How to Block Pop-ups

Compiled by Karen Blakeman
karen.blakeman@rba.co.uk
web: http://www.rba.co.uk/
blog: http://www.rba.co.uk/rss/blog.htm

The problem

How can I stop those irritating pop-ups that litter my Desktop after every online session? I sometimes end up with a score of the wretched things.

The solution

It all depends on which browser you are using, and you may find that some sites display important information and help files in pop-ups (shame on them!). Therefore, whatever method you use you need to be able to easily disable the blocker for individual pages and sites.

Internet Explorer

For Windows XP SP2 users, Internet Explorer now has a built in blocker under Tools, Popup Blocker. If you are using an earlier version of Internet Explorer, but at least version 5.5, install the Google toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com/).

As well as providing access to simple and advanced Google search options direct from your browser, it also has a pop-up blocker. First follow the instructions on the Google Web site about installing the toolbar. Once installed, access the Toolbar Options window from the Toolbar's Google pull-down menu. Click the box next to pop-up blocker in the Accessories section of the Options tab. When enabled, the blocker displays the total number of stopped pop-ups.

To turn off the blocker without removing it from the Toolbar, simply click on the icon in the Toolbar. Click on the icon again to restart it. To allow pop-ups to launch on a one off basis without turning off the blocker, press the Ctrl key as you click the link to move to a new page.

Firebird

(http://www.mozilla.org/)

Firebird has a built-in option for blocking pop-ups. Click on Tools, Options, Web Features. Tick the box next to "Block popup windows". You can also allow specific sites to launch pop-ups by adding the site to the “white list”.

An alert appears when a page attempts to launch a pop-up. You can choose to allow pop-ups for the whole site and add it to the white list or allow the pop-up to display on just that occasion (the alert tells you the URL of the pop up).

Opera

(http://www.opera.com/)

Like Firebird, Opera has a built in option for refusing pop-ups. Click on Tools, Preferences and select General. For the pop-ups section you can opt to Open all pop-ups, Open pop-ups in background. Block unwanted pop-ups, or Block all pop-ups. An alert appears when a site tries to open a pop-up and you have the option to click on the alert to open it.

Safari (Apple - OSX only)

(http://www.apple.com/safari/)

The browser from Apple, called Safari, also includes pop-up killing options. To enable either press 'Apple' + K or open the prefernces and check the 'Block pop-up windows' check box under the 'Advanced' menu.

PDF of How to Block Pop-ups Factsheet (21 KB)