BEST free pop-up blocker??...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:14 pm

What is the most comprehensive, free pop-up blocker that you can download? My browser is Netscape 7.2, and these pop-ups are literally appearing every 10 seconds or so. They even show up when I'm NOT on the internet! HELP!!

Post by **system11** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:19 pm

Switch to Mozilla Firefox, and run virus and malware scans on your computer (for malware, Adaware -and- Spybot). Also you may be suffering direct messages, if you're on XP and don't yet have servicepack 2, put it on.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:20 pm

You have spyware. Get some spyware removing program like Ad-aware and Spybot. Also go get Spyblaster to prevent your computer from being infected again.

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:32 pm

bloodflowers wrote:Switch to Mozilla Firefox, and run virus and malware scans on your computer (for malware, Adaware -and- Spybot). Also you may be suffering direct messages, if you're on XP and don't yet have servicepack 2, put it on.

magnum opus · Post by **magnum opus** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:41 pm

actually netscape 7.2 is basically a rebranded mozilla suite 1.7 so it's pop up blocker is fine, no need to switch to firefox.
but yeah spybot and adaware ought to take care of it.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:02 am

But that's the thing-I already have Spybot and Adaware, and I just ran both before this started happening!

I'm just wondering if my Netscape pop-up blocker has been turned off somehow.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:13 am

Did you update the definitions before you ran them? The symptoms you describe are far more the result of spyware/adware progams than they would be from popups on websites. Make sure the software is up to date, then run it again. Also, there's another one from Microsoft you might try too. The link is here.

magnum opus · Post by **magnum opus** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:20 am

dave4shmups wrote:But that's the thing-I already have Spybot and Adaware, and I just ran both before this started happening!

I'm just wondering if my Netscape pop-up blocker has been turned off somehow.

it's easy enough to check edit->preferences->privacy&security->Popup Windows

but if it's showing up when the browser is off it's probably malware

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:44 am

dave4shmups wrote:But that's the thing-I already have Spybot and Adaware, and I just ran both before this started happening!

The real question is "did you run the spyware checkers AFTER this started happening." Neither of the 2 will actually prevent you from downloading spyware unlike Spyblaster, which only performs prevention.

And if you have NAV, McAfee, or some other anti-virus software, do a full system scan. If you don't have any, get AVG or something immediately and scan your computer.

You might want to consider using Zonealarm to further secure your computer with a software firewall.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:41 am

magnum opus wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:But that's the thing-I already have Spybot and Adaware, and I just ran both before this started happening!

I'm just wondering if my Netscape pop-up blocker has been turned off somehow.
it's easy enough to check edit->preferences->privacy&security->Popup Windows

but if it's showing up when the browser is off it's probably malware

But Netscape is just my browser, not my ISP, which is Comcast. If I am supposed to do this on Netscape, where on the top bar do I perform those functions? And, how do I get rid of Malware?

magnum opus · Post by **magnum opus** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:58 am

dave4shmups wrote:
magnum opus wrote: it's easy enough to check edit->preferences->privacy&security->Popup Windows

but if it's showing up when the browser is off it's probably malware
But Netscape is just my browser, not my ISP, which is Comcast. If I am supposed to do this on Netscape, where on the top bar do I perform those functions? And, how do I get rid of Malware?

no offense but are you stone cold retarded?

okay:
open netscape
look in the upper left hand coner of your screen
directly right of "file" is "edit"
click on edit
a menu will appear
move your mouse down to where it says preferences
click preferences
a window will appear
look on the left most of the way down it will say "privacy and security"
click on the triangle next to it
more words will appear
click on the one that says popup windows
if the box is marked it is blocking pop-ups and it is a spy ware problem

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:03 am

It doesn't matter who your ISP is. Just update the definitions on both Ad Aware and Spybot. DON'T launch them from a browser window, but the Programs Menu. And absolutely do not open a browser window before or during the cleanup.

Then, install Firefox (www.getfirefox.com). And don't use Internet Exploder ever again.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:14 pm

magnum opus wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:
magnum opus wrote: it's easy enough to check edit->preferences->privacy&security->Popup Windows

but if it's showing up when the browser is off it's probably malware
But Netscape is just my browser, not my ISP, which is Comcast. If I am supposed to do this on Netscape, where on the top bar do I perform those functions? And, how do I get rid of Malware?
no offense but are you stone cold retarded?

okay:
open netscape
look in the upper left hand coner of your screen
directly right of "file" is "edit"
click on edit
a menu will appear
move your mouse down to where it says preferences
click preferences
a window will appear
look on the left most of the way down it will say "privacy and security"
click on the triangle next to it
more words will appear
click on the one that says popup windows
if the box is marked it is blocking pop-ups and it is a spy ware problem

The box is marked, so thanks!

No offense Magnum Opus, but can you give advice to someone without making rude, sarcastic comments?

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:24 pm

No offense Magnum Opus, but can you give advice to someone without making rude, sarcastic comments?

sorry, but I can fully understand his comment. I read this "But Netscape is my broswer, not my ISP" question of yours last night and was really in a mood to help out, but that sentence didn´t make any sense whatsoever.

I even checked back half an hour later to look whether you edited it because I was sure you would realize how unrelated and irritating it was. No one mentioned ISPs, there is no ISP called Netscape, so what in hell made you feel the need to write that?

The internet might be a means to gather a lot of useful information and get help for all kinds of problems, but sometimes you should realize that overusing helpfulness can actually bother people, and if you don´t even care to phrase your question in a way it can be understood, how can you expect someone to answer it?

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 11:44 pm

Err, well, Netscape Communications actually does offer an ISP but I certainly empathize with Magnum Opus's frustration.

magnum opus · Post by **magnum opus** » Sun May 01, 2005 12:31 am

dave4shmups wrote: The box is marked, so thanks!

okay then it's not a brwoser related problem and you need to check with spybot and ad-aware as previously suggested.

first go to netscape then tools->popup manager->manage popups and click remove all netscape being a corporation lets certain sites open popups, which also might let them install spyware (not absolutely sure don't know the code well enough).

open spybot check help->about
if it doesn't say spybot - search and destroy 1.3 go here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
and download 1.3

if it does say 1.3 go to the side where it says update it looks like a globe with a wire stuck in it
click the picture
click "search for updates"
several things will appear below, make sure that "detection rules" and "immunization database (or something)" is checked.
click download updates
wait
now click "search and destroy" it's in the upper left it's a picture of two windows and a magnifying glass
click check for problems
wait
if it detects spy ware things will appear below
make sure they are all checked
click "fix problems" (i think thats the word i can't actually check i have no spyware)
wait
now click where it says immunize miday down the left side of the window
a little window will pop up that says something to the effect of "### products blocked ### not blocked please immunize" click ok
click immunize
make sure the box next to "enable permanent blocking of..." is checked
now exit the program

open ad-aware make sure it's SE personal addition (it should say so when you load it up)
if not go here and download it
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

if it is
in the lower right above the button that says start it will say " check for updates"
click that
click connect
then click okay
then click finish
now click start
check the option that says perform full system scan
then click next
wait, often quite a while
the summary window is divided into three sections the one with "running processes" and "process modules will fill up, that doesn't mean spy ware, if anything else starts going up thats spyware
keep waiting
click next
if anything appears in the "sacanning results" area make sure every box is checked
then click next
click okay

ALSO
if you use kazaa, not kazaa lite: uninstall it for the love of god and repeat this post
same with eDonkey instead of emule.
also don't download ANYTHING unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE that it doesn't have spyware attached

also get a firewall, if you have Windows XP service pack 2 comes with one, go to the control panel and click on "windows firewall" and turn it on.

if you don't have windows XP do a google search for "firewall"or go to a site like download and search for firewall. install it and make sure it's on (I can't recommend personally)

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun May 01, 2005 12:52 am

Magnum, I have run both of those programs; as I have both on my PC. And I'm definately covered as far as firewalls go-my Windows XP one is turned on, and even if that wasn't, we have a Cisco Systems 4-port Cable/DSL Router that has a built in firewall.

Someone earlier mentioned that it might be something called "Wallware"; since these pop-ups are occuring even when I'm offline. What the heck is wallware, and how do I get rid of it?

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Sun May 01, 2005 12:58 am

If you've got too much crud on there, there's a good chance no amount of spyware removal stuff is going to get rid of all of it, and a system rebuild may be the only thing that gets it all off.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun May 01, 2005 12:59 am

raiden wrote:
No offense Magnum Opus, but can you give advice to someone without making rude, sarcastic comments?
sorry, but I can fully understand his comment. I read this "But Netscape is my broswer, not my ISP" question of yours last night and was really in a mood to help out, but that sentence didn´t make any sense whatsoever.

I even checked back half an hour later to look whether you edited it because I was sure you would realize how unrelated and irritating it was. No one mentioned ISPs, there is no ISP called Netscape, so what in hell made you feel the need to write that?

The internet might be a means to gather a lot of useful information and get help for all kinds of problems, but sometimes you should realize that overusing helpfulness can actually bother people, and if you don´t even care to phrase your question in a way it can be understood, how can you expect someone to answer it?

What do you mean Netscape isn't an ISP?? Plenty of people use it as their internet service provider?? I wanted to know if I Magnum was referring to Netscape in his instructions (because that is the internet browser I use), or my family's Comcast account-Comcast is our ISP.

Really Raiden, don't accuse me of "overusing helpfulness" that bothers people! That's absolute nonsense! My question was phrased in such a manner that ANYONE who knows what "ISP" or "Browser" means should have understood it. Your accusations are therefore fasle and baseless. Part of the reason for this forum's decline is that people on here cannot answer a simple question without making a rude, sarcastic response.

Honest to pete; EVERY time I post on here I get accused of something!

magnum opus · Post by **magnum opus** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:18 am

no one said wallware, i said malware which is the name for any program that is designed to do bad shit hence 'mal' more or less same thing as spyware and would be detected by either program.

also try booting into safe-mode ( there's a button maybe f8 you can hit to boot into safe mode, but the easiest way is just hit the reset button halfway through windows loading) and running spybot/adaware then

if you're absolutely sure that both spybot and ad-aware are up-to-date as in up-to-TODAY-date
check you're firewall settings, the exceptions tab, if there is anything make sure you know exactly what it is, or uncheck it.

also if it's not too lengthy, a list of all programs you have installed would be handy, you may have a program installed that isn't itself spyware but keeps reinstalling spyware when you run it, I know Kazaa liked to pull that trick with Gator, i think AIM likes to open popup windows on occasion.

christ i wish my ISP was fast enough for me to do remote assistance, that'd make this so much easier.

microsoft makes a pop-up blocker that should stop anything you don't explicitly run but the problem is it won't let you open any link that would open in a new window, and because alot of spyware opens the program itself instead of doing the internet popup method of telling the browser to open a new window, well it might not help

also are the popups internet explorer windows or netscape windows?