We do receive ALOT of miscellaneous questions and try to help our clients out by answering them all - no matter what the subject matter may be...
Q. What program do you recommend to block pornographic pop-ups? I want to block them on the four computers in our house. We have two teens, and share an Internet connection.
A. These days, pop-ups aren't such a problem. You shouldn't see many when you're surfing the Web.
Both Internet Explorer and Firefox include pop-up blockers. Other browsers also have pop-ups blockers. These stop the vast majority of pop-ups.
They also work with pop-under ads. These open beneath other windows, rather than on top. You discover pop-under ads when you close windows.
Some pop-ups have found ways to avoid browser blockers. For example, I have seen advertisements for Netflix lately.
I never see porn pop-ups. And I never visit porn sites. So, that's probably why.
Porn sites once were notorious for using technology to force their "message" on others. That has long since been brought under control. I rarely hear complaints about that today.
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But I suspect someone in your family is visiting porn sites. They may well have downloaded something malicious, perhaps inadvertently. And that could easily spread over your network. This situation probably requires a talk. Also, check your computer defenses. Start by being sure pop-up blocking is not disabled in your Web browsers.
In Firefox, click Tools>>Options and open the Content tab. Select "Block pop-up windows" and click OK. In Internet Explorer, click Tools>>Internet Options and open the Privacy tab. Select "Turn on Pop-up Blocker" and click OK. |
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Of course, your browsers could be outdated. In that case, upgrade. Old browsers are risky, since they interface with the Internet.
You may get pop-ups without opening your Web browsers. If so, the problem isn't with your browsers. You probably have spyware or adware on your machines. For this, you need security software. Each computer needs one antivirus program, multiple anti-spyware programs and a firewall. After installation, update the security programs. Then, scan your machines. Scanning can take time, so be patient. Disconnect the computers from the network. Scan each computer and any attached hard drives. Do not reconnect the machines until they have all been scanned.
If you use thumb drives, these need to be scanned, too. They may be hiding the malware. That means it can come back If you find adware or other malware, the security software will help you remove it. Then, you will need to take another step. You'll need to clean out your System Restore points. System Restore helps you restore your Windows configuration to an earlier time. But it can also back up malware.
As always, if you ever suspect anything funny going on - on your computer, feel free to call us anytime so we can check it out for you.
Sincerely,
PC Alternatives, Inc.
757.689.2889
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