Popup blocking software

Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited August 2003 in Nerdery
My dad is looking for a piece of software that will block popup ads, and he asked me which one is the best. I have no idea, so I told him I'd ask you guys... Any suggestions?

Comments

  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2003
    Free Surfer mk II is my current favorite. I have used several of them over the past few years, Free Surfer seems to have the right balance between stopping the ads and allowing the windows you want. It has some customizable features, and it's free.


    Prof
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Also, Opera can block ads in ways you tell it to, and will let you block for one site but not others. The folks designing Opera taught it some rules on how to define a legit window, and you can vary them some from site to site

    I also block things that call home and tell a site I am online and then it feeds me ads, things that are third party often get blocked in Opera. On Windows I use Ad-Aware 6.0. The German software engineers thathelped develop it are now distributing it from Germany more than from a net of interantional sites, but it catches things that US ad blockers miss and can pull registry entries stuck in by adware (some adware acts like trojans designed to get ads fed rather than as a pure box takeover for DDOS attacks, and Ad-Aware gets def updates of new ones).

    There is no one single best way, as trojan-like processes can beget ad windows, cookies from ad sites can feed ad windows, and new ways using distributed computing can feed ads. On older Windows I turn off as much of Microsoft Agent as I can as way too many folks study ways to use it to find ways to send ads. That is not easy.

    So, I use a combo of: Opera or Mozilla or Netscape 7, plus Ad-Aware, plus scanning by software that detects viruses and trojans and trojan-like things, plus SpyBot S&D.
  • NecropolisNecropolis Hawarden, Wales Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I recommend Popup Stopper Pro, Yes you have to pay for it but I have not had any problems with Popups since I installed it.

    http://www.panicware.com/popupstopper.html
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I've had better luck with integrated pop-up blockers that come with stuff like MyIE2, Firebird, etc. They're free.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Crazy Browser, most amazing thing evar!
  • AranyicAranyic Casstown, OH Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I'd like to throw in another voice for FreeSurfer MK. I use it on all my computers and love it.
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited August 2003
    if you dont have a problem switching browsers to accomplish the goal, go to mozilla firebird. the integrated blockers work, and its faster than IE anyway
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    Unfortunately, AOL is the only option...
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited August 2003
    i thought AOL came with integrated pop-up blockers? i guess you're saying they're being classic AOL and it just doesn't work?
  • hoojhooj Bournemouth, UK
    edited August 2003
    I use Zero PopUp, its only a small dll that integrates itself with Internet Explorer. It uses hardly any resources and works perfectly.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    The Baron; I dunno whether it does or not; and yes, if it does, I'm sure it is another one of AOL's non-functional "features". Although, it may be because he's stuck with AOL 7.0... He's using AOL satellite broadband, and they stopped supporting that after AOL 7...
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    My grandmother has AOL on her systems and you can use a browser other than the AOL browser.

    Mozilla/Firebird is probably your best bet as far as features and security.

    Many people like Opera too, but I've never liked Opera's UI, and the "blazing speeds" of Opera must only be apparent when on an extremely slow machine because I've never noticed Opera being noticeably faster, even on a 200MHz box.

    However, use what you like best and are most comfortable with. Even if you use an IE browser, the worst that can happen is a complete reformat of your hard drive. :D
    Geeky1 said
    Unfortunately, AOL is the only option...
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited August 2003
    But, you see... my Dad wants to use AOL...

    I know, I know. I don't get it either. Especially not when the guy manages my grandparents business' network for a living and knows as much about computers as I do, but whatever...
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2003
    AOL is what it is. When I built my dad (now in his seventies) his first computer three years ago I set up AOL's "free trial" for him as an easy way to let him mess around on the Internet. He really needed something easy to use. When broadband became available in his area it was hard to get him to drop it.

    I don't get it, either, but it often is the case that people are happier with the "familiar", even if they know that something better is out there. To each his own. ;)


    Prof
    (When do I get mine?) :vimp:
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    Perhaps he doesn't know as much about computers . . .
    Geeky1 said
    I know, I know. I don't get it either. Especially not when the guy manages my grandparents business' network for a living and knows as much about computers as I do, but whatever...
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