Add Blockers

Well, that depends on what you think they do!

I use Adblock plus on my mac and I'd love to know if the really do anything or just marks you as a crazy old fool.

My perception is that it's reduced the number of ads in my facebook feed, they still appear in the strip on the right though. However it could be because it's an old machine with an outdated operating system, in order to run some out of date CAD software that I consider to be like a pencil and not in need of updating. And maybe that marks me as a less than desirable marketing target!

Huge posted:

Well, that depends on what you think they do!

AdBlock does what it says on the box, it blocks most of the advertising detritus that fills www screens.  I know it does that because I don't see the adds & some www sites tell me it's on & they don't like it.    

Ghostery on the other hand claims to let me see who is tracking me & lets me select who I allow.   Unlike the obvious & visible effects of AdBlocker,  it's not obvious if Ghostery is actually doing what it says.

You know the highly developed and finely tuned skill of selective deafness - that thing you use when your wife asks you to do the washing up? Just transfer those skills to your eyes then you turn on the computer.

Not the point Chris, it's about people stealing your metadata and using it for nefarious purposes (and yes, according to the Data Protection Act 1998, such collection and use is data theft).

How many times have you had someone from "Microsoft (yeah right, sure)" saying that your computer is putting error messages on their server. 

Huge posted:

How many times have you had someone from "Microsoft (yeah right, sure)" saying that your computer is putting error messages on their server. 

Never.... maybe the Adblocker is working... or is it because I am Mac

Huge posted:

How many times have you had someone from "Microsoft (yeah right, sure)" saying that your computer is putting error messages on their server. 

I've never had such a message. I use a Mac, is that something that afflicts Windows users?

ChrisSU posted:

Huge posted:

How many times have you had someone from "Microsoft (yeah right, sure)" saying that your computer is putting error messages on their server. 

I've never had such a message. I use a Mac, is that something that afflicts Windows users?

No It's not.

It's a cold call Chris, where the caller tells you they are from a tech support team, often Microsoft, I've also had "BT" and "TalkTalk" in the last few months. They claim your computer is sending errors on the Internet (sic).bThey are basically looking for you to download something to "fix your computer", so that they can take it over. Asking them which of the FreeBSD servers has the problem usually has them hanging up.

I use Adblock plus and uBlock Origin which seems to keep me free from unwanted ads in firefox.

Eoink posted:

It's a cold call Chris, where the caller tells you they are from a tech support team, often Microsoft, I've also had "BT" and "TalkTalk" in the last few months. They claim your computer is sending errors on the Internet (sic).bThey are basically looking for you to download something to "fix your computer", so that they can take it over. Asking them which of the FreeBSD servers has the problem usually has them hanging up.

I often play dumb for ages... It's funny hearing them getting all frustrated and wound up, when they finally twig that I'm playing them along they get very angry; considering what they're doing, it's really quite hilarious how annoyed they get.

The other one I do is to stop them part way through with the message "Ah the trace has come back... You know you really should make sure you're not calling a psychopath like me, 'cause now YOU'RE playing MY game!" then hang up.

I'm not sure how these people get hold of our data (how to contact) & if the add blockers have anything do do with it.    I've had 'Microsoft' phone calls & 'BT'  phone & e-mail.   I have to say the BT e-mails are very convincing even include correct & normal page headers & footers;   the wrong e-mail address & URL is the giveaway.   The BT phone calls are easy to spot as the incoming call number is not what BT use,  then once the person speaks the accent is usually wrong.  1572 has helped reduce these calls but they do change 'location' so its not 100% effective.   Winding them up one way or other is good sport if you have the time & inclination. 

Anyhow,  back to add blockers

Mike-B posted:

Anyhow,  back to add blockers

I know what you mean - Ad Blocker, but it can be confusing if it is kept referred as "Add Blocker"?

I can never use a browser without an AdBlock, first of all it is too distracting, and it slows the web browser.

There are some web sites that I find very difficult to read as the continual arrival of the advert data interrupts the screen so that reading the information on the screen is made very difficult. It is for these type of sites I use an add blocker. If a web site asks politely for me to lift the blocker and the web site is well behaved then I will accept the adverts, otherwise the web site is blocked and the web site loses a user.

Apparently (to me), Adguard is the new adblock in town, and it is the best one IMHO. It comes as a free browser extension and a paid standalone app (rather expensive), the app blocks all malware and adverts at the system level (as opposed as an extension which is limited by the browser imposed constraints).