How do I block ports. I have popups that come up even when I am offline. They must have come through opoen ports. How do I block these ports and how do I get rid of these popups thanks

It sounds like windows messenger if you are getting popups offline.......Read this, it explains the "how and why" and also how to stop it.

Touchpad, It is probably unlikely that the pop-ups are sneaking in through an open port but rather through a program you are running or as a result of surfing and picking up adware or spyware. I'd run a program like Spybot search & destroy to see what might have been picked up along the way. It is a good program and it is free. Good luck, Bill

To answer your original question, Control panel / network and dialup connections / local area connection properties / Internet protocol (TCP/IP) properties / Advanced / option / (TCP/IP) filtering / properties, You enable tcp/ip filtering, all adapters and then choose which TCP, UDP and IP protocols you want to keep open. Now wasn't that tedious? You can also block ports with a firewall which is MUCH easier. Try Kerio, it's free and easy.

It sounds like WINDOWS MESSENGER, which can be a useful program, but it's gotten out of hand lately, with anyone and everyone sending SPAM IMs all over the place, unsolicited stuff. I'd DISABLE Windows Messenger in the SERVICES section of WINDOWS. Then, get a firewall like ZONE ALARM FREE to guard your outbounds, and also see the www.grc.com for security info. www.panicware.com has a good pop-stopper, but be sure you want to block them, as it works real nice and may accidently block what you may want from friends, etc.