Allow, block Pop Ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Opera

Pop-up ads are small – sometimes large – windows that open automatically on your screen, when you are browsing the web. They could be pop-ups or pop-unders. Pop ups open in front of your active browser window whereas a Pop-underopen under your browser, and it is only when you go on to close your browser, do you see the pop-under.

Nothing can be more irritating than getting pop ups in your browser when you are surfing the internet. These days however, most modern browsers has solid pop up blockers that help block pop ups in Windows. While there may somepopups which are useful and important – some can be irritating advertisements, adware, phishing pop-ups, scareware pop-ups forcing you to buy fake optimizers or security software, Drive-by download pop-ups or pop ups which install malware when you close them.

A pop up may open when you are surging a website, or it could get triggered when you open some link on a web page. In such cases two windows open, one your link and the other some pop up ad. If pop-up ads open even when you are not surfing, it is quite possible that your Windows computer might be infected with spyware or have adware installed.

Manage Pop Ups

Most security software today include a robust anti-popup feature. Make sure you have enabled it on your antivirus software. But many a times, even with all our anti-popup features in place, you do see them slip through occasionally.  If you desire additional protection, you may install a pop up blocker browser extension, or consider installing a free pop up blocker software. They are pretty aggressive in blocking pop ups and pop-unders.

Whenever a pop-up is blocked by your browser, you will see a notification to this effect. You will also be offered options to – Allow pop up or Block pop up – This time or Always. In this post, we will see how you can block irritating pop ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Opera web browsers in Windows 8 | 7.

Block Pop Ups in Internet Explorer

Open Internet Options > Privacy tab. Under Pop-up Blocker settings, you can check or uncheck the Turn on Pop-up Blocker checkbox to Turn On or Turn Off the pop up blocker.

Clicking on its Settings button will allow you to add or remove websites where pop ups should be allowed. You can also select the Blocking Level from High, Medium or Low. The Medium settings is suitable for most users.

Just for your information, the Pop-up Blocker is different from SmartScreen, as it only limits most pop-ups on sites. SmartScreen on the other hand,  checks sites you visit and files you download for threats to your security.

Block Pop Ups in Opera

If you are a user of Opera browser, click on the menu button in the top-left corner and select Settings. Click Websites and scroll down till you see Pop Ups. Clicking on the Manage exceptions button will allow you to add websites, remove websites, block websites and in general manage your pop ups. By default, Opera will try to distinguish pop-ups that you have requested, such as log-in pages vs. ad pop ups and allow the legitimate one’s and block the later category.

Block Pop Ups in Firefox

Firefox users will be able to get the setting to manage pop ups, when they click on the Menu button > Settings and then select Content tab. Clicking on the Exceptions button will allow you to manage your pop up settings. You can:

• Allow Sites
• Remove Site
• Remove All Sites.

Block Pop Ups in Chrome

To manually allow pop-ups in Google Chrome, click on the Chrome menu button and select Settings. Then click on the Show advanced settings link. Now under Privacy, click on Content settings button. Under Pop-ups, click Manage exceptions. You can Allow all pop-ups by disabling the pop-up blocker or customize settings for each website seperately by clicking on the Manage exceptions button and doing the needful.