Low-Down on Pop-Ups

Chances are you already know a lot about the Internet. Teens pick up the technology quickly. But if you happen to be new to the Net, it's easy to learn and fun to use.

What's worse than a pop-up ad? A pop-up download that installs software and sends you pop-up ads from your own computer. It's the cutting edge of annoying ad strategy.

Here's how pop-up downloads work. An official-looking screen shows up, maybe as a "security alert," and asks if you will accept a download. Chances are you know to stay away from shady downloads, but the average net newbie probably doesn't. Some companies are banking on people who click without thinking.¹

Pop-up downloads commonly install spyware -- software that tracks your computer use -- along with programs that send you pop-up ads based on that information.² Even certain file-sharing programs install spyware on your computer when you agree to the terms of use without telling you that spyware is part of the package.³ Those kinds of companies know you're probably not reading all that fine print.

Worse are the "drive-by downloads" that install without any warning or permission. These can take you to web sites you didn't request, change your homepage, sell your disk space or bandwidth, or dial expensive 900 numbers from your line.⁴