Intranet Journal
The online resource for intranet professionals

Blocking Pop-Up Ads

Lotus Software: Free Trial Downloads Click here for links to free trial software downloads for IBM Lotus Notes, IBM Lotus Domino, IBM Lotus Domino Designer, IBM Lotus Component Designer, IBM Lotus Domino Access for Microsoft Outlook, and IBM Lotus Enterprise Integrator. Try the products for 60 or 90 days. » Migration Success Stories: Why Companies Choose Lotus Notes and Domino For big and small companies alike, effective collaboration is central to organizational success. Read on to learn about how IBM customers from an array of industries have benefited from migrating to Lotus Notes and Domino software. » Business on the Rise Video: See how small and medium-sized businesses can use collaboration technology to connect with customers and prospects and increase productivity from the inside out. » Innovations with Collaboration Podcast: IBM Lotus software offers a compelling portfolio that is based on open, integrated and secure solutions. With Web 2.0 technologies, integrated social software, team collaboration tools, instant messaging capabilities and much more, Lotus software is designed to increase your company's collective IQ. » Demo: IBM WebSphere Portal Express 6.1 Learn how IBM WebSphere Portal software helps businesses run more efficiently by consolidating access to information, applications, and people in a single view. »

Inside Spyware Introduction Trojans Spyware Adware Viruses Spyware Symptoms Computer Behavior Offline Spyware Symptoms Pop-Up Advertisements & Adware Identifying Spyware Malicious or Annoying? Researching Spyware Locating Pestware Pestware Removal Spyware Scanning Software Other Pestware Removal Options Preventing Spyware and Adware Safe E-Mailing Safe Surfing File-Sharing Applications & Spyware Secure Browser Settings Blocking Pop-Up Ads Windows Messenger Pop-Ups ISPs and Spyware Prevention Spyware Prevention Software Secure Computing More Resources

One way to avoid the potential danger lurking behind pop-up ads is to install software that will block pop-up ads and prevent them from appearing in the first place. Many ISPs offer tools to stop pop-ups from appearing. The Mozilla and Firefox Web browsers do not allow pop-ups. Even the Google Toolbar, which we discussed earlier, will block pop-up ads.

Microsoft added pop-up blocking to its Internet Explorer browser with Windows XP Service Pack 2. The Service Pack also includes an updated Windows firewall and patches some holes exploited by hackers and worms.

Microsoft also has made instructions available on how to set Internet Explorer in Windows XP Professional to block pop-ups. You can read them here: www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/restrictedsites/stoppopups.asp

There are numerous programs that block pop-up advertisements. Before installing them, research the developer and the company to make sure they are legitimate. Also be sure to note how they effect your system. Some pop-up blockers may discourage new windows, such as instant messages being sent to you, from opening.

Click here for a list of pop-up blocking software: http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/misctools/fwpopblock.html.

Windows Messenger Pop-Ups
One form of pop-up annoying Internet users with potentially dangerous effects is spam being sent using the Windows Messaging feature in Windows XP. This is not the instant messaging software that is used by millions of computer users, but rather an administrative tool that is meant to be used by systems administrators to contact users. They look something like this:

While there are utilities that claim to stop such pop-ups, the Windows Messenger feature is relatively easy to disable. To disable the Windows Messenger in Windows XP:

In Windows XP --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools. Double-click Services. Double-click Messenger. In the Startup type list, choose Disabled. Click Stop, and then click OK.

Next Page: ISPs and Spyware Prevention
Previous Page: File-Sharing Applications and Spyware

Questions, comments, additions for the Spyware Guide? Contact editors@intranetjournal.com

Discuss adware, spyware and trojans in the Intranet Journal discussion forum.