The viewbar is probably the best known and also the most infamous of Internet money making programs. The basic principle is simple: you download a program from a site operating such a scheme and open a small rectangular bar on your screen when you are logged on to the Internet. All kinds of sponsor ads are delivered via the viewbar, and you get paid a small sum for every minute that you are online with the viewbar showing.

That's the theory, but the viewbar program quickly fell into disrepute as over ambitious plans and payment rates were bandied about and offered - the viewbar model could quite simply not be made to add up and there are many examples of programs being downgraded, significantly changed or simply pulled.

AllAdvantage is the best known example and was also one of the first of these programs, at first offering excellent remuneration, but gradually modifying the rules and rates until in the end they converted the program into a sweepstakes competition and eventually pulled it altogether. Click here for the full sordid story of AA's fall from grace.

At its height, you could have been running with six, seven or even eight of these bars all open on the screen at the same time and it was easy to get obsessed, blinded by the fortunes that you were apparently earning and losing sight of exactly what you wanted to be on the net for in the first place.

There are other examples of such schemes and these days the viewbar seems to be an endangered species. There are a couple which are worth looking at, but in general viewbars are just a pain in the butt, leading to all sorts of system crashes and conflicts.

Surfing Prizes - This used to be a decent program, paying okay money and working quite well. Unfortunately, they weren't able to maintain the model and pulled the entire program sometime in 2000, paying out to only those whose balance exceeded $25. I had just over $24, so missed out on payment. Obviously, when you join a program, don't hang about too long before you reach the minimum payout - this isn't a market for the long term. Strike fast… PROGRAM DEAD

Go To World - This was one of the earliest of the viewbar programs, and although it only had a low payment rate at least looked like it had a sustainable model. Unfortunately, the program has now vanished without trace, leaving only a website purporting to market translation software. PROGRAM DEAD

DesktopDollars - This has recently fallen apart as a program and the following message from their site is sadly pretty typical:

"DesktopDollars is committed to providing you with the finest online rewards anywhere. Unfortunately, due in part to extremly difficult market conditions for online advertsing and the number of your fellow members who cheat attempt to cheat the current program, we are no longer able to provide a cash incentive for each ad you see on the DD Toolbar.

"Effective July 1, 2001, DesktopDollars.com, owned and operated by Audiencebank Media, Inc. will no longer accrue a liability to registered users for each advertisement shown on any desktop toolbar offered through the website, DesktopDollars.com. This includes, but is not limited to the "DD Toolbar" and the "ProfitZONE". Members who have accrued accounts balances of $30 for users located in the United States and $100 for users located outside of the United States will receive checks no later than June 30, 2002. The additional time until members receive payment is required to investigate rampant violations of the DesktopDollars.com terms and conditions, primarily the act of using computer programs to simulate usage of the DD Toolbar. Violations of the DesktopDollars.com terms and conditions will be investigated on a user by user basis and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Members who have not accrued account balances of either $30 for US and $100 for International, as stipulated above, by June 30, 2001 will forfeit their account balances. Any amounts accrued as a result of any contests, fast cash, casinos, or other offers on DesktopDollars.com, the DD Toolbar, or the ProfitZONE will continue to be accrued. We apologize for the delay in the payments and will do our best to complete the audit and investigation as quickly as possible.

Pretty naff, eh? PROGRAM DEAD