system alert

Its enough to make you want to use a different browser. I have used Opera a few times, you can actually block popups. Eventually I will go through the trouble of installing software to block them in IE, but I will definately not get it from a popup add, and will research it in Google groups first to make sure it is not spyware.

--- me

rsmiller40, can't you drag it over until you can "X" it off? That failing, can you right-click on it and then click on "Close?"

I clean out my cookie file every evening before shutting down -- remember, you keep the cookies that enable you to boot up without signing in, but what other cookies are you harboring? Spybots abound in the most innocuous cookies ("mediaplex" is an eBay spybot, for example). Between the efforts of my ISP and cleaning out my cookie file I manage to avoid nearly all pop-ups, and a lot of spam too.

Mine are set to clear once a day. Maybe I need to hit it more often, Steve. This one is extremly anoying.

rsmiller40

you may have inadvertantly installed some spy/nag ware. Some of those activex objects that a web page will ask if you will allow are actually spyware. Gator is the biggest culprit I know. If they get installed, you can get a pop-up even if you are just using google.

--- me

There is software out there, some of it free, which enables you to scan your system for spybots and eliminate them. Some software even sets up a shield against "repeat offenders." An Internet search for "spybots" will probably produce several sites worth investigating.

Thanks guys. Yep, I am aware of gator, for sure. I don't allow downloads, but I'll tell you what did happen. I went into my internet options last night and low and behold, my options had been change to hold the info for 20 days. Don't know how, but there it was. Guess I need not to be so lazy and start manually doing everything including trashing my cookies by hand.

rsmiller40