Your browser (I use Firefox) has a feature called "Add Ons". If you select ADBLOCK or ADBLOCKER" - the pop-up ads go away.
Thank YankeeJim for this info.
I have had no crashes using this - HOWEVER - I clear my Cache & History every time Firefox shuts down. This seems to take care of meter glitches and a lot of other gripes that I have read on the Forums.