# Porn Pop-Ups --- How do I stop them **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 12, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008 "2003-10-12T16:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Madawc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Madawc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madawc)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/21 "2003-10-12T20:50:32Z")
I had the exact same problem, but it wasn’t the pop-ups, it was the resetting of the homepage to something like [out-true.counter.com](http://out-true.counter.com) redirecting to some place called [globefinder.com](http://globefinder.com). It totally pissed me off and slowed down Internet capabilities, such as typing, scrolling and copy/pasting. What I used was Cool Web Shredder. found at [http://www.spychecker.com/program/cwshredder.html](http://www.spychecker.com/program/cwshredder.html) It got rid of the hijacker program that reset the homepage and gives some details in how not to get re-infected so to speak after you finish using the program. [http://www.ntfaq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=38206](http://www.ntfaq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=38206) this is one option of help, there are 2 others that tell you to download the latest patch for windows and another method I didn’t use. It helped me, I hope it can help you too. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/22 "2003-10-12T21:07:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phage \* > \*\*[http://www.opera.com/](http://www.opera.com/) > > I don’t see why anyone uses anything else. \*\* > **[Internet for people, not profit](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/)** > > Mozilla is the not-for-profit behind the lightning fast Firefox browser. We put people over profit to give everyone more power online. It also has built in pop-up blocking and tabbed browsing, and it doesn’t have an annoying banner bar like the free version of Opera. Also, Firebird windows seem to open up faster on my machine. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/23 "2003-10-12T21:19:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oktberfest \* > \*\*How do I install a firewall? \*\* Go to Zone Labs and get [Zone Alarm](http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=zadb_zadown). Very good free personal firewall. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/24 "2003-10-12T21:20:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Go to Zone Labs and get [Zone Alarm](http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=zadb_zadown). Very good free personal firewall. \*\* You mean like I said two hours ago? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/25 "2003-10-12T21:53:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DreadCthulhu \* > \*\*[www.mozilla.org](http://www.mozilla.org) > > It also has built in pop-up blocking and tabbed browsing, and it doesn’t have an annoying banner bar like the free version of Opera. Also, Firebird windows seem to open up faster on my machine. \*\* One more vote for [Mozilla Firebird](http://texturizer.net/firebird). Firebird is a lightweight, just-the-facts-ma’am, no-unnecessary-bloatware browser built off the Mozilla codebase. Popup blocking is installed by default. Tabbed browsing is excellent. They have an extension that _blocks Flash_, replacing any annoying Flash applet with a grey box saying “click here to see Flash” Perhaps my favorite feature is that I can right-click on any image and say “block images from this server” – bye-bye, Doubleclick. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/26 "2003-10-12T22:00:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*And a second here for the Google toolbar. 565 popups blocked since I installed it! \*\* Ive had the google toolbar for a long time now. Does it automatically block pop-ups or is it an added plug-in thingy? Also: How do pop-up blockers distinguish between annoying pop ups and those that are part of many sites that use them legitmately to fill out a form, etc… ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/27 "2003-10-13T01:11:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*Also: How do pop-up blockers distinguish between annoying pop ups and those that are part of many sites that use them legitmately to fill out a form, etc… \*\* Well, I’ve been using LavaSoft’s AdSubtract for a while and you can configure it to allow pop-up windows on sites that you select. Just one click on the control panel. Or you can manually set which sites are allowed to have pop-ups. Kind of a hassle, but worth it for sites that you visit regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/28 "2003-10-13T03:18:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Early Out \* > \*\*You mean like I said two hours ago? \*\* **Oktberfest** evidently couldn’t find the free download page. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/29 "2003-10-13T03:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*Ive had the google toolbar for a long time now. Does it automatically block pop-ups or is it an added plug-in thingy? > > Also: How do pop-up blockers distinguish between annoying pop ups and those that are part of many sites that use them legitmately to fill out a form, etc… \*\* For quite a long time I was using Pop-Up Stopper from Panicware. That tool had a fairly aggressive approach to blocking popups, but you could always override it by holding down the control key when clicking. I am pleased with the Google toolbar’s effectiveness – it _does_ seem to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff fairly well. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/30 "2003-10-13T05:03:58Z")
Oh man, it appears I haven’t checked the functionality on the Google tool bar for a while. I’m already obsessed with watching the pop up block count and Google Zeitgeist has to be the coolest thing ever. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/31 "2003-10-13T17:43:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Herge \* > **Last time I checked, Windows Update was there for downloading upgrades and security improvments to IE. I don’t know what your definition of “not supported” is, but that doesn’t seem to be it.** I don’t think MS could get away with dropping support for older browsers: the security problems would be even worse than they are at he moment. I think he’s referring to MS’s announcement that no new versions of IE will be available for download: if you want the newest version you must upgrade your OS. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/32 "2003-10-13T19:43:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minor7flat5 \* > \*\*One more vote for [Mozilla Firebird](http://texturizer.net/firebird). > > Firebird is a lightweight, just-the-facts-ma’am, no-unnecessary-bloatware browser built off the Mozilla codebase. Popup blocking is installed by default. Tabbed browsing is excellent. They have an extension that _blocks Flash_, replacing any annoying Flash applet with a grey box saying “click here to see Flash” > > Perhaps my favorite feature is that I can right-click on any image and say “block images from this server” – bye-bye, Doubleclick. \*\* I looked into this and it looks interesting. What exactly makes a browser fast? What does IE have that might make it slower?Also, what are the differences between their standard browser and firebird? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/33 "2003-10-13T20:25:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minor7flat5 \* > For quite a long time I was using Pop-Up Stopper from Panicware. That tool had a fairly aggressive approach to blocking popups, but you could always override it by holding down the control key when clicking. I am pleased with the Google toolbar’s effectiveness – it _does_ seem to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff fairly well. You can do the same thing with the Google toolbar, just FYI - hold down the Ctrl key and click a link that you need to launch a popup, and it’ll allow that one to launch. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/34 "2003-10-13T21:28:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* \*What exactly makes a browser fast? \* Good coding & good (minimal) design. _What does IE have that might make it slower?_ Mediocre coding & poor design (featuritis – too many options – jack of all trades, master of none). \*Also, what are the differences between their standard browser and firebird? \* Mozilla is a combo package, containing a browser, email reader, Newsgroup reader, chat room client, and html composer. Their current design plan is to split this combined package into separate (but easily linked) pieces for each function. Thus the new Firebird is _only_ a browser. Thunderbird is the new email reader piece. And the others are being worked on. This reduces the size & complexity of each piece, and generally speeds them up. And for the user, you can install only the ones you want to use and ignore the rest. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/35 "2003-10-13T22:23:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by [t-bonham@scc.net](mailto:t-bonham@scc.net) \* > _What does IE have that might make it slower?_ > Mediocre coding & poor design (featuritis – too many options – jack of all trades, master of none). > > \*\* Can you give me an example? ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/36 "2003-10-13T22:51:20Z")
Firebird allows you to add the [extensions](http://texturizer.net/firebird/extensions/) you want and ignore those you don’t want. There are about 113 extensions now. One lets you use [mouse gestures](http://optimoz.mozdev.org/gestures/defaultmappings.html) to go forward or back a page, go to your home page, reload a page, page through your tabs, among a number of other actions. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/37 "2003-10-15T12:23:41Z")
Firebird 0.7 has just been released and has a couple of [new features](http://www.mozilla.org/products/firebird/) people may be interested in. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/38 "2003-10-15T13:08:21Z")
Another vote for Firebird. Better than even Opera, which I previously used. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/39 "2003-10-15T14:32:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dylan\_73 \* > \*\*Firebird 0.7 has just been released and has a couple of [new features](http://www.mozilla.org/products/firebird/) people may be interested in. \*\* And I literally just started using 0.6.1 today and just finished dragging my links to the whatever they call it in this browser. The tabbed browsing seems worth it alone. I added the google toolbar - is there a way to FB show show the number of popups blocked because in the two days I had it activated I took a ridiculous pride in watching the numbers go up on the google toolbar for IE. When I replied to this post just now, the reply box came up half the width that it did in IE even though I have the size of the overall browser the same. Why is that? Also are the mouse gestures gimicky or do they really become effective? They remind me of the game Black and White. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008/40 "2003-10-15T15:19:01Z")
There’s “Popup count” which sounds like it does what you want. Go to Tools…Options…Extensions and Get New Extensions. Dunno why the text box is this size. I actually never really thought about it till you mentioned it. Probably you’d need to ask the SDMB admins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porn-pop-ups-how-do-i-stop-them/207008.md?page=3)