A number of different pop-up blocking software is available from many sources. While some cost money, others are free. Search engine companies like Google, Yahoo, and MSN offer free pop-up blocking software that can be easily downloaded and installed. These companies also release updated version from time to time, primarily to keep pace with the advancement of innovative pop-up intrusions.

Of all the free pop-up blocking software available and tested by experts, Google software was considered the best. Others that received high scores were the 12Ghosts Pop-up-Killer and 12Ghosts StopMessengerAds. Shareware software such as STOPzilla! and ABF Internet Explorer Tools were highly rated, as well. Applications such as Microsoft’s XP Service Pack Two (SP2) also have some pop-up blocking features.

Free pop-up blocking software can also enable the user to choose what kinds of pop-ups are blocked. The user will still be able to view “good” pop-ups. For this function, users usually need to do one of three things. First, they could adjust the pop-up blocking software to accept pop-ups on selected Web sites. Second, they could manually disable pop-up blocking from the toolbar to view the “good” pop-ups. Third, they can uninstall the pop-up blocking software to view the “good” pop-ups and re-install it when finished.

In a situation where online advertising evolves faster than one’s imagination, pop-up software is being updated very frequently to be able to counter these invasive pop-up displays. Free pop-up blocking software is always struggling to keep up with this advertising onslaught for one simple reason: if they can’t keep up with users’ rapidly changing needs, they will be out of the race.