Pop-up ads launch when you visit certain websites. Their main aim is to try to persuade you to buy goods or services from the organization running the site or from a company that has paid them to feature the advert.
Intrusive Marketing Practice
Many people consider pop-up ads to be an intrusion to web-browsing activities and privacy. Websites run by organizations with a strong ethical code avoid the use of pop-ads in the knowledge that they might discourage visitors from returning in the future.
Adware
Software downloaded from a less-than-reputable source can be bundled with adware that tracks Internet-browsing activity and produces pop-ups tailored to the user. Running an anti-virus scan often removes adware from a computer.
Pop-up Blockers
Most modern browsers are fitted with pop-up blockers that stop adverts from opening. Some pop-ups can be useful so the user has the option to turn this facility on or off.
Data Capture
Some pop-up ads are designed to capture email addresses and other personal details for future marketing activities by the company behind them. These might say that the user has won a prize and that she must fill in her personal details to claim it.
Tags: personal details