How do I stop pop-up or pop-under Internet ads?

Issue

How do I stop pop-up or pop-under Internet ads?

Solution

There are hundreds of different software programs that are designed to help stop, block, or prevent pop-up, pop-under, and other Internet intrusive and annoying advertising on the Internet. Below is a listing of some of the more popular and widely used programs we would recommend trying.

Microsoft Internet Explorer users
Mozilla Firefox users
Netscape users
Opera users

Microsoft Internet Explorer users

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 users

Users who are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 can be thankful that Microsoft has decided to include a popup blocker in the browser. By default this option should be enabled if you wish to change the settings of how this feature works or want to verify if it is enabled or not you can follow the below steps.

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click Tools
  3. Click Options
  4. Click the Privacy tab
  5. At the bottom of the Privacy tab you should have a Pop-up Blocker section. If you wish pop-ups to be blocked check the "Block pop-ups" option. You can also set additional settings such as disabling the sound when a pop-up is blocked or disable the information bar displayed when a pop-up is blocked by clicking the Settings button.

Users running earlier versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer

Users who are running earlier versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer also have options to block pop-ups in their version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Below are a few recommendations.

Google Toolbar

If you are using Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer, it is highly recommended that you try the Google Toolbar, which includes a free popup blocker.

Third-party programs

There are numerous third-party programs that can be downloaded that also help prevent pop-ups from occurring. Below is a short list of some of the more popular solutions.

Software Program Web Site address
PanicWare Pop-UP Stopper http://www.panicware.com/
Smasher http://www.popupstop.com/
PopUp Cop http://www.popupcop.com/
NoAds http://www.southbaypc.com/NoAds/

Mozilla Firefox users

A big reason a lot of Microsoft Internet Explorer users switched over to Firefox before Microsoft released MSIE 6.0 was because Firefox included its own pop-up blocker.

If you're running Mozilla Firefox and with to adjust or change how Firefox handles pop-up follow the below steps.

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox
  2. Click Tools
  3. Click Options
  4. Click the Web features button on the left hand side of the Options window.
  5. By default this feature should be enabled if you wish to disable the feature, uncheck "Block Popup Windows." If you have allowed popups on a site you wish to now block you can also click "Allowed sites" in this window and remove any sites you wish to block any popup on.

Users may also wish to disable any popups from from any browser plug-ins, a tactic for bypassing many popup blockers. To enable this feature in firefox follow the below steps.

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox
  2. In the URL field type "about:config" and press enter.
  3. This should open the Firefox config window.
  4. Right-click on a black portion of the window and click "New" and then "Integer"
  5. For the preference name type "privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins" and click Ok.
  6. For the value type "2"

Finally, we also suggest you locate the "privacy.popups.firstTime" option also in the about:config screen and change the value of this setting to "false"

Netscape users

If you are using Netscape 7.1 or higher, the browser already has its own pop-up stopper that is enabled by default and can be adjusted or changed by following the below steps.

  1. Open Netscape
  2. Click Tools
  3. Click Popup Manager
  4. Within the Popup Manager you can adjust the settings of how you want popups to be blocked.

Opera users

The latest version of Opera also includes its own popup blocker and has it enabled by default. You can adjust how popups are blocked or allowed by following the below steps.

  1. Open Opera
  2. Click Tools
  3. Click Quick preferences
  4. Within the Quick preferences menu you will have options to "Open all pup-ups", "Open pop-ups in background", "Block unwanted pop-ups", and "Block all pop-ups."

Additional information

  • See the pop-up definition for further information and related links.
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