Pluralistic: Dealing with dickovers (21 Jul 2026) dickovers
2 days ago
- Dickovers are modal panels or popovers that websites use to force unwanted interactions, often for cookie consent, violating user privacy and frustrating users.
- Websites exploit GDPR and similar laws by repeatedly showing cookie-consent dialogs, despite the availability of Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals that browsers can send.
- Companies falsely claim that they cannot store a 'don't spy' cookie under legitimate interest, but privacy laws actually allow such exceptions.
- Effective countermeasures include using Firefox on desktop, enabling Reader Mode, using Kill Sticky bookmarklet, Adblock Plus to block elements, and Remove Paywall.
- Switching to free/open-source operating systems like Linux can improve performance on older hardware and reduce resource-gobbling spyware.
- There is a moral obligation to help less tech-savvy users ('normies') configure these tools to protect their privacy and improve their internet experience.
- Historical precedent shows that pop-up ads were defeated by blockers; similar collective action can eliminate dickovers.