Popups not blocked: Difference between revisions

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("pop-up" as a noun is replaced by "popup". Some other tidying)
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Mozilla browsers will block most [[wikipedia:Pop-up ad|pop-up and pop-under ads]] (for all intents and purposes, these are the same thing) by default. If you are getting unwanted popups, try the following suggestions.
Mozilla browsers will block most [[wikipedia:Pop-up ad|pop-up and pop-under advertisements]] by default. (These are regarded as the same thing in this article.) If you are getting unwanted popups, try the following suggestions.


==First steps==
==First steps==
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==JavaScript==
==JavaScript==
Some pop-ups opened through [[JavaScript]] are beyond the realm of the internal blocker [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=253831] (at least for now). These can be blocked using the [http://www.gozer.org/mozilla/extensions/ Popup Blocker Settings] extension. (The "Block all" setting will block legitimate and unwanted pop-ups alike. You can allow sites to show pop-ups by entering them in "Allowed Sites".)
Some popups opened through [[JavaScript]] are beyond the realm of the internal blocker [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=253831] (at least for now). Such popups can be prevented by [[JavaScript | disabling JavaScript]] completely within the browser, but this will prevent many sites from functioning correctly. Instead, you may use an extension to block these popups.
 
===Conventional popups===
Conventional popups can be blocked using the [http://www.gozer.org/mozilla/extensions/ Popup Blocker Settings] extension. (The "Block all" setting will block legitimate and unwanted popups alike. You can allow sites to show popups by entering them in "Allowed Sites".)


Alternatively, you can use the [http://www.noscript.net/ NoScript] extension to allow only certain sites to use JavaScript, or the [[Adblock | Adblock]] extension with filters applied.
Alternatively, you can use the [http://www.noscript.net/ NoScript] extension to allow only certain sites to use JavaScript, or the [[Adblock | Adblock]] extension with filters applied.


===Hover ads===
===Hover ads===
''For more information on hover ads, see the'' [[Wikipedia:Hover ad|Hover ad]] ''article at Wikipedia''.
[[Wikipedia:Hover ad|Hover ads]] are a special form of popup that cannot be blocked by using the Popup Blocker Settings extension. You can use either NoScript or Adblock to prevent them.
 
"Hover ads" are a special form of popups that cannot be blocked by using the Popup Blocker Settings extension or the default popup blocker. You will need to use either NoScript or Adblock to defeat this annoyance.
 
In the case of hover ads as well as conventional pop-ups, you could [[JavaScript | disable JavaScript]] completely within the browser, but this will prevent many sites from functioning correctly.


==Popups generated by other software==
==Popups generated by other software==
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''For more information on spyware and its remedies, see the'' [[wikipedia:Spyware|Spyware]] ''article at Wikipedia.''
''For more information on spyware and its remedies, see the'' [[wikipedia:Spyware|Spyware]] ''article at Wikipedia.''


Pop-up ads may be caused by "spyware", a collective term for a type of [[wikipedia:Malware |malicious software]] that gathers information about the user.   Spyware mainly affects Windows users and can be installed without your knowledge. Some recommended free spyware detectors and cleaners include:
Popups may be caused by "spyware", a collective term for a type of [[wikipedia:Malware |malicious software]] that gathers information about the user. Spyware mainly affects Windows users and can be installed without your knowledge. Some recommended free spyware detectors and cleaners include:
* [http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html Spybot-Seach & Destroy]  
* [http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html Spybot-Seach & Destroy]  
* [http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/ Ad-Aware SE Personal]   
* [http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/ Ad-Aware SE Personal]   
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===Messenger Service (Windows)===
===Messenger Service (Windows)===
In their initial state, Windows NT, 2000 and XP SP1 allow anyone on the Internet to initiate popup messages on your screen via the built-in [[Wikipedia:Messenger Service|Messenger Service]] (not to be confused with an instant messaging client). The title of these popups is always "Messenger Service". It is recommended that you [http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/ disable this service]. (This service is disabled by default in Windows XP SP2.)
In their initial state, Windows NT, 2000 and XP SP1 allow anyone on the Internet to initiate pop-up messages on your screen via the built-in [[Wikipedia:Messenger Service|Messenger Service]] (not to be confused with the Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger instant messaging clients). The title of these popups is always "Messenger Service". It is recommended that you [http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/ disable this service]. (This service is disabled by default in Windows XP SP2.)


==Firefox 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite considerations==
==Firefox 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite considerations==
===Popups from plugins===  
===Popups from plugins===  
Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey block popups from [[:Category:Plugins|plugins]] (such as [[Flash]]) by default.  You can enable this "hidden preference" to disable popups from plugins in Firefox 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite, as follows:
Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey block popups from [[:Category:Plugins|plugins]] (such as [[Flash]]) by default.  You can enable this "hidden preference" to disable popups from plugins in Firefox 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite by [[Editing configuration | creating]] the new '''integer''' preference '''privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins''' and setting its value to '''2'''.
* Type [[about:config]] in the address bar, press Enter.
 
* Right-click anywhere, select New -> Integer, then enter the following information:
** Preference name: <tt>privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins</tt>
** Value: <tt>2</tt>
See the article [[privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins]] for additional information.
See the article [[privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins]] for additional information.
===Error alert popups ===  
 
===Error alert popups===  
It is possible to block "error alert popups" (such as "The operation timed out..." and "The document contains no data") in Firefox 1.0.x or Mozilla Suite, and replace them with error pages. To do this you should [[Editing configuration | set the preference]] '''browser.xul.error_pages.enabled''' to '''true'''. (This is the default setting in Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey.)
It is possible to block "error alert popups" (such as "The operation timed out..." and "The document contains no data") in Firefox 1.0.x or Mozilla Suite, and replace them with error pages. To do this you should [[Editing configuration | set the preference]] '''browser.xul.error_pages.enabled''' to '''true'''. (This is the default setting in Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey.)


== Test your blocker (all systems)==
==Related preferences==
http://www.popuptest.com/
 
== Related preferences ==
* [[dom.popup allowed events]]
* [[dom.popup allowed events]]
* [[dom.popup_maximum]]
* [[dom.popup_maximum]]
* [[privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins]]
* [[privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins]]
==External links==
* [http://www.popuptest.com/]. Visit this site to test your popup blocker.


[[Category:Issues (Firefox)]]
[[Category:Issues (Firefox)]]
[[Category:Issues (Mozilla Suite)]]
[[Category:Issues (Mozilla Suite)]]

Revision as of 16:38, 12 June 2006

Mozilla browsers will block most pop-up and pop-under advertisements by default. (These are regarded as the same thing in this article.) If you are getting unwanted popups, try the following suggestions.

First steps

Your first step should be to make sure that the internal popup blocker is enabled in your browser and that you haven't "whitelisted" the sites that are giving you popups:

  • Firefox: "Tools -> Options -> Content (Web Features in Firefox 1.0.x)". Make sure the box "Block Popup Windows" is checkmarked. Click the "Allowed Sites" button to review the sites where popups are allowed and remove unwanted sites from the list.
  • Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: "Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Popup Windows". Make sure "Block unrequested popup windows" is checked. Review the "Allowed Sites" list as above.

JavaScript

Some popups opened through JavaScript are beyond the realm of the internal blocker [1] (at least for now). Such popups can be prevented by disabling JavaScript completely within the browser, but this will prevent many sites from functioning correctly. Instead, you may use an extension to block these popups.

Conventional popups

Conventional popups can be blocked using the Popup Blocker Settings extension. (The "Block all" setting will block legitimate and unwanted popups alike. You can allow sites to show popups by entering them in "Allowed Sites".)

Alternatively, you can use the NoScript extension to allow only certain sites to use JavaScript, or the Adblock extension with filters applied.

Hover ads

Hover ads are a special form of popup that cannot be blocked by using the Popup Blocker Settings extension. You can use either NoScript or Adblock to prevent them.

Popups generated by other software

Sometimes other software that has nothing directly to do with Mozilla browsers can cause windows to pop up. Sources of such non-browser popups include the following:

Spyware (on Windows)

For more information on spyware and its remedies, see the Spyware article at Wikipedia.

Popups may be caused by "spyware", a collective term for a type of malicious software that gathers information about the user. Spyware mainly affects Windows users and can be installed without your knowledge. Some recommended free spyware detectors and cleaners include:

Messenger Service (Windows)

In their initial state, Windows NT, 2000 and XP SP1 allow anyone on the Internet to initiate pop-up messages on your screen via the built-in Messenger Service (not to be confused with the Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger instant messaging clients). The title of these popups is always "Messenger Service". It is recommended that you disable this service. (This service is disabled by default in Windows XP SP2.)

Firefox 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite considerations

Popups from plugins

Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey block popups from plugins (such as Flash) by default. You can enable this "hidden preference" to disable popups from plugins in Firefox 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite by creating the new integer preference privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins and setting its value to 2.

See the article privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins for additional information.

Error alert popups

It is possible to block "error alert popups" (such as "The operation timed out..." and "The document contains no data") in Firefox 1.0.x or Mozilla Suite, and replace them with error pages. To do this you should set the preference browser.xul.error_pages.enabled to true. (This is the default setting in Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey.)

Related preferences

External links

  • [2]. Visit this site to test your popup blocker.