Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Pop-ups

Mar 7, 2004 12:28PM PST

I have Spy-Bot and Norton A.V. both installed and have been running them both every couple days...however, I am being inundated with pop-up ads. Right now, the bottom of my screen is showing double rows of internet ads. When I use the internet, the pop-ups stack 20+ deep.

What is the best way to stop this? One of the pop-ups is an ad to stop pop-ups!!!! But I'm leary to downlaod that one! Any suggestions for an effective, downloadable no-cost program?

thanks,
gwamakawen

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:Pop-ups
Mar 7, 2004 2:31PM PST

Are they the gray windows with text only? If so it's the Windows Messenger service. You can download "Shoot the Messenger" and turn it off.
http://www.pcworld.com
This is a tiny 22kb program that allows you to turn off the service. And you can turn it back on, if you ever need it.

- Collapse -
Re:Pop-ups
Mar 7, 2004 3:53PM PST

If it's not Windows messenger, but real IE popup's I can recommend three things:
- change from IE to Mozilla or Mozilla Firebird (www.mozilla.org), which has a build-in pop-up blocker
- wait for the next release of IE 6, which should have one
- try a popup-blocker like Free Surfer Mk II (Finnish freeware, easily found and downloaded)

Kees

- Collapse -
Re:Pop-ups...use the Google Toolbar
Mar 7, 2004 8:48PM PST
www.google.com has a free toolbar that is a Search Engine and includes a free popup stopper. It's located in the Services and Tools link on the page. Once installed, you can press the popup button to allow popups for any individual site you go to if there are some features of the site that you need the popups for (some game sites give free goodies if you allow popups at them), and each time you allow popups, it only allows them at that individual site...no others until you allow them again somewhere else.
- Collapse -
(NT) This is the best one I've found.
Mar 7, 2004 9:12PM PST

.

- Collapse -
Re:Pop-ups
Mar 7, 2004 9:01PM PST

I have the Google tool bar on my computer which does a great job of blocking ads for me. Just install the tool bar and it will take care of the pop-ups. My tool bar shows google has blocked 335 ads for me so far. Just go the google home page and download the toolbar.

- Collapse -
I have had quite a few stop pop-ups programs. Toni's suggestion I've found to be the best.....NT
Mar 7, 2004 9:03PM PST

.

- Collapse -
Re:Pop-ups
Mar 8, 2004 1:13PM PST

I am using a pop-up stopper (free) from www.panicware.com. It works very well and I don't get any pop-ups unless I allow them.