What is a Pop Up

A pop up is a new internet browser window the opens from another window. It is usually created by using a language called javascript.

Good Use of Pop Up's

Pop ups can be useful, technically this page uses pop ups, for example if you click on the javascript link, a window explaining what javascript is will pop up, this is useful as I perceive that you may want to know what javascript is (i.e. read a brief explanation, then continue reading this page), using this method you can simply read as much / little as you want about javascript then close the window and continue reading here.

Bad / Malicious Use of Pop Up's

A pop up can also happen on an event (examples of events in web pages include, when the page loads, the most common for malicious use, after so many seconds or when the page is exited), the problem with these pop ups is they are not requested by the user, for example the pop up on this page will only appear when you click javascript, the more annoying pop ups will occur when you first visit a page or exit it.

How do I stop Pop Ups

Whilst service pack two in windows upgraded internet explorer to block pop ups I have still found the google toolbar one the best and most useful tools for this, not to mention you can search google anytime you want from the current page, why not give it a try, visit the google toolbar page to download it.

How do I differentiate between good and malicious pop ups?

As a rule of thumb, if you click a link and it, results in a pop up you should usually allow it, if you did not click a link it is usually a malicious pop up. In a prefect world you would know what sites to trust and which not too, but as I'm sure aware it's far from a prefect world

This site and Pop Ups

This site uses pop ups in two main ways, first on the forum to notify you if have new message (this is a example of pop up you may not request, but it is still useful) and secondly as in this page, to allow you delve into the finer details of subject while still having the main subject matter open