Pop-up ads originated in the mid-1990s as a way to display advertisements in separate windows from websites in response to complaints about banner ads. Over time, pop-ups became a nuisance and led to the development of ad blockers. More recently, pop-up designs have evolved to mimic real ads and apps in order to appear credible while still aiming to attract users' attention, gather information, or promote products and services. However, some pop-ups also spread malware and target vulnerable groups like the elderly.