Question:
How can I stop the dreaded Browser resizing event?
Joe
2009-08-27 20:57:22 UTC
Have you ever ran upon a website that resizes your browser window from "normal fit to screen" to "full screen" ?

not only is it annoying, I fear this is a crafty way of extracting information about me and everything else so that some greedy troll can use this information to advertise me, log it, sell it without my explicit concent.
Im not a programer, but I sure as heck know that this is a security threat that requires attention.

At the least what are the reasons a website owner would want every visitor to automatically re size the browser windows?
Seven answers:
Don213
2009-08-28 05:29:33 UTC
Some windows will remeber their new size automaticly if you make the new window the exact same size each time it opens. Sometimes you have to shutdown your conputer for this to work with the new size open.

Other windows will always be the size the provider makes them......such as the aol welcome screen.

Every so often there will be a box to check on the website as to what size to open the window.

I would run a scan on the site just to see what it might reveal.
SonicD
2009-08-27 21:06:35 UTC
Resizing your browser window in itself is not a security risk. Some web site designers want to make sure their visitors see the exact same window size as everyone else, so they'll change the size of the window using JavaScript code.



There are sites that will have pop-up windows that go full screen to sort of "trap you" in their site. The window change is harmless, but they may have prompts that come up with enticing buttons labeled "OK" or "Cancel." Whenever you see a suspicious pop-up window, always click the "X" in the top-right corner to close the window. The buttons within the window shouldn't be trusted.



You can turn off JavaScript in your browser, but you'll end up breaking a lot of the functionality of legitimate sites. You're better off just not going to sites that exhibit this annoying behavior altogether.
luker
2009-08-27 21:04:31 UTC
This is not a security threat whatsoever. I'm a web developer and I know the code that they use to make the auto-resize occur - it's impossible for this to be linked to them getting any information from you. There is no cause for concern.



Why web sites do this is two reasons - one to display their information correctly (if they have a wide image they want you to see, they resize the window so that you can see it fully), or in the case of an advertisement they do it to capture your attention quickly.
Harley Drive
2009-08-27 21:12:29 UTC
Malware sites often use this technique and put a false close window button on the top so when you click it it downloads malware or a virus they also seem able to disable your normal browser controls while the download is going on so you are quite right to be concerned. If it happens disconnect from the internet immediately and use task manager to end the program.
korgrue
2009-08-27 21:01:05 UTC
Turn off your Javascript or use Firefox with the NoScript plugin installed and loaded.
shantae
2016-10-18 02:04:56 UTC
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Naruto
2009-08-27 21:03:00 UTC
Use Mozilla Firefox 3.5.2.


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