What Do You Guys Do About Pop-ups?

[Gail Simone]

Good lord, I hate 'em.

Gail

[Pepsigirl]

Use Firefox and run Google Pop-Up blocker, plus that crazy thing that Microsoft has.

[Puffy Treat]

Firefox and some other free software blocks most of them.

[TCJohnson]

if you have windows xp, download SP2. that has a good pop up blocker.

And you really should do this no matter once since it has other security features.

[watchinginkdry]

Which popup software's good? Firefox has been letting through increasing amounts lately.

[Kyuubi]

I have the Google toolbar that you can get for free and it works a lot better than anything I have ever used before. It has already blocked over 8000 pop-ups, has a spell checker, and even comes with its own address bar that connects you to Google when you need to search for something.

[YoGo]

that microsoft blocker is apparently pretty good, though i was skeptical about downloading it at first till I got good reports abt it.

[Melissa]

I have McAfee Internet Security Suite, which blocks mine.

[LtMarvel]

I use Netscape 7.1 Don't have pop-ups.

[kingdom2000]

I use IE and the google pop up blocker. May see one pop up a day if that. So far haven't bothered to update to SP2 but supposedly its ok. If you get a large amount of pop-ups despite using a blocker though, chances are you have some spyware thats throwing em up. I usually use Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware every now and then for clean up. Usually between the two problems with spyware get cleaned up.

I also do use Firefox, great program do to its tabbed browsing but i still get a few pop-ups with that to so to me in that department the IE with Google and Firefox work about the same. Technically Firefox is safer...but then it achieves that but not allowing some of the convient but security risky things like activeX controls and other little goodies you may take for granted on IE. So if really live in fear that some stranger at some unknown location may discover you visited a porn site the other day, use firefox for that false sense of security but if go to some sites that have a ton of bells and whistles that you enjoy don't be suprised if they don't work well (personally don't like those sites, don't get me started on the current overuse of Flash so thats not a minus for me, but may be for others).

If all else fails then use the Microsoft spyware beta program. Its pretty crappy at finding the common spyware but the virus liking acting spyware it sometimes finds (specially those that are direct result of holes in XP but not so easy to patch).

But with me, google plus running spybot and ad-aware every now and then when the mood strikes and I haven't had any problems.

Side note, make sure to have some form of anti-virus installed and if using something other then dial-up, get a router with built in firewall. A software firewall version is ok but a seperate device is even better.

[Suzanne]

I absolutely HATE them. Before I switched ISPs, I got them all the time. Fortunately, I have pop-up blocks now, so I don't get them as much. But what I hate even more are goddamn spyware and ad-ware. Are there programs avaliable that block these and not just remove them?

[TCJohnson]

I absolutely HATE them. Before I switched ISPs, I got them all the time. Fortunately, I have pop-up blocks now, so I don't get them as much. But what I hate even more are goddamn spyware and ad-ware. Are there programs avaliable that block these and not just remove them?

The closest thing is spybot S&D. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ It has a immunize function that blocks sites that are known to install adware on your computer. It is not perfect, however.

[Suzanne]

Thanks TC. It's better than nothing, I suppose.

[kingdom2000]

Technically the MS spyware will block them and there are others fairly pricey versions from McAfee and Norton that will to, but those have a nuiscance overhead of having to train the program on whats good and whats not. Also, from a tech support perspective, a headache. Oh and a drain on your system's performance. However the free Spybot and Ad-aware to a superior job to all those payed programs.

Really, the main cause that people get vicious attacks of spyware is simple. If a program is free...it may still have a cost. Use google and see if that must have smiley program has any gotchas installed on it. If it does and you really hate spyware then just learn to do without. I do tech support and that is the #1 reason people get vicious attacks. They installed something they shouldn't have. And doing that will get you the most vicious kinds of spyware that have virus behavior and are an absolute #$@# to find and remove.

Also never ever, I don't care who its from, even if God himself, open an email attachment unless you where expecting it and know its safe. If it does not have an extension (that .xyz part) do NOT open without confirming with sender. If the extension is .EXE do NOT open it. If its .bat, .zip, .wtf, or anything you don't recognize or can't place, do NOT open it.

Not opening unknown attachments and installing un-researched programs will eliminate about 95% of your spyware problems.

If you use google toolbar, updated and then ran Spybot and Ad-Aware and still have problems, my very first question would be "What the #$%#$ did you install on this computer before this started?" I always get an answer (after several nothing lies of course).

Side note:
If all the above is new information and you like to use p2p networks to download free stuff but don't have even basic understanding about spyware, virus, when its harmful, when its not, ways to remove it, then stop it now. Seriously. End that program. You don't know what your doing and until you do, don't use p2p programs.

[howyadoin]

'Nother satisfied Firefox user here.

[muimi]

Ditto for Firefox :D

[TCJohnson]

However the free Spybot and Ad-aware to a superior job to all those payed programs.

These two are the programs I always use. There are some thing that spybot misses that ad-aware gets. There are some things that ad-aware misses that spybot gets. The best protection is using both of these programs, one right after the other.

Hijackthis and silent runners are also great programs, but they are not for beginners. They are not user friendly and you have to know what you are looking for to use them. But they have saved my butt many times. (I do tech support for a living).

Also never ever, I don't care who its from, even if God himself, open an email attachment unless you where expecting it and know its safe.

If you do get an e-mail from someone you know but wasn't expecting it, there s no harm in shooting them a quick reply asking if it is safe.

If the extension is .EXE do NOT open it.

Actually, Outlook 2003 will not let you send an e-mail with a .EXE file, and if you get an e-mail with it will delete the attachment. There is no way to turn this off. I am still on the fence if I like this or not.

If you use google toolbar, updated and then ran Spybot and Ad-Aware and still have problems, my very first question would be "What the #$%#$ did you install on this computer before this started?" I always get an answer (after several nothing lies of course).

I don't even ask anymore. I just look for any programs that I don't know and erase them. Don't like it? It's your fault for being a dumbass in the first place.

God, I have to go into work tomorrow and deal with somebody who is angry with me because I took away his administrative rights. This guy has had more adware and viruses on his computer than anybody else in the company, and I am so sick and tired of spending hours on his computer alone. I am the only tech support guy for two offices, an hour drive apart, and I just don't have time for this.

[the4thpip]

Yeah, some people developed pop-ups that Firefox can't block (yet). But they are still few and far between.
SP2 makes IE almost as popup safe, but several of my friends had to do a system restore to get rid of SP2 because it seriously fucked up their computer.

[Justin D.]

For all of you who are happy using Firefox, then don't bother getting the newest version. In fact, I'd say stick with version 1.0.2 for a while. Ever since I updated to 1.0.3. and now 1.0.4., I'm getting pop-ups. True, they only show up a few times a day, but that's a few times more than they used to.

[the4thpip]

For all of you who are happy using Firefox, then don't bother getting the newest version. In fact, I'd say stick with version 1.0.2 for a while. Ever since I updated to 1.0.3. and now 1.0.4., I'm getting pop-ups. True, they only show up a few times a day, but that's a few times more than they used to.
I don't think the update is to blame, though. People are just discovering ways around Firefox's software. I had about as many before as after the update. Some German sites were the first I noticed with popups that outfoxed firefox.

[TCJohnson]

It is not that they are figuring out ways around firefox's software. That is the easy part. Before, so few people were using firefox that it wasn't worth figuring out for so few users. Now more and more people are using it is getting more attention from the spammers.

[TCJohnson]

Yeah, some people developed pop-ups that Firefox can't block (yet). But they are still few and far between.
SP2 makes IE almost as popup safe, but several of my friends had to do a system restore to get rid of SP2 because it seriously fucked up their computer.

How did it mess up their computer? I have been installing SP2 on my computers at work and have been getting good results.

[the4thpip]

How did it mess up their computer? I have been installing SP2 on my computers at work and have been getting good results.
One friend could no longer access his wireless LAN. Another had a series of crashes. I personally had no problems with SP2.

[PatrickG]

Firefox for me...

[Spackling Compound]

Isn't it a tad ironic that the Main CBR page hits you with Popups?

And sneaky ones at that.

I use IE Eraser. Free online download. I also do the Adaware but that is more maintenance that anything.

[Pepsigirl]

I have the Google toolbar that you can get for free and it works a lot better than anything I have ever used before. It has already blocked over 8000 pop-ups, has a spell checker, and even comes with its own address bar that connects you to Google when you need to search for something.

Not to mention that new Google Desktop search.

Best. Invention. Ever.

Windows own search takes forever!

[Gaz]

The closest thing is spybot S&D. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ It has a immunize function that blocks sites that are known to install adware on your computer. It is not perfect, however.
Actually, I have SpywareBlaster which works a bit better, got it via FreewareHome (http://www.freewarehome.com), as I recall.

[Cream Filled Taco]

I use Opera, and never have popups.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I have Pop Up buster and Spy-Blaster as well as AD-Aware and other stuff all running at once. I'll rarely get 1 pop up at times.

[Corrina]

Very satisfied with my google pop-up blocker.

[Static-Pulse]

Good lord, I hate 'em.Then stop going to my hentai website already.

[steeler80]

I've got the McAfee pop-up blocker (it came with my system) but I've not turned it on because the blocker with explorer 6 seems to be doing a good job. For spyware, you can't beat Ad-Aware. I use Spybot too as it gets a couple of thingst that Ad-aware misses.

[DLFerguson]

Another highly satisfied Firefox user here

[Cam63]

Good lord, I hate 'em.

Gail

They irritate me, but they don't have the hatred I reserve for those who create viruses and spyware.

[Papergirl]

I use Firefox and my ISP software has a great pop-up blocker, too, so I'm not having any real problems. Once in a great while a pop-up will get through, but it's still very rare.

I also run Spybot and Ad-Aware regularly, too.

~Bev

[comic_lover]

Good lord, I hate 'em.

GailRun two or three Pop-UpBlockers in conjunction with Microsoft's built in Pop-Up Stopper built into XP.

[aeastwic]

Good lord, I hate 'em.

Gail

I've been using nothing but a MAC since Feb. and have seen only two pop-up adds and they were disguised as something else to my browser.

Seriously, if you can, run Linux or Mac because most of the world's desktop computers run Windows and that is what they target for ads, hack and spyware. I haven't had any trouble with either my MAC or Linux machines.

If that's not feasible, then most of the suggestions here are valid. Get the latest Window service pack. Use Firefox (it's much better on security) and turn on protections in your browser.

but liike anything else, it's an arms race. People come up with new ways to defeat the blockers, so something new has to be developed. The only way to defeat stuff like this is to not purchase or click on stuff from those ads.

[the4thpip]

Of course, ads are what keeps the internet free... :eek: :eek:

[Screwtape]

Good lord, I hate 'em.

Gail
They're embarrassing, but I usually just stay seated and wait it out. Sometimes I can walk it off.

I'm surprised you worry about this, Gail.

[Spackling Compound]

They're embarrassing, but I usually just stay seated and wait it out. Sometimes I can walk it off.

I'm surprised you worry about this, Gail.


Could be just a pants-tent...

Think about baseball and your grandma, that helps.

[Screwtape]

The words get bigger, but the jokes remain the same.