Mousetrapping:
The use of browser
tricks in an effort to keep a visitor captive at a
site, often by disabling the "Back" button
or generated repeated pop-up windows
Mousetrapping is one
of the most extreme marketing tactics on the Web.
The goal is to extract maximum value from one-time
visits, typically by bombarding visitors with a
never-ending supply of traffic-exchange banners and
pay-per-click links.
Aggressive forms of
mousetrapping are often found on the "red-light
district" of the Web, where precious little
consideration is given to the user experience. Since
these sites cannot count on repeat visits from
satisfied visitors, they often resort to deception
to acquire new visitors.
Mousetrapping comes
in many varieties. The most mild form of
mousetrapping involves disabling the
"Back" button. (Note - not all broken
"Back" buttons are a result of intentional
mousetrapping; some are the result of scripting
routines used for other purposes.) More aggressive
forms of mousetrapping include disabling of key
browser features and continuous loading of pop-up
ads.
