[SOLVED] Firefox coerces users to auto-play video advertisement

andrew.comly · 04-20-2015, 04:17 AM

My netbook becomes extremely inefficient when encountering auto-play video advertisements on the internet. I am on Lubuntu 14.04 using firefox 37.0.1 (Mozilla Firefox for Ubuntu | canonical 1.0), and I don't even have flash installed in the first place, plus I then went into Synaptic Package Manager, and flash is not installed. I followed every online self-help, and in all made the following changes:

1) Menu Bar | Tools | Add-ons All video-> Never Activate
2) about:config

Code:

plugins.click_to_play  true http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/internet/3497991/how-stop-autoplaying-ads-videos-media-on-web-pages/
media.autoplay.enabled false https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/961940
media.autoplay.enabled    false
media.play-stand-alone    false
plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types   application
plugin.state.gecko-mediaplayer  0
plugin.state.gecko-mediaplayer-dvx  0
plugin.state.gecko-mediaplayer-qt  0
plugin.state.gecko-mediaplayer-rm  0
plugin.state.gecko-mediaplayer-wmp 0
layers.async-video-oop.enabled   false
layers.async-video.enabled    false
media.navigator.video.enabled    false
media.peerconnection.video.enabled  false
media.video_stats.enabled    false
plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types app
media.cache_readahead_limit;9999
media.cache_resume_threshold;9999
media.encoder.webm.enabled;false
media.getusermedia.aec_enabled;false
media.getusermedia.agc;0
media.getusermedia.browser.enabled;false
media.getusermedia.screensharing.enabled;false
media.gmp-eme-adobe.hidden;false
media.gmp-manager.cert.checkAttributes;false
media.gmp-manager.cert.requireBuiltIn;false
media.gmp-provider.enabled;false
media.gstreamer.enable-blacklist;false
media.gstreamer.enabled;false
media.mediasource.webm.enabled;false
media.mediasource.youtubeonly;false
media.navigator.enabled;false
media.navigator.load_adapt;false
media.ogg.enabled;false
media.opus.enabled;false
media.raw.enabled;false
media.wave.enabled;false
media.webm.enabled;false
media.webvtt.enabled;false
places.database.lastMaintenance;14294
converter.html2txt.structs;false
html5.offmainthread;false

Moreover, 50% of the online tutorial say to set "plugins.click_to_play" to "true" and others say set to false. Thus I tried both and NONE worked for https://login.yahoo.com/(Tommy Hilfiger) The annoying video advertisement always plays on the left half of the screen and my netbook becomes unusable.
Besides poor efficiency, users like me use linux because of values and ideals, and forcing users to auto-play video advertisements is in strong opposition to freedom.
I also checked this same site for midori and chromium, and they too fall victim to this auto-play scam. Any solutions?

BOYCOTT TOMMY HILFIGER!!!!!

Andrew

jpollard · 04-20-2015, 05:29 AM

I use flashblock on Firefox, which also blocks html video.

andrew.comly · 04-20-2015, 06:13 AM

Thank-you JPollard! Finally I installed Flashblock 1.5.18 and wala! The page loads but only displays the picture, and then it doesn't play the ensuing video. So basically this solves the problem: How to block auto-play video advertisements and be a productive citizen.

Unanswered Questions:
1) Why if I didn't have flash installed in the first place does flashblock 1.5.18 take effect?
2) Is there anyway of disabling autoplay in firefox without bloating up my system by installing extra firefox add-ons?

Andrew

jpollard · 04-20-2015, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew.comly

Thank-you JPollard! Finally I installed Flashblock 1.5.18 and wala! The page loads but only displays the picture, and then it doesn't play the ensuing video. So basically this solves the problem: How to block auto-play video advertisements and be a productive citizen.

Unanswered Questions:
1) Why if I didn't have flash installed in the first place does flashblock 1.5.18 take effect?

flashblock is written in javascript - and gets to capture HTML video even though it isn't using flash.

Quote:

2) Is there anyway of disabling autoplay in firefox without bloating up my system by installing extra firefox add-ons?

Andrew

I don't know about #2 as it only seems to be blocked by external means. This is likely because HTML video is a "builtin" function of html rather than an externally added capability (such as javascript or flash). I think flashblock works by parsing for "<video>" tags (required for HTML video) and makes an inline substitution as it is passed to the interpreter, but not having dug into it, I don't know for certain.

business_kid · 04-20-2015, 01:33 PM

Have you encountered the NoScript addon?

Does exactly what it says on the tin - no javascript, no java, no flash, no malicious scripts on dodgy web pages spamming your mates, etc.

You have to allow them on sites you want. Try it.

astrogeek · 04-20-2015, 01:41 PM

Go here, install and enjoy the ensuing peace and quiet...

I don't know if it actually works for your specific case, but it sure stops most of the junk on sites I visit and even blocks those annoying embedded ads in youtube videos.

Highly recommended!

ondoho · 04-20-2015, 03:54 PM

i've been using a hostsblock script:
http://gaenserich.github.io/hostsblock/
and it takes care of youtube video ads, too. yay.

ardvark71 · 04-20-2015, 04:45 PM

Hi Andrew...

Interesting thread. I'm running the same version of Lubuntu on my laptop and I think the same version of Firefox but I never had the problem you mentioned, probably because I usually install Adblock Plus very soon after I install the browser.

Regards...

DJ Shaji · 05-04-2015, 06:15 PM

I second noscript too. Pages load faster without additional junk. And you can enable javascript on a site by site basis for those which don't run without it.

andrew.comly · 05-10-2015, 09:43 PM

Advark71 & DJShaji,

Yes, recently I have been using AdBlock Plus 2.6.9 and flashblock 1.5.18 and it works really well, but before I used noscripts and that worked really well too.

Originally I thought since linux is minimalist that you wouldn't need add-ons since you should be free (freedom free not $ that 'free') to disable these things(flash, scripts and html5), thus keeping RAM load/HDD space for programs to a minimal. This was my misconception, which I am now clear on.

ondoho · 05-11-2015, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew.comly

Originally I thought since linux is minimalist that you wouldn't need add-ons since you should be free (freedom free not $ that 'free') to disable these things(flash, scripts and html5), thus keeping RAM load/HDD space for programs to a minimal. This was my misconception, which I am now clear on.

...and it is your misconception again, because you are free to use a browser with a much more minimalist approach.
dwb comes to mind.
and again, blocking domains via /etc/hosts (as i suggested in my previous post) is the most minimalist approach. it's also systemwide, not restricted to your browser.

so, linux can be anything you like, minimalist or not.
firefox is not minimalist (it's still a good browser imo).
try dwb.

SaintDanBert · 05-28-2015, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrogeek

...
It really is all about FREEDOM.
...

{commentary}
"Freedom" and "Liberty" are two distinct experiences.
Your own quote from Cowper, speaks of LIBERTY.

I am FREE to swing my arms.
I do not have LIBERTY to swing my arms if they might impact your person.

I am FREE to speak whatever I wish.
I do not have LIBERTY to speak the alarm of "fire" as jest in a crowded room.

The US founding documents name "life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness". To substitute FREEDOM for LIBERTY is to encourage anarchy.
{/commentary}

andrew.comly · 05-28-2015, 07:35 PM

Quote:

I am FREE to swing my arms.
I do not have LIBERTY to swing my arms if they might impact your person.

My application of the above principle:

. Tommy Hilfiger is FREE to create software/media web applications to give all of us the feeling he had in mind when creating a certain fashion genre, even when it brings computers with lower specifications to a halt.

. HOWEVER, he does not have the LIBERTY to implement such applications in such a way that may negatively impact the productivity levels of the human race.

jpollard · 05-28-2015, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew.comly

My application of the above principle:

. Tommy Hilfiger is FREE to create software/media web applications to give all of us the feeling he had in mind when creating a certain fashion genre, even when it brings computers with lower specifications to a halt.

. HOWEVER, he does not have the LIBERTY to implement such applications in such a way that may negatively impact the productivity levels of the human race.

Actually, that doesn't make sense.

He does have the freedom and liberty to implement such applications in such a way that may negatively impact the productivity levels of the human race.... But he does NOT have the liberty to force you to use them...

Sefyir · 05-28-2015, 10:34 PM

This site may be useful
https://help.riseup.net/en/better-web-browsing

Privacy and security seem to go hand in hand with reducing irrelevant content.

I use all three (HTTPS Everywhere, Ublock, Privacy Badger) + no-script and I haven't had a issue in a long time (except for noscript when the site completely breaks without scripts)