Internet Service Provider Bargains
Plus Tips on Free Software

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You May Already Have A Pop-Up Blocker

If your operating system is Windows Vista, or you are running Windows XP and you've installed the free update Service Pack 2 (SP2), you already have an effective pop-up blocker. It's built into Internet Explorer but you must be using Windows XP Professional to activate the blocker.

An increasing number of people choose not to use Internet Explorer, opting to use alternative browsers such as Firefox, which also includes a pop-up blocker and other excellent security tools.

A Word of Caution...

Most search engines offer a free browser toolbar with a built-in pop-up blocker and other handy tools. Why would they give you something for nothing? In two words, "market research". Once you've installed the toolbar the provider may have access to information, such as which Web sites you visit. They may also have the ability to retrieve information when you submit an online form! Reputable search engines are not interested in obtaining your credit card information, rather, they want to know where you surf and what types of products you buy. It's not snooping and it's not illegal. Users agree to the terms of service when they download and install the software. Do you bother to read the legal statement before you download free software?

Here's a small segment from a major search engine's privacy policy: "...COLLECTS AND STORES INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEB PAGES YOU VIEW, THE DATA YOU ENTER IN ONLINE FORMS AND SEARCH FIELDS AND THE PRODUCTS YOU PURCHASE ONLINE WHILE USING THE TOOLBAR SERVICE."

Some other free pop-up blocker programs may actually install adware and/or spyware on your computer, transmitting data back to the software provider. Before downloading and installing any free software you should always ask yourself, "How do they benefit from offering a free product?"

Popular Free Toolbar Pop-Up Blockers

Despite potential privacy risks, these search engine toolbars are the most popular free ad blocking tools.

Download the Dogpile Toolbar and help rescue pets. We’re on a mission to help pets in need. Search the Web on Dogpile.com and we’ll donate a portion of revenue generated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®). Simply download the Dogpile Toolbar to start helping and make a big difference in the lives of animals. Our goal is to raise $1 million for pet rescue by the end of 2009. Get the best results from all leading search engines at once. Up to the minute weather in your area from Weather.com. Dogpile.com is one of Infospace’s metasearch engines that returns highly relevant results from all major search engines, including: Google, Yahoo, Winfows Live Search and Ask.com

This toolbar has the usual search engine toolbar features plus spell check for webmail, Web page language translation and the ability to highlight search words on a Web page. The best feature is Google's information gathering practices can be easily disabled by selecting "Privacy Information" under "Help" in the Toolbar's "Google" menu.

The free MSN Search toolbar is now the Windows Live toolbar. With Windows Live Toolbar, you always have quick access to Windows Live and Live Search, no matter where you are on the web.You can see when people in your Windows Live network do something new, right in your toolbar. Click to go to the page and get all the details. As you type in the search box, you’ll see suggested search terms from your search history, and from popular searches on Live Search. Preview your Windows Live Hotmail inbox from the toolbar, without leaving the webpage you're on. Add the buttons you want - language translators, maps, news, and more—select from a variety of toolbar buttons, and add the ones you need.

Popular Free (non search engine) Pop-Up Blocker

You do not need to be an EarthLink customer to download and use EarthLink's excellent free toolbar, which includes the following features:

• ScamBlocker: Helps protect you from online scams that try to steal your personal information by displaying a security rating for every Web site you visit and alerting you before you enter a Web site on a list of known fraudulent sites.
• Spyware Scan: Includes a free spyware scan to find hidden spyware on your PC.
• Pop-Up Blocking: A customizable pop-up blocker tool that also blocks Shockwave and Flash pop-ups.
• Privacy Tools: Customizable tools help you manage your cookies and stored personal information.
• Cookie Counter: lets you see how many cookies you have on your computer.
• Web Search: Includes a built-in search box for fast, convenient searching, powered by Google™.
• News: Up-to-the-minute, clickable news headlines in 11 categories.

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Free Software

Firefox empowers you to browse faster, more safely and more efficiently than with any other browser.

Thunderbird makes e-mailing safer, faster and easier than ever before.

IrfanView is a simple image viewer and editor. Supports all major graphic formats.

Green Webmail

ThinkHost offers a free earth-friendly e-mail service powered by 100% renewable solar / wind energy.

Browser Security

Learn how to beef up your browser's security settings. Read this alert from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

ISPBargains Consumer Tip AVOID EXCESSIVE PHONE CHARGES! Contact your phone company before you change dial-up access numbers. Confirm the new number is charged to your phone bill as a local call.

ISPBargains Consumer Tip "UNLIMITED" ACCESS Unlimited access is NOT the same as dedicated access. Carefully read an ISP's legal terms for access restrictions. Learn more about unlimited dial up Internet access.