Sometimes members include active emoticons in their posts. I enjoy them, so I'm not complaining. However some of them come with a whole load of companions and a button which wants to offer (sell?) them to me. Some people seem to be able to post them without this extra feature happening. Is there anything I can do to stop this happening? or any guidance about how posters can use them without the sales pitch?
I am reluctant to click the button to find out whether I can switch them off as I do not like inviting advertising pop ups on to my computer. Or can someone reassure me that they are harmless?
Me too!!
Be very, very careful, “free” emoticons is one of the ways that “viruses” can be introduced onto your computer.
That isn’t smoke, it’s from personal experience.
Sorry Mozziecat have only just seen this thread.
If you like a particular copyright-free smiley/animation/emoticon you see on the internet you are better to 'save as' individually to a folder on your hard drive, like you would do with an image. Then upload to webspace of your own ie a Photobucket account or similar from where you can copy and paste it into forum messages or emails. I have never had a problem doing it that way.
It is when you download free smiley or emoticon software that needs installing on your computer that you are asking for trouble. Not sure about viruses but these programmes have the potential to carry spyware and do contain adware which includes the invitation to recipients to download the programme to their own computers.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data