# is there anything I can do to stop pop-ups?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 2, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351 "2004-01-02T19:59:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/1 "2004-01-02T19:59:31Z")
In Internet Explorer? I want to stop pop-ups and also annoying adverts that appear every so often
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/2 "2004-01-02T20:13:09Z")
The google toolbar does a pretty good job for me.
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### Author:  [@SJSB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SJSB)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/3 "2004-01-02T20:21:53Z")
There is something that you could get called “pop-up stopper”. It’s some kind of program that works frigging wonders on my PC. I can’t remember how I got hold of it, though.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/4 "2004-01-02T20:27:14Z")
Get Norton Internet Security 2003. Kazaa has it. Then don’t forget to turn on the feature “Pop Up Blocker”.
If it misses one, you can add it and it will never come out again.
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### Author:  [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/5 "2004-01-02T20:49:30Z")
I second Google tool bar.
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### Author:  [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/6 "2004-01-02T21:55:54Z")
Go to [THIS](http://www.safer-networking.org/) site for spybot S&D, it’s worked wonders so far, and is free, and will not cause the same problems that Google sometimes does.
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### Author:  [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/7 "2004-01-02T22:03:47Z")
I third the Google toolbar, I’ve had no problems with it.
Spybot will only get rid of pop-ups originating from spyware already on your computer, it won’t do diddly for normal web-site generated pop-ups.
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### Author:  [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/8 "2004-01-02T22:09:19Z")
Try [Mozilla Firebird](http://seb.mozdev.org/firebird). It’s free, runs fine with Windows, includes a good pop-up blocker and offers effective cookie management. I began using it last month and have not touched IE since.
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### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/9 "2004-01-02T22:37:28Z")
You can disable practially all popups by going disabling Active Scripting in IE (Tools-\>Internet Options-\>Security-\>Custom Level). That disables JavaScript which is what almost all popups use.
Some pages need JavaScript to work correctly. In that case, you’ll have to re-enable Active Scripting and refresh the page.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/10 "2004-01-02T23:05:15Z")
I say the best trick is the windows host file.
Download a windows host file with a listing of all those annoying domains, and they will automatically be blocked. There are host files available for download with literally thousands of domains (doubleclick, gator, orbitz, etc.) that send those obnoxious ads.
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### Author:  [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/11 "2004-01-02T23:11:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Red Matrix \*
> \*\*Get Norton Internet Security 2003. Kazaa has it. \*\*
That might be illegal. Especially if NIS 2003 requires a license.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/12 "2004-01-02T23:38:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Red Matrix \*
> \*\*Get Norton Internet Security 2003. Kazaa has it. Then don’t forget to turn on the feature “Pop Up Blocker”.
>
> If it misses one, you can add it and it will never come out again. \*\*
Why, because pop-ups are so much worse than stealing? :rolleyes:
Bad suggestion-do _not_ bring it up again.
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### Author:  [@wendyrules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendyrules)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/13 "2004-01-02T23:41:53Z")
I downloaded a free programme called “Pop-Up Stopper” and it works really well. I suggest you give it a try.
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### Author:  [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/14 "2004-01-03T00:26:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Murcielago \*
> \*\*Try [Mozilla Firebird](http://seb.mozdev.org/firebird). It’s free, runs fine with Windows, includes a good pop-up blocker and offers effective cookie management. I began using it last month and have not touched IE since. \*\*
I second that emotion. I’ve been using Firebird for a few weeks and I’ll never go back to IE.
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### Author:  [@\_possum\_stalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_possum_stalker)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/15 "2004-01-03T00:31:49Z")
I’m an [Opera](http://www.opera.com/) man m’self.
I’m sure I’ll use IE again when I’m roasting in the fires of hell, however.
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### Author:  [@Druss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Druss)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/16 "2004-01-03T03:48:58Z")
Pop-up stopper is found [here](http://www.panicware.com/product_psfree.html). Works very well, although I am also using the google toolbar.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/17 "2004-01-03T04:13:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory \*
> \*\*That might be illegal. Especially if NIS 2003 requires a license. \*\*
That’s right – my bad. You should get the 15 day trial version straight from Symantec. [Here is the link](http://nct.symantecstore.com/fulfill/0001.109)
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/18 "2004-01-03T04:23:35Z")
I use the Google toolbar, and not only does it work it provides additional functionality unlike all the others.
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### Author:  [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-stop-pop-ups/222351/19 "2004-01-03T04:29:50Z")
I’ve tried several things and find myself in love with my new [proxified](http://www.sankey.ws/proxomitron.html) IE. So sweet.