# Stupid pop up ad boxes. Die! Die! Die! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 9, 2001, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492 "2001-09-09T06:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/1 "2001-09-09T06:07:43Z")
Minor (very) rant. I am so tired… so very, very, very tired of these idiot ad boxes that are popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain lately every time I click a link to practically anything. The most insanely irritating part of these little monstrosities is the little “gotcha” game they play of expanding after (out of windows trained habit) you click on their fake exit X’s at the top right of the box to close them and they launch you into the credit repair/peeping tom camera/porn portal/gambling site of the minute. Napalm them all and the boneheads who thought this nonsense up. What’s the operative marketing theory here? That after the third attempt to click these little pestilences out existence I will annoyed into trying their service out of sheer admiration at how clever they have been in thwarting my attempts to eradicate them? Sigh…Where’s a killdozer when you need one. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/2 "2001-09-09T06:12:10Z")
I don’t have the link but search for “pop-up-stopper” and you’ll find a piece of freeware that does just that- stops the popups. Works well, here at home on AOL and at the office on the network there. And you can make it play a .wav file when it fiinds and stops a popup. Mine is Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (Full Metal Jacket) screaming “what’s your name, scumbag?” b. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/3 "2001-09-09T07:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Minor (very) rant. > > I am so tired… so very, very, very tired of these idiot ad boxes that are popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain lately every time I click a link to practically anything. The most insanely irritating part of these little monstrosities is the little “gotcha” game they play of expanding after (out of windows trained habit) you click on their fake exit X’s at the top right of the box to close them and they launch you into the credit repair/peeping tom camera/porn portal/gambling site of the minute. > > Napalm them all and the boneheads who thought this nonsense up. What’s the operative marketing theory here? That after the third attempt to click these little pestilences out existence I will annoyed into trying their service out of sheer admiration at how clever they have been in thwarting my attempts to eradicate them? > > Sigh…Where’s a killdozer when you need one. \*\* Amen! I can’t wait for judgement day: “But I’ve lived a good and decent life, Lord! Why are you sending me to the lake of fire?”☹ GOD: **GOOD & DECENT LIFE MY HOLY ASS! YOU INVENTED POP UP ADS! BURN IN HELL WITH THE TELEMARKETERS, ASSHOLE!!!** I hate pop up ads! And it pisses me off that I have to adjust my browser or download protection software to avoid them! Pop up ads are getting to be a dime a dozen. I’m looking for the guy supplying the dimes!:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/4 "2001-09-09T07:05:24Z")
Another thing you can do is set your browser settings on “Disable” for “Active Scripting”. The drawback of that solution is that once in a while, you actually need active scripting for a useful website, so you have to go and switch back to “Enable”. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/5 "2001-09-09T13:55:56Z")
I disabled active scripting on mine (actually set it up to ask for each webpage that has active scripting) It can be a bit irritating, but for those sites that need scripting, and don’t have popups, you can set them up as “trusted” and never be asked again. So far, it’s working like a charm. What really got me was one time, I visited a porn site, and the active script did all sorts of stuff to my browser, not just popups but it changed my homepage, and added tons of bookmarks to the most disgusting sites. Screw that, I can’t believe that IE makes that the default setting too! ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/6 "2001-09-09T13:56:30Z")
Better still, **Philosophocles** , is to set active scripting to prompt instead of disable. Then, whenever you run into a site that wants to execute a script, you’ll be asked what you’d like to have happen. Ninety percent of the time, I refuse to allow the script to run. Sometimes, when I know the site’s safe, I go ahead and allow it. If you ask me, I think it’s pretty sad the state of affairs with this shit. How many people get turned off from the internet and all it has to offer from horseshit ploys like these\> What their motives are in trying to piss people off, or completely scare the shit out of them by overloading or taking over their system, is completely beyond me. Frankly, I really wonder who the hell is buying into their tactics… and I fear I’ll be stuck in a conversation with one of these rubes at the next function I go to. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/7 "2001-09-09T15:44:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheesesteak \* > \*\*I disabled active scripting on mine (actually set it up to ask for each webpage that has active scripting) It can be a bit irritating, but for those sites that need scripting, and don’t have popups, you can set them up as “trusted” and never be asked again. So far, it’s working like a charm. > > What really got me was one time, I visited a porn site, and the active script did all sorts of stuff to my browser, not just popups but it changed my homepage, and added tons of bookmarks to the most disgusting sites. Screw that, I can’t believe that IE makes that the default setting too! \*\* This is exactly what I did. What got me was when it was not only porn sites but many other sites that felt free to change your bookmarks and home page without asking. I can’t fathom anyone thinking it’s a good idea to allow this. My normal browsing mode disables Java and active scripting. If that’s a problem with a certain site, I can add it to the trusted list, hit refresh, and problem solved. It’s slightly annoying, but far less annoying than pop-up windows and redirects. I never see X10 ads or anything else like that. It is sweet. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/8 "2001-09-09T15:51:30Z")
check out [Web Washer](http://www.webwasher.com/en/products/wwash/download.htm)…it’s for Wintel, Mac and Linux ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/9 "2001-09-09T16:12:43Z")
Stupid question: How do I disable active scripting? I went through the “internet options” menu and couldn’t find anything. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/10 "2001-09-09T16:31:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\*Stupid question: How do I disable active scripting? I went through the “internet options” menu and couldn’t find anything. \*\* Tools -\> Internet Options -\> Security -\> Custom Level. Scrooll down and you should see active scripting. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/11 "2001-09-09T16:37:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > > \*\*Stupid question: How do I disable active scripting? I went through the “internet options” menu and couldn’t find anything. \*\* > > Tools -\> Internet Options -\> Security -\> Custom Level. Scrooll down and you should see active scripting. \*\* Thanks so much. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/12 "2001-09-09T17:17:21Z")
Question: What the hell is “about Blank”? I’ve gotten used to killing pop-up windows (I’m like a cowboy at high noon --Zap! Die! Bang!) but about Blank will not go away. POW won’t kill it and closing it causes another about Blank window to appear. I have resorted to shutting down my computer once that fucker gets started. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/13 "2001-09-09T17:37:14Z")
I know what you’re talking about. I can sometimes get rid of it by Alt+Ctrl+Delete and closing just that window. Other times I have to reboot. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/14 "2001-09-09T18:14:04Z")
the ones I hate are the invisible pop up ad generators. They come in as a window at the bottom of your screen and, every thirty seconds or so, give birth to a new screen for your viewing pleasure. You can’t actually close it by normal means either. The only way to do it, if you even notice it in the toolbar, is to right click on it and select “close.” ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/15 "2001-09-09T18:19:08Z")
Another thing to try, if you’re on Windows, is a hosts. file. Here’s mine: [http://www.geocities.com/dlartigue/HOSTS.txt](http://www.geocities.com/dlartigue/HOSTS.txt) Simply copy this file into C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\etc\ as hosts (no extension). Restart IE and bam, Windows will not be able to find anything coming from these ad sites. You’ll get a lot of broken image links on pages loading ads, and you will still get popup windows, but a lot of stuff will be hurt. It’s especially good for taking out prank links like goatse.cx and comp-u-geek. (If you don’t know what those are, don’t go looking for them if you’re at work.) The disabling java/active scripting is the best though. That is a godsend. You’d be surprised at how few sites NEED java. It has made porn-browsing SO much easier. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/16 "2001-09-09T23:43:55Z")
In Windows 9X, the Hosts file is located in folder x:\Windows. Another way to redirect pop-ups is to look at the site’s url (right click properties). Go to your Hosts file, and make that site (as long as it is not in the four number-three period format) point to **127.0.0.1**. Save the file, then clean your cache and history. When the browser looks for the Dns of the site next time, it assumes that the pop-up url comes from your own computer and will stop searching. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/17 "2001-09-10T00:36:30Z")
Has anyone considered organizing a boycott of sites that permit the obnoxious types of pop-ups? ---
**Author:** ![dentarthurdent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@dentarthurdent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dentarthurdent)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/18 "2001-09-10T02:39:35Z")
Being a web applications developer, I assure you that this type of stuff is done by hacks with no consideration for the user experience. It’s a numbers game, just like mass emailings. At my company, user experience is everything. There are times when popup windows are the best solution for a valid User Interface problem. For example, when a user is involved in a linear process(say registering for a site or buying something) how do you provide a sub-process or ancillary information without disrupting the flow of the main process? The answer, use a daughter window. The unfortunate problem is that these obnioxious ad boxes have made people so furious that they either disable scripting, install a popup killer, or automatically kill any popup that comes up. This makes our job much harder and it lessens the quality of the user experience. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/19 "2001-09-10T13:35:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dentarthurdent \* > \*\*Being a web applications developer, I assure you that this type of stuff is done by hacks with no consideration for the user experience. It’s a numbers game, just like mass emailings. > > At my company, user experience is everything. There are times when popup windows are the best solution for a valid User Interface problem. For example, when a user is involved in a linear process(say registering for a site or buying something) how do you provide a sub-process or ancillary information without disrupting the flow of the main process? The answer, use a daughter window. > > The unfortunate problem is that these obnioxious ad boxes have made people so furious that they either disable scripting, install a popup killer, or automatically kill any popup that comes up. This makes our job much harder and it lessens the quality of the user experience. \*\* On the other hand, although I disable active scripting and java, if I’m on a legitimate site that is trying to do it, I can add that url to my trusted sites list, refresh, and I’m back in business. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pop-up-ad-boxes-die-die-die/80492/20 "2001-09-11T00:29:46Z")
[http://www.adsubtract.com](http://www.adsubtract.com) As a bonus, kills cookies dead!