Which Pop-Up Blocker To Use???
 

Hi all,

Just wondering which pop-up blocker out there is the best. I have seen so many that I am confused which to get. I am getting very annoyed with these pop-ups I get from many webpages. So please advise. Thanks

G_Lock

I used this one for a long time before I switched to Mozilla, which has built-in blocking, among other niceties:

http://www.panicware.com/product_psfree.html

I use a combination of ZoneAlarm Pro, the Google toolbar, and the HOSTS file trick. ZoneAlarm knocks down most everything, and controls cookies pretty well too.

The Google toolbar has blocked a few things in the week or so that I've used it.

The HOSTS file trick is a great back up. It won't stop a pop-up window, but no content is downloaded. This is also true for banners and other ads that appear in your browser's window.

The HOSTS File Trick
On a windows machine a HOSTS file is located in
{system root}\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
Windows will look for an IP address for a requested site before checking the internet. This is instantaneous to the user, and is basically no longer used due to today's networking technology. By putting false entries into this file you can make webpages requesting info from ad sites look for the site they need on your computer.

A false entry looks like this.
127.0.0.1 www.doubleclick.net

The web page will look for an ad to download on the local host PC (your PC -- 127.0.0.1). Since the ad info isn't on your machine nothing is downloaded.

The HOSTS file can be opened and edited with Notepad or any other text editor, but it does not have a file extension (like .txt).

Several websites provide and maintain HOSTS file entries that you can use. Just copy the entries into your HOSTS file and begins working immediately. Try these
Click Here for Links

Further HOSTS info.

This trick can be used on other operating systems, but you'll have to find the hosts file. Search for help on the subject.

Here's a great link on the subject for all OSes.
http://www.safersite.com/Support/How..._Block_Ads.asp

Mozilla (and Firebird) has a built-in popup blocker, as well as a bunch of other nifty features.

http://www.mozilla.org

(I swear.. half of these threads just end up being ads for Mozilla and it's children)

Thank you all for the replies. First, lets just assume that I don't really plan on installing Mozilla or another browser. So that leaves me with two choices, either a software popup blocker or the hosts file method. I have heard of the hosts file before, and used it a long time ago, but it seemed to cause problems in my everyday browsing. Like certain features on certain sites would not load/work correctly. Just one main example that I can remember is that on espn.com using the scoreboard for say NFL or any other sport, I could not use the auto-refresh page. Like if I choose 30-seconds, which means it is suppose to reload the page automatically every 30 seconds, would not work, etc. I am just curious for those of you out there using the hosts file method, if you have many problems such as mine while browsing the internet.

Finally, if I decide against the hosts file idea, I would still like to get the best software popup blocker available, so keep the opinions coming :) Thanks.

G_Lock

Try the google toolbar, would seem to solve your problems. I have used proximentron, pop-up blocker, several others, but google seems to work better than the rest, plus it's got a few other nifty features.

Avant Browser with the Google toolbar installed. Gets 97% a few still sneak through, but so far no xupiters or other annoying hi jackers.

I've used AnalogX's in the past. I think it's called POW!. Very nice, worked well.

http://www.analogx.com

I still don't understand why users are scared of Mozilla or Opera.

I'm not attacking you personally G_Lock. Your comment is similar to many others made here and in other forums.

The Mozilla and Opera browsers have built-in pop-up stoppers, offer tabbed browsing and are a thinner install, therefore move faster. While true in the past they did not offer some plug-in supports, they do now.

Trust us geeks who continuosly plug Mozilla and join the dark side. :crazy:

Leave Micro$oft and all of it's broken code behind. You'll thank us later. :D

I recently got one called Popup Popper and it seems to work fairly well. I'm not sure on a link because a friend sent it to me. It has a small footprint so I dont even notice it running.

I love this one...free and selective.
Only blocks what you want
and easy to use.

Very unobtrusive.

I use free surfer mk2 . It works ok and it is free. sorry I don't remember were I downloaded it but a good place to look is www.download.com or do a search on www.google.com

Dont. Just move to a better browser (such as Mozilla, Opera, or Mozilla Firebird). All of these block pop-ups, and better than any third party software I have seen.

If you are still getting popups, for example when you arent browsing, it is likely some spyware on your machine. Download AdAware (<a href="http://www.lavasoft.de">LINK</a>) and run it, it will clean that up.

i use popup ad filter by meaya software. i've tried almost every blocker i've come across and it does the best job in my experience. the only problem is when explorer.exe crashes once in awhile it renders the blocker completely useless, have to restart the machine to run it again.

I find the best one is the one included with Norton Internet Security....

Never had a need for anything else since.
:)

You will eventually succumb to the peer pressure, try it once, and realize we are right. C'mon, the first one is free (...and so is every successive version as well).

Mozilla Firebird, live it.

Proxomitron kicks ass.

It is 100% free and has a huge following.

It is fully configurable and has many different "configs" available.

It not only blocks pop-ups, but it also prevents adverts being displayed on the main page, reducing the amount of annoying flashing graphics you download (and therefore it makes your surfing faster).

It can kill rogue ASP, CGI pages.

It can kill embedded video etc.

Actually, the list of things it can do is too long to list here. Suffice it to say that it can let you block, change, modify ANYTHING your browser does or downloads.

You can set it up to bypass certain websites or even pages, if you do want to see all the pop-ups; internet banking for example.

Did I mention it was 100% free?

It is simply the best application I have ever used on my computer.

Check it out at http://www.proxomitron.info/

Mr Mephisto

PS - It's 100% free! :)

The Google Toolbar has helped me quite a bit, has some nice features. I'd recommend that, but I'm sure there's better.

Wow thanks for all the replies. First, the one thing I have noticed is that there seems to be no clear winner. So far I have seen many different suggestions, but not really one specific.

I actually tried Mozilla before on another computer, but I ran into trouble on certain webpages that I use a lot. They would not load and run properly. Therefore for now I am still staying away from it.

So how much is it??? Hehe j/k
Well I looked at the webpage, but it seems complicated. I am not sure exactly how to use it. I take pretty good care of my computer, and I run Lavasoft's adaware frequently, so its not like I am bombarted with popups, but I just wanted something "quite" to sit there and just stop the webpage popups.

I am considering the Google Toolbar since it has gotten a couple of votes here, but I really didn't want anything more taking up part of the browser screen. But I may just have to.

I guess keep the suggestions coming. I am going to look into all the ones recomended above, and hopefully I will find one to use. Thanks.

G_Lock

How long ago was that? Firebird has come a long way in the last few months. It is very rare that I find a poorly coded webpage that requires IE.

It was probably about 5-6 months ago.

Well, Firebird 0.7 should be released any day now. Keep an eye out for announcements at places such as Slashdot.

Google toolbar ver 2.0 makes me happy.

nothing new from me, just more votes for mozilla firebird, and/or the google toolbar and the panicware popup blocker

I use one called AdKiller. Excellent program that comes with pre-defined pop-ups and you can ad new ones that aren't on the list. Pretty cool sound effect of an explosion every time a pop-up is killed. You can download it from:

http://www.buypin.com