Those annoying and un-wanted pop-ups! [Archive]

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InFinRetirement

14th Mar 2002, 14:16

I was reccommended the following piece of freeware and found it works very well to get rid of pop-ups.. .. .Go to download.com and download "Adaware 5.62".

Capt Snooze

15th Mar 2002, 06:58

There is also a small program called 'No Pops' available on most of the download sites. Also freeware. Quite effective.

Evo7

15th Mar 2002, 11:42

How do you do it IFR? I've been using Ad-Aware for a while to delete the cookies that Internet advertisers keep putting on my hard disk, but didn't realize that it could kill the adverts themselves.... .. .From the Ad-Aware FAQ. . <blockquote>quote:<hr />. .Q: What does Ad-aware do? . .. .A: Basically, Ad-aware will scan your system for known advertising parasites and lets you remove them. . .. .<snipped>. .. .In short: Ad-aware helps you to track down and get rid of advertising parasites. . .Make sure you always use the latest referencefile, which is updated regulary and can be downloaded from one of our mirrors. . .<hr /></blockquote>But it doesn't mention killing those bl**dy pop up adverts and I cannot find an option to do it. .. .FWIW, Ad-Aware 5.62, build 2.8834

siwalker66

15th Mar 2002, 12:29

Evo7, you are correct. AdAware removes spyware. It doesn't prevent pop-up ads. . .However Webwasherdoes, and its the only one I've tried that works well without disrupting browsing :. .. . <a href="http://www.webwasher.com/en/products/wwash/download.htm" target="_blank">Webwasher download site</a> . .. .And its free. . .Very effective and highly configurable - will allow you to view Pprune minus the ads, making it faster to load if you are in the sad position of relying on a dial up. When viewing a site like The Guardian newspaper, which is infested with pop ups, it makes browsing much more pleasant.. . . . [ 15 March 2002, 08:45: Message edited by: chickenhawk66 ]

Captain Sensible

16th Mar 2002, 01:33

Try "Pop-Up Stopper" from <a href="http://www.panicware.com" target="_blank">www.panicware.com</a>

Squawk 8888

17th Mar 2002, 11:05

Easiest way to stop the popups is to disable javascript. I do that anyway at pprune because for some reason most of their banner ads are buggy and hang my browser.

siwalker66

17th Mar 2002, 12:41

Squawk8888. .What else happens if you disable java script?. .In other words what else will stop working?

Groundgripper

17th Mar 2002, 21:24

I've just downloaded Webwasher and everything seems to run a bit quicker, even on my 200MHz pentium 1. I notice that I now get a message at the bottom of the page saying "Done but with errors on page". Presumably that is due to the fact that it can't load the banners, everything else seems to be OK.

BOAC

17th Mar 2002, 23:37

Chickenhawk - do you know if it would have stopped the 'galloping hooves'? Worth having just for that!!

Squawk 8888

18th Mar 2002, 00:12

Chickenhawk, disabling javascript will impact some websites but it's easy to tell when you need it. In most cases some of the features like buttons and drop-down lists won't work, but when that happens all you need to do is enable javascript and hit Reload.

siwalker66

18th Mar 2002, 03:39

BOAC:. .. .Yes it will stop the hooves!! Definitely worth a look (Ive seen all the others). It can be cofigured to exclude all animated ads or to allow them to run through one cycle and then stay static.. .. .The error on page message refers to the fact that ads, cookies, or whatever have not been displayed as the website would like.. . . . [ 17 March 2002, 23:41: Message edited by: chickenhawk66 ]

ImNot

18th Mar 2002, 04:35

I've become very sceptical of freeware since reading about spyware etc. I believe there is no such thing as a free lunch and think that if it's free their must be something in it for them. . .. .Lets say for arguements sake, does Adaware remove all spyware except their own or perhaps does Webwasher install something that collates info on you and send it to some form of data base. . .. .I've installed web washer and during the installation it has detected my default e-mail address in OE. This is one reason why I set my default e-mail address to a fictitious one. .. .I know for a fact that MS can and does detect if you are using 'backedup software'. Fortunately the software they use to obtain this info is currently ilegal to use so no prosecutions could ever be made. This may explain why you need to register XP either by post or internet for it to work beyond a certain period.. .. .Anyway, to the point...Question for you boffins out there. Am I being paranoid?

siwalker66

18th Mar 2002, 12:37

I am as sceptical about freeware as anyone, and use adaware etc to look for spyware (by the way I dont trust adaware itself much - its updates are much too infrequent for a start). My firewall indicates that Webwasher needs to connect to the internet to work - maybe the puter gurus out there can say if such a connection is in fact a prerequisite for this type of program. . .I guess there is no way of telling if Webwasher sends a DAT file of url's or whatever, or if it simply needs to connect to the web in order to intercept incoming animated gifs, ads, cookies or whatever before they appear on the screen. . .I have my internet security settings high (on IE6)and specifically block many cookies/ domains. I can see from my temp internet files/ cookies that not much is allowed on my computer. . .However, as I think you are suggesting, I guess it is possible for Webwasher to compile lists of urls visited even as it blocks the cookies/ urls etc. .Having said all that, it works very well, has no intrusive features, and I have no complaints.

Gertrude the Wombat

19th Mar 2002, 02:03

Easy way to avoid all those popups and popunders: don't visit the porn sites in the first place.

siwalker66

19th Mar 2002, 05:43

Those of us who visit sites other than porn and pprune will know that pop up ads are rather prevalent.. .Still puzzled about how IFR came to believe AdAware solved the popup problem; maybe I misunderstand the term pop up.. . . . [ 19 March 2002, 06:42: Message edited by: chickenhawk66 ]

flybhx

19th Mar 2002, 12:46

Chickenhawk,. .Adaware locates the spyware for you to delete. A lot of the pop ups are generated by these hidden files when you do use the browser. Once they're gone so do the popups. .. .It found some files last night that had set up their own virtual drive!!

Groundgripper

20th Mar 2002, 14:15

Having installed the "private use" version of Webwasher, I notice now that, whenever I start up using it, it tells me how many days worth I have used, as if it has a limited life. Has anyone else noticed this?

Ausatco

20th Mar 2002, 16:59

Yes, Gripper, I have been using Webwasher for nearly two years (I think) and I get the same message. It's harmless and is not implying a time limit for private users. Perhaps it's aimed a business users who are using the private version.. .. .You can turn off the splash screen when it starts if you want - that way you have the option of not being nagged every time you start the prog. . .. .Webwasher and Zone Alarm make a great combo, IMHO.. .. .Cheers. .. .AA

mutt

20th Mar 2002, 20:07

You could always try adsubtract pro. Not sure if they do a free version anymore, but check out <a href="http://www.adsubtract.com." target="_blank">www.adsubtract.com.</a>. .. .Surf the web that you want to surf! Block unwanted web junk, such as advertisements, popup windows, animations, music, and more. Protect your online privacy by blocking unwanted cookies and managing the many cookies already present on your computer. AdSubtract PRO also can block 'referrers' that inform each web server how you came to their site. Take control of your web experience with AdSubtract PRO. . .. .Mutt.

siwalker66

20th Mar 2002, 21:52

Groundgripper:. .. .Get into preferences and disable splash screen. . .It is not time limited.. .. .Flybhx:. .. .Did not realise that these ads could be generated by previously downloaded files. Apologies IFR. . . . [ 20 March 2002, 17:57: Message edited by: chickenhawk66 ]

BOAC

28th Mar 2002, 22:14

On my machine, WW removes the log-in/log-out option from the top bar!

siwalker66

29th Mar 2002, 23:21

If you disable webwasher briefly, log in, then re-activate webwasher you will remain logged in even if the LogIn/LogOff button is not visible.

BOAC

30th Mar 2002, 01:35

Thanks CH66, got there myself (a miracle!).. .It also has odd occasional effects on embedded JS in web pages.