I am getting a lot of I think they are pop ups. I am wondering if a firewall would help. Is there a good free version that I can download. I have a pop up eliminator that just doesn't seem to be working on them all the time. I have a cable internet connection. How exactly does a firewall work?
I am not very good with computers.
Thanks in advance.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, July 9, 2004 - 06:31 am:

A firewall won't help with popups. Firewalls keep something from coming into or going out of your computer, and that won't do a thing about popups.

I did download the Google toolbar a few months ago and have fewer popups. I still have some, but a lot fewer. The toolbar tells me it is blocking 96 popups at this point.

Something else I found helpful was to cut down on the number of cookies put on my computer without my permission. If you are in Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options, Privacy, Advanced, and clock on the box to override automatic cookie handling. I have mine set to prompt for both first and third party cookies. When a website or email wants to put a cookie on your computer you get a window asking whether to allow or block, and a little box to check to make your decision permanent for that cookie-placing request. I do allow some website (first party) cookies, but usually reject third party cookies. As I understand it, third party cookies are from programs with either pay the website for the "privilege" of placing cookies from that website or are from programs which just butt in to a website and try to get cookies on your computer that way. The reason I block most cookies is that cookies often signal to websites that you are on the net and sort of "call" to the programs to start bombarding you with popups or move you to certain websites when you do a search.

I was absolutely amazed and disgusted to realize that some of the spammers who send me emails not only junk up my inbox but also try to put a cookie on my computer when I click on the title of the email to activate the "block message" function. Have these people no shame???!!!

A firewall is, however, a good idea. If you have unintentionally gotten something on your computer that tries to communicate with its owner when you are on the internet, the firewall will stop it, and it will stop most outside programs from reaching into your computer without your permission. You can get a highly recommended free firewall from ZoneAlarm. This is the one I use and many other really computer savvy members of the board (and I am not all that computer savvy) use it. It is very highly rated in every column I read about computer security. The only possible problem is if you are using cable or DSL, as some cable and DSL programs don't like ZoneAlarm. If you are using cable or DSL, communicate with your service provider and talk to them about firewalls. If you, like me, are using an old-fashioned model, ZoneAlarm is just fine.

Here is the link to download the free ZoneAlarm firewall:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

Don't go further down the page and download the firewall with virus protection, as this is not free.

If you don't already have an anti-virus protection program you should buy one immediately and load it on your computer. My personal preference is Norton, but McAfee is also very highly rated and some members here swear by it. My preference is to buy the physical CD, because it loads faster, I don't have to worry about internet download glitches, and I have the disk handy in case of future problems. Both of these programs provide a year's protection for your purchase and at the end of the year prompt you to renew for another year's protection. I think my renewal with Norton cost me less than $20 and was well worth it.

I also use Spybot and AdAware, both of which are spyware detectors. They overlap some but each will pick up spyware the other misses. Each will scan your computer, detect spyware put on there by those nasty people, and remove or disable it. Both are free, and you can download both of them by going to this page in PCWorld's downloads (PC World is a good, reliable, trustworthy source of information and free download utilities):
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/collection/0,collid,1247,00.asp

After you download Spybot and install it on your machine, use the Search for Updates feature and download the updates to be sure you have the latest stuff. Do the same for Adaware. When you run these programs they will give you a list of what they've found (the new version of Spybot will also give you additional information about each program). You then check the boxes for the ones you want disabled or removed and continue in the program until you get the all done message.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, July 9, 2004 - 07:09 am:

DH (computer nerd, LOL!) will NOT let anyone get on the Net without a firewall. We have a cable ISP as well. Our firewall isn't software, but is part of our Ethernet Broadband router. (We have 4 networked computers in our office. ) Sorry that I can't explain things more technically, but I'm computer clueless. LOL!

We also use Adaware and Spybot.

By Emily7 on Friday, July 9, 2004 - 09:55 am:

Thanks guys. I didn't have a problem until I started watching my 11 year old nephew.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, July 9, 2004 - 10:33 am:

Maybe you also need to set up a password system so that your 11 year old nephew can't get on the internet without your knowledge. I believe that is possible and I'm sure some of the computer savvy members could help you - they'd need to know what browser you use (Internet Explorer, Netscape, whatever), and your operating system (what version of windows), and may who your internet service provider is, and should then be able to walk you through setting up something so your nephew can use the computer to play games but not get on the internet without you allowing it.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, July 9, 2004 - 11:59 am:

You may also want to consider some type of cyber patrol software so that adult web sites would be blocked.