Need advice on a good pop-up blocker to download...

[vi5]

For some reason last night I started getting ridiculous amounts of po-up ads on my computer, even when I'm not on the internet (We have a cable modem).

I have Ad-Aware and I ran that and I clean out my cookies and temp internet files but that doesn't seem to have helped.

Preferably a free one or an inexpensive one and one that doesn't simply cause more problems than it solves.

Thanks in advance.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Mozilla

The popup blocker that is built into the Mozilla browser works great.
www.mozilla.org

[vi5]

4. But will the pop ups still come through...

If I don't delete my internet explorer browser? Like I said they seem to be popping up even when IE isn't open on my computer.

[MoonGod]

6. Sounds like these may be Messenger pop-ups...

... not web pop-ups.

Messenger is a Windows service that was originally intended to let sysadmins send messages to users and to each other, but spammer types have no figgered out how to use it for their own purposes.

What do the windows look like? Are they IE windows or are they just grey dialogue boxes with an OK button?

What OS r u running?

on edit: You do have a good virus scanner installed, right? And assuming you're running a Windows OS, you have the latest updates from Microsoft, right? If not, here's where you can get a good, free virus scanner: http://www.grisoft.com/ (look for the AVG Free Edition)... and in order to get the latest updates from Microsoft, open up IE, click on Tools --> Windows Update

[ET Awful]

7. If it's happening when IE is closed . . .

Then you have been infested with spyware.

I recommend downloading and running Spybot Search and Destroy (do a google search, it's very easy to find).

Install that and run it first to clean up any spyware you might have lurking. Then install the pop-up blocker of your choice (the google toolbar is great, and the Avant Browser has a great built-in one, both are free.)

[thom1102]

9. This is hidden in programs like...

Kazaa, and Morpheus, and Weatherbug, and Atomic Clock, so if you've downloaded any of these "freeware" programs, uninstall them right away. These spyware programs are insidious and track your web browsing habits and then send you popup adds from their clients whose products most closely match your browsing interests (for instance, if you visit Expedia tobook a trip, and you have one of these spyware software, they may have a client "Joe's Travel Site" and a pop up for Joe's would appear). These pop ups can appear if you are not online, and are designed to mimic IE in appearance, but, and I may be wrong here, techies feel free to correct me, they aren't actually using IE.

I know that there are some versions of these freeware programs (like the recently shut down Kazaa Lite) that are spyware free, and some of these software offer a version that you can purchase that is spyware free. Hope this helps.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. You might be getting Windows Messaging spam.

Which is unrelated to a browser.

[qb]

2. Google has an IE add-on that works well

http://toolbar.google.com/

[bowens43]

3. The google tool bar works great!!

Not only does it give you the google search box right on the Iexplorer tool bar, it also provides an excellent pop-up blocker that allows you with a single click to determine whether or not you will accept pop-ups from a particular page. It's free.

http://toolbar.google.com/

[tridim]

5. I use adsgone

www.adsgone.com

I haven't had a popup for months.

[Atlant]

8. Mozilla (and, on a Mac, also Safari) (NT)

IE is just a disaster waiting to strike your system.

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

11. Adsgone

Have fun getting Adsgone off your computer!

[frylock]

12. norton internet security has a pop-up blocking feature..

that works great for me. The only time I ever had any problems was when I installed the Opera browser. There must have been some sort of conflict, because I was getting killed with pop-ups immediately after installing it, regardless of the multitude of configurations I tried. The pop-ups didn't go away after uninstalling Opera either. I had to resort to a full system restore to a date prior to the Opera install. Also, download Ad-Aware from Lavasoft, and do a deep scan of the registry. It will get rid of all that nasty spyware that may be residing on your system.

[LynneSin]

13. Opera Browser

You can set it that you'll only receive pop-up boxes that you request (ie your yahoo address book and the DU smilie box are considered popup boxes). And it's a better browser than any of them out there.

Opera is shareware, if you do not buy the account you will have a small banner on the upper right hand side of your browser (they advertised anti-bush playing cards one time). That banner ad does not interfere with your surfing.

I love Opera!

[papau]

14. Proximotron - used for serveral years - and now Techtv.com recommends

Good luck