > > “Why didn’t you IM me?” > > “I want to meet you.” > > “WOW, that’s big.” > > Yeah, I’m _married_, idiots, and quite happily. Nice try. \*\* Shit. Sorry **Avalonian**. I didn’t know. I promise never to do it again. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/11 "2003-07-14T12:55:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samarm \* > \*\*The ones that really bug me are the ones designed to look like a dialog box. Complete with fake “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. WTF? They are so desperate for clicks that they try to sucker you in with fake dialog boxes? \*\* So what’s the problem? It’s not like they tried to deceive you from the get-go. I’m sure you can trust them with your credit card number. Funniest spam subject line I’ve ever gotten: “We heard you have a small penis.” You did? Gee, want some money? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/12 "2003-07-14T13:04:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samarm \* > The ones that really bug me are the ones designed to look like a dialog box. Complete with fake “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. WTF? They are so desperate for clicks that they try to sucker you in with fake dialog boxes? These are a big reason why I’ve never supported my husband’s suggestions to help his parents buy a computer. I know we’d be getting phone calls weekly/nightly about how the “computer” gave them a message that their connection is open to attack (like they’re not paranoid enough about that), how they got new messages but can’t retrieve them, and so on. It was bad enough when my fairly Internet-savvy teenage niece ended up with a ton of trojans and spyware on her computer, to the point where I had to install Spybot on it, change the settings on IE, and show her how to handle problems like that. I can’t imagine what dealing with my inlaws’ computer would be like. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/13 "2003-07-14T13:04:33Z")
Last week I was bored and I clicked on one, and an absolutely staggering number of advertisements followed. I filled out about a dozen of them, with obscenely fake names and addresses - _Hank Suckmydick, 102 Fuckyourmother Ave., Detroit, MI… etc._ Extremely juvenile, I know, but the thought that one of these companies might automatically print up an address label and send a mailer to Arthur W. Bitemyass in Cuntface, Iowa made me smile. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/14 "2003-07-14T16:30:19Z")
Speaking of spyware. My mom and sister’s computer was running slow, so I suggested they install Spybot and see if they had any spyware. They did. 17000 pieces. And that’s not a typo. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/15 "2003-07-14T17:42:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by samarm > > > [@](#): > > > > The ones that really bug me are the ones designed to look like a dialog box. Complete with fake “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. WTF? They are so desperate for clicks that they try to sucker you in with fake dialog boxes? > > These are a big reason why I’ve never supported my husband’s suggestions to help his parents buy a computer. I know we’d be getting phone calls weekly/nightly about how the “computer” gave them a message that their connection is open to attack (like they’re not paranoid enough about that), how they got new messages but can’t retrieve them, and so on. It was bad enough when my fairly Internet-savvy teenage niece ended up with a ton of trojans and spyware on her computer, to the point where I had to install Spybot on it, change the settings on IE, and show her how to handle problems like that. I can’t imagine what dealing with my inlaws’ computer would be like. Macintosh. There _is_ life without spyware and viruses. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/16 "2003-07-14T22:53:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > Macintosh. There _is_ life without spyware and viruses. Right, because besides the fact that it’d surely be even more fun to explain to them how to deal with error messages on a computer I don’t use, Macs never get popups/banner ads that lie to the reader? They can’t even program a VCR clock alone. My point is that I don’t want to be free tech support for someone who’d believe the banner ads that say “Your computer is broadcasting personal information over the Internet!” or the spam E-mails that have “click here to remove yourself from our mailing list” address traps. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/17 "2003-07-14T23:06:47Z")
Oh, I HATE those fake error message/dialog box ads! That’s probably how they get their business-they count on fooling people who think it’s really coming from their computer. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/18 "2003-07-15T13:07:46Z")
I once got “You are the 1,000,000th Visitor to this Website!” Sha-zam! Little ol’ me? Gawrsh, what’re the odds? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/19 "2003-07-15T21:08:08Z")
**Ferret Herder** (replying to me): > [@](#): > > Right, because besides the fact that it’d surely be even more fun to explain to them how to deal with error messages on a computer I don’t use Yeah, that would be a major PITA, a definite downside if you’re their tech-support system. > [@](#): > > …, Macs never get popups/banner ads that lie to the reader? Well, they do, but they are formatted to look like Windows error-messages and bear no resemblance to genuine Mac error-message dialogs. More to the point, they won’t install spyware that functions on a Mac even if they _do_ click on them. And no viruses. > [@](#): > > … They can’t even program a VCR clock alone. My point is that I don’t want to be free tech support for someone who’d believe the banner ads that say “Your computer is broadcasting personal information over the Internet!” or the spam E-mails that have “click here to remove yourself from our mailing list” address traps. I hear ya. (Macs are _not_, unfortunately, immune to spam email ::sigh:🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Morrigoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Morrigoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrigoon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313/20 "2003-07-15T22:10:28Z")
Can spybot be gotten from tucows, or do you have to buy it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-you-have-won-click-here-to-claim-your-prize/188313.md?page=2)