LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Non-*NIX Forums > General
User Name
Password
General This forum is for non-technical general discussion which can include both Linux and non-Linux topics. Have fun!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-13-2011, 09:33 AM   #1
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
The end of Adblock+ ?


https://adblockplus.org/development-...n-adblock-plus
Quote:
“Allow non-intrusive advertising” option is enabled by default for all users but the ones using privacy filter lists (EasyPrivacy, Fanboy’s Tracking, Adverisity Privacy). The documentation explains why it has to be enabled by default.
https://adblockplus.org/en/acceptable-ads#default
Quote:
Why is this feature enabled by default?

Because that's unfortunately the only way to reach the goals outlined above. If we ask users to enable this feature then most of them won't do it — simply because they never change any settings unless absolutely necessary. However, advertisers will only be interested in switching to better ways of advertising if the majority of Adblock Plus users has this feature enabled.
Yes it can be disabled, but it's also now the default and I for one struggle to understand how a program that is supposed to just block ads, which is downloaded, installed and used by users who presumably want to block ads, is now going to allow "acceptable ads" by default. The arguments about supporting "free" ad funded sites (such as this one) aside, should a program that claims to be an ad blocker, block ads, or should it pick and choose by default? If people want to block annoying crap like flash ads and pop ups, while letting through "acceptable ads" there are other ways to achieve this, they don't need adblock+.

The argument that it had to be the default or users simply wouldn't bother to turn it off doesn't wash as that same apathy will work for them in keeping it on - which is obviously what they're counting on. It's quite obvious that ad companies have gotten involved somewhere here...
 
Old 12-13-2011, 11:37 AM   #2
SigTerm
Member
 
Registered: Dec 2009
Distribution: Slackware 12.2
Posts: 379

Rep: Reputation: 234Reputation: 234Reputation: 234
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel View Post
should a program that claims to be an ad blocker, block ads, or should it pick and choose by default?
Your question is invalid. The program is developed by an author, to do what author wants to be done. "Should"/"shouldn't" is irrelevant - developers decide what it does.
If you do not like how it works, you can grab source code, fork and modify it to suit your tastes.
 
Old 12-13-2011, 12:04 PM   #3
Juako
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2010
Posts: 202

Rep: Reputation: 84
You could think it's possible that there's some money from advertisers here..anyway it doesn't really matter, as long as it stays configurable. Almost everyone bothering to install adblock will tune it (in fact whenever you install a piece of software and leave the defaults you are exposed to whatever may happen, that's negligence).

If they had took out the option to block everything you want maybe, but as it is, "End of adblock" seems a bit much.
 
Old 12-13-2011, 06:37 PM   #4
craigevil
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: OZ
Distribution: Debian Sid/RPIOS
Posts: 4,883
Blog Entries: 28

Rep: Reputation: 533Reputation: 533Reputation: 533Reputation: 533Reputation: 533Reputation: 533
Use one of the privacy lists, which is probably a smart thing to use anyway.
 
Old 12-13-2011, 08:30 PM   #5
syg00
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Australia
Distribution: Lots ...
Posts: 21,103

Rep: Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117Reputation: 4117
I gave up on it ages ago. I find privoxy fits better with what I want and how I work.
 
Old 12-14-2011, 09:47 AM   #6
H_TeXMeX_H
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: $RANDOM
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 12,928
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel View Post
The argument that it had to be the default or users simply wouldn't bother to turn it off doesn't wash as that same apathy will work for them in keeping it on - which is obviously what they're counting on. It's quite obvious that ad companies have gotten involved somewhere here...
I agree, it is not an argument. Still, it is NOT the end of adblock+, because you can still turn it off. When you won't be able to turn it off, then it will be the end. Then I'll probably use privoxy like syg00 suggests.
 
Old 12-15-2011, 05:32 AM   #7
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
I agree probably not the end of adblock+, but for me yes - I am simply not interested in running an ad funded ad blocker... As I already use noscript and ghostery anyway, I don't think I'll miss it much.

Quote:
Will all "acceptable" ads be unblocked?

No. Unfortunately, it isn't technically possible to recognize "acceptable" ads automatically. We have agreements with some websites and advertisers that only advertising matching our criteria will be used, their ads will be unblocked then. We hope to grow our list significantly over time.
 
Old 12-15-2011, 07:47 AM   #8
sundialsvcs
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: SE Tennessee, USA
Distribution: Gentoo, LFS
Posts: 10,610
Blog Entries: 4

Rep: Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905
Fortunately, AdBlock Plus "gave itself away" when it lost a list and presented the display, which prompted me to have a look at the defaults. I found the option and promptly turned it off.

On my computer, an advertisement has to first run the gauntlet of Privoxy, then make it through AdBlock, in order to (never...) make it to my screen.

I very simply couldn't use the Internet if I had to endure the deluge of advertisements.
 
Old 12-15-2011, 10:32 AM   #9
H_TeXMeX_H
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: $RANDOM
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 12,928
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundialsvcs View Post
I very simply couldn't use the Internet if I had to endure the deluge of advertisements.
Me too. If any of you don't believe it, disable it. I was completely shocked when I used a Window$ machine a while ago at some hotel and it only had IE and the net was pure evil.
 
Old 12-15-2011, 07:51 PM   #10
sundialsvcs
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: SE Tennessee, USA
Distribution: Gentoo, LFS
Posts: 10,610
Blog Entries: 4

Rep: Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905
Nevertheless, this is effectively a double-cross by the inventor and heretofore-respected author of AdBlock, because it represents an attempt by that author to weaken the product ... obviously (I think...) so that he personally can receive kickbacks from the advertisers whose ads will now be "acceptable."

A truly open-source ad blocking plugin, that no one can adversely control or weaken, is therefore necessary, and I wonder where does one begin to create, say, a SourceForge project to do this? We can't leave something this important to so many of us in the hands of a single individual.
 
Old 12-15-2011, 08:59 PM   #11
rknichols
Senior Member
 
Registered: Aug 2009
Distribution: Rocky Linux
Posts: 4,770

Rep: Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210Reputation: 2210
I had an even bigger issue with the update. My filter rules, some rather laboriously crafted over the years, got totally wiped out, leaving me with an empty filter table and Adblock proclaiming, "Adblock won't do anything without filters." I've restored version 1.3.10 from backup, and plan to remain with that version indefinitely.
 
Old 12-16-2011, 07:16 AM   #12
sundialsvcs
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: SE Tennessee, USA
Distribution: Gentoo, LFS
Posts: 10,610
Blog Entries: 4

Rep: Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905
Well, there's one other nice side-effect ... it prompted me to finally ditch Firefox and go back to Opera. I find that I like a browser that's ready to go in one second flat. I remember those days. Fondly.
 
Old 12-16-2011, 08:21 AM   #13
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
I've ditched firefox for opera in the past and always ended up back with firefox... opera is very good, but the add ons are not as numerous or as good and there is no autocomplete which makes it cumbersome. I also like the typed in address history drop down which other browsers like opera and chrome seem to lack. I'm sure Opera had this in earlier versions but unless I'm blind it looks like it has been removed.
 
Old 12-16-2011, 08:58 AM   #14
Juako
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2010
Posts: 202

Rep: Reputation: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel View Post
I've ditched firefox for opera in the past and always ended up back with firefox... opera is very good, but the add ons are not as numerous or as good and there is no autocomplete which makes it cumbersome. I also like the typed in address history drop down which other browsers like opera and chrome seem to lack. I'm sure Opera had this in earlier versions but unless I'm blind it looks like it has been removed.
Opera has been my main browser since 2005, it's still the snappier out there and now all pages are rendered well. When I want to browse secure, or develop, or quick change proxies (like SOCKS via ssh to my work, Squid->Privoxy->TOR, or plain Squid) I start FF. I use Chrome too, mainly for Google stuff, but without extensions.

Btw opera has more extensions now, and yes it does have the history drop down (at least here, I'm using last version).
 
Old 12-16-2011, 09:14 AM   #15
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juako View Post
Opera has been my main browser since 2005, it's still the snappier out there and now all pages are rendered well. When I want to browse secure, or develop, or quick change proxies (like SOCKS via ssh to my work, Squid->Privoxy->TOR, or plain Squid) I start FF. I use Chrome too, mainly for Google stuff, but without extensions.

Btw opera has more extensions now, and yes it does have the history drop down (at least here, I'm using last version).
I just clean installed Opera 11.60 and as with previous versions I cannot see the history drop down. Either it's not there or I'm being thick. I've typed in addresses to generate some history, but the drop down is simply not there.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[SOLVED] firefox 6 and adblock woes kramtoad Linux - Software 1 08-21-2011 11:08 AM
Is this an adblock problem? starsound Linux - Newbie 1 09-20-2010 02:20 PM
AdBlock Plus doesn't work MTK358 Linux - Software 8 12-02-2009 05:22 PM
install adblock rocketscientist Linux - Newbie 2 10-24-2006 05:05 AM
adblock konqueror thegreatgatsby Linux - Software 4 05-28-2004 10:31 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Non-*NIX Forums > General

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:31 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration