Pop-up blockers and how to disable them

Navigating the Web: Pop-Up Blockers and How to Disable Them

The internet is an enormous and wonderful world, providing us with access to an abundance of knowledge and entertainment. However, everything is not a mere bed of roses. We frequently come across obtrusive pop-up advertising that disturb us as we navigate the digital world - it interferes with our online experience.

Pop-up blockers can help in this scenario by serving as a virtual wall of defense against these irritating distractions. We'll explore the realm of pop-up blockers, learning what they are, why they can be crucial, and how to turn them off when necessary.

What are pop-up blockers?

Pop-up blockers are software programs or browser add-ons that prevent pop-up windows from showing up when you visit websites. These pop-ups can be harmless, like requests for newsletter subscriptions - or they can be obtrusive, like those annoying adverts that block your view and interfere with your browsing.

Often pop-ups contain something you’re urged to click - whether it’s a wheel of fortune to get a discount on a website, a survey or an ad you actively have to close. What’s dangerous about the ads is, that they can contain malware; this combination, malware hidden in ads, is also called malvertising, which you can learn more about in our blog post here.

Why are pop-up blockers important?

Pop-up blockers serve several critical functions:

• Improved user experience: By removing pop-up distractions, they ensure a better and more pleasant browsing experience.

• Better cybersecurity: Pop-ups can sometimes be used to spread malware - this is also known as scareware. Pop-up blockers act as a first line of defense against these threats.

• Protect your privacy: Pop-ups can monitor your internet activity and gather private data. Pop-up blockers protect your privacy by blocking these invasive data gathering activities.

• Improved Performance: Your web browser will run better if you block pop-ups given that fewer tabs and windows will need to load and be shown on screen.

How to Disable Pop-Up Blockers

Pop-up blockers are unquestionably helpful, but there may be times when you need to disable them, either temporarily or permanently. Below are steps for disabling pop-ups for the most popular web browsers:

Google Chrome

1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.

2. To open the menu, you click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser. Choose "Settings" from the dropdown.

3. In the "Privacy and security" section, click on "Site Settings."

4. Find the "Pop-ups and redirects" section and click the switch to turn off the pop-up blocker. You can enable it again by simply switching it back on.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open a browser on your computer.

2. To open the menu, click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the browser. Select "Options" from the dropdown menu.

3. Then click on "Privacy & Security" in the left sidebar.

4. Go down to the "Permissions" tab, and you'll find the "Block pop-up windows" option. Uncheck this box to disable the pop-up blocker. To re-activate it, you just check the box again.

Microsoft Edge

1. Open a browser on your computer.

2. Find the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner of the browser and click to open the menu. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

3. Then click on "Cookies, site permissions" you find in the left sidebar.

4. Under the "Site permissions" tab, find "Pop-ups and redirects." Switch it to turn off the pop-up blocker. You can enable it by toggling the switch back on.

Safari (Mac)

1. Open the Safari browser on your Mac.

2. In the top-left corner of the screen, click "Safari" and then choose "Preferences" from the dropdown.

3. Click the "Security" tab in the Preferences window.

4. To turn off the pop-up blocker, find the "Web content" section and deactivate the pop-ups off the "Block pop-up windows" checkbox. Check the box to activate it once more.

Keep in mind that turning off your pop-up blocker should only be a temporary solution. To protect your online security and privacy, it's a good idea to re-enable it when you've finished what you're doing on a particular website.

Exceptions and Whitelists

You might occasionally want to allow pop-ups on specific websites that you know and trust. The majority of browsers give users the opportunity to create whitelists or exceptions. Below we show you how to do it on some well-known websites:

Google Chrome

• First, to access the Pop-ups and Redirects settings, follow steps 1-4 from the "Google Chrome" section above.

• Next, to add a website to your whitelist, click "Add" next to "Allow" in the "Allow" section.

• To save the changes, click "Add". Now, pop-ups are allowed on that particular website.

Mozilla Firefox

• For access to the “Permissions” settings, follow steps 1-4 from the "Mozilla Firefox" section above.

• Click "Allow" in the "Exceptions" box next to "Block pop-up windows," then type the website's URL into the "Whitelist" tab.

• To save the whitelist entry, click "Save Changes". Now, pop-ups are permitted on the specific website.

Microsoft Edge

• The Pop-ups and Redirects settings can be accessed by following steps 1-4 from the "Microsoft Edge" section above.

• Click "Add" and insert the website URL you want to whitelist in the "Allowed" tab.

• To save the changes, click "Add". Now, pop-ups are permitted on this specific website.

Safari (Mac)

• To access the Security options, follow steps 1-4 from the "Safari (Mac)" section above.

• Click "Add" and enter the website's URL in the "Allow pop-up windows" box you want to whitelist.

• To save the changes, click "Add". Now, pop-ups are permitted on this specific website.

Consider your pop-ups

Pop-up blockers are an important tool for ensuring a safe and pleasant online experience. You will have more control over your browsing experience if you know how to disable pop-ups - when necessary. Whitelisting your trusted websites is another great tool to manage your pop-ups.

To ensure the safety and comfort of your online experiences, use this power wisely and re-enable your pop-up blocker after you're done on a website. These pointers will enable you to use the internet with confidence and ease, whether you're a casual web user or an experienced internet explorer. Happy browsing!