How to fight the 'dark patterns' websites deploy to trick you to spend more

Magazine subscriptions that mysteriously end up in your online shopping cart. Items with 50 people looking at them "right now" that are still for sale weeks later — these are the internet's "dark patterns". The term "dark patterns" emerged in 2010, when UK-based user experience consultant Harry Brignull took a closer look at Ryanair. Dark Patterns to watch out for: Bait and Switch Disguised Ads Forced Continuity Friend Spam Hidden Costs Misdirection Price Comparison Prevention Privacy Zuckering Roach Motel Sneak into Basket Trick Questions Source: darkpatterns.org The budget airline was notorious for cost cutting, but its website was full of what Mr Brignull saw as misdirection. This filter is particularly relevant for the dark pattern dubbed "Privacy Zuckering" — when you're hoodwinked into sharing more personal information with a site than you meant to.