Blocking Pop-Ups
Pop-up windows are the windows that open when you click on something on the Web, and sometimes they just seem to open themselves. They have become a standard practice on the Web, and some Web applications use them legitimately. For example, MyFAU’s e-mail and calendar clients open via pop-up windows. But pop-ups can also be a result of spyware or adware, and, perhaps most dangerously, can also be used by malware to gather personal information. A good rule of thumb is never enter your personal information in a pop-up window.
The good news is that you can block pop-ups, but blocking all pop-ups can be dangerous because some Web applications use pop-ups to provide information or functionality. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and other browsers have pop-up blocker options in their tools/preferences. (See information below on setting the pop-up blocker in these applications.)
Blocking pop-ups can greatly reduce the annoyance and damage from spyware, but you need to be aware that it can also decrease the functionality of some programs. Turn the pop-ups off as needed. With most pop-up blockers, you can temporarily override the blocking by holding the control key when you click or you can identify sites whose pop-ups you will accept (for example, accept pop-ups from MyFAU and Canvas).
Also keep in mind that you should review your pop-up settings if a program isn’t working as you would expect, especially if nothing happens when you click on an icon that should open a window.
- From the Tools menu select Internet Options.
- Select the Privacy tab. Near the bottom of the window is a section labeled Pop-up blocker.
- If the checkbox for Block pop-ups is blank, the pop-up blocker is not on. To turn on the pop-up blocker click the box so that it is checked.
- Click the Settings button so you can customize what is actually blocked.
- Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar.
- Select Options (Preferences on Mac and Linux; Settings on a Chromebook).
- Click the Under the Hood tab.
- Click Content settings in the Privacy section.
- In the Pop-ups section, select Allow all sites to show pop-ups.
- Customize permissions for specific Web sites by clicking Manage exceptions.
- From the Tools menu select Options to open the Options window.
- Click the Web Features button.
- If the checkbox for Block Popup Windows is blank, the pop-up blocker is not on. To turn on the pop-up blocker click the box so that it is checked.
- Click the Allowed Sites button to enter the URLs for sites whose pop-ups you want to accept (for example, enter http://myfau.fau.edu to accept pop-up windows from MyFAU).
- Select the Safari Settings Wheel.
- Check or un-check Block Pop-Up Windows