Protect your computer from Internet popups
 Internet Popups occur when you are out “surfing” the web, and suddenly a new browser window (or four) will pop up, generally with some form of advertisement. Think of these as Internet Commercials (of course, they are no less annoying than T.V. commercials). The good news is that you can actually do something to prevent the vast majority of internet popups from reaching your screen.
One thing to keep in mind is that some popups are legitimate and necessary for performing the intended functionality of a particular webpage (checking your CC email, for example, requires a “pop up” for you to log in). Most good popup blockers generally know which to block, but you may occasionally run across an instance where it blocks something you don’t wish it to. In this case, you can hold down the “Control” key while clicking a link to allow popups.
Here are a few different options the Help Desk recommends to help you be rid of pop-ups for good:
* Please note that the Google Toolbar and Mozilla Firefox are 3rd party applications that you install and use at your own risk *
* Please note that Windows XP Service Pack 3 has been known to break compatibility with older software - install at your own risk *
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The Google Toolbar |
There are many popup blockers out there, but the Help Desk recommends the Google Toolbar (for Internet Explorer) as the best one we’ve found (and it allows you easier access to a google search as a bonus!) To install, simply click the link to the left and follow the simple directions - it takes less than 2 minutes. |
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Scan for Spyware |
Many popups actually don’t come from the Internet at all but from spyware installed on your own computer! Scanning for and removing Spyware can often solve all your pop-up problems. |
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If you use Windows XP and have not done so already, we recommend upgrading your computer to Service Pack 3 (an update containing a lot of features to increase security on Windows computers, including a robust firewall and built-in pop-up blocking for Internet Explorer). How do I know which version of Windows I have? |
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Mozilla Firefox (3.0) |
For advanced users, we recommend using Mozilla’s open source browser “Firefox” instead of Internet Explorer. The browser has a lot of nice features, including built in pop-up blocking that is extremely effective.
(Please note that Firefox may not display all web pages correctly - you may still need to use Internet Explorer to view certain websites.) |
Last Updated 07/07/08
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