Is there a good way to disable exit-intent popups?

Those things have come to plague too many news sites and blogs. They drive me nuts and the Esc key and AdBlock do nothing to make them go away.

Most of my Google searches on how to prevent them have been links to sites that explain how to create them.


The only way I've seen to prevent them has been to disable Java, but then that's like disabling half of the Internet.

I haven't found a way to completely kill them, but I don't see a lot of ads because almost every time one annoys me I put its URL in my C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts files as 127.0.0.1

Beyond what Spybot S&D and other programs put in, I've added:

# start of entries I've added myself
127.0.0.1 a.scorecardresearch.com
127.0.0.1 tap.rubiconproject.com
127.0.0.1 ajax.google.com
127.0.0.1 t0.gstatic.com
127.0.0.1 b.scorecardresearch.com
127.0.0.1 ads.rubiconproject.com
127.0.0.1 e41365c8--a1--
127.0.0.1 speed.pointroll.com
127.0.0.1 host.getclicky.com
127.0.0.1 imagec18.247.realmedia.com
127.0.0.1 sm.ts.vindicosuite.com
127.0.0.1 x.vindicosuite.com
127.0.0.1 vindicoasset.edgesuite.com
127.0.0.1 playtime.tubemodgul.com
127.0.0.1 t.pointroll.com
127.0.0.1 stats.tubemogul.com
127.0.0.1 in.getclicky.com
127.0.0.1 ad4.liverail.com
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ads.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 cache.vindicosuite.com
127.0.0.1 ver-adt-cm.vindicosuite.com
127.0.0.1 vox-static.liverail.com
127.0.0.1 api.skipit.com
127.0.0.1 search.spotxchange.com
127.0.0.1 c.betrad.com
127.0.0.1 b.voicefive.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.optimatic.com
127.0.0.1 cdn-optimatic.com
127.0.0.1 tracking.optimatic.com
127.0.0.1 r.twimg.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.stumble-upon.com
127.0.0.1 www.google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 ce.lijit.com
127.0.0.1 googleads.g.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 aktrack.pubmatic.com
127.0.0.1 pixel.quantserve.com
127.0.0.1 dg.specificclick.net
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 ib.adnxs.com
127.0.0.1 tag.contextweb.com
127.0.0.1 showads.pubmatic.com
127.0.0.1 ads.pubmatic.com
127.0.0.1 ap.lijit.com
127.0.0.1 ax-d.pixfuture.net
127.0.0.1 ads-by.madadsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 cache.blogads.com
127.0.0.1 www.flowplayer.org
127.0.0.1 uk-ads.openx.net
127.0.0.1 partner.googletagservices.com
127.0.0.1 pubads.g.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 www.googletagservices.com
127.0.0.1 js.adsonar.com
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 a.tribalfusion.com
127.0.0.1 bs.serving-sys.com
127.0.0.1 api.whochit.com
127.0.0.1 ds.serving-sys.com
127.0.0.1 pixel.adsafeprotected.com
127.0.0.1 static.adzerk.net
127.0.0.1 engine.adzerk.net
127.0.0.1 knowlera.vo.llnwd.net
127.0.0.1 redir.adap.tv
127.0.0.1 edge.quantserve.com
127.0.0.1 p.jwpcdn.com
127.0.0.1 cdn1.prod.wochit.com
127.0.0.1 www.monkeysee.com
127.0.0.1 cp76677.edgefcs.net
127.0.0.1 l.ooyala.com
127.0.0.1 kona5.kontera.com
127.0.0.1 adserver.adtechus.com
*127.0.0.1 i1.ytimg.com
127.0.0.1 2rush.bwmeule.co.za
127.0.0.1 ad.directrev.com
127.0.0.1 adrotator.se
127.0.0.1 ads.glispa.com
127.0.0.1 gameninja.com
127.0.0.1 googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 meetic-partners.com
127.0.0.1 launch.newsinc.com
127.0.0.1 stat.flashtalking.com
127.0.0.1 optimizely.com
127.0.0.1 www.optimizely.com
127.0.0.1 ad.auditude.com
127.0.0.1 ad.360yield.com
127.0.0.1 ad.mlnadvertising.com
127.0.0.1 ad.parachat.com
127.0.0.1 ad.propellerads.com
127.0.0.1 ad.reklamport.com
127.0.0.1 ad.sitelement.com
127.0.0.1 ad.thefabricator.com
127.0.0.1 ad.yashi.com
127.0.0.1 ad.yashi,com
127.0.0.1 www.adadvisor.net
127.0.0.1 www.adap.tv
127.0.0.1 www.adbidcentral.com
127.0.0.1 www.adbrn.com
127.0.0.1 adcode.rontar.com
127.0.0.1 www.addthis.com
127.0.0.1 www.adextent.com
127.0.0.1 adfarm1.addition.com
127.0.0.1 www.adform.net
127.0.0.1 adfrontiers.com
127.0.0.1 adfox.ru
127.0.0.1 adhigh.net
127.0.0.1 adinterax.com
127.0.0.1 adgrx.com
127.0.0.1 adjuggler.net
127.0.0.1 adlegend.com
127.0.0.1 adlinktech.com
127.0.0.1 admailtiser.com
127.0.0.1 admaym.com
127.0.0.1 admission.net
127.0.0.1 adnxs.com
127.0.0.1 adriver.ru
127.0.0.1 adrotator.se
127.0.0.1 adready.com
127.0.0.1 adrta.com
127.0.0.1 ads.blogtalkradio.com
127.0.0.1 ads.cpserve.com
127.0.0.1 ads.creative-serving.com
127.0.0.1 ads.designworldonline.com
127.0.0.1 ads.gunownersresource.com
127.0.0.1 ads.mediade.sk
127.0.0.1 ads.optimize.net
127.0.0.1 ads.p161.net
127.0.0.1 ads.plos.org
127.0.0.1 ads.pointroll.com
127.0.0.1 ads.stickyadstv.com
127.0.0.1 ads.torrentco.com
127.0.0.1 ads.yahoo.com
127.0.0.1 adscale.de
127.0.0.1 adserv.bulletinmarketing.com
127.0.0.1 adserver.universal-music.de
127.0.0.1 adserver945next.com
127.0.0.1 adshost2.com
127.0.0.1 adshost3.com
127.0.0.1 adshostnet.com
127.0.0.1 adsniper.ru
127.0.0.1 adspirit.de
127.0.0.1 adspirit.net
127.0.0.1 adsremote.scrippsnetworks.com
127.0.0.1 adsrvr.org
127.0.0.1 adsymptotic.com
127.0.0.1 adsys.airbus.com
127.0.0.1 adtech.de
127.0.0.1 adtechus.com
127.0.0.1 adtiger.de
127.0.0.1 adv.adsbwm.com
127.0.0.1 advertising.com
127.0.0.1 advombat.ru
127.0.0.1 advwebtracking.advantech.com
127.0.0.1 advantech.com
127.0.0.1 adwolf.ru
127.0.0.1 adxpose.com
127.0.0.1 affiliate.godaddy.com
127.0.0.1 afy11.net
127.0.0.1 agkn.com
127.0.0.1 targeting.wpdigital.net
127.0.0.1 spot.xchange.net
127.0.0.1 douluv.it
127.0.0.1 ad.directrev.com
127.0.0.1 g.admedia.com
127.0.0.1 mpp.vindicosuite.com
127.0.0.1 www.googletagservices.com
127.0.0.1 de.tynt.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.syndication.twimg.com
127.0.0.1 whos.amung.us
127.0.0.1 widgets.amung.us
127.0.0.1 t.dtscout.com
127.0.0.1 trc.taboola.com
127.0.0.1 static.adzerk.net
127.0.0.1 ax-d.pixfuture.net
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 netstorage.taboola.com
127.0.0.1 bcp.crwdcntrl.net
127.0.0.1 t.dtscdn.com
127.0.0.1 i.simpli.fi
127.0.0.1 insight.adsrvr.org
127.0.0.1 s.ad131m.com
127.0.0.1 api.lanistaads.com
127.0.0.1 d3.zedo.com
127.0.0.1 rs.gwallet.com
127.0.0.1 tags.bluekai.com
127.0.0.1 us-u.openx.net
127.0.0.1 assets.ebz.io
127.0.0.1 b.scorecardresearch.com
127.0.0.1 js.moatads.com
127.0.0.1 as.ebz.io
127.0.0.1 widget.quantcast.com
127.0.0.1 ssum.casalmedia.com
127.0.0.1 match.adsrvr.org
127.0.0.1 sale.24trk.com
127.0.0.1 onclickads.net
127.0.0.1 onclickads.com
127.0.0.1 ssum-sec.casalemedia.com
127.0.0.1 dsum-sec.casalemedia.com
127.0.0.1 ssum.casalemedia.com
127.0.0.1 data-secure.circulate.com
127.0.0.1 cj.dotomi.com
127.0.0.1 ej.dotomi.com
127.0.0.1 emjcd.com
127.0.0.1 s.moatads.com
127.0.0.1 www.fanduel.com
127.0.0.1 offers.alibaba.com
127.0.0.1 allaff.kaav.info
127.0.0.1 widget.quantcast.com
127.0.0.1 counter3.mgaserv.com
127.0.0.1 24online.feelfree4update.com
127.0.0.1 c.cldlr.com
127.0.0.1 offer.alibaba.com
127.0.0.1 us-u.openx.net
127.0.0.1 s7.addthis.com
127.0.0.1 web.adblade.com
127.0.0.1 bam.nr-data.net
127.0.0.1 api-public.addthis.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support0.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support1.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support2.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support3.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support4.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support5.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support6.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support7.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support8.com
127.0.0.1 www.pc-support9.com

As I recall, the pc-support entries were a sight that's almost uncloseable that tells you in a loud voice to call a particular number because your PC may be at risk. I had to task-kill the browser to stop that one.

You might try cutting and pasting those and see if your annoyance level drops a little bit.

How long did it take you to build up that list, @gturner ?

Oh, I'm not sure. Maybe six months or a year. If something gets around my usual ad blockers or if some site is set to always pop something up (onclickads is a frequent one) then I add it to the list so at worst I get a "not found" type error in a window instead of a bunch of irritating ads that are hard to exit. Usually I'm using an older version of Opera where it's trivial to pull up information on everything used by a web page to identify the offending URL's.

The only elimination that sometimes causes trouble is vindicosuite which some sites are using as a pass through for revenue, so some of their hyperlinks don't work unless I specifically open them in a new window, as otherwise they go to my loopback address.

Add this one to the list.

127.0.0.1 z1.zedo.com

Popped up from TVMuse/schedule.