Annoying Web Tactics

List of the internet's most annoying sources of revenue

The following is more of a rant than an authoritative resource. It's ordered starting with most annoying to not-so-annoying.

KEY:
Example
How they make money
Annoyance
Fed up?

• Spyware
  • Programs installed surreptitiously. They send user data back to the spyware company. Adware is the term for any program that has ads, but in conjuction with spyware it's particularly annoying.
  • Too many (here's a short list from wikipedia.org)
  • Demographic data sold to marketing companies, maybe personal data. Spyware with adware can get ad revenue and referrals.
  • Private data compromised, causes computer instability, hard to remove. Spyware with adware will change settings and open popups.
  • Eliminating spyware can be a long battle. Here's an overview I put together.
• Spam
  • Unsolicited emails usually sent in bulk.
  • Just check your inbox.
  • Most spam emails have links to buy merchandise or to porn sites.
  • Relentless swarms of spam clutter inboxes and waste bandwidth.
  • Laws, Bayesian filters, whitelists, blacklists, authentication (e.g. SPF). You name it, spammers can get around it.
• Spim
  • Spam messages via an instant messenger program.
  • Usually in the form of "Hey check out this link"
  • Links usually go to porn sites.
  • IM windows popping up are distracting enough without spam.
  • Block individuals. Or use whitelists (only people on your buddy list can write you). Or can receive messages from unknown users after accepting a request.
• Windows Messenger pop-up spam
  • Using the Windows service designed to send networking messages, ads are sent to a group of IP addresses.
  • D Squared Solutions.
  • The messages are plain text, so URLs to merchant sites are written out.
  • As intrusive as a browser popup, but more random.
  • Microsoft KB article 330904.
• Browser Pop-ups
  • An advertisement that opens in a new browser window when a web page loads or closes.
  • Many advertisers use this technique.
  • Paid per click, possibly per view or per completed order.
  • They are obnoxious, intrusive, and some try to install things through browser flaws.
  • Get a pop-up blocker. Some browsers have them built in. IE now includes one with Windows XP SP2.
• Floating ads
  • Advertisements in a web page that cover the content.
  • Usually DHTML/JavaScript is used to overlay a picture ad for a specified amount of time or until the user clicks to close it.
  • Paid per click, possibly per view or per completed order.
  • The ad blocks content, and sometimes will trick the user into clicking.
  • Disable JavaScript/scripting. Or follow the "Banner ads" suggestions below.
• Registration
  • Some web sites require user registration before content can be viewed.
  • Some nytimes.com articles, many online newspapers.
  • Most of the time registration is free, but the data gathered is used for market research.
  • Usually the registration requires personal information and an email address.
  • bugmenot.com.
• Dynamic keyword ad links
  • Using JavaScript and/or CSS, keywords are dynamically linked with ads.
  • Vibrant Media's IntelliTXT.^sm
  • Paid per click, possibly per view.
  • Page usability is paused while the script loads.
  • Disable JavaScript/scripting. Or follow the "Banner ads" suggestions below.
• Interstitials
  • An advertisement shown en route to the content page, possibly with a forced delay. Specifically, click on a link, but instead of going directly to the page, a page with an ad is presented.
  • salon.com articles, Yahoo! News Photo Slideshows.
  • Paid per click, possibly per view or per completed order.
  • Slight delay in viewing content.
  • Could follow the "Banner ads" suggestions below to block the ad, but still have to click through to the content.
• Banner ads
  • An advertisement inline with web page content. Can be text or an image.
  • Google ads, DoubleClick.
  • Paid per click, possibly per view or per completed order.
  • There are privacy concerns with context sensitive ads (i.e. Gmail). Flash ads and animated ads can be distracting.
  • Block the display of ads by redirecting advertiser domains in a Hosts file (Instructions from mvps.org)
    If using Firefox: Adblock.
• Paid content
  • Some web sites charge for content, either partially or entirely.
  • Wall Street Journal Online, salon.com, some Yahoo! services.
  • Paid directly.
  • Not all paid content is worth paying for.
  • A library might subscribe to some services. Also could share passwords, although this is in violation of most service agreements.
• Shareware
  • Some programs have a free trial, after which the product should be purchased.
  • Ad-Aware, WinZip
  • Paid directly, and sometimes supported by ads (way more annoying).
  • Some shareware programs have persistent reminders to register, or features are limited until it's paid for.
  • Sorry, no legal workaround here. Those who don't care use cracks / warez.
• Online marketplace
  • Any site where something in the real world is sold. (Sometimes in the virtual realm too)
  • Amazon, eBay
  • Paid directly, fees
  • Not much to complain about here.
  • Get the best deals through online aggregators like MySimon or Froogle.