As with any web browser, Opera users can block annoying advertisements from appearing. For some, this feature is so important that they prefer to use an option with a good ad blocker (like Firefox or Chrome).
How to block ads in Opera
Opera doesn't have as large a fan base as other web browsers, but the casual observer will likely notice the presence of an ad-blocking add-on and won't be disappointed. How can a modern web browser not have built-in protection against annoying pop-ups?
The answer is that Opera, although capable of blocking ads, does not actually use an extension, but a feature called a content blocker. This tool works like any downloadable add-on, but you need to configure it yourself.
So, let's see how to make the most of the built-in blocker.
How to disable advertising in Opera
Click the “Menu” button, then “Settings”. On the "Basic" tab.
Add sites that are important to you to a special list, then advertising on them will not be blocked. To do this, click “Manage exceptions”. Next, write them down in a special form.
Additional protection
This option should be classified as an extension mentioned above. The AdBlock Plus add-on copes with almost all types of advertising on the Internet. It is available on the official website https://adblockplus.org. Your browser will be detected automatically, all you have to do is click on the green button that says “Install for Opera.”
The extension shows its performance in active mode; just look at its label in the upper right corner of the window, where it displays the number of blocked ads. It also has the ability to make certain sites an exception.
How to disable pop-up ads in Opera
Appears due to malware, which has the common name AdWare (applications that display advertisements). Such files are downloaded to the system if you open a site with incomprehensible content, or download a dubious program. How to proceed? There are several ways. Let's take a closer look at them.
Disable Java Script
Applications and plugins run using JavaScript. For example, animation of videos that appear after opening a browser where advertising is displayed. By disabling this code, banners will not appear. For this:
- Click “Menu” - “Settings”;
- Follow the link “Sites”;
- Find the “Disable JS execution” function and mark it.
The banners will disappear, but the browser will not be able to fully display the pages, so add the sites you need to the browser menu. In the JavaScript settings section (described above), click the "Manage" button. Write down the necessary sites, and oh.
Adblock Plus blocker
Download the application on your PC. To do this, go to the address: https://addons.opera.com/ru/extensions/details/opera-adblock/. Click the “Add” button.
Next, allow the installation by clicking “Install”. Restart your browser. To manage it, click on its icon.
Adblock for Facebook
The extension will block Facebook profile banners. Follow the link: https://addons.opera.com/ru/extensions/details/adblock-for-facebooktml and click “Add”. When you click on the icon, the following options will appear:
- Enable AdBlock for Facebook. This option enables the blocker. If you turn it off, ads will appear. Likewise, enabling the option will hide it;
- Block suggested items(ie Ads Within News Feed). Blocks the display of news;
- Block sponsored items (ie Sidebar Ads). Blocks sidebar content;
- Highlight Ads, Do NOT them. Blocking messages.
Adblock for Youtube
When watching a video on Youtube, the player displays advertising banners at certain intervals, or before watching the video. This causes discomfort. What to do? Follow the link https://addons.opera.com/ru/extensions/details/adblock-for-youtubetm-2/ and download Adblock for Youtube by clicking the “Add” button. Now you are free from advertising.
When all else fails
Read practical tips in the new article - “How to clean your browser from ads and viruses.”
If Opera does not stop annoying ads and you are sure that they are not generated by adware, then use ad blocking software to block ads. We suggest using AdGuard (or an extension of the same name), which stops unwanted pop-ups, blocks annoying ads, removes YouTube ads, eliminates Facebook ads, protects against malicious and misleading websites, and much more.
AdGuard Software
Do you like Opera now? Blocking annoying ads in the Opera browser is very easy. In fact, the built-in blocker is in many ways superior to the extensions used by other web browsers, since they rely heavily on the provided add-ons to do the dirty work. Opera may be a niche browser, but it has very interesting features, and blocking inappropriate content is one of them.
How to block in Adguard
Go to https://addons.opera.com/ru/extensions/details/adguard/. Next “Add”.
Create custom filtering settings. Clicking on its icon with the left button.
How it works
When messages appear that you don't want to see, do so. Click on the anti-banner icon, then “Block”.
Move the mouse cursor over the element that you want to block until it is highlighted with a green frame, press the left mouse button. Next, edit the block size.
ContentBlockHelper
This extension is for advanced users. Go to https://addons.opera.com/ru/extensions/details/contentblockhelper/. Click “Add”. Has the following settings:
- Defining blocking rules;
- Filtering by choice;
- Removing blocks using CSS;
- Disabling scripts.
After installing the extension, an icon will appear; click on it and a list of allowed and blocked scripts will be displayed. Click on them to disable them.
Conclusion
In this article blocking ads in Opera, we looked at 2 ways to do this. The first is using the AdBlock plugin, the second is done manually. The first method is good because it is completely automatic. You just need to install the plugin. Then it will update itself and block ads quite successfully. The second one is suitable for those who do not have very powerful computers and notice slow browser operation without any plugins. You can read about how to speed up your computer in the article My computer is slowing down, what should I do?) The disadvantage of the second method is that you need to update the installed files yourself by downloading them again from the Internet.
If ads are not removed using the Adblock extension, then most likely you have caught a virus or Adware. I wrote how to remove such advertising from your browsers here, and from Skype here.
Video - Blocking ads in Opera, in which I tell you how to do this
How to disable
Let's look at how to disable advertising in Opera Windows 10. Go to "Menu" - "Extensions" - "Extensions".
All installed add-ons will be displayed. If they are active, click “Disable”. Then the “Remove extension” button will appear, clicking on which will remove it from the browser.
Other blocking methods
Even with the add-on installed and the built-in blocker enabled, does the banner still pop up? Does the browser open pages with advertisements on its own? The cause was most likely a virus on the PC.
Some benign malware can change the properties of a shortcut, or rather its name.
The correct entry in the shortcut is “opera.exe”, and the incorrect one is “opera.url”. The second entry means that after launching the web navigator, an advertising or fraudulent Internet resource will be opened.
The problem can be solved very quickly and simply: change the name of the shortcut manually or create a new shortcut (the old one is deleted).
Viruses of a more serious nature can be embedded in browsers. Then advertisements start popping up on the pages of all websites. In this case, you should scan your system for viruses. It is advisable to use scanners along with an antivirus, since the antivirus may not detect a malicious script.
It is best to download an ad blocker along with the antivirus utility.
How to enable in Opera Plugins
What's next
Everything you do is saved on the HDD. This applies to the pages visited. Copies of them are created with images and advertising files, which are located in the browser cache. It needs to be cleaned 2-3 times a week (if you actively use the browser). How to do it? Click “Menu” - “Settings” - “Security” - “Clear history”.
In the new window, check the boxes for cookies and caching. The rest are optional. For example, I do not remove autofill forms and passwords.
What to do if malicious adware and viruses are hidden?
Indeed, most adware may be of a hidden type, so it is impossible to find it in the list of installed components. Therefore, guided by the same list of names, you need to open the “Task Manager”, go to the “Processes” tab and follow the following simple instructions:
- view the list of running processes (both active and idle);
- You need to right-click on the suspicious file and select “Show file location” in the context window;
- Minimizing the manager window, using the command line, enter msconfig to select the next restart of the computer in safe mode.
As soon as the reboot occurs in safe mode, you need to re-open the “Control Panel”, and in the folder settings, check the box next to the line “show hidden files and folders”. Using the previously seen path of the hidden malicious element, find it and remove it.
After this, you need to reboot in normal mode and test the functionality of Opera. If nothing is found within 15 minutes of working with various sites, especially after scrolling the page as close to the “footer” as possible, then all work has been completed successfully. All that remains is to install an effective antivirus with a complex of active protection when working on the Internet.
