Internet Ads Invade My Privacy Essay Example

to be collecting data for census purposes, but once I click "Begin Survey," I am redirected to another website where I'm required to input personal details like my address, phone number, gender, annual income, and other private information that I'd rather keep off public records. The frequency and intrusiveness of these surveys have made me hesitate using certain websites due to the excessive number of pop-up windows. Despite having pop-up blockers enabled, these ads still manage to make their way through and clutter my computer. Some companies have even started making their ads grow larger instead of popping up abruptly. This tactic makes it difficult to locate the 'close' button or the red X and remove the ad from view.

The advertisement companies are aware of this and use it as a tactic to make us click on their site. Nowadays, I am required to watch 30-second ads before being able to view any desired news feed or videos online. If I choose not to watch the ad, I cannot access the video I intend to watch. This imposition on the general population is becoming increasingly common. According to eMarketer, video ads have become the primary platform in which major advertisers choose to invest their online advertising budget. Already, companies like Johnson & Johnson and Unilever frequently display their ads on websites such as MSNBC.com. Unfortunately, we have limited ways to express our discontent with these ads aside from complaining about them or blogging about our shared experiences. Blogs serve as an effective means to spread awareness about websites that use excessive ads and companies that subject us to annoying advertisements.

These companies are likely to

experience financial losses due to the number of blogs I regularly visit. Recently, companies have started placing tracking devices on the computers of visitors to their websites. Each customer/computer can have up to 100 of these tracking devices attached. (Angwin, McGinty. Computer systems are being infected with viruses when accessing internet sites. These sites are usually unaware that the ads on their pages contain malicious viruses, and hackers are becoming more cunning. Candid Wueest of Symantec, a security software producer, explains that the virus is packaged with a script so that simply viewing the website will redirect the user to a malicious site. Similar to a drive-by shooting online, a Trojan is easily introduced into the system. (Tech News.) More action should be taken against these ads to ensure a safer internet experience.

I will not tolerate the physical and mental hardships caused by irrelevant advertisements while shopping, browsing, or socializing. I refuse to support companies that display these ads without remorse and will not patronize them in the present or future due to their disregard for others. This situation is similar to having a 'No Soliciting' sign on my front door but still being bothered by solicitors. Moreover, if I ignore them, they resort to leaving a stink bomb under my doormat.

I strongly disapprove of the invasion of ads, theft of personal information, and introduction of viruses into my computer. If we unite as a population, these issues will eventually cease and the internet will once again become a safer environment for browsing and surfing.