Stop the pop-ups

Web-site operators have graduated from selling simple, innocuous banners ads on their pages to more-intrusive pop-up windows. This phenomenon can make Web surfing like a video game as you roll your cursor across the screen furiously trying to close annoying ads so you can actually see the Web page you loaded.

Two companies offer software to block these unwanted ads before they populate your monitor. Pop-Up Stopper, from PanicWare Inc. (www.panicware.com), is a free program that stops only pop-up windows. While effective against the ads, the software also prevents any legitimate windows from opening, but can be overridden by holding down the control key.

AdSubtract Pro, from interMute Inc. (www.adsubtract.com), blocks banner ads, cookies, and pop-up windows. It also allows you to decide what you want to filter and can speed up Web browsing. But this improved functionality comes at a price: $29.95.

Illustration by Joel Mathews.

Buyers & sellers, visit www.texasrealestate.com.
REALTORS®, visit www.tar.org.