Number 212 - January 2001
Escaping Mousetrap Sites
Reported by Bob Thomson
    In a recent issue of the Tacoma News Tribune an article of Knight Ridder Newspapers talked about those websites that won't let you go when you try to leave. They do this by disabling your Back button. We've heard this is common on the raunchier sites on the web, but it is now being employed by some mainstream retailers as well -- much to the annoyance of most users. Here we summarize steps to get out of such a site when your Back key becomes disabled. If you wish to read the full article log onto Bob's Corner in toggle.org's Tips & Tricks section.

How To Spring Web Mousetraps
    You don't have to be Houdini to escape the clutches of a Web site. Here are some tips from Internet directory Top9.com (Summer 2000 newsletter - "Locking Out the Lock-Ins").

    · If you scroll over the back button with your mouse, a small pull-down tab will appear on the right. Clicking on it will give you a list of previously visited sites; select one and you'll return to that site.

    · PC users also can "right click" their mice over the back button to get the list of visited sites. Mac users can click and hold their mice over the back button to get the list.

    · You can hit the "Go" menu at the top of your monitor. A list of previously visited sites will appear. Click on one. You also can scroll over the back button, either "left click" and hold it or simply "right click" and choose a previously visited site.
    · You can simply type a new URL in your address line, or go to your "favorites" or "bookmarks" menu and select a link.

    · In your browser's address line (where the URL appears), a down arrow appears on the far right. Clicking on it will give you a list of URLs you have previously typed in manually. Click on one to move on.

    · Hit your "Home" button, which will bring you back to your start page.

    · For a list of "lock-in" sites, visit www.Top9.com. Lock-in sites are labeled with padlock icons:   

       ·    Green padlocks1 designate sites that allow you to get out with some back button effort, usually two to three clicks.

       ·       Red padlocks indicate sites that may not allow you to get out at all.

       ·       An "N" appears inside the padlocks next to those sites that are hard to leave when using a Netscape browser.

       ·       An "x" appears in padlocks next to sites that are hard to leave using Internet Explorer.

1    The list of Lock-in sites is being updated on a continuing basis. Since the first printing of this article they have changed the green "open" padlock for the word Unlocked!
  Number 212 - January 2001