Pop-ups are the internet’s most persistent annoyance. You close one, three more appear. They blast music at you. They promise you’ve won something you definitely haven’t won. And they always show up when you’re trying to actually get something done.
Two approaches will fix this. Use both.
1. Pop-up Blocker
Browser extensions exist specifically to murder pop-ups before they load.
For Chrome: Click the three-line menu icon (top right, next to the bookmark star), hover over "Tools," and click "Extensions." At the bottom of the page, click "Get more extensions." Search for "pop-up blocker" in the Chrome Web Store and pick one with good reviews.
Firefox works the same way. Click the orange Firefox tab (top left), then "Add-ons," then search for pop-up blockers. Most of the good ones are free.
2. Anti-virus Programs
If pop-ups are still showing up after you’ve installed a blocker, you’ve got adware or worse on your machine. The pop-ups aren’t coming from websites anymore. They’re coming from inside the house.
Download Malwarebytes (free version works fine). Go to Settings, then Scanner Settings, and make sure every box is checked. Run a full scan. This will take a while. Let it finish. Malwarebytes catches most adware that causes pop-ups. If you want paid options, Norton and McAfee also work, but you don’t need them unless Malwarebytes finds something it can’t remove.
