# Spy/adware for MAC?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551 "2005-03-15T00:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/1 "2005-03-15T00:40:38Z")
I had Safari open to [www.tnr.com](http://www.tnr.com), and suddenly I got a popup (?) for this site: [www.gotomeeting.com](http://www.gotomeeting.com). Note: I am not suggesting anyone look at the above link; I’m just providing it in case anyone knows about malware associated with this site. I have no idea how this thing came up. I did not see any links for it I may accidentally have pressed. Please, no malware for Mac–I’m depending on it! Any ideas? BTW, on rare occasions I DO get a popup that Safari does not block. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/2 "2005-03-15T00:42:29Z")
There was a skyscraper ad on TNR. I _might_ have clicked on it. But I do think it was a popup that Safari didn’t catch. If you have any further info/insights, I’d appreciate them. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/3 "2005-03-15T01:32:13Z")
Bear in mind that spyware and adware are programs that install themselves on your computer and monitor/advertise. An unblocked popup is just that: a popup website that has managed to dodge whatever popup-blocking filters Safari uses. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/4 "2005-03-15T03:07:43Z")
There is still no spyware or adware targeted at the Mac platform, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/5 "2005-03-15T03:37:58Z")
I’m sure I’m stating the obvious, but have you made sure you didn’t inadvertently turn off the pop up blocker? I know I have on a few occasions. Just in case, it’s under the Safari Menu. You can toggle it with Command-K. I know, I know… but you never know. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/6 "2005-03-15T14:48:44Z")
It’s probably a pop-under, which has been discussed [often recently](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=757340) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/7 "2005-03-15T18:40:36Z")
Short of a major breakthrough in hacking around the time-tested UNIX security structures, the only way spyware can get installed on your Mac is if it tricks you into installing it first – “Free Mac optimizer program! Install me now!” Agree with **Barbarian** it’s just a new pop-under. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-adware-for-mac/294551/8 "2005-03-15T20:13:22Z")
It’s not spyware or adware. It’s Javascript. The little fuckers who write ads are using Javascript now because of the success of popup-blocker technologies. You can turn off Javascript and not see these ads, but lots of Javascript-dependent functions you may actually _want_ on some sites will disappear along with them.