RELATED ARTICLES
News

Fake Popup Study Confirms Most Web Browsers are Dolts

Posted 09/24/08 at 12:40:17 PM |  by Paul Lilly

comment Commentsprint Printemail EmailDeliciousDiggStumbleUponReddit

As if college students didn't already have enough studying to do, it appears they made need to brush up on the fundamentals of PC security. For example, when presented with a popup, do you:

  • A: Click it, because what company would lie about promising to remove all your adware?
  • B: Click it, because in your hungover state you can't read what it says anyway
  • C: Click it, because that's how you assert your independence
  • D: Close it out

The answer's obvious for Maximum PC readers, but not so for those who reside on a college campus. The Psychology Department of North Carolina State University concocted a series of four fake popup dialogs, with one warning: "The instruction at '0x77f41d24 referenced memory at '0x595c2a4c.' The memory could not be 'read.' Click OK to terminate program." Only one of the warnings blended in with XP, and the others were designed to be easy to spot as adware.

Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), 25 students out of a panel of 42 clicked the button for two of the fake alerts, and 23 hit OK on the third. Only 9 of them closed the window.

So why'd they do it? Nearly half of the students said that their main concern was getting rid of the dialogs and the distraction they presented. Time to add Computers for Dummies for next semester's textbook shopping list.

 

Image Credit: Flickr Extra Ketchup

COMMENTS:
10
TAGS: 
windows, Software, web browser, study, popups
comment Commentsprint Printemail EmailDeliciousDiggStumbleUponReddit
COMMENTS
avatarWait a minute...

Submitted by Wildebeast on Thu, 2008-09-25 11:14

I agree that, sadly, most people don't want to put much if any thought into the security of their computer.

Just one question, though.  Isn't that a Kubuntu Linux logo, there on the wall, in that pic? 

Maybe the students knew just enough to know there is a lower risk.  If they were using a computer maintained by their school, maybe they don't care much about the security of their "account."

Just a shot in the dark.   If you're going to do a study, you can't forget about & ignore the conditions & environment you've used for it.

Login or register to post comments
avatarFYI

Submitted by One4yu2c on Thu, 2008-09-25 18:17

That's not an actual pic of the testing environment.

Login or register to post comments
avatarAh. That makes sense.  The

Submitted by Wildebeast on Thu, 2008-09-25 18:27

Ah.

That makes sense.  The back of most teens heads are a horrific sight. 

Plus, it keeps the "stunt" teen-agers employed.

Login or register to post comments
avatarThis is sad but true. I

Submitted by vistageek on Wed, 2008-09-24 21:13

This is sad but true. I think that collage students are actually probly the smartest as I think a lot more adults would show even wrose. 

Login or register to post comments
avatarclick the x to close...

Submitted by Queenof1 on Wed, 2008-09-24 13:15

of course, MaxPC readers also know that clicking x will not necessarily close said popup window. some clever ones will install malware no matter where you click in the box.

Login or register to post comments
avatargood point, people should

Submitted by AndyYankee17 on Wed, 2008-09-24 15:56

good point, people should use the OS to kill it

Login or register to post comments
avatarthe problem

Submitted by nedwards on Wed, 2008-09-24 11:28

Most users don't have any idea what is and isn't supposed to happen on their computer. They just view anything they don't understand as a mysterious distraction from the task at hand.

I know people who have never configured the anti-virus that comes with their big-box-store laptop because they just think they config dialog that pops up when their computer starts is "something that got on the computer somehow". 

 

Login or register to post comments
avatarThis abstract of the study

Submitted by sdcat on Wed, 2008-09-24 10:53

This abstract of the study written by Paul Lilly didn't provide much needed critical information on the environment. There might be a serious flaw in the set up to influence of the result of the conducted study.

Login or register to post comments
avatarI know I'm going to regret

Submitted by jwalch.hawk on Wed, 2008-09-24 10:45

I know I'm going to regret pointing this out because inevitably some ass-hat is going to feel the need to follow this up with the usual OMG-it-sux-so-bad...

But this study is further evidence of why Vista's UAC, while perhaps well-intentioned, doesn't work in practice.  Given the option, a lot of users will mindlessly click through any warning they can.

Login or register to post comments
avatarYeah, but

Submitted by TheZomb on Wed, 2008-09-24 11:34

This isn't only vistas UACs flaw it just happens to be more annoying. 90% of antivirus pograms and firewalls use the same strategy and ask you when they think a program is doing something it shouldn't.  vista just takes it to the next level  and asks you every time instead of remembering your answers for certain programs.  The only way to stop getting a viruses is for you to be smarter not your computer.  Anti-virus and other tools can try, but unless you want to disconnect your computer from the internet then just don't be stupid.  All this study proves is exactly what the articles sums up.  These students need to read or book about security or something

Login or register to post comments
RESOURCE CENTER

KICK ASS OFFERS

THIS MONTH's ISSUE
Maximum PC
FEATURE Awesome Upgrades: The best PC upgrades in every price range.HOW TO Connect your PC to your surround-sound audio systemProtect Your PC We put 10 of the most popular antivirus programs to the test to see which will protect you best. Android Revealed Find out how the Google-powered HTC G1 stacks up against its rivals.
Get your free trial issue

Don't have an account? Register Now! Forgot password?