Google to block Adblock from Chrome... again? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2019, 05:41:23 am
content: I remembered some years ago about this happening on Chrome.https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/01/22/google_chrome_browser_ad_content_block_change/QuoteI noticed the element hiders don't work on play store (when accessed by Chrome) for extensions dealing with the fixed headers (not for the adverts) and the settings pages Chrome and that goes for other plugins I figured for "safety". I don't normally have issues with adverts anymore but it is mainly to do with other things that I use it for that annoys me.https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130314005784/en/Adblock-Reports-Removal-Google-Play-Store-AndroidQuote

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2019, 08:06:08 pm
content: Looks like this only affects Chrome? Their product their rules I guess. I use Firefox and will continue to do so.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2019, 10:29:37 pm
content: Oops I mean't Chrome sorry.I'll change the title.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2019, 12:10:13 am
content: Browsers are turning from user-agents into anti-user consumption interfaces. It's been disgusting to see, but not surprising given that Google owns Chrome and Firefox to a certain extent relies on their "donations". They always give "security" as a justification but what they're really securing is their control over the Internet.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2019, 12:12:03 am
content: If Google do this, then goodbye Chrome. Firefox will look mighty attractive.I suspect Google will not want to rock that horse, as they like Google users being tied into Chrome. Losing that would be more painful than some bucks from AdSense.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2019, 02:27:24 am
content: Fortunately there are other browsers.Frankly I find the internet as a whole to be unusable without an ad blocker. The level of visual (and audible) noise has risen dramatically over the years. I get that people have bills to pay, but the advertising arms race has done this to themselves. It wasn't until flashy animated ads and popups got out of hand that people started going out of their way to block them.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2019, 02:28:36 am
content: Just like microsoft removed wildcards and subdomain blocking from hosts files. I.e. 'douleclick.net 127.0.0.1' doesnt block ads.doubleclick.net Time to switch to firefox, and make a pi-hole I think.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2019, 02:47:34 am
content: Quote from: james_s on January 27, 2019, 02:27:24 amand sites don't check the ads they show, they just let some third party serve up what ever pays. At this point adblockis probably more important than antivirushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvertising

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2019, 09:53:01 pm
content: FYI i added the ublock extension to firefox for android... and yes, it does block ads on webpagesno more self clicking ads bullshit

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 12:09:56 am
content: I've always been surprised that people actually use Chrome, a browser provided by a company that makes its money from advertising. How can any good ever come from that?

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 12:14:47 am
content: Chromium exists.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 04:36:11 am
content: There are good reasons why I don't use it.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 08:31:48 am
content: I take it no one read why they’re doing this change?Turns out the APIs used for content blocking have been used by a lot of not too honest plugins regularly installed by big names for click fraud, malicious rewriting and generally much dickery. So they’re turning them off as a security measure.This will kill off lots of nasty and stupid shit like Nectar, a fairly innocent sounding extension that gives you supermarket points for using the web. It does this by leaking everything you click to a third party. Also it kills all the horrid “adblock” clones which manipulate your data or do fuck all or upsell you shit. This is a massive problem across the board when it comes to day to day “end user” PC maintenance.There is an alternative which is the same as safari, edge, IE etc. This is the plugins provide a list of patterned URLs to block and the browser subscribes to them. That keeps the plugin out of the control loop of the request processing which makes the above scenarios impossible.Thus it’s a good thing.But that’s assuming Google don’t disallow certain URLs being added to the lists. If they did that there would be massive outcry and they would instantly be shot by GDPR for disallowing opt out. So they won’t do that.So everyone, chill the fuck out and stop reading tabloid rags like The Regieter.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 12:25:24 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on January 28, 2019, 08:31:48 amEverything is done for "security". The only thing being secured is Google's profits.Of course they're going to say it's for security ---- no one would agree if they actually told the truth.Quote from: bd139 on January 28, 2019, 08:31:48 amIt's not a problem, and even if it is, it's not Google's job to decide. (Hint: what is Google's main purpose? ...the same sort of tracking "third party" that wants to know everything about you. They just want to monopolise that space.)

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 12:39:13 pm
content: I think you're just paranoid and this is a better privacy outcome.It's about inverting the responsibility. Which sounds more secure to you?1) Hire someone random to say yes/no to each URL.That person writes all the URLs down and sells them.2) Hire someone to give you a list of URLs and you say yes/no based on whether they are on the list.Bold thing is impossible in scenario 2.This is security 101. Don't let PII / secure info leave your domain of responsibility.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 05:13:16 pm
content: Has anybody here successfully built a pared down, bare bones version of Chromium?Not Chrome, Chromium.If so, whats involved in doing it, what kind of build environment does it require?I don't trust Google at all. I don't want Chromium to have privileged access to anything.I don't trust programs that claim to isolate other programs either, unless they are ones I am already familiar with.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 06:11:47 pm
content: In my opinion, two of the biggest problems as far as internet privacy and annoyances go are JavaScript and "cookies". Unfortunately every browser I've tried has been extremely lacking as far as offering any kind of intelligent management tools for them. Use of browser extensions has become mandatory.The way the internet is today, I won't use any browser that NoScript doesn't work with. And the entire concept of cookies needs to be rethought. I wouldn't even know where to start with that convoluted mess.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 08:01:07 pm
content: Cookies are a hack because the web is some fucked up ball of crap that evolved by strapping more fluff to a turd so I agree there.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 08:06:09 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on January 28, 2019, 06:11:47 pmI remembered when Alex Limi removed the Javascript option from the preferences in Firefox.It was a little trivial as you can still do it from about:config but then it would have been good if they made a button to toggle it on/off and put into where you customize the icons and toolbars so if you want it out you can place it where you want on the toolbars rather than installing and depending on some extension to manage it.

author: jaycee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2020, 11:59:35 pm
content: You do realise Chromium IS Chrome, built from pretty much the same code base, just without the Google branding... right?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 12:08:20 am
content: Quote from: AdamJ2020 on May 13, 2020, 11:28:42 pmReviving necro thread just to say this nonsense. Well done!

author: jaycee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 12:36:00 am
content: Meh. This forum showed it as a recent post. Guess i havent been here that recently!

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 01:05:00 am
content: Quote from: wraper on May 14, 2020, 12:08:20 amHe's a spammer bumping his post count.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 01:33:34 am
content: There is Vivaldi which is based on Chrome where you can turn off all sorts of annoying things such as suggest and search in the search box. I don't like the defaults and the positioning of the bars but it can be altered by writing css script I think Userchrome.css.One thing I don't like, on some pages, such as Google Playstore and Chromium, all Chrome extensions get ignored (but not extensions from other browser such as Firefox, or Palemoon as of yet) so all the annoying widgets and toolbars remain stuck there unless I go into developer tools and remove them manually. I wonder, they start there now how far will they go with blocking extensions... Google search, then Youtube maybe.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 02:47:31 am
content: I tried all the Chrome and Chromium flavors last year, on both Win and Linux IIRC, to see what the hype was about,and what halfassed browser code crap they were,To be fair, they were run straight out of the box on fresh OS installs,no Preferences or tick surfing, everything Default google jack friendly aka 'do with me what you will' big bro stuffreally really sub average performance compared to any other generic browsers on the same test bed,and even some legit google sites refused to loadReinstalled the test OS because the Chromies didn't really uninstall themselves as much as I preferI'll wait for a Stainless Steel browser nextany hyped poo may stick less and not corrode after a hose down

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 02:58:50 am
content: run "strings" on your chrome files for some surprises.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 04:08:39 am
content: I read somewhere that the Youtube interface is intentionally designed to run slower in any browser other than Chrome.True or not, it certainly seems that way to me, plus it's ugly, clunky and annoying. Luckily (for now) you can disable that by setting the user agent to something too old to run the newer interface.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 04:38:05 am
content: If they're going to try to stop you installing an adblocker, install one they really don't like - AdNauseam.https://github.com/dhowe/AdNauseam/wiki/Install-AdNauseam-on-Chrome-Without-Google's-Permission

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 06:47:16 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on May 14, 2020, 04:38:05 amThey'll never do that because they realize very well that people will start to use other browsers.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 07:15:50 am
content: https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 08:58:55 am
content: You can block adverts at network/vlan level.If you use OpenWRT for example, package AdBlock drops all DNS lookups by returning NXDOMAIN (non-existent domain) on those pesky ads. Also a Raspberry Pi running Pi-Hole as a local DNS host achieves the same result.As sys admin, you've full control over whitelists too. Plus network wide ad blocking allows configuring guest networks or 'kid safe' access points.Okay, no good when you're roaming someone elses network. Plus AdBlock doesn't do wildcards, yet. Also Gargoyle ads use the same DNS as their other web page code bloat, so they are still there. Not ideal, but network level blocking is the future.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 04:33:11 pm
content: You can use the "block element" of adblockers that have it to block those types of pesky embeded ads.

author: jaycee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 10:13:47 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on May 14, 2020, 01:05:00 amA spammer who evidently knows how to build electronics. Check my other posts

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 10:14:33 pm
content: Quote from: jaycee on May 14, 2020, 10:13:47 pm.. not.. you...

author: jaycee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 11:01:04 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on May 14, 2020, 10:14:33 pmOh, the guy moaning about the necro post ?Meh. To err is to human, thats all I have to say

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 04:38:59 am
content: Quote from: jaycee on May 14, 2020, 11:01:04 pmNo, the guy you first replied to who's post got DELETED!

author: jaycee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2020, 01:19:54 am
content: Oh yeah.. now i see...

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2020, 03:59:46 am
content: Quote from: Syntax Error on May 14, 2020, 08:58:55 amI use a filtering proxy. Gets rid of crap before it even gets to the browser(s), and DNS blocking on top of that as a pre-filter.Quote from: Syntax Error on May 14, 2020, 08:58:55 amIf you set up a VPN you can tunnel back to your home network which has all the nice filtering. It'll be a little slower in terms of latency but a more pleasant experience overall.