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 Pop-ups and ads may be created by hackers to infect your device with malware or steal your personal information.

4 ways to stop pop-ups and ads

Pop-ups and ads are annoying forms of online advertising that can interfere with your browsing experience and expose you to malware or scams. So what are pop-up windows and ads? And why do they appear? How can you remove it and prevent it from reappearing?

What are pop-up windows and ads?

Pop-ups and ads are small windows that appear on your computer or phone screen when you visit certain websites or click on certain links. They are usually advertisements for products, services, or websites that have nothing to do with the content you're browsing, and some pop-ups and ads may be fake alerts, warnings, or offers that try to trick you into clicking on them to download malware.

Pop-up windows and ads can be divided into two types:

• Legitimate: Created by website owners or their partners to generate revenue or promote their content, products, or services. There is usually an obvious and easy way to close it, such as an "X", "No thanks", or "Skip" button.

• Malicious: Created by scammers and hackers to infect your device with malware, steal your personal information, or direct you to fraudulent websites. Often there is no way to turn them off, or they may use deceptive methods to get you to click on them, such as fake buttons, countdown timers, or urgent messages.

Why do popups and ads appear?

Pop-ups and ads appear for different reasons, Here are some common reasons why they appear:

• Visit a website that uses pop-up windows and ads as part of its advertising strategy.
• Clicking on a link causes a pop-up window to appear.
• Install a browser extension, program, or application that displays pop-ups.
• Malware or adware installed on your device.

Ways to remove pop-up windows and ads

There are several steps you can take to remove pop-up windows and ads and prevent them from appearing in the future. 

Here are some of the best methods:

Use an ad blocker

If you see annoying ads or pop-ups when you visit a website, you can use an ad blocker that will block them permanently. You can install an ad blocker extension from the web store of your browser. AdBlock or Adblock Plus is the best of these add-ons and is available for all web browsers.

Adjust browser settings

You can adjust your browser settings to control how pop-ups are displayed. For example, you can disable JavaScript, a programming language that many websites use to create dynamic content, including pop-up windows and ads.

Your browsing data, such as cookies, cache, and browsing history, may also be cleared because this data stores information about your preferences and behavior that advertisers can use to target you with ads.

Scan your device for malware

If you suspect that malware or adware is causing pop-ups and ads on your device, you should scan the device with an antivirus program. This program will help you detect and remove any malicious programs or files that may be responsible for the appearance of unwanted pop-up windows and ads. Some examples of reliable antivirus software you can use are Avira, Eset, or Avast.

Uninstall unwanted programs and applications

Sometimes, pop-up windows and ads may be caused by programs or applications that you have installed on your device, either intentionally or unintentionally. These programs may be extensions, games, utilities, or programs whose designers claim to enhance your browsing experience or device performance, but in reality, display annoying or malicious pop-ups and ads. You must uninstall any programs or applications that you do not benefit from or use.