09-12-03

Since a previous article about such monsters disappeared, I will make an updated edition on the subject. A few weeks ago during a thunder storm, I went to my favorite website with radar loop. The storms were on going and we left the radar on, refreshing as needed. Only later after we'd left the site did I notice an item on my task bar. 

That was the most explicit porn I've seen on an email page ever! If children or grand children had been present, I would never again have turned on my computer when anyone else was around. How sickening. I asked Randy why such a place as Intellicast would use those promotions. We've been using their site for years and never had such a thing happen.

Randy explained that it was pop-up hijacking. It can be done to any pop-up. The only way to not run the risk of receiving such unwelcome ads, it to never visit that site again. I make sure I never again go to any with pop-ups, not even one!

Enabled Cookies is something we've learned to do without. It makes things nice when you go to a site often but then the hackers invaded. I turned on the computer one weekend morning to find I had a new homepage and a list of porn sites on my "favorites." But it wasn't real. They had pasted these images over my screen images. And they were made to disappear instantly. The favorites listed were just names and when I looked, there were no visits listed. All fake. But this can only be done if the cookies are enabled. I did get vicious emails threatening that if I did not buy their protection, such things would happen ALL the time, any time they wanted. No more cookies, no more problems !!

I was so disappointed to visit the Microsoft Art Gallery and find that in order to use the site, you must enable those stupid cookies. I sent a message to the effect that they had gone back into the dark ages to something that has long been a very bad idea. Wise up folks. These things just do not work right. Until someone can assure you these problems are of the past, don't be tempted or let someone say that you must use them. 

When we first looked into sending out our newsletter, I had offers from 4 different sources for sending it out for free. The catch was that they would get half of any profits and there must be a minimum income. They could also put any advertiser on the site as a pop-up or a banner. No way. Our advertising has been limited and right now, there is very little. There are just no sales over the Internet. There are hundreds of people promoting every item that comes through Commission Junction. They are now advertising credit cards you never have to re-pay. The user better get that in writing since I doubt that the credit card companies plan for you to keep all the money. Same with online drugs that should need a doctor's prescription. They offer that they have doctors and if you just want to try a drug, any drug, just ask. How would you know what was in the pills they send? These aren't a reliable source and are probably not even in the USA so who would your family sue when you die from these pills. And what if you are caught with them in your possession? A prescribed drug must have the doctor's prescription on the bottle pasted there by the drugstore. If not, a law enforcement officer can arrest you and you can explain yourself to a judge at your arraignment. Enjoy your jail stay and hope for a court appointed defense to justify your need to break the law and save yourself a few dollars. There are much better ways to get less expensive drugs for whatever ails you and that part starts at your doctor's office. Never settle for something that you know is probably not a good idea.