Getting rid of the most annoying popups (1 Viewer)

walwyn · Aug 4, 2003

From time to time people get annoyed by popup messages. The first thing to check is whether these are going from your browser or not. Most it seems are due to people being 'targetted' through instant messaging, you might also start to get messages offering to sell you software to turn it off. So you might want check that instant messaging is switched off before trying to do anything drastic, or pay out money.

Here is how to turn it off on win2K

Start
Settings
Control Panel
Administrative Tools
Double Click 'Services'
Then scroll down and search for 'Messenger'
Then right click it.
Click the 'Stop' button
Then under 'Startup Type', set it for 'Disabled'

You will receive no more 'mesenger' popups.

Doug · Aug 4, 2003

I find Zone Alarm stops the 'Messenger' pop ups completely and then I use POP Up Stopper to stop pop ups while browsing - works very well indded and both are free.

Charles Harper · Aug 4, 2003

Walwyn, I bought AdSubtract Pro (I was not solicited by them, I just went looking for something to eliminate the ads) some months ago for $29.95-- a very reasonable price for so efficacious a product. However, I have also just now followed your advice (the path is essentially the same on WinXP), thank you. I now await any fly in the ointment.

walwyn · Aug 4, 2003

It is far better to turn off the services you don't use, than install software firewalls.

Whilst I run some snake oil myself. The 100+ alerts each day are totally harmless:
http://www.samspade.org/d/firewalls.html.

Geoff Brown · Aug 4, 2003

I have the free "popupstopper" download on mine and I am seldom troubled with an annoying pop-up. Couple this with "BT internet" as an ISP which culls out most of the junk mail, and "mailwasher" which cleans up the rest I am left usually,thank goodness, with a clean running internet session.

jeff · Aug 17, 2003

If your using IE why not download the 'new' google toolbar http://toolbar.google.com/ it now has a built in popup stopped and its free.

Tannin · Aug 17, 2003

Just use a quality browser. IE doesn't cut it by comparison with actively developed new browsers like Mozilla and Opera. And, of course, switch off unwanted "services". A good spyware scan is a really important thing too. Adaware is excellent: www.adaware.de

Mijbil · Aug 18, 2003

Using IE because I'm lazy but downloaded Pop-up stopper and Ad-Aware 6.0 Build 6.181, latest version I believe.
Everything is going fine besides the fact that I always forget to use Ctrl to allow a wanted pop-up. Still, it beats having Wendy X popping up every umptheenth time.

robinm · Aug 18, 2003

A word of warning about pop-up stoppers. Some of the UK Banks (I can't comment on the rest of the world but I wouldn't be surprised if the same isn't true globally) use the same technology as part of the internet service - particularly login screens.

A friend of mine called me round because he couldn't get into his service any longer. I disabled his pop-up stopper and the service worked again.

jeff · Aug 18, 2003

Tannin said:
Just use a quality browser. IE doesn't cut it by comparison with actively developed new browsers like Mozilla and Opera. And, of course, switch off unwanted "services". A good spyware scan is a really important thing too. Adaware is excellent: www.adaware.de

I dont think you can call Opera a quality browser anymore at least IE works with the majority of sites

digi-birder · Aug 18, 2003

robinm said:
A word of warning about pop-up stoppers. Some of the UK Banks (I can't comment on the rest of the world but I wouldn't be surprised if the same isn't true globally) use the same technology as part of the internet service - particularly login screens.

A friend of mine called me round because he couldn't get into his service any longer. I disabled his pop-up stopper and the service worked again.

I use Smile online banking and I have to have my firewall set to allow script popups or the login doesn't appear.

Some people may have this problem when trying to get into the chat room, depending how their ad blocker or firewall is set, as this also uses a popup window.

Tannin · Aug 18, 2003

On the contrary, Jeff, Opera works just fine. Much superior to IE 5 or 6 - and I don't even have the latest version. I'm still on V6.x (on the "if it ain't broke" theory). I would probably upgrade but with Mozilla so good now, there doesn't seem to be any need to.

jeff · Aug 18, 2003

Tannin said:
On the contrary, Jeff, Opera works just fine. Much superior to IE 5 or 6 - and I don't even have the latest version. I'm still on V6.x (on the "if it ain't broke" theory). I would probably upgrade but with Mozilla so good now, there doesn't seem to be any need to.

Don't upgrade to v7.......... v6 was bad enough. Stick with Mozilla if you dont like M$ IE, but IE is almost a part of the OS, so no real getting away from it.

walwyn · Aug 19, 2003

robinm said:
Some of the UK Banks (I can't comment on the rest of the world but I wouldn't be surprised if the same isn't true globally) use the same technology as part of the internet service - particularly login screens.

Typical of pr0n sites.

Nina P · Aug 19, 2003

Thank you for this!!!!

Dear Walwyn,
You have just quadrupled my pleasure in the use of the internet, I have followed your advice as the popups have driven me bonkers, and for the first time I am FREE!!!!!!
I even switched to AOL 8 just to rid myself of them but they still kept on. If I ever get a chance to buy you a drink I jolly well will!! Thanks a real bundle.
Nina.B

walwyn · Aug 19, 2003

Nina,

No problem!

Why people do this I cannot understand. I doubt there are many people that would buy something from someone who continues to annoy them with popup messages, but obviously there are people that do.

Nina P · Aug 19, 2003

I thought I had got rid of them but just had two at once from messenger service, just as I was notified of your posting. They are wasting their time advertising on my PC as I refuse to buy from those who give me hassle. Just had another one, so I've not succeeded in ridding myself of them after all. B*****Y B******s wish they'd pop off. Nina.

walwyn · Aug 19, 2003

Erm. I don't suffer from any popup messenger windows, never had them. Perhaps you have some ad software running. Try installing this:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Nina P · Aug 19, 2003

I'd have thought that with popup blocker and messenger stop I wouldn't be still suffering, but I had one more seconds after posting then none until I viewed this thread again, but I will try that one too, thanks!! Nina.

eric s · Aug 20, 2003

For a package as good or better than adaware, try spybot:
http://security.kolla.de/

I actually run them both.

I would also recommend zone alarm and a hardware firewall. But that is because I use VPN to work from home... and therefor any problems at work (worms) will go right through my hardware firewall... and hit the software one! For most people, a hardware firewall is good enough.

Eric

Getting rid of the most annoying popups (1 Viewer)

Well-known member

Well-known member

Régisseur

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Common; sedentary.

Well-known member

Registered User

Well-known member

Well-known member

Common; sedentary.

Well-known member

Well-known member

Nina

Well-known member

Nina

Well-known member

Nina

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread