Utilities Poll - Week 10

[profdlp]

This week's topic: Pop-Up Ad Blockers

Your input will determine which programs are chosen to bear the proud title "Short-Media Approved", so be sure to vote!

Imagine you're walking down the street and someone holding a sign jumps in your face. You can't see where you're going, and the only way to get rid of them is to shove them out of your way. Then it happens again, and again and again! Sometimes there is more than one sign-waver at a time, or you push one away and he keeps coming back. Under those conditions you might just give up on getting where you're going and head back home. Welcome to a typical day on the Internet.

You don't have to live with it, you know. There are ways to eliminate, or at least reduce, the onslaught of ads.

What's your favorite way to block pop-up ads?

Please add your comments and opinions in this thread! Once this project is complete there will be an article written detailing the "S-M Approved" utilities. Knowing "what" you prefer would be great. Knowing "why" you prefer it would be even better.

I will attempt to modify the poll if one of the "Other" votes gets way more votes than one I've already listed.

Thanks for the great response last week (http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3760). The member's choice was pretty clear. Your vote matters - all comments and all software receiving votes will be mentioned when the Short-Media Approved Utilities list is published.

Coming Soon - Part I of the Short-Media Approved Utilities list!

PS - Thanks, shwaip, for suggesting this weeks topic. :)

[Nixxer]

Meh stupid me read thing wrong.

I use the built-in pop-up blocker in Firebird, and Zone Alarm Pro stops some ads too.

[Armo]

google tool bar works really well, although it could always be better :)

[muddocktor]

I voted the google toolbar, for when I'm using IE. It works OK and the price was right --- free.:)

[RWB]

I use the built in one in MyIE2, it has yet to fail me, or annoy me, or to use an icon in my system tray, or anything like that. It's better than any other I Have ever used simply becuase it works and I don't have to do or see squat in the process.

[profdlp]

Nixxer said
I chose "Other" because I use AdAware.
Does AdAware stop pop-ups? I know they're great on spyware - is that in the "Pro" version, or is it new?

[shwaip]

I use the google toolbar, seems to work nicely.

[Mt_Goat]

profdlp said
Nixxer said
I chose "Other" because I use AdAware.
Does AdAware stop pop-ups? I know they're great on spyware - is that in the "Pro" version, or is it new?
Their pop-up blocker is in "Ad Watch", which is included in the the "Plus" and "Pro" versions.

Norton Personal Firewall has a pop-up blocker that works pretty good too. Both also have ad blocking if you wish to enable it but that has been too much of a pain so far.

I am using both the Ad Aware and the one in NPF. Together they stop 99% of pop-ups. I used to use the pop-up blocker in "TweakXP" but it is too fussy and isn't really very configurable.

[Nixxer]

Im an idiot that struggles to read so I edited post.

[Mt_Goat]

Nixxer said
Im an idiot that struggles to read so I edited post.
Hey don't feel bad. I can read but often don't remember what I just read or get sidetracked. then if that's not bad enough, when I finish composing my post I close the window insted of hitting "Submit Reply" about 1/2 the time. :crazy:

[profdlp]

Nixxer said
Im an idiot that struggles to read so I edited post.

mtgoat said
Hey don't feel bad.
Seriously! Don't feel bad at all. I wrote out a long response explaining why I switched from AdAware to Spybot S&D, then realized it was totally besides the point... :doh:

Your vote & comments are noted and appreciated!

:wave:

[SimGuy]

The Windows integrated "ALT-F4" Pop-Up Closer works fine for me :)

[MERRICK]

I use POW. it's great, free and extremely small(214k).

You can backup the kill list (pow.dat). Been using it for years!



http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/pow.htm

[Spinner]

I don't really use one, but if I do, I use the one built in to Norton Internet Security.

[Enverex]

Mozilla Firebird.

NS

[Keebler]

I don't generally have a problem with pop ups, so I guess I fit in the last group.

[GHoosdum]

The only one I've ever used it PanicWare... but it does get annoying because it blocks EVERY popup, even the ones you want, unless you press CTRL while the window is trying to pop up.

[T-BirD]

Opera browser with "open requested popup windows only" checked.

[Thrax]

MyIE's integrated popup blocker is top-notch.

[TheSmJ]

I use a combo of an IE integrated blocker called AdShield (blocks anything you want, including those "Gotcha" IP sigs some of you guys have) and currently the Google Bar (for just blocking popups alone), as AdShield doesn’t have the capability of blocking only certain site's popups, although Google's doesn’t work well in this regard either, so I'm looking for something to replace the Google bar with.

Back in the day, I used Intermute. Worked in every aspect, and was all I needed for blocking both adds and popups (although I feel AdShield works better nowadays). Too bad they god bought out, and I cannot use my old (legit-purchased) key code.


If anyone has a pop-up blocker that blocks ALL popups from any site ACCEPT ones specified, PLEASE PM ME!

[profdlp]

GHoosdum had this to say
The only one I've ever used it PanicWare... but it does get annoying because it blocks EVERY popup, even the ones you want, unless you press CTRL while the window is trying to pop up.

That's why I switched from PanicWare to Free Surfer MKII (http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/Download.htm) - PanicWare's Pop-Up Stopper was killing my ESPN gamecast windows.

[fatcat]

i have nothing but praise for the ad hunter built right into myIE2...its sometimes fun to see how many ads it has blocked after my wife does some online browsing ;)

fc

[Enverex]

TheSmJ had this to say
If anyone has a pop-up blocker that blocks ALL popups from any site ACCEPT ones specified, PLEASE PM ME!

Thats how Mozilla and Firebird work. Well worth a look to be honest.

NS

[Dragstk]

I use Zone Alarm Pro and AdAware Pro, and have very little trouble with pop-ups

[TheSmJ]

NightShade737 had this to say
TheSmJ had this to say
If anyone has a pop-up blocker that blocks ALL popups from any site ACCEPT ones specified, PLEASE PM ME!

Thats how Mozilla and Firebird work. Well worth a look to be honest.

NS


Yeah... but I'd prefer to keep using IE.:ninja:

[beatz]

My popup-blocker is Mozilla. Some other "experts" also seem to like it :vimp:

[Spinner]

Okay people, your week (or more like three, he he) of voting and discussion is up. Time to move on to the next topic. Thanks to all of you for voting and posting your thoughts.

SPINNER

Week 11 can be found at the link below and the subject is 'Playoffs Part I':

Having gone through ten weeks of polling to choose the Short-Media Approved Utilities list, we have compiled a list of the "must have" programs our members rely on to keep their computers running in fine style.

Now it's time to choose the Best Of The Best!
http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6078