Digital BW, The Print

This story on yahoo news this morning. The onslaught is just 
now beginning. Disgusting...

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Web surfers brace for pop-up downloads 
Mon Apr 8, 8:48 AM ET 
Stefanie Olsen CNET News.com 

Web surfers who thought online advertisements were becoming 
increasing obtrusive may be dismayed about a new tactic: 
pop-up downloads. 

• 	Kazaa controversy--Software or sneakware? 	 

In recent weeks, some software makers have enlisted Web site 
operators to entice their visitors to download software rather than 
simply to view some advertising. For example, when visiting a 
site a person may receive a pop-up box that appears as a 
security warning with the message: "Do you accept this 
download?" If the consumer clicks "Yes," an application is 
automatically installed. 

Computer security expert Richard Smith explained that with such 
downloads, "You don't even know why you're getting this 
program, and the people who do (pop-up downloads) are relying 
on the fact that people tend to say 'Yes.'" 

"A person should request the download," he said. "It's the 
classic opt-in, opt-out debate." 

In some cases, the person is not even asked whether they want 
the software. It just installs on the hard drive--a particularly 
troublesome tactic that some have dubbed "drive-by download."

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