Okay lets get our terminology straight. The Buckster ad, and the MD Wright ad, etc are banners, not pop-ups. I have never gotten a pop-up surfing this site. AdAware checks for spyware, that is software that stores information about where you surf, and transmits it back to a company who then sells the demographic information. Pop-up ads are advertisments that, as the name suggests, pop-up in a new window while you are surfing the net. As others mentioned
www.panicware.com makes a free version of software that works well. As for firewall software, a good idea for all computers, Zone Alarm makes a free version available on their web site
www.zonelabs.com. All the products mentioned here; AdAware, Zone Alarm, and Pop-up stopper, have more feature rich versions for sale as well as the free versions. Here is a link with more information about a variety of things that can go on in your computer without your knowledge, and a list of programs to help.http://www.mercury.org.uk/A&D.htm