What's with all the pop ups?

[Archive]

Posted By: jverri01

Pop-ups - yes, I receive them. Whether a person receives them or not is related mostly to the browser they are using, but most importantly, whether they have "cookies" enabled or disabled, and whether javascript is specified as allowable in your options settings. A "cookie" is a text file that lives on your hard drive. If cookies are enabled, a site you visit has the option to download their address to the file, and upload the current contents. Many companies upload this information and use it to "customize" the ads that pop-up on your screen. It's all about marketing, and it's all very much in the background, basically transparent to you. If you have cookies disabled (a simple check box in your browser option settings) a cookie file can not be created. Ever go back to a site that you had to log in to, but, the second time around they just "recognized you"? That's the cookie file. The site reads your cookie file and determines you have been previously "authenticated". If you simply go in to your file directory (through Windows Explorer in MS OS products) and delete the cookies file (in the directory your web browser is installed in), the information is sent to the recycling bin. You can then empty the recycling bin. Also - most pop-ups are initiated and run as java-script sub-executables. If you "disable" javascript, you essentially sever the ability for the pop-up to be launched. However - you also prevent yourself from receiving some information at other sites that also use javascripting - but for more legitimate purposes. The information in the cookie file is called a "footprint". You can open the file and look at it. All it is is a list of places you have been (not comprehensive. Some sites don't make edits to the file). So - note to all of you "naughty people" - if you visit sexymamas.com - by accident, of course - the address may be sitting there in your cookie file, waiting for somebody else to come along and notice it. Perhaps, not such a good thing? Yes - I am a Network manager in my "real" job. ; )