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Is adblocking as we know it on the way out?

6 pointsrainandcoffee4y ago6 comments

I run Linux, uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, Decentraleyes, and ClearURLs. I also use a Pi-hole. I primarily use Chromium, but also Chrome and Firefox on occasion. In the last week or so, I've noticed a severe uptick in the amount of ads slipping through the cracks. I've verfied uBlock is working, up to date, and verified my traffic is passing through the Pi-hole. I've ensured the Pi-hole is working as regards FTL, blocklist subs up to date. I use Cloudflare for DNS so I don't think there are any DNS injections. Is Manifest V3 the culprit? At first I thought it was, but Firefox is seeing the same results. Any ideas?

6 comments

6 comments · 6 top-level

I've seen more and more websites that serve ads from their own domain. With filenames that don't reveal that these media files are advertisements.

With pi-hole it's impossible to automatically stop these unique requests from happening. And with websites constantly and randomly changing html-element names, ad-blockers simply don't know what to block anymore.

I guess you would be better off browsing selected ad-free or subscription based websites. Or reading a paper book :-)

Filter lists are built and maintained by volunteers from people reporting cases of non-blocked ads. Just report the specific cases you stumble onto to filter list maintainers. Not reporting, or reporting just vague details of ads _somewhere_ is unactionable and your specific issues won't be addressed.

muzani4y ago

Adblocking feels like a protection racket. Letting ads through seems to be part of the business model, and it's been going on for over half a decade. It's likely they let some slip by for a cut of the ad profits, but just enough to keep people using it. Maybe they're getting greedy and letting more through.

softwaredoug4y ago

Counterpoint is the Web itself on the way out?

Websites are increasingly a dumpster fire of slow crappy code, tracking, paywalls and ads. People get tired of the crap and over time lose interest in browsing to RandomWebPage. Instead their happy to stay in walled gardens that, while evil mega corps, do let the user accomplish basic tasks reliably.

theandrewbailey4y ago

I've learned how to use uMatrix. Almost no javascript means almost no ads. I haven't experienced more ads lately.

NextDNS has proven reliable for me without the need for browser plugins.

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