# Scummy, scummy scare tactics for web site pop-ups. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 17, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649 "2004-10-17T08:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/1 "2004-10-17T08:10:14Z")
Pretty weak rant. Pretty common rant. But I just had to share. I was visiting some web site (an [about.com](http://about.com) site, actually) and there are tons of ads on the side. All of a sudden I get what I presume is a javascript pop-up that says something like this: > [@](#): > > NOTICE: You have not completed a scan, so the condition of your registry remains unknown. If your computer has errors in the registry database, it could cause unpredictable or erratic behavior, freezes, or crashes. > > Would you like to download Registry Cleaner to scan for and correct any registry problems now (recommended)? Obviously this could be very alarming and scary message for many less-savvy users to read. It’s scummy to do this—we all know it. But somehow, it looks ever so much more _scummy_ when you are viewing this crap on a Mac. No, this isn’t a “Mac rulez” thread—not at all. I occasionally web surf on my PC too and I don’t need to deal with these nasty things. It’s just that the transparent deceit and evilness of it seems so much more _obvious_ when you are being told that your “registry” has not been scanned, and yet you don’t _have_ a frickin’ registry! And some of the pop-ups that try to emulate the look of the Windows XP interface also look pretty ludicrous when you are using OS X (or, just one of those “XP Themes” in Windows XP—which I do have). Gah! What a bunch of scumbags! I know that this rant is nothing new, but it just never ceases to amaze me how low people will go. And hey—while I’m at it, I wouldn’t mind some suggestions or discussion on how to protect your PC. I have updated to XP SP2, I have Adware and Norton Anti-Virus. I only use Internet Explorer to download updates. I usually browse using Mozilla or Firefox. So far my PC seems to be running okay. Anything other preventative measures that I could take? I don’t surf on my PC a lot (I use it for specific purposes, mostly offline or just to a few select (and “safe” sites). ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/2 "2004-10-17T08:22:59Z")
The one I hate is the banner ad whose download prompt is activated by you MOUSING OVER THE AD. Arrrrrrrgh! Only _slightly_ less annoying are the ads that have sound effects activated by mouse-overs. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/3 "2004-10-17T08:32:15Z")
I punched the monkey for a prize, and all I got was spyware! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/4 "2004-10-17T18:06:49Z")
I find those “Pretend to be a Windows system message” ads amusing, since I figure the only reason they exist is because there _are_ Windows users gullible enough to fall for them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/5 "2004-10-17T18:52:49Z")
They scare th’ living shite out of novice users. I get asked quite a bit “Why would someone _do_ that?” 'Cause arseholery is universal, I guess. Damn things. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/6 "2004-10-17T19:50:12Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > The one I hate is the banner ad whose download prompt is activated by you MOUSING OVER THE AD. > > Arrrrrrrgh! > > Only _slightly_ less annoying are the ads that have sound effects activated by mouse-overs. > > :mad: No, the most annoying ones are the ones that bring up a picture containing a standard toolbar - so when you click on the red X you trigger the link. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/7 "2004-10-17T21:04:13Z")
So we’re all agreed. THEY SUCK. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/8 "2004-10-17T21:46:33Z")
They look particularly stupid on Macs since they are designed to look like Windows java warnings. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/9 "2004-10-17T21:51:33Z")
Another reason not to use Firefox. I **never** know when I’ve won a prize, or might be infected, or have mail, and **now** you’re saying I won’t know when my registry is needing scanned either?? Dammit! Time to go back to Internet Explorer and experience everything the web can offer! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/10 "2004-10-17T22:07:13Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > I punched the monkey for a prize, and all I got was spyware! ☹ You’re lucky you only got that. I punched the monkey and I got banned from the library. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/11 "2004-10-18T15:09:39Z")
I got one the other day that asked… _Do you not want to make [xxxxxx.com](http://xxxxxx.com) your homepage?_ I pondered the “YES” and “NO” boxes for a moment before remembering to use the F4 key to close that window. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/12 "2004-10-18T15:21:09Z")
Firefox has changed my life. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/13 "2004-10-18T15:47:30Z")
Fuckin’ A! As Evil Death and GrizzRich point out, the ones that look like a standard Windows message are the very worst (on XP anyway). Just wait, Mac users, sooner or later someone will design pop-ups that look like “real” Mac system messages. Somewhere, sometime, somehow one will slip past your pop-up blocker … ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/14 "2004-10-18T16:49:24Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > there _are_ Windows users gullible enough to fall for them. 😃 No shit, Sherlock. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/15 "2004-10-18T16:51:50Z")
> [@GrizzRich](#): > > I got one the other day that asked… > > _Do you not want to make [xxxxxx.com](http://xxxxxx.com) your homepage?_ > > I pondered the “YES” and “NO” boxes for a moment before remembering to use the F4 key to close that window. There are some especially insidious ones that actually lock out Alt F4. Those are the ones that helped convince me switch to Opera. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/16 "2004-10-18T17:02:00Z")
I’ll just add before running for my life that Macs aren’t cool enough to have viruses (is that right?) made for them. ---
**Author:** ![Marathon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/17 "2004-10-18T17:02:33Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > And some of the pop-ups that try to emulate the look of the Windows XP interface also look pretty ludicrous when you are using OS X (or, just one of those “XP Themes” in Windows XP—which I do have). Ah yes. I’m running XP but have the Kandy Kid interface turned off. Those popups are also ludicrous because the buttons at the top of the box are HUGE. Which, unfortunately, brings me to this: > [@World Eater](#): > > Firefox has changed my life. A pop-up with the aformentioned interface managed to slip by Firefox’s pop-up blocker while I was browsing yesterday. I think I actually screamed. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/18 "2004-10-18T17:05:40Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > I have Adware [sic] and Norton Anti-Virus…Anything other preventative measures that I could take? Get a firewall. Or at least activate WinXP’s built-in one. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/19 "2004-10-18T17:16:43Z")
> [@Barrytown](#): > > A pop-up with the aformentioned interface managed to slip by Firefox’s pop-up blocker while I was browsing yesterday. I think I actually screamed. \ NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo…! Zone alarm is another great firewall. Download it free [http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp](http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649/20 "2004-10-18T17:26:01Z")
One says “Do you want to download this spyware?” I click no. They say “Wrong answer. You must click “yes” to download this spyware.” Praise the skies for CAD [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scummy-scummy-scare-tactics-for-web-site-pop-ups/269649.md?page=2)