Welcome to our Pop-up Blocking Help Page:
In our research section, we try to keep our readers informed about a variety of technology related products and services. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about pop-up ads - where they come from, how you can get rid of them, how you can avoid pop-ups. Enjoy! See the categories below to get started learning about pop-up ads:
Blocking pop-up ads
Most people using the Internet eventually run into a problem - an unwanted deluge of pop up ads. These windows appear as you launch your browser or move from one webpage to another. Of course, advertising on the Internet is a normal part of business - every site you visit has the right to display ads to support its costs, and you have the right to avoid sites with too much advertising. Pop-up ads are different from regular banner ads in that they appear in new windows, often clogging up your display and sometimes crashing your system when resources get low. A variety of security software programs aim to alleviate the situation - but where do these ads come from?
Legitimate ads come from the sites you are visiting. They show you a variety of ads, from banners, to Google Ads, to pop-ups. When you leave the site and close these pop-up windows, they disappear. Most sites manage these intelligently, showing you only 1 or 2 pop-ups over the entire course of your visit. There are also pop-under ads that appear in windows BEHIND your browser, and you see them at a later time when you close your browser window. However, the really nasty kind of pop-up comes from adware or spyware that may be unwittingly installed on your computer.
Some studies show up to 80% or 90% of computers have adware or spyware on them. How would this happen?
Have you used a file sharing service (Kazaa, Limewire, Morpheus, Bearshare, etc.) - many programs like this are ad-supported and come bundled with other software that might display ads.
Do your kids visit software or game pages and download things? Many times adware (what is adware? "free" sofware that is supported by the ads it displays) is bundled into these downloads and ends up on your computer.
Have you had email or virus problems with attachments? Many hackers use email to spread viruses that bombard you with ads or spy on you (spyware).
So how can you get rid of (or at least reduce) these pop-up ads?
Use a toolbar pop-up blocker/stopper from a reputable company:
Both Yahoo and Google offer plug-in toolbars (the get built right into your browser, appearing at the top) that block pop-up ads, as well as letting you search, check mail, etc. These are probably 80% effective at stopping pop-ups, although many ad networks have changed the format of their ads so that they do not appear as normal browser windows (see CNet story) and thus evade detection by some of these pop up stoppers. But this is the first step in taking control back over your computer and limiting the number of daily ads you see. Importantly, these anti pop-up toolbars also permit you to ALLOW pop-ups on sites you choose - for example some sites use pop-up windows to provide shipping information, stock graphs, etc. and you might WANT these windows to appear. Microsoft also included a pop-up blocker, anti pop up feature in its SP2 (service pack 2) update - you can download it free from their site.
Use pop-up blocking software and adware removal software:
You can also download and use anti-pop-up software that runs directly on your computer and guards you against future ads. Among the top-rated is Webroot Softwares Pop-up Washer ($29) and Spy Sweeper to control both adware and spyware. Microsoft Anti Spyware is another free tool you can use, available at their website. Lavasoft Ad Aware is also highly rated and reliable, as is PC Tools Spyware Doctor. A lot of these adware programs that get onto your computer are tricky to remove manually. If you find yourself infected with adware and spyware, you need one of these complete software solutions to effectively remove it. You can browse the links on this page for more information.
How to avoid pop-up ads, spyware, and adware?
Follow the tips below to avoid pop ups, ads, spyware, viruses, and adware. A lot of this is commonsense, but it easier to avoid adware that to try to remove adware, spyware, pop-ups, etc.
Don't download and install software or files from sources you don't know and trust.
Don't open email attachment from people you don't know.
Use an anti adware/spyware remover program, which will catch new programs before they get onto your computer.
Have an updated version of anti-virus software running at all time (Symantec, McAfee) - this will stop email viruses from getting onto your system
Read the fineprint when using or installing file sharing software - watch out for bundled ad-supported products.
Keep track of what your kids are doing, and tell them not to install any software or downloads without your permission.
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You can also download and use anti-pop-up software that runs directly on your computer and guards you against future ads. Among the top-rated is Webroot Softwares Pop-up Washer ($29) and Spy Sweeper to control both adware and spyware. Microsoft Anti Spyware is another free tool you can use, available at their website. Lavasoft Ad Aware is also highly rated and reliable, as is PC Tools Spyware Doctor. A lot of these adware programs that get onto your computer are tricky to remove manually. If you find yourself infected with adware and spyware, you need one of these complete software solutions to effectively remove it. You can browse the links on this page for more information.
