Does anyone know of a good, free popup blocker program?

Question

I need a pop-up blocker, as the one I have still allows many popups.

Answer 1

I use Windows security and I never have popups.
I use AVG anti virus (free download) and I've never had a virus
I use adaware (free download) and I never have ad problems
I use Spybot search and destroy) free download and I'm always protected from spyware

Answer 2

Popup blockers will only stop web based popups. They can help somewhat, but if you are getting excessive popups, and popups even when you are offline, it means you have trojan downloaders on your machine that are calling out to deliver the pop up ads.

Try a full cleaning and dis-infection routine.

This is the one I use (it will take some time).

1. Scan for virus and remove (free online scan) with BitDefender

http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/

2. Scan for trojans and remove (free online scan) with Ewido

http://www.ewido.net/en/

3. Scan for ad/spyware and remove (free download) with Spybot Search & Destroy

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html


If you are using an older version of Windows (pre XP-SP2) you may also be getting "Messenger Service" popups which are caused by Microsoft leaving the almost never used Windows Messenger Service enabled by default. This was corrected in Windows XP- Service Pack 2.

Understand that the Windows Messenger Service is completely different from, and not in any way related to, "MSN Messenger", "Windows Live Messenger" "yahoo Messenger", or any other well-known instant messaging system. Therefore, disabling the Windows Messenger service will have no effect upon your use of any other instant messaging applications. They will continue to work without trouble.


To disable this service in older versions of Windows use the free, Shoot The Messenger from:
http://www.grc.com/stm/ShootTheMessenger.htm

Good luck.

Answer 3

Both Firefox 2 and Internet Explorer 7 have built in pop up blockers. Firefox 2's blocker works excellently. Just go to tools> options> content> block popup windows.

Answer 4

In IE, turn on the popup blocker.
Tools - Popup Blocker - Enable.

Answer 5

If you have popups and are not on a web site then you have an adware program on your computer. A popup blocker program will not stop these. I use the XP popup blocker and the Yahoo Toolbar popup blocker and the two block all popups from web sites.

Download AdAware SE and then run it using the below procedure. Use the ewido program listed in the procedure also.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/

Trojan Removal Procedure.

Removing infections from your computer is never as easy as aquiring them. Malware infections are not meant to be removed so it takes TIME and PATIENCE to get rid of them. If you do not have T & P then you can always do a Reformat.

Malware is a general word for all form of Viruses, Spyware etc. This procedure works for all Malware. Replace the Ewido program with the appropriate program.

You might be unable to access the Internet after removing the Malware so you will need to run LSPfix or Winsockxpfix (as appropriate). Download one and save to desktop, run it later.

LSPfix: all Windows OS except 95.

http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm

Winsock XP Fix: Windows XP only.

http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html



Download and Update Ewido (now called the AVG Antispyware):

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/


-- If you have problems updating see here:

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/updates/

Once the updates are installed do the following:



Let's get cleaning

Part 1

• Temporarily show hidden files.

For Windows XP:

1.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.
Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

3.
On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click "Show hidden files and folders", and clear(uncheck) the "Hide protected operating system files" check box.



For older systems:

1.
Double-click My Computer, click View, and then click Folder Options.

2.
On the View tab, under "Hidden files and folders", click "Show hidden files and folders", and clear (uncheck) the "Hide protected operating system files" check box.


IMPORTANT: Files are hidden by Windows for a very good reason. It is not wise to experiment with these files. Unfortunately, to successfully remove modern spyware we must turn this protection off temporarily. Please turn the protection back on when you have finished cleaning your system.


Empty your Internet Explorer cache and your other temporary file folders:

1.
On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2.
On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button. This will delete all the files that are currently stored in your cache.

3.
Select the Delete all offline content check box in the confirmation dialogue box that appears, click OK.

4.
Click OK again.

Restart in Safe Mode:

To do this you need to hold down or repeatedly tap the F8 key while the computer is booting (when the computer is displaying a black screen with white text). When the boot menu appears, use your keyboard arrows to select "Safe Mode."

Safe Mode can look quite ugly. The color may look bad, and all of your desktop icons will be very large. This is normal.



Start Scan and let Ewido scan the PC


When the scan and removal are completed REBOOT COMPUTER. This will restart you in normal mode.

If you are unable to access the Internet after removing Malware you will need to run LSPfix or Winsockxpfix (as appropriate).


If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and are unable to access the Internet after removing Malware, there is a command that may fix the problem, removing the need to run Winsockxpfix. It works by resetting the winsock catalogue. Click on Start, then Run and type CMD in the dialogue box that appears. Click OK. Type "netsh winsock reset" (no quotes)into the DOS window that appears.


The last steps

If you are running Windows XP or Windows ME, and your computer has been successfully cleaned of Malware, there is one more thing that needs to be done.

Delete any old restore points and then create a new restore one. The old ones may, of course, be infected with the Malware and cannot be used.

First, start and then stop the Restore Service. This is done differently depending on what operating system you are running.

Windows XP:

1.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.
Click Performance and Maintenance, click System, and then click on the System Restore tab.

3.
Select the Turn Off System Restore check box, click Apply, then restart your computer.

4.
Return to the System Restore Tab and turn System Restore back on.


Windows ME:

1.
Click Start, click Control Panel, click System.

2.
Click Performance, click File System, and then click Troubleshooting.

3.
Enable the option Disable System Restore, click Apply then restart your computer.

4.
Return to the Troubleshooting tab and turn System Restore back on.


To set a manual restore point complete the following steps:

1.
Click the Start button.

2.
Point to Programs, then navigate to Accessories, then System Tools, then click System Restore.

3.
Choose Create a restore point, and then click Next.

4.
In the Restore point description box, type a name for your restore point, and then click Next.

5.
Click OK.


There are Trojans that fall into the Smitfraud family. These require the use of a specialized program for removal. Here are two sites that specialize in removing these:

http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm

http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php

Answer 6

Use firefox. It has a built in pop up blocker in the browser. http://www.getfirefox.com

Or just have Internet Explorers' enabled. (Need to have windows XP Service pack 2)

Answer 7

Get yahoo toolbar. I have that one and it works like a charm. My old pop-ups are gone for good. You should have it installed. Its totally free.

Answer 8

the best but not free sorry
ad-aware professional 6.0 /ad-watch 3.0
http://www.lavasoft.de/
ad-watch 3.0 is a pop up & website blocker

no popups

Answer 9

Ad - Aware, free edition. It's not as good as Ad-Aware Personal Edition, but it's free.

Firefox itself can also block Pop ups.

Answer 10

I use the one that is downloaded with the Yahoo toolbar. Sometimes it works too good!