Nearly every individual who has ever logged on to the Internet has been troubled by the nuisance of unwanted pop-up windows. Computer configurations that haven’t been upgraded with the required security settings or boosted with the appropriate applications face an actual security risk, especially from the unmitigated pop-ups generated by the numerous corrupt websites. Blocking out pop-ups isn't an option any more but a bare minimum requirement because simple activities conducted on the Internet like online shopping, logging into your back account or making/receiving payments get disrupted and poses an online threat for children in terms of exposing them to adulterated content.
General Browser Pop-ups — such pop-ups are relatively simple to prevent and this can be done by installing pop-up blockers. One of the simplest pop-up blocker comes in the form of the Google Toolbar that is capable of automatically blocking most of pop-ups that come through the web browser
Adware/Spyware-generated Pop-ups — these are more adept at getting attached to the IE as they come boosted with applications such as ActiveX controls. This often leads to wasting of bandwidth that you are paying for. These pop-ups are notorious for leaking out private information. This is best handled by using an anti-virus softwares/tools such as:
Messenger Service Advertisement Pop-ups — although they have similar-looking title bars, they have no relation to the original Windows Messenger. This is usually the work of spammers and can be prevented by using Windows XP's Service Pack (2) and turning-on the XP's built-in Firewall. However, if a third-party firewall is being used as an application to prevent pop-ups, the existing, built-in firewall of the Windows XP doesn't need to be activated.
One convenient way of blocking pop-ups yourself is by removing them through the use of programs often listed in the Control Panel. However, the process tends to varies for each of the different browsers. Following is a list of the various browsers, each with a stepwise method of blocking out pop-ups.
Blocking Pop-ups in Firefox (Windows users)
- Click on the Tools option (Top Menu Bar)
- Click on Options — a box opens
- Click on the Content icon
- The box besides the message 'Block Pop-up Windows' should be checked (ticked)
- Click on 'Exceptions' and a box with the phrase 'Allowed Sites – Popups' opens
- Here, you have the liberty of typing out web addresses of sites whose pop-ups you want to avoid
- To complete the blocking settings, just close the box and click on 'OK'
Blocking Pop-ups in Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer settings for blocking pop-ups function at their best when a Windows XP Service Pack (2) is also installed. At the time of installing SP2, the Pop-up blocker is turned on in the IE and is automatically set to medium strength. This means that most of the pop-ups are blocked automatically. The pop-up blocker also has a sound to it and is shown on the Information Bar.
- Click on the ‘Start’ button in the Menu
- Proceed to ‘Programs’ > Click on ‘Internet Explorer’
- Locate ‘Tools’ > Select ‘Pop-up Blocker’
- Click on ‘Turn on Pop-up Blocker’ option
Installing Google Toolbar
Blocking pop-ups in Google’s browser is perhaps the easiest since the toolbar itself is loaded with options to help you out. For downloading the Google Toolbar visit http://toolbar.google.com
- Click on ‘Download Google Toolbar’
- Got to Options listed in the toolbar
- The ‘Popup Block’ option should be selected (tick/check it)
- Just click OK
Just moving the mouse over the pop-blocker icon on the Google Toolbar lists information like the total number of pop-ups blocked and when clicked, it will turn on the pop-ups without further confirmation.
Blocking Pop-ups in Safari
- Visit Safari Menu and choose 'Preferences'
- Click on ‘Security’
- Make sure the box saying 'Block pop-up windows' is ticked (checked)
- Safari asks ‘if you would really like to change the setting’
- Click on 'OK'
- Restart the Safari browser for the new settings to take control
Blocking Pop-ups in Mozilla
- Go to Tools > Click on Options.
- Click on Content > Check (tick) ‘Block pop-up windows’
- Click on OK > this will make sure that the changes are accepted
- Refresh the webpage by clicking on the ‘reload’ symbol
Now, the changes have been applied for the current (one particular) website. At the top of the webpage, pop-ups getting blocked are visible