Help for Stopping Pop-Up Ads

Help for Stopping Pop-Up Ads

There are several possible causes of pop-up ads appearing on your computer.

1. You are visiting a web site which includes a pop-up window.

2. You have inadvertently installed software on your computer which causes pop-up windows.

3. Your computer has a virus or intrusion which is causing pop-ups.

4. Your Windows computer "messenger service" may be exploited by spammers.

5. Your computer does not have all "critical updates" installed.

In order to stop pop-ups, please consider taking the following steps to counter each of the possible causes of pop-ups.

1. Install Google's toolbar - it includes a Pop-up Blocker that stops pop-ups from web sites.

2. Remove extra programs that have been inadvertently installed from various web sites.

To do this, go to: Control Panel... Add/Remove Programs.

Examples of programs which should be removed include:
    Web Tools by Hotbar
    Web Helper
    PAD Lookup by Case
    Downloader
    Casino On Net
    SAH Agent (Shopping at Home)
    Shopping Buddy
    Clock Synch
    Save.exe
    Kill History
    Time Updater
    PowerSurge Toolbar
    iMesh
    New.net
    WebShots
    Go!Zilla
    BearShare
    Cydoor

3. Make sure that your anti-virus and firewall software is up-to-date. As of 12-1-2003, Computer Associates is giving away a free one year subscription to its anti-virus software for Windows computers, available at http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/ Other providers of anti-virus software include Symantec, McAfee, and Trend Micro. An Internet "firewall" is software which helps stop malicious intrusions (and some types of pop-ups). These anti-virus companies also sell firewall software. Windows XP also has a built-in firewall which should be turned on if you do not have other firewall software. Directions for how to do this are available here.

4. For Windows users, Microsoft has recommended disabling a system service named "messenger" which can contribute to pop-up ads. For directions on how to disable the messenger service, please click here.

5. For Windows users, go to Windows Update web site and "scan for updates," then install critical updates. You can also turn on automatic updates - directions available here.

6. There is also software such as "Pop-Up Stopper" which can be purchased and installed.