How to Remove Pop-up Ads on Internet Explorer

The concept behind pop-up advertisements was first devised by Netscape Communications, a company that developed one of the first Internet browsers (Netscape Navigator). With a simple Javascript command, an HTML page can load and display a small window containing advertisements. If you find these pop-up ads annoying, it's easy to remove and disable them in Internet Explorer.

Instructions

From the Browser

1. Open Internet Explorer and select "Tools" on the main menu. Navigate to the "Pop-up Blocker" menu item.

2. Select "Pop-up Blocker Settings" in the secondary category on the menu. This pulls up a separate dialog box where you can enable the pop-up blocker tool.

3. Select "High: Block All Pop-ups" from the drop down box under the "Filter Level" section.

4. Check "Play a Sound" if you want to hear a notification warning that tells you a website has just tried to display a pop-up message on your browser. Check "Show Information Bar" if you want to see a small message describing the blocked pop-up.

5. Click "Close" to save the settings. From now on, every time a website attempts to display a pop-up ad you won't be bothered.

From Internet Properties

1. Go to your computer's "Start" menu and click "Run."

2. Type in "inetcpl.cpl" (without the quotation marks) in the "Run" dialog box and click "OK." This will bring up internet properties for Internet Explorer.

3. Click the "Privacy" tab and check the box that says "Turn on Pop-up Blocker." If you click the "Settings" button next to that option, it will take you to the same settings dialog box described in section one.

Anti-Spyware and Anti-Adware Programs

1. Install an anti-spyware or anti-adware software program on your computer. Common programs include Spybot Search and Destroy, Malwarebytes, STOPzilla, and Spyware Doctor. If you want to eliminate the possibility of unwanted pop-ups from Internet Explorer (or any other browser) having at least one of these programs is essential.

2. Allow the anti-spyware program to run in the background whenever you are connected to the Internet and using Internet Explorer.

3. Take note of any notifications from the anti-spyware or anti-adware program while browsing regarding pop-ups or unusual behavior from Internet Explorer. The program will disable the pop-up automatically when it attempts to load because it recognizes that some pop-ups are actually spyware or adware applications.

Tips & Warnings

• The second method is compatible with systems running Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) only.

References

• 4 Degreez: History of Pop-up Ads
• Wloger: About Pop-up Ads
• Justis: Enable Pop-up Blocker
• Microsoft: Enable Pop-up Blocker

Resources

• STOPzilla: Anti-Spyware Program That Blocks Pop-Up Ads