I don't think FREE Firewall's prevent Ads?

[Mags]

Because this PC needs reformatting and Ellie had to cancel due to illhealth and we're both busy this week, it wasn't going to be done before my Norton sub was due on 28th.

So I've had to Uninstall Norton, took ages, and Install Free Zonelarm, it seems to protect PC well, but I hadn't realised how many Adverts Norton was blocking, I'd seen none on this site until now.

Had a look round Google yesterday and don't think any of the FREE Firewalls block Ads. My popups appear to be stopped by something, but not the Ads on the screen! So am running Adaware more often.

Does anyone knows a very efficient FREE Firewall that ALSO stops Ads?

[NooNoo]

no firewall prevents advertisements.

For that you need a plugin which filters websites.

Popups can be blocked with Google toolbar or things like (ugh) Yahoo toolbar or the various popup stoppers... but be aware, some popup stoppers are owned... in that they allow "sponsors" to pop up....

[Platypus]

The Outpost Free I use does block some advertising images, for example at the top of this page I see only two links thus: [AD][AD]

I could click on them if I did want to investigate the ad.

[Archer]

Avant browser (http://www.avantbrowser.com/) has built in blockers for ads,pop ups ,java,active x,etc and is based around Internet Explorer.Other freeware tools you could try are Proxomitron,Spyware blaster and Spybot Search and Destroy.

[TechZ]

A very good solution is using a Hosts file http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm Silent protection at its best. (thanks NooNoo :thumbs: )

[geoscomp]

Also, remember that if the norton you uninstalled was the internet security program, it included a lot more than a firewall, and uninstalling it probably left you without the other things like an antivirus.

[Mags]

Thanks for all your answers ..

NooNoo, erm, but I'm sure I've never seen so many adverts and I've used Norton since I started and it had both a popup and ad blocker! Norton IE AdBlocking (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/docid/2003082718220036?Open&src=hot&docid=2002070914432936&nsf=nip.nsf&view=docid/2002070914432936?opendocument&src=hot&prod=norton%20internet%20security&ver=2003%20for%20windows%202000/me/98/xp&stg=2&base=http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/nis&dtype=&prod=Norton%20Internet%20Security&ver=2003%20for%20Windows%202000/Me/98/XP&osv=&osv_lvl=)
And no, I wouldn't use things like Google/Yahoo toolbars. Even though my Windows Firewall is turned off, it still appears to function without asking, so a box in the top of IE stops pop-ups.

Platypus, yes I only see 2 Ads on Windrivers, but I'm sure they weren't there before.

Archer, yes, I've tried Avant Browswer as an alternative to IE, but it didn't do some of the things I needed.

TechZ, I'll have a look at that, thanks!

Geoscomp, thanks yes, I had Norton Internet Security on, so have replace the Anti-Virus bit with Grisoft, someone I know on broadband uses Free Zone Alarm and Grisoft, but I think I prefer Norton. I feel safe with ZA but not sure about Grisoft.

[TechZ]

As free AV's go, I cant say i'd recommend one over another. I'd much rather go for somenthing paid for in that area of security.

[Mags]

Techz, yes I agree with you, paid is better than free, but I'll use these for another week or two, until Ellie and I can get this re-partitioned and re-formatted. Can't take her away from her kids just now, half term.

[slgrieb]

There are a couple of ways to address the PopUp Ad issue. The free Google tool bar or the free MSN SearchBar incorporate PopUp blockers, or you could run Firefox which has built-in PopUp suppression. Norton Personal Firewall and Internet Security have PopUp blockers, but I generally use the google toolbar or Firefox to handle ads. Unfortunately, there are more sophisticated ads that are largely un-blockable.

[Mags]

Thanks Slgrieb, I tend to shy away from downloading Pop Up blockers, SP2 seems to be taking control of those. It's the ads really, never seen so many! I've looked at Firefox in the past, in fact have tried various browsers and come back to IE, because none of the other browsers would allow me to reply on MSN Groups.