Pesky Pop Up Advertising

Pop up ads are a form of online advertising that usually materialize in a small window that suddenly appears in the foreground of the visual interface. “Pop unders” are similar in nature in that they open a new browser window under the active window. These do not interrupt the work immediately but rather become a bother when the window is closed and the user can not determine which website created them. Advertisers use these methods of online marketing to gain your attention in the hopes that you will be led to their website and become their newest consumers. We recommend that companies who do chose to use this method of advertising follow some simple rules including: keep the ads as unobtrusive as possible, create a clear way to exit the pop up ad, and offer something of value in the ad to make it worthwhile for the user.   For those of us not in the field of marketing, the main concern may be in how to stop the pop ups or pop downs from happening in the first place. The good news is that all major web browsers have pop up blockers that work in varying degrees of success. Have your IT consultant or IT department review the settings on your computers to ensure that your devices are using the best blocking capabilities for your needs.   The bad news is that if you are still getting pop ups after disabling them from your web browser then you could have malware. Some pop ups do not come from websites but rather from malware that has been secretly installed on your device. Then there are some pop ups that are especially nasty in that they are not trying to sell you something but instead are trying to scare users - thus making them “scareware”. These pop-ups claim that your device has a virus and that you must pay to have it fixed. In fact, these programs are malware and may install more malware.   If your business has issues with pop ups call Spectra Networks at at 978.219.9752, or visit our website at Spectra Networks.  ]]>