- The Power of E-Learning
- WorldWideLearn Advantage
- E-Learning Student Profiles
- E-Learning Partner Profiles
- Who We Are
- WWL Quality Assurance

- Our University Partners
- Our Training Partners
- Partner Program

- Company Overview
- Media Coverage
- Media Contact
- Press Releases

- Site Map
- Site Help
- Site Submissions
- Feedback
- Site Awards

- Privacy Policy
- Terms & Conditions

- Contact Us

Pop-up Windows

World Wide Learn is a pop-up free site. We do not use pop-up advertising because they can be annoying, unrequested and can gather potentially harmful information about your user names and passwords, credit information and personal identity. If you are getting pop-up advertisements as you surf, you may have "spyware" programs "hijacking" your browser.

What are pop-up windows?

Pop-up windows are browser windows that open when you either go to or leave a website. Aside from the main window - the window with the information you requested when you clicked on a link - there may be several other windows that open up containing advertising (casinos, miniature video spy cameras and the like).

There are several types of pop-up windows, and they can be triggered in several different ways. A common type used by sites that don't want to be too intrusive are "pop-unders", windows that open underneath the main browser window. You may not even notice that these windows have opened until you close the main window. Pop-up windows can be triggered when you first visit a page, or leave a page. Some sites only trigger one or two windows, but some may launch dozens of windows, such as free music/mp3 sites or porn sites.

Not all web sites have pop-up windows built into the site. Undetected software on your computer called "spyware" may be triggering these pop-up windows, which is why you get pop-up windows on sites like World Wide Learn.

What is spyware?

Spyware or adware is class of small computer programs that are installed on your computer system without your approval or knowledge. They gather information about where you surf, and can potentially collect information about your user names and passwords, credit information, identity and more. Along with collecting personal information about you, spyware programs can "hijack" your browser and CPU, tying up valuable resources on your computer and network connection and directing you to sites you may not wish to visit.

Free isn't necessarily free.

Spyware is installed along with any free programs you download and install on your system. Kazaa, BearShare, AudioGalaxy and other free applications usually contain spyware to track your surfing habits and collects information to sell to advertisers.

Since most free computer programs must be supported financially somehow, advertisers pay to bundle these small spy programs along with the main program. You install these programs without your knowledge, and even with legal consent occasionally. The license agreement to use the primary software usually contains a buried paragraph that says you agree to install the spyware package as well. Before you click the "I Agree" button when installing a new program, read about the various things to which you may be agreeing. Unfortunately, even if you know about it, many programs will not run without the spyware module being installed.

How do I remove spyware?

Spyware is very difficult to detect on your computer, and cannot be removed through traditional methods like the Add/Remove Programs control panel or the uninstaller included with most software packages. Often, when a program is uninstalled, it will leave the spyware behind to monitor your system.

There are several other good spyware cleaners and blockers listed below. Be careful, however. Some free spyware cleaner and blocker programs come with their own bundled spyware programs. At World Wide Learn, we use a program called Spybot - Search and Destroy from PepiMK Software. Although we have found this effective for our purposes, we have no relationship with PepiMK Software and do not endorse this product.

What can I do about spyware?

There are a number of things you can do about this problem.

1. Use a good spyware blocker program.
2. If you installed a program with an unknown component that monitors your surfing or creates pop-ups, contact the Federal Trade Commission in the United States. The FTC handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices. There are several ways you can file a complaint:
   • visit: http://www.ftc.gov/ and click on "File a Complaint Online"
   • call 1-877-FTC-HELP
   • write to:
     Federal Trade Commission
     CRC-240
     Washington, D.C. 20580
     
   To file a complaint against a company based in another country, visit http://www.econsumer.gov/.
3. Use up-to-date virus software. Several spyware programs are detected as "trojan horse" viruses and can be monitored through a good anti-virus program.

Information about spyware

Article from Wired Magazine about FlashTrack
Google's stance on popups
Article from CNet News about Whenu.com's Savenow
List of spyware/adware
How to stop Microsoft ActiveX controls from running
Good explanation of spyware with solutions from simplythebest.net
U-haul's legal suit against Whenu.com
unwantedlinks.com
stopscum.com
spywareguide.com

Spyware cleaners and blockers

World Wide Learn does not endorse any of the following software applications or vendors. We do not vouch for the effectiveness of these programs and do not take any responsibility for any problems you may have.

Adware blocking script for web designers and developers from doxdesk.com
Spyware block file (prevents certain ActiveX controls from being launched) from Spyware Guide
Spyware alert script for web designers, developers and authors.
Spybot Search & Destroy - spyware-killer software