How to Stop Pop Up Ads

Pop-up ads are among the most prevalent forms of advertising used, even though many users dislike them. If you're looking to eliminate pop-up ads from your surfing experience, follow this guide for the best way to do so.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer Browser

How to Stop Pop-Up Ads

1. Block pop-ups in Internet Explorer. First open your Internet Explorer browser and click on Tools in the upper section of the top bar. When this expands, click on the section labeled "Options" and navigate to the "Privacy" tab. Under this tab you'll see a line which reads "Block Pop Up Ads." Click the square next to this line of text and a check mark should appear in the box. Click "Apply" and you will have set your IE browser to block these annoying ads.

2. Block pop-ups in Mozilla Firefox. Many users choose to use Firefox for its increased security and ease of use. It also features a setting to block pop-up ads which might be a little better than Internet Explorer's option. To activate this setting, open your Firefox browser and click on the "Tools" tab at the top of the screen. Click on "Options" and navigate to the "Content" tab. "Block Pop Up Windows" is the first option in the tab. Click the check box next to this option.

3. Download the Google Toolbar. Though many Web surfers prefer to use the Internet without a toolbar due to clutter, the Google version is actually a nice thing to have. It comes complete with a pop-up blocker, and it allows you to search the Google engine from any page.

4. Download a third-party blocker. There are quite a few free pop-up blockers available for download. Be careful when downloading any third-party toolbars or blockers, however, as some are rife with spyware and will cause you many more problems than they solve. Some of the more reputable, trustworthy blockers include PanicWare Pop Up Stopper and Smasher. Some antivirus programs come with a built in pop-up blocker as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Blocking pop ups is important not only for convenience's sake, but for security: many pop ups carry spyware that can infect your computer.

References

• Blocking Pop Ups
• Smart Computing Article on Pop Up Ads