63% users fail to spot fake pop-ups

By Lt-DavidW
in Back Page News

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Experienced

Somnus

Posted
Posted

Now I might be the exception here, but I honestly haven't even seen a pop-up like the ones posted here on my machines in _years_.

With that said, I always keep my anti-virus up to date, use FireFox with the adblock plus extension, and never use pirated software. I think the last part of that equation is the most significant as many "hacks or cracks" have been found to include some sort of malware, whether a trojan or spyware.

Many types of malware are spread via peer to peer sharing methods, and since I am not a user of any, it seems that I don't have these problems.

It is pretty simple to keep a machine clean:

1. Always keep your Java and Adobe Flash/Shockwave up to date.

2. Keep your anti-virus software up to date, but more importantly, free solutions are free for a reason. They are not nearly as comprehensive as a good paid solution, no matter which solution you choose to use.

3. Don't use pirated software. The use of "cracks and hacks" are just asking for trouble. You don't know how things were cracked, or what might have been piggy backed on to an exe file.

Simply following those three tips, and you can be fairly certain that you are safe from malware.

Grand Master

inactive

Posted
Posted

well in my opinion if you have a 'quality' popup blocker (i.e. AD-Muncher, www.admuncher.com ) then it's fairly rare if you will get any popups and it even removes a fairly high percentage of adverts on websites to and it's light on resources to AND works with all browsers etc.

only problem is ad-muncher aint free but it's well worth the money... it block's just about everything... but if you cant afford that just get a free add-on for Firefox browser called 'adblock plus' which will probably remove alot of random popups to.

in general between adblock plus and ad-muncher i pretty much get close to ZERO popup's... and even adverts (advertisments etc) are kept to a minimum.

Veteran

PermaSt0ne

Posted
Posted
Now I might be the exception here, but I honestly haven't even seen a pop-up like the ones posted here on my machines in _years_.

Simply following those three tips, and you can be fairly certain that you are safe from malware.

the problem is, for the general user, "it just works". if it's not broken, don't fix it.

they think their computer is perfectly fine and safe. even if they wanted to update, they wouldn't know how. what needs to happen is for things like windows (at least the "home" version) and browsers to automatically update themselves without user interaction

BUT, then the tech community starts complaining about it "phoning home" and unwanted updates being installed without consent.

my view is, we are tech savy. we can easily disable those automatic update features. there are WAY more home users than tech people, so we need to go for the greater good in this case and just have everything automatically update while we take 30 seconds to disable the feature

not only does it make it safer for them but ALSO safer for us; as hackers many less zombie pc's to launch attacks from. and since we are the people who deal with those zombie pc's, it's a win win :)

Grand Master

ANON86364

Posted
Posted
the problem is, for the general user, "it just works". if it's not broken, don't fix it.

they think their computer is perfectly fine and safe. even if they wanted to update, they wouldn't know how. what needs to happen is for things like windows (at least the "home" version) and browsers to automatically update themselves without user interaction

BUT, then the tech community starts complaining about it "phoning home" and unwanted updates being installed without consent.

my view is, we are tech savy. we can easily disable those automatic update features. there are WAY more home users than tech people, so we need to go for the greater good in this case and just have everything automatically update while we take 30 seconds to disable the feature

not only does it make it safer for them but ALSO safer for us; as hackers many less zombie pc's to launch attacks from. and since we are the people who deal with those zombie pc's, it's a win win :)

I think truly automatic updates would be great. Not how it is now where users still have to do some sort of clicking. Although, that goes back to my point: users need to READ. Countless times I have witnessed users ignorantly close a window asking them to update because they "don't have the time" or "don't know what it means". It's a freakin update! Install it! This attitude needs to change. Everyone is capable of having a stable system if they follow simple logical rules. Update your system, don't go to BS sites, and pay attention. This day in age there aren't many pop-ups as there were in previous years. The pop-ups most people see are caused by Spyware installed on their system and they are generated from their PC.

Grand Master

XerXis

Posted
Posted
OK, you still aren't making sense to me :p

I know it's promoting a product (FoxyTunes), but it's also providing a useful feature, so I don't get what you're on about.

----------------

Now playing on iTunes: The Killers - Human

via FoxyTunes

usefull in what way? like we care what you are listening to while browsing a forum non music related

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted
the problem is, for the general user, "it just works". if it's not broken, don't fix it.

they think their computer is perfectly fine and safe. even if they wanted to update, they wouldn't know how. what needs to happen is for things like windows (at least the "home" version) and browsers to automatically update themselves without user interaction

BUT, then the tech community starts complaining about it "phoning home" and unwanted updates being installed without consent.

my view is, we are tech savy. we can easily disable those automatic update features. there are WAY more home users than tech people, so we need to go for the greater good in this case and just have everything automatically update while we take 30 seconds to disable the feature

not only does it make it safer for them but ALSO safer for us; as hackers many less zombie pc's to launch attacks from. and since we are the people who deal with those zombie pc's, it's a win win :)

That is one nice thing about firefox. How it automatically updates itself and the extensions you are using.

Grand Master

markwolfe Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
Why are we arguing about two lines of text in this dudes sig? I've seen tons of similar ones on neowin, grow up and stay on topic.

BTW, I love the irony in your sig :

My movie forum (dutch)

My website

It in his posts, which means it gets copied when you quote.

I have sigs off for a reason. I don't want to see them. I don't begrudge those who want to see them (and, in fact, provide one of my own for others to read, if they like the sig thing). Attaching a sig in the post defeats the purpose of sigs.

----------------

Now playing on iTunes: Ubuntu Rhapsody - Canonical

via My spam link

Grand Master

ViperAFK

Posted
Posted
It in his posts, which means it gets copied when you quote.

I have sigs off for a reason. I don't want to see them. I don't begrudge those who want to see them (and, in fact, provide one of my own for others to read, if they like the sig thing). Attaching a sig in the post defeats the purpose of sigs.

----------------

Now playing on iTunes: Ubuntu Rhapsody - Canonical

via My spam link

ah didn't realize it was attached to the posts :blush:

Grand Master

pyehac

Posted
Posted
Look on the bright side... it keeps a lot of us here on Neowin making money to remove that crap! Thank God for inept users.

Yep.

However, its putting the stress on us technicians because we (or atleast I) am seeing those more and more everyday - and I'm tired of it!

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted
Yep.

However, its putting the stress on us technicians because we (or atleast I) am seeing those more and more everyday - and I'm tired of it!

I know where you are coming from. yes I make money from it, but i'm also getting burned out.

Some might say "Well thats because you're formatting over every malware infection".

If I had to do a 3 hour malware removal for each malware infested computer I wouldn't be burned out, i'd be POSTAL!.

Grand Master

ViperAFK

Posted
Posted
I know where you are coming from. yes I make money from it, but i'm also getting burned out.

Some might say "Well thats because you're formatting over every malware infection".

If I had to do a 3 hour malware removal for each malware infested computer I wouldn't be burned out, i'd be POSTAL!.

Yeah removing all that malware takes more time than a format most of the time, especially with an.d infections. sadly most users are dumb and never make any backups so it's not always an option.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)
Yeah removing all that malware takes more time than a format most of the time, especially with an.d infections. sadly most users are dumb and never make any backups so it's not always an option.

I carry an external hard drive with me, so I back up all that they want backed up before I format. so that isn't much of a problem. The only problem I forsee is that most people are to stupid to know the definition of a format. They are to stupid after pounding on them on the concept that when you get down there will be nothing left. So much so that they ask, ok but willl "Such and such still be there?" At that point you just want to slap your forehead!.

In the end I usually grab a peice of paper that has some kind of print on it. I say see this paper??. This is your computer now!. then I flip it over. I then say this is what your computer will look like when im done!. Of course now the blank side of paper is up!.

I will agree with you that 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of my customers have no backup of anything!

Edited by warwagon
Enthusiast

Unplugged

Posted
Posted
Let me clarify that statement a bit. "to use a Windows computer".

Until such a time that Apple takes a significant enough share to warrant these spoofed popup assaults on naivete, it is a relatively safe computing platform for those who tend to be inexperienced (I prefer that over the term "ignorant" ) with computers in general.

If the up-front cost of buying an Apple computer is daunting or prohibitive, a knowledgeable family member can set up their inexperienced relative or friend with a handy limited user account, and withhold the admin password. This, obviously, has to be done with the computer user's permission (one does not have the right to essentially take over someone else's PC without their permission and understanding).

But those are examples of the types of steps needed to protect people from themselves.

Don't talk crap! Just because someone is on an Apple machine does not mean they're are immune from clicking on a dialogue box that tells them they have won $15,000 or have 15,000 viruses. A stupid user is a stupid user regardless of the Operating System and if you think that the platform is at all safe because it only has a handful of viruses and wont get targeted as it's user base increases then you are severely wrong.

Simply moving users onto whatever platform is least targeted is not a solution to the problem its a temporary measure. Educating users or forcing them to actually read a dialogue / more effective warnings such as "This prompt has been triggered by the website" are more effective starts.

Proficient

.tony

Posted
Posted
whoever clicks on those ads are complete idots.
just because someone is a doctor doesn't mean they are smart. what you know has nothing to do with your "smartness". it's your ability to comprehend new ideas that defines your intelligence (IQ)

i know a lawyer and it's sad to say but, she's not smart. she memorizes laws extremely well (things anyone can learn from a book), but she can't solve puzzles worth crap. i frequently buy physical puzzles (ie two horseshoes chained together end to end with a ring around the middle. how do you get the ring off) and she always fails miserably at them and gives up. she can't think for herself, she can only regurgitate what she's read.

back on topic, if the average homeowner updates their computer to the most recent or 2nd most recent OS (vista and xp, or OS X v10) and updates their browser to the latest (whether it be IE, firefox, opera, etc.) then i think this number would drop by 30%. there's just too many people running outdated software like windows 98. they don't switch because "it just works" but they don't realize that not only do they get screwed, but they screw other people by becoming a zombie PC and a platform for some hacker to launch new trojans remotely

Agree on both. I can't comprehend how people actually fall for these.

Grand Master

markwolfe Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
Don't talk crap! Just because someone is on an Apple machine does not mean they're are immune from clicking on a dialogue box that tells them they have won $15,000 or have 15,000 viruses. A stupid user is a stupid user regardless of the Operating System and if you think that the platform is at all safe because it only has a handful of viruses and wont get targeted as it's user base increases then you are severely wrong.

Simply moving users onto whatever platform is least targeted is not a solution to the problem its a temporary measure. Educating users or forcing them to actually read a dialogue / more effective warnings such as "This prompt has been triggered by the website" are more effective starts.

Yo. Unplugged. Read my post.

You will find it pretty much says what you just re-stated.

Apple is currently a platform that is not targetted, so bad users are relatively safe from malware. No crap. Just a fact. And, someday, Apple may become a more common target. It just hasn't happened yet.

I don't agree that education is the most effective method of malware control. It would be securing the system and having users (especially ones prone to just clicking boxes) run only as users - no admin privileges.

"talking crap", indeed! :laugh:

Collaborator

Xeta

Posted
Posted

Crazy percentage. And yet I can believe it.

I watched my boss at my last place of work try to close a flashing AD BANNER (not pop up) that was modeled to look like an XP dialogue box. He clicked the X and then closed the following pop up ad, and then he clicked the X again, and closed the pop up again, and then he did it a third time before I took the friggin mouse from him!

  • 1 year later...
Grand Master

Ci7

Posted
Posted

those people most likely using outdated program

both IE and Firefox block popups by default since some time ago

Crazy percentage. And yet I can believe it.

I watched my boss at my last place of work try to close a flashing AD BANNER (not pop up) that was modeled to look like an XP dialogue box. He clicked the X and then closed the following pop up ad, and then he clicked the X again, and closed the pop up again, and then he did it a third time before I took the friggin mouse from him!

:rofl:

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