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iNetCi Popup Blocker
Probably the second-most popular question that we get asked is how to get rid of all the popup advertisements.  This is our solution.  But it does have it's limitations, so please do read all of the information on this page before downloading and using the Popup Blocker.  YOU MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER SOFTWARE WHEN USING THE iNETCI POPUP BLOCKER, SO PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW.

Popup windows, or popup ads, can be very annoying. Once download and install the iNetCi Popup Blocker on your computer, popup ads will be blocked by default. The iNetCi Popup Blocker is very reliable, and will block almost every popup advertisement. There are some exceptions, which are explained here.

Different Types of Internet Popup Windows
First, you should understand that there are two different types of popup windows. The first type are browser-created popups, those that are created by the web pages, or web sites, you are visiting. The operators of some web sites generate revenue by popping up ads on your computer while visiting their web site. These advertisements fall under this first type of popup windows, which are almost 100% blocked by your iNetCi Popup Blocker.

The second type of popup windows are software-created popups, those that are not created by a specific web site, but rather by software running in the background on your computer. Often times, you don't even know that you have this software on your computer. For example, a common program that a lot of people use for downloading files is called Kazaa. When you install Kazaa, it also installs another program called SaveNow without you even knowing about it. SaveNow runs on your computer and while you are browsing the Internet, SaveNow, rather than the web sites you are visiting, will open up advertisement windows. 

Because this second type of popup window is intentionally caused by software on your computer, the iNetCi Popup Blocker can't tell the difference between these windows and regular Internet Explorer windows that open if you yourself click the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop to open another copy of Internet Explorer. Therefore, this type of window is not prevented by your iNetCi Popup Blocker.

If you continue seeing popup ads on the Internet after installing the iNetCi Popup Blocker, you most-likely have this type of software on your computer. This is important to note, because in addition to creating popup windows, this type of software can also slow down your Internet connection, and some even can be harmful and prevent your Internet connection from working. For this reason, if you suspect you have software like this on your computer, we recommend you contact our technical support department for help on removing that software from your computer, rather than hiding, or "killing" software-created popups, which can actually cause more problems in the future with your computer.

Temporarily Disabling iNetCi Popup Blocker
There are some occasions where you will WANT to open a new Internet Explorer window. For this reason, you can momentarily disable the iNetCI Popup Blocker by holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard.

Some web pages contain links that you may want to click, but which are designed to open in a new window rather than the current one. A window opened by this type of link falls under the category of a browser-created popup window, and will normally be blocked by the iNetCi Popup Blocker. If your iNetCi Popup Blocker is enabled, and you click a link on a web page and nothing happens, it is usually because that link tried to open a new window that was blocked. To allow that link to open, simply hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the link again, and then release the CTRL key immediately after clicking the link.

Another example where you might want to use this feature is this: Sometimes you want to click a link on a web page that does not normally open a new window, but you don't want to lose the page you are on. In this case, you can right-click the link, which opens a menu, and on that menu choose Open in New Window. Again, this is a browser-created window that would be blocked by the iNetCi Popup Blocker. After right-clicking to display that menu, hold down the CTRL key while clicking on Open in New Window and that window will be allowed to open.

More important information regarding the iNetCi Popup Blocker
Popup ads can be prevented by two different types software: popup-killers, and popup-blockers. Popup-killers are applications that wait for popup windows to open, and then force the popups to close right away. With this type of software, you often see the popup window open for a short time, which is often still a little annoying. The problem is that even if a popup window is displayed for just a second, it can still slightly slow your connection, and in that time the popup window itself may be able to open another, and another, and another, etc., slowing your computer and using up your system's resources. 

Instead of closing or hiding popup windows, the iNetCi Popup Blocker actually blocks popup windows BEFORE they open. It does so by connecting to each instance of Internet Explorer running on your computer, and (on a technical level) intercepts and cancels the creation of popup windows before they happen.

We've found this to be a much more effective way of preventing popup ads. However, you should be aware that in limited circumstances, this method of preventing popup ads CAN CAUSE MINOR PROBLEMS. Here's how: Some programs that you use may make heavy use of Internet Explorer to display information. In some cases, running these programs while connected to the Internet while the Popup Blocker is enabled, can result in those programs running slow or having problems.  Other programs may have problems because they rely on Internet Explorer and it's ability to popup new windows.

MSN Messenger Users
One situation where we are aware there may be problems is MSN Messenger.  MSN Messenger is heavily based on Internet Explorer.  The MSN Messenger window itself appears to be a customized Internet Explorer window.  If you click the link in MSN Messenger to check your MSN or Hotmail email account, it opens a new window, a popup window, that may be blocked by the iNetCi Popup Blocker.  In addition, any chat windows that you open to chat with another person, may be blocked or corrupted by the Popup Blocker.  Therefore, WE RECOMMEND DISABLING THE iNETCI POPUP BLOCKER WHEN USING MSN MESSENGER.

QuickBooks 2003 Users
One example where we've found a program to run slower when the iNetCi Popup Blocker is installed is with Intuit's Quickbooks 2003, which internally uses Internet Explorer to display information. If you use Quickbooks 2003 while connected to the Internet, with the iNetCi Popup Blocker enabled, Quickbooks will display information slower than normal. We've found it to be only a minor inconvenience, but the slow-down may be exaggerated on slower computers.

iNetCi Systray Icon The iNetCi Systray Icon is located in the lower-right corner of your screen, next to your clock.  It is the one with the i in the red circle

Other Problems
If you experience any particular program running slow, locking up, or displaying unusual behavior while you are connected to the Internet, right-click on the iNetCi Systray Icon, and then on the menu that pops up click where it says Popups Blocked which will disable the Popup Blocker. (Right-clicking the iNetCi Systray Icon again will show you that the item on the menu will then say Popups ALLOWED indicating that the Popup Blocker is disabled.) If your problem goes away, the Popup Blocker may have been the cause. Please do also be aware that many other problems, such as viruses or other software conflicts, may cause the same issues to occur. 

If you do experience anything like this, please contact the iNetCi technical support department and inform them of the problem and what program you were using that had the problem. If we can determine that the problem was caused by the Popup Blocker, then we may be able to correct it in future software updates. We can also help you solve any of the other problems that may cause programs to behave unexpectedly.

NOTE: When you are NOT connected to the Internet, the iNetCi Popup Blocker shuts itself down, and will not cause any such conflicts with other programs.