This situation, the POP up issue, is very misunderstood. This past Summer I
was contracted to fix 150+ computers use by the staff and students of a
local private school. All of the computers were afflicted with massive popup
problems. In every case, the problem was solved by removal of adware,
spyware, and malware unwittingly installed by the computer user. In some
cases the offending apps could be remove with automated applications like
AdAware or spybot S&D. In the worst cases registry edits and file deletion
in DOS (using a dos boot disk) was required. On a few of the PC's I just
reinstalled the OS (Clean Install) and apps as that was the quickest way to
get the machines running.
Now ask yourself.. Are Pop ups a problem in a new PC? The first time you
boot up and log on to the internet are you bombarded with dozens of adds the
keep coming and coming? .... No, Those adds for mortgages, drugs, vacations,
and sex are a result of your web surfing, the sites you visit and the "free"
helper applications you download and install carry secondary applications
that track you. they record your surfing and report it to marketing
companies when you visit any other site that subscribes to the same service.
Subscribers make money when they collect your surfing data.
PopUp windows are created using the windowOpen() function. this function has
been a part of IE since version 4. The windowOpen() function is widely used
by web designers and servers many useful services that enhance the internet
experience. A popup blocker that disables all windowOpen() function is like
using an atomic bomb to kill a mosquito. You get rid of the good with the
bad.
Yes, If you have a broadband connection Windows Messenger can be used to
deliver popup even when the browser is not open. Spyware will use this
application just like it uses your browser. Under my contract with the
school I disabled Windows Messenger on all of the computers I worked on.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx