New IE's popup blocker
Last updated: Nov 3, 2004
Finally Service Pack2 for Windows XP is out and the new, improved IE comes with a popup blocker.
Hey, what can I say - I love this popup blocker!
It's simple and this is very important, because some of the previously reviewed popup blockers had very complex
mechanisms which were way overcomplicated even for a popup blocking specialist like me.
I believe that handy gadgets, like popup blockers have to be extremely simple. The simpler the better.
And the new Internet Explorer popup blocker is certainly that.
In fact, it has 3 functions only. You can:
- Turn the blocker on/off
- Select a working mode (High, Medium or Low).
High mode switches the popup blocker from intelligent popup killer category to usual serial killer. I do not recommend using this mode - you'll be tired of constantly pressing Ctrl for permitting all new windows.
I personally use Medium mode, but you can experiment with Low mode. From what I understand, Low mode permits all popup windows on https (secure) sites. Perhaps, there are other differences. Anyhow, I did not have any "false positives" (blocking "good" windows) neither on secure (https) nor regular sites, when I used Medium mode.
- You can add a site to WhiteList and popup windows on this particular website are permitted.
That's it!
Popup window is considered to be an ad, when it pops up automatically, without any user actions that could lead to a new window being opened (like clicking a link or a button).
IE's popup blocker successfully passes all tests (including instances when modeless dialog window is opened - a known weak spot of many other popup blockers.)
The only failed test for IE's popup blocker is a test for identifying and shutting down adware popups. I use this test to imitate the work of adware program.
In reality there are two approaches in this instances:
- Shut down popup windows generated by adware programs.
- Find and remove adware itself.
The adware popup test determines if popup blocker is capable of fighting adware generated popups. The IE developers decided to take a second path and offered additional options for deactivating adware modules.
There is Add-ons manager. You can use it so see which Add-ons are being "bonded" to IE. You can also deactivate any suspicious modules. You should, however, be a knowledgeable user and know how Browser Extension, Browser Helper Object and ActiveX Control are different.
Add-ons manager does not delete deactivated modules but rather forbids IE from using them. So if you suddenly got "unstoppable" popup windows, you can experiment and turn off suspicious modules. By the way, here are my 2 cents worth - look at Browser Helper Objects first, they are always loaded with IE, unlike ActiveX, which is launched on some sites only, or Browser Extensions, which you have to activate yourself through the menu or IE toolbar button.
Unfortunately, this IE version is distributed inside Windows XP Service Pack2 only.
The number of IE version did not change - it's still 6.0
No one knows if Microsoft is going to release this IE with a new popup blocker as a separate update of IE for other platforms. If they release analogous update for Windows 2000, then up to 70% of all PCs in the world (by my estimate) will have excellent popup blockers and popup advertising will simply die off.
Meanwhile, advertisers are slowly switching to alternative ways of delivering ads - flash and DHTML popups.
I would call present situation a truce. The troops are resting and regrouping. Perhaps a flash and DHTML popup invasion is coming soon.
Let us wait and see...
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