# IE says "Close" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399 "2004-07-03T19:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/1 "2004-07-03T19:29:54Z")
While on IE 6 on several occasions recently, I suddently get a message in a rectangular box saying, “Close.” I can’t do anything until I do close the window. Then I can open another window. This has happened on several sites. What’s causing this and why am I compelled to close the window? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/2 "2004-07-03T19:40:27Z")
I use IE, and I don’t think I’ve ever encountered what you’re describing. I’ve seen the “IE has encountered an error and must close” thing, and I’ve seen javascript popup windows with ads and whatnot that have a “close this window” link or button, but I don’t think either of those are what you mean. Have you an example of a site that always causes this to happen? Also, what version of IE are you using, and under which OS? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/3 "2004-07-03T20:13:48Z")
There’s no one site that has always caused this to happen, but I remember two sites on which it did happen. One of them is this MB. The other is a chess site, FICS, and I was in the middle of a game. I have IE 6, Windows ME. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/4 "2004-07-04T04:32:43Z")
Sounds to me like you’ve picked up a virus or a bit of scumware somewhere in your travels. If you do any internet surfing these days you pretty much need a good anti-virus program, adaware, and spybot. You’ll also probably want the latest security patches from microsoft. ---
**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 4, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/5 "2004-07-04T04:48:38Z")
The next time it happens, type “but no cigar” and hit return. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/6 "2004-07-04T21:35:19Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Sounds to me like you’ve picked up a virus or a bit of scumware somewhere in your travels. If you do any internet surfing these days you pretty much need a good anti-virus program, adaware, and spybot. You’ll also probably want the latest security patches from microsoft. I have NAV, Ad-Aware, SpyBot, and SpyBlaster. I’ve also downloaded the latest patches from MS. A virus scan failed to show any virus. SpyBot detects “DSO Exploit” every day, and I delete it, but for the life of me, I don’t know what that is. AdAware finds nothing. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-says-close/253399/7 "2004-07-04T23:06:18Z")
Here’s info about DSO exploit: > **[What is Spyware?](https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/spyware)** > > Learn what spyware is, how it works, and how to remove and protect against it using antispyware tools.