How do you deal with ads?

[Odd-rationale]

According to my research, there is basically three main ways of dealing with ads on the net.

1. Adblock Plus
2. Privoxy
3. Custom /etc/hosts file

Which method(s) do you use and why?

[argie]

I visit sites which bother me with ads less. Some I avoid just because of their ads.

Of course it helps that I don't have flash installed.

[oldb0y]

I use AdBlock. It works well:)

[HermanAB]

What ads? I never see no ads...

[phenest]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

[zipperback]

With FireFox I use AdBlock Plus.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

I use it because it works and it was easily installed.

- zipperback
:popcorn:

[Incense]

It depends on the site. If they are nice and quit about the ads, or I really believe in their cause or whatnot, I will disable ad block and click on a few to help them out. Most sites however (Myspace and Digg for example) have loud, flashy video type ads they annoy more then anything. They get blocked, as I was not going to click on them anyway. This way, they can busy themselves bothering IE users.

[zipperback]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

Because I believe that a person should have the freedom of seeing them or not seeing them. If I want to see commercials, then I will just watch TV.

I have not ever purchased something from an advertising banner randomly displayed on my screen on someones website.

If I want or need something, I will find it and buy it.

I pay for my Internet connection, and therefore I have the right to determine what is acceptable subject matter to be viewed on my screen. And therefore I decide if I want to see the advertising.

- zipperback
:popcorn:

[~LoKe]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

If I'm not going to click them, why should I need to look at them? That's like saying car dealerships rely on car sales for income to pay their employees, and that I'm denying them money by walking past the dealership.

[miggols99]

Well it depends what kind of ad it is. If it's one of those flashy ads, they get quite annoying. Good thing I have swfdec installed instead of flash (using 64bit) so flash doesn't play automatically. I absolutely hate the sites with ones like that annoying smilies advert..

[arsenic23]

I don't think I go to any sites that have advertisements that would really bother a fellow. I'd say the site I visit with the most ads is TomsHardware, and it isn't enough to be bothersome.

[MattBD]

I've used AdBlock ever since I switched from IE6 to Firefox in October 2006, and have always used the Easylist subscription filter. It generally lets through text-based ads like in Google Searches, or small images, but big adverts or animated ones get blocked. I'm quite happy with this, as I realise that many sites do depend on ad revenues to keep going, but it blocks out the big ones that slow down the browser.
I don't have a problem in principle with blocking ads - it's like recording something with a DVR and skipping the ads, and no-one complains about people stealing TV shows by doing that. But I see no good reason to block them if they're discreet and relevant.

[popch]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

On sites which have longish texts I want to read, I find flashing and moving ads highly distracting. Examples are Scientific American and ZDNet.

Besides, they delay the loading of the pages because additional hosts have to be looked up and requested for (useless) objects.

[Samhain13]

I visit sites which bother me with ads less. Some I avoid just because of their ads..

Avoidance works for me as well.

[D-EJ915]

I right click and select "block content" and opera takes care of it for me :P I just have to click on what I want blocked.

[Praadur]

I personally find ads to be an antiquated income system, mostly because the person advertising doesn't actually get that much money from it. What I tend to do is donate to whichever services or software that I happen to like, as I'm sure that my occasional £5-£30 is much better than the click of an ad. Other than that I tend to simply frequent sites which don't have ads.

For the increasingly rare sites that do, I find that AdBlock and Filterset.G work well (Filterset.G actually requires another extension but I think it's worthwhile as it seems to do a better job than the lists which come with AdBlock by default, at least in my experience), but I don't use them for ads alone. One use I've found for them lately, as an example, is blocking far too many banner images promoting certain presidential candidates (I wouldn't care about such things considering that I'm a UK citizen and all).

So for me, having an image-defense system around isn't just for the ads, but with a little work it helps me browse the internet the way I want to, and I'm sure that with my particular approach I'm not really harming anyone by doing so.

[jrusso2]

I don't think blocking ads is any way worse then fast forwarding commercials with your tivo, or changing channels during commercials on TV.

No one has to be forced to view ads if they don't want to.

[MattBD]

I don't think blocking ads is any way worse then fast forwarding commercials with your tivo, or changing channels during commercials on TV.

No one has to be forced to view ads if they don't want to.

I get very fed up of reading about websites that block people with Firefox because some are using AdBlock (http://whyfirefoxisblocked.com/index1.php)or ones that block people who reach it from Digg (http://whydiggisblocked.com/) because lots of them use AdBlock, and then try to justify it by saying that those people don't click on ads.

It's kind of like if TV advertising executives started saying that people who make a cup of tea during the ad break are stealing TV programmes without paying. I block adverts that slow down my browser or get on my nerves. I don't block ones that are unobtrusive.

[BreathEasy]

Flash is just too damn useful to not have installed, but I've had problems in the past with flash-based ads which have been so badly programmed (or maybe it was the plugin, dunno) that the CPU usage went to 100% and the system became almost unusable. Mind you this was in Vista. Occasionally you'll also suffer those downloadable smiley ads where if the mouse passes over them unexpectedly, they start shouting or whatever. Friggin annoying.

Solution? Adblock Plus. I'm not going to let those bastards mess with my browsing experience beause they chose to use such obnoxious advertising. Also helps with the speed of downloading a page too of course.

[bruce89]

Epiphany's Ad Blocker.

[-grubby]

http://www.mediafire.com/?0kh0j01lnzp

[drewster1829]

AdBlock seems to take care of things for me.

On a side note, has anyone watched television lately (with commercials)? The commercials have gotten so long, it's horrible to try to watch a program that actually only lasts 30 minutes or so, while the other 30 are ads.

That's why I don't watch television anymore. :)

[Spike-X]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?
They're annoying as hell?

By the same logic, I shouldn't leave the room when ads come on when I'm watching TV.

[-grubby]

AdBlock seems to take care of things for me.

On a side note, has anyone watched television lately (with commercials)? The commercials have gotten so long, it's horrible to try to watch a program that actually only lasts 30 minutes or so, while the other 30 are ads.

That's why I don't watch television anymore. :)

yah TV sucks now. Commercials have gotten longer and longer yet give us less info (like they gave any in the first place)

[metalpancake]

I hear that tey are thinking of banning hdd recorders that can detect ads and not record them because all the companies that put ads on tv are wingeing about lost revenue.:(

[cartisdm]

What annoys me most about watching TV is when the Ads do come on, they're so much louder than the actual show. I have to scramble for the remote as soon as they come on before my eardrums go out!

[23meg]

What annoys me most about watching TV is when the Ads do come on, they're so much louder than the actual show. I have to scramble for the remote as soon as they come on before my eardrums go out!

Web ads usually are also visually much "louder" than the content on the page.

Google ads kind of changed that, by unsuccessfully trying to blend into page content, but the opposite is a problem too: now people have started to develop a visual instinct to disregard anything written in the same style as Google and other text ads as noise. And trying to distinguish signal from noise, when noise is so similar to signal, takes more effort, and causes additional disturbance.

[Ultra Magnus]

Adblock Plus - Its brilliant. I hate ads, so not seeing them is great!

[FuturePilot]

AdBlock Plus :)

[oldb0y]

That's why I don't watch television anymore. :)

Me too! I hardly watch any television anymore. The things I like, I just buy on DVD.

[steveneddy]

What ads? I never see no ads...

same here

[Sporkman]

If I'm not going to click them, why should I need to look at them? That's like saying car dealerships rely on car sales for income to pay their employees, and that I'm denying them money by walking past the dealership.

Not exactly - it's like you're walking into the dealership & driving off with one of their cars, in that a website's product is it's content, of which you are partaking.

[x0as]

Adblock Plus, I don't watch the tv so the adverts on there don't matter.

[init1]

The original AdBlock is better then AdBlock Plus IMHO. So I choose "other".

[BreathEasy]

The original AdBlock is better then AdBlock Plus IMHO. So I choose "other".
Don't just leave it there, elaborate.

[init1]

Don't just leave it there, elaborate.
I only tried AdBlock Plus once and found the interface to be more complex than the original. All I wanted was a simple ad blocker.

[Spike-X]

Not exactly - it's like you're walking into the dealership & driving off with one of their cars, in that a website's product is it's content, of which you are partaking.
Blocking flashy, obnoxious ads on a website is equivalent to grand theft auto?

Seriously?

[xuhhx]

I always wondered how ad's worked. Somehow they make money by annoying the customer. :lolflag:

[Spr0k3t]

I use a 3 point defense against ads.

1. AdBlock+ & NoScript
2. Avoidance
3. Boycot said company posting annoying advertisements

There are a ton of web sites I used to surf but refuse to do so now. I don't bother with sites like Deviant Art as they have random advertising when you stroll through the site. Yeah, I'll hit a link or two, but ads just boil my blood.

Car analogy: blocking ads is like going to a car dealership for a testdrive when you have no intention to buy.

The pay per click scheme does not work. It's a good base, but you have to have some sort of supliment. No web site can survive on advertisements alone.

[Tmi]

I would not mind flash ads so much if it was not for the fact that they require so much CPU power that my laptops fan speeds up and thus makes a constant noise.

I use Adblock to block the adds on sites I spend much time on, like newssites. I also use noscript in order to avoid flash whenever I don't want it because of the above reason.

[da_vinci]

What annoys me most about watching TV is when the Ads do come on, they're so much louder than the actual show. I have to scramble for the remote as soon as they come on before my eardrums go out!
same here

[JurB]

I get very fed up of reading about websites that block people with Firefox because some are using AdBlock (http://whyfirefoxisblocked.com/index1.php)or ones that block people who reach it from Digg (http://whydiggisblocked.com/) because lots of them use AdBlock, and then try to justify it by saying that those people don't click on ads.

It's kind of like if TV advertising executives started saying that people who make a cup of tea during the ad break are stealing TV programmes without paying. I block adverts that slow down my browser or get on my nerves. I don't block ones that are unobtrusive.

:shock:, how many websites actually do this. That's just ridiculous!

[BreathEasy]

:shock:, how many websites actually do this. That's just ridiculous!
You know, despite the controversy that came around when that site was revealed, I've yet to see ANYONE block users of Firefox deliberately because of Ad-aware, or perhaps more to the point, I've yet to see a page where I'm redirected to that blocking info site.

So in answer to your question, no-one with half a brain does this. :)

[ljsmithx]

Reading through a dig post about that site.

I came across this: http://www.jacklewis.net/

Go on... try to go there..

[ljsmithx]

Here is a list of sites that actively block Firefox(taken from :http://toastytech.com/good/badsitelistframe.html)

Actively block Firefox:

http://www.walmart.com/swap/SwapEntry.do?dslURL=/swap/LoadMain.do&closeWindow=false&isBuyCD=false (walmart music downloads) " We notice you're not using Internet Explorer...." Yea dumbasses, there is a reason for that.
https://www.walmartbenefits.com/MyBenefitsRegistrationWeb/mybenefits.jsp (Ohhh, we think you should use IE.... does let you continue and mostly works. Walmart is now owned by Microsoft I guess.)
http://www.connect-europe.com "We have performed a system check and detected that you need to download and install [...] Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.5+" Funny, it even says that on my Mac. I don't think they checked hard enough.
http://www.connect.com To get these guyses music you have to use the obsolete IE 6 browser and your choice of the lovely Microsoft brand Windows 2000 or Microsoft brand Windows XP. And holy camel poo they let you use the wonderful Microsoft Windows ME also!
http://www.movielink.com/ This site finally lets you browse their content with Firefox, but the movie "rentals" still requires IE and Windows as their error page explains. As if anyone would want Digital Restrictions Management encumbered videos anyway.
http://play.toontown.com/ This is just sad, especially because is it is mostly just flash anyway!
https://www.sedona.bz/To access SEDONA, you must use Internet Explorer!
http://www.howdidido.co.uk/ (I think there is some evil coding in this site)
http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/ "You must use Internet Explorer to view this site", excuse me assholes, but I don't have to view your site at all.
http://nom.mlxchange.com/ Specifically designed for IE because they must love bill...
http://www.mlxchange.com/ Same thing I guess.
http://h41209.www4.hp.com/euserv/jsp/ErrorCannotContinue.jsp?error=br Whatever....
https://www.hostilespace.com/ Well, it does say they are hostile....
http://www.englishtown.com/master/register/ Must use IE and Winders..
https://www.lojackforlaptops.com/login.asp "Unsupported browser detected!" Look out, we think your brand new browser is crap!
http://gameadvisor.futuremark.com/ IE 6 is simply required... DON'T DO IT! (I didn't think you would)
https://www.mytravelmoney.com/ "The view this site you must use Internet Explorer 5.0 or later.", Uh... no.
http://public.lifesaving.com.au/index.cfm?objectid=94E38899-C298-99DD-C9D547DBE479E350 "This page is only viewed with IE 5+" So? You think people are going to use that old IE forever?
https://secure.premiumretail.com/employees/browser.asp Site requires IE... yada yada, at least they say IE is downloadable for "no charge" rather than "free".
http://www.yini.org.uk/OnlineApp.asp My opinion is a brain-dead badger could make a compatible web site.
http://rd1.surfernetwork.com/Player1.asp?call=kbxr Enough with the requiring IE already! Doesn't anybody know how to design a site right? Hopefully it just the relatively few bad seeds you see here.
http://neptune.com/ Ah, more ActiveX straight from the 1990s!
https://www.nationalcity.com/secure/personal/autoenroll/detect.asp?link=apply (works with NS 7, blocks mozilla/firefox)
http://www.nctraining.ncgov.com/main/main_technical_requirements.htm Netscape NO!
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/gamechannel (Those yahoos require IE and Winders!)
http://cora.nslc.org/cora/Home/login.asp (another retarded app that is MSIE only!! On order to use this application you only have to upgrade to an ancient, obsolete browser that is light-years behind what you are currently using!
https://www.nysif.com/FROI/default.asp ("You are using Netscape." Yes, I am... " Click Here To Download IE..." No, I won't).
https://secure02.mgm-mirage.com/ATS/ATS_Online ("Browser Error"? Internet Explorer is the error...)
http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/downlevel.htm
More microsoft requirey goodness "You can download the latest Internet Explorer for free" (If you have purchased an overpriced version of Windows and activated it with Microsoft)
https://register.btinternet.com/cgi-bin/load_page?page=/selfhelp/chperspwd.html "Browser Upgrade Required"??, they mean "downgrade"!!!!
http://www.tlcshoppe.com/ "Please access this site using Internet Explorer available free from Microsoft.com" Forget Mac, Linux or people wanting to run modern web browsers.
http://www.sheet80.org/ This old, broken poorly coded web site requires IE 5 or higher (IE is very high) for it to work properly.
http://zone.msn.com On-line games will only work with IE, courtesy of our good friend Bill Gates
https://www.my-benefit-info.com/ ("this site will not work with any version of Netscape Navigator." or any other modern browser apparently)
http://www.ftcres.com/ "this page requires IE 4 or newer" and app does not load in my newer Firefox browser
http://www.epclaw.com/login.asp Requires IE 5.0 or higher because we hate you...
http://www.gmaa.asn.au/create_user_account.cfm The GMAA is the nationally recognized Professional Association... I'm sorry, professional and requiring IE just don't go together.
http://demo.safemeasures.org/ Site requires IE 4 or higher to run (It's true, IE 4 will make you run screaming)
http://www.mlab.uiah.fi/~marjaana/ "This site requires Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. Please, check your browser." Hmmm, I checked my much higher Firefox and it seems perfectly OK to me.
http://sef.mlxchange.com/ ("Your browser version is not supported." *Sigh*)
https://www.mybenefitexpress.com/ "To use mybenifitexpress.com you must be using MSIE 5.0 or better" Well, then I must be in good shape because Firefox is much, much, much, much, much (repeat to infinity) better.
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?cid=9914 (Freescan requires you to use IE with Active X, which is probably how you got the virus in the first place!!!!)
http://sajdl.tripod.com/i_intro.html "Sorry, but your browser is in the 10% category The category with name: Unsupported" So 10 percent of over a billion is some tiny number that can be ignored!????
http://www.a2zpattaya.com/ Ohhhh. I'm excluded from viewing this site... there must be something wrong with me.
http://www.costar.com/ Wants you to install IE to use their products (look in the upper right).
http://www.telmastaal.com/(dosn't load flash right in moz/firefox)
https://www.careermapping.com/ As always they expect you to use IE.... sigh.
http://www.racewarkingdoms.com/index.html For "full compatibility" (with poorly written crap) use IE...
http://www.fdms.com/ns_win.asp People....
http://marktheworld.com/click the order link, says it wants IE because of features in it's "real-time" design. (ROFL) Says they are planning to support Netscape... Nothing about Firefox which is what everyone uses these days.
http://www.riffinteractive.com/Download/SetupOther/tabid/71/Default.aspx Lessons only work in IE. Some lesson!
http://www.asia.ccb.com/hongkong/english/browser.html Only "Supports" IE 5.5 and above. ("Netscape is not supported. Macs running IE are also not supported." Chocolate Pudding is not supported... Oversized hair dews are also not supported... )
http://www.aimglobal.org/members/public/companysearch (Allows Firefox but blocks Mozilla Suite and Seamonkey)
https://docstore.kinkos.com/ Works with FF now, but warns with Moz/Seamonkey and then they only recommend IE and Netscape. At least they let you continue anyway.
https://edecs.fws.gov/ eDecs has been optimized by a bunch of brain dead chimpanzees to with with MSIE... hail Bill.
http://www.mytricare.com/internet/tric/tri/tricare.nsf Bad browser detection. click on "register" and it says it wants IE or Netscape 6.2.
https://secure.ubi.com/billing/ Demands that you use IE or Netscape and even say you have to use certain OSes. What do they care if I am running, say, OS/2 as long as the browser works?
http://www.torontomls.net/ MLS has sent one CD with Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6
to each MLS office complete with borg implants...
https://ebpp3.wellsfargo.com/ds/WFF Upgrade your browser? I already did, jerks! Only allows Netscape 6/7 or IE.
http://www.cinemanow.com/Free/1003,0,5,,1,7,18051/Wind-Dancer.htm "You must use Internet Explorer Version 6 or higher on a PC running Windows 2000 or later to use this service" - You must bang your head against a wall very hard.
http://www.globalknowledge.com/training/generic.asp?pageid=133 Virtual classroom requires IE.
https://www.employereservices.com Says it works with NS 7 or IE 5+, but blocks Firefox. Oh, and "The Macintosh Platform can not support our site."
http://www.careers.nestle.com/BrowserTestSearch.asp "If you received this message, it may be that your Browser is not supported." - Or it may be that your site is a piece of shite. You ever think of that? Hu? Hu?
http://www.blackberry.com/GoogleTalk/index.do Uses obsolete ActiveX junk. And Google is somehow involved with this?!?
http://homesecuritysolutions.com/assets/tutorial.htm More powerpointless crap. Isn't this site something about security? So why do they do this?
http://www.screensavers.com/Home/3-D/Fantasy/Fantasy/3D+Flying+Toasters/index.html Clicking the download link says you have to use IE to download: Since when has just downloading required a certain browser? Warning: probably spyware since it so heavily says it isn't.
http://www.tele2.no/bedrift/nettbutikk/?ref_link=sl_mobshop "Sorry, this page is not supported by your browser" So there is something wrong with my browser, is that what you are saying?
http://www2.dsm.com.qa/GeneralInterface/LiveQuotes/Streamer_en.html Says it wants IE or greater. What is so great about IE to start with?
https://partnersource.imarketsource.com/ Ancient unupdated web app, yet another "we do not support your browser".
http://shop.allpcinc.com Wants IE.
http://www.firstdirect.com/internetbankingplus/internet_banking_plus.shtml Clicking "Register Now" says internet banking requires IE on Win2k/XP with ActiveX turned on - I can understand that for Digital Restriction Management infested videos but internet banking? What do they need that for?
https://www.sovereignwebmortgage.com/ - Another site that is only compatible with IE.
http://www.farlink.com/ This site only "supports" IE.
https://boveda.banamex.com.mx/ Wants IE or Netscape only.
http://www.accesselectronics.com.au/ IDs browser and says "You are not currently supported"
http://www.asianage.com/ Site reports "This page can only be seen in IE" and then recommends installing a Firefox user agent switcher!!! That is seriously messed up! They cant just fix their site because... why?
http://tamilsongs.allindiansite.com/kadhal.html clicking "play all" reports "please use internet explorer to listen to songs"
https://e-access.compassbank.com/ibscompass/cmserver/upgrade.cfm?brwser=6.2&sslencry=128&vers=5.0 -Says Firefox is out of date?!?
http://www.subprofile.com/ clicking on any links results in "We have detected that you are not using Microsoft Internet Explorer..." Uh really?
https://www.nysif.com/froi/default.asp "You are using Netscape" (Uh, no I'm not) This application needs Internet Explorer 5.5+. Your web developer needs a brain.
https://cora.nslc.org/cora/Home/login.asp Frames: Not Supported Tables: Supported Client Scripting: Not Supported Keeping web site up to date: Not supported. Please upgrade your brand new Firefox browser to IE 4.01!
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/gamechannel "In order to use the new college football GameChannel, users will need Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher and a Windows operating system."
http://www.nctraining.ncgov.com/main/main_technical_requirements.htm "Netscape NO!"
http://neptune.com/ - Uses obsolete ActiveX.
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html Another online virus scanner that wants to use IE (how do you think you got it in the first place!?)
http://uk.europe.creative.com/support/downloads/softwareupdate.asp Requires IE. Says it doesn't even work in Vista! Obviously this kind of software auto update is stupid and doesn't work, so why even keep it around?!?!
http://www.onlinesalescentral.com/ Says it is designed for IE.
https://pep.ipaper.com/ Requires specifically IE 6 SP2 (What do you mean I require a lobotomy to use your site?)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx Requires IE on Windows to work "Normally" - Is this some new definition of "Normal" I am not aware of?
http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=ncaa "But you will need Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 on the following systems in order to enjoy All-Access:" I most certainly would not "enjoy" this with IE shoved up my ***..
http://www.three.com.hk/appCS/eng/login.jsp "To better safeguard user security, only Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers can be used to access 2 Hong Kons's online customer service applications." IE? Security? What are these people smoking? Socks?
http://musicstore.songtouch.com/ Wants Firefox to download some ActiveX plug in to they can infest your machine with Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) crap. Site refuses to work on Mac or Linux of course.
https://myonlineaccounts2.abbeynational.co.uk/CentralLogonWeb/Logon?action=prepare "Unsupported Browser"
http://www.tlcshoppe.com/ - Just outright requires IE for whatever reason.
https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/ On right: "This browser is not supported." - People first my ***.
http://www.drvtech.com/webinar/template/browsertest/conftest.html "Error - Unsupported Version of Netscape"
http://www.plexus-online.com/ "Only Internet Explorer is allowed for Plexus online" If only breathing were only allowed for people with common sense...
https://conference.oracle.com/imtapp/console/imtPlaybackConsole.jsp - "Playback requires Internet Explorer" WARNING! THIS LINK MAY CRASH FIREFOX! I would expect more from Oracle, except I know their most favorite word is "desupport".
http://www.consumerinput.com/panel/registration.csp?panel=poppy They apparently don't want your input since they require IE.
http://customercare.mtnl.net.in/ "Your browser does not meet the minimum specifications for viewing this site." Browser Version: 5.0 - Evil: False - Piece of junk: False
http://www.pcpitstop.com/vistaready/test.asp This is a Vista readiness test. It test that you are a loyal Microsoft *** kisser by making sure you are running IE.
http://www.barclays-skills.com/telegraph If you are not a loyal Microsoft *** kisser, this training material might help - it is only accessible in IE.
http://www.mindleaders.com/support/ The real guilty party for the above web site.
https://wca.eclaim.com/ Another leftover from the 1900s that requires IE.
https://jobsearch.unicru.com/JLohome.aspx?rscid={8e517c89-7a6d-c98a-e001-9f3a96339c04}&RP=CR Seems to work in Firefox but barfs if it detects you are using anything other than Windows 98, 2000, or XP.
http://bv.officemax.com/max/solutions/services/CopyMax/launchXMContent.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&linkName=theProduct&linkToWizard=RubberStamps "For this functionality please use Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 and higher" - Forget it pal.
https://secure.bsneny.com/online_services/nenymember/nenymembLogin.asp?catg=memb "To use Online Services you need Internet Explorer." and a lobotomy.
http://sun.airmedia-inc.com/ Java powered but doesn't work in Firefox?
http://www.myhomeequity.com/PreQual/?sc=67&utm_source=cmi&utm_medium=adprequal Says it is not compatible and oh so helpfully redirects you to Microsoft's assimilation page.
http://www.topjob.com.br/ Says it wants IE.
http://www.subservientprogrammer.com/main.aspx - ActiveX warning
https://myonlineaccounts2.abbeynational.co.uk/CentralLogonWeb/Logon?action=prepare The first time you load it says your browser is not "supported". (Oh, I just don't get enough of that word!!) It lets you continue as it seems it was developed for IE and the old Netscape 7.x.
https://retailer.echostar.com/ - Displays garbage in Firefox and elsewhere says it requires IE - which is also garbage.
http://www.apollosindhoori.com/ - This wonderful piece of trash site has illegal backslashes in the file names and otherwise says it requires IE.
http://gameadvisor.futuremark.com/gameadvisor/service/ "Windows XP Game Advisor requires the use of the Windows 98/ME/2000/XP operating system and the Internet Explorer 6 browser." Hmmmm.... I wonder why?
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/scanner/ Requires IE, of course. What did you expect from Big Brother Bill?
https://home.membercenter.office.microsoft.com/Signup15/Default.aspx?sku=EssentialsTrial&signupsrc=FreeTrial_Top&partner=OL&lc=en-US More fun from our good friend Bill. Incidentally, this "Office Live" **** is mostly ActiveX, so it isn't a real web app, it is just another fancy Win32 app.
http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=bay "You need to be running Microsoft Internet Explorer" - in the same way you need to have your legs crushed.
http://www.bimbo.com/ we no el suporto your browsero.
https://www.employereservices.com/ no eSupport for eServices. That eSucks.
http://www.medimax.it/ Wants IE for Mac or PC. They obviously don't know MS put IE for Mac to death a long time ago.
http://www.runaware.com/microsoft/en-us/office2007/td Yet another Office 2007 test drive thing (Win32/ActiveX)
http://www.betshopitalia.com/Index.aspx More IE lovage.
http://www.staples.marktheworld.com/ Clicking on any of the options returns a message that says the site requires IE because of "advanced features" in IE. I'm rolling on the floor laughing.
http://www.carrefour.net I'm starting to get sick.
http://www.agentcenter.com/ "This system requires Internet Explorer v5.5 or higher." The blue "e" is asking you if you want to get high.
http://www.sencore.com/Sweep/SL754D/SL754D_files/frame.htm More IE-Only PowerPoint drek.
http://activedaily.readingeagle.com/Daily/client.asp?skin=ReadingEagle "Your browser environment is not fully supported. Do you want to continue anyway?" Your pants are not fully supported. Go ahead and continue and see what happens.
https://www.giftcardbalance123.com/ "Internet Explorer is required to access this website." - and your hard drive.
http://premier.dell.co.jp/Premier/Include/Errorb.asp
http://www.hangame.co.jp/ I believe the word is "baka".
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/support/index_ts.jsp Another site that says it needs IE. And this one, I think, really does access your hard drive.
http://www.secuser.com/antivirus/index.htm - Unable to load the ActiveX control. Well, where I am from that is a GOOD thing.
http://carelink.minimed.com/ Now this just disgusts me, some medical thing and they require IE.
http://www.law-economics.net/home.asp?lingua=ENG "This site is designed for Microsoft Internet Explorer/Netscape" and was designed in 1996 by a herd of rabid apes.
https://www.lojackforlaptops.com/customer/login.asp Lojack for laptop require flop because we have flapjacks for brains.
http://lava5.deschutes.org/mox5/indexpublic.cfm?&action=Login Requires IE *AND* for added insult uses obsolete popups so it tells you to turn of *ALL* popup blocking. Sites like that - even ones that work in Firefox - need to die. You NEVER want to tell a user to do that! If you must then instruct them how to enable popups for just the specific site, but enabling popups just about makes the web unusable these days.
http://www.elgin.gov.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=... Says they are working on getting Firefox 1.5 working.
http://www.hardyorchids.co.uk/ AAAARRRRAAAGGG!!!! Wrong mime types again! Why is this so freaking hard for people to get right?! And why does MS insist on interpreting them WRONG and displaying files clearly marked as "text" as "html"!
http://www.binayled.com/index.shtm More mime type stupidity.
http://jwc.scau.edu.cn/ And yet more!!!
https://www.mytravelmoney.com/ "To view this site you must use Internet Explorer 5.0 or later." Oh must I, almighty web king?
http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/urbanexp/ "This site is optimized for Internet Explorer" Oh, and that means what exactly? Artificial web page substitute?
http://www.pianetasalute.com Browser, IE, yada yada.
http://www.mundointeiro.com/Default1.aspx More trash, haul it of please.
http://www.housing.umn.edu/applying/step1.php "Only Firefox 1.0 is supported by this application." Uhhh, how in the heck did they manage that?
https://pcws.wal-mart.com/cws/seeker.html Walmart really doesn't like Firefox does it?
http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/DWOnlineMap/MainInterface.aspx Map tool only works under IE 6 - if you don't like it, call 1-800-EAT-****.
https://accounting.quickbooks.com "You need a different operating system or browser" no, we need another web site that does what you do but better.
http://www.holidayapartments.co.uk/include-pages/currency-calculation1.htm This page requires the Microsoft Office Web Components. This page also requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher. Oh, and this page requires someones nuts to be kicked.
http://www.ultimatebaseballonline.com/member/myubologin.asp "This site is only compatible with Internet Explorer 6.0 or above" Apparently this site is not compatible with this century.
http://www.netflix.com/WatchNowMessage?msg=51 (LOG IN REQUIRED!) The "Watch Now" feature only works in IE. it's DRMed garbage anyway.
https://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/access/aslibmain/aslib/asDetect.jsp?action=launch&row=2 Supported configurations include Microsoft Windows running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 while bending over.
https://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/efiling "This site requires an Internet Explorer browser that supports JavaScript and cookies." Cookies sound good, but that Internet Explorer part doesn't. Oh zark, I think I'm going to puke.
http://simcity.ea.com/play/simcity_classic.php Sim ****** classic requires IE. Ironic thing is Simcity 2000 had native ports to DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95/NT, MacOS, IBM OS/2, Amiga and more.
http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/itms/default.asp Wants IE 4 or "greater" Need I mention again that Firefox is infinitely greater?
http://www.dot7.state.pa.us Site wants IE and popups to bring back the browsing experience of the 90s!
http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ividlog/ "This application requires IE" Originating site for these apps here. Hey, weren't these they guys who had that bridge collapse and kill a bunch of people?
http://www.empirehealthcare.com/webapp/EmpSP/NewProviderService/9-4946074194514742848/check_browser
"Please use Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher with 128-bit encryption to access Physician Online Services." Speaking of injuries....
http://www.hubbellcatalog.com "You must use Internet Explorer to view this site." Or better yet I won't view the site at all.
http://www.pulsetrain.com/solutions/application/pulsar_web.htm Click "experience pulsar web now" on the right, enter info (accepts anything) to continue with a login, and you get "Your browser is not supported. Please download the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer from www.microsoft.com" BTW, my browser is plenty supported.
http://www.pocketpc.com.hk/ Something or other Internet Explorer 5.5...
https://www.princesasupermercados.com.br/ Internet Explorer 4 or stupider.
http://www.mymathlab.com/installwiz.html Click something and select "submit" and you get "This course is not compatible with Firefox. Please use a supported browser. We recommend Internet Explorer 6.0" Hey jerks, Firefox is plenty supported. YOU are not supported.
http://toefl.startpractice.com/cart.aspx?program=TFP "The site requires Microsoft Windows 98, NT, 2000, XP, or 2003. Browsers supported include Internet Explorer 5.01 or later and AOL 6.0 or later. All speaking products require Internet Explorer 6.0." Be sure to say "Firefox rules you freaking pigs!"
http://friendlyfiles.net/dw_lv/eebeca12897/Redline2007.By-iiLiDan.www.theultimates.us.rmvb.html Says "to download this file use "Internet Explorer"" I wouldn't actually try that though.
http://www.pepsico.com/PEP_Careers/JobOpportunities/index.cfm Bad browser detection. Knows about Mozilla but not Firefox.
http://fdms.com/ "This web site requires the use of Internet Explorer ONLY" Only mindless butt-eating zombies allowed.
http://msnlttab.englishtown.com/master/register/#3 "We're sorry but you must be using Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer version 5 or above in order to view our site properly." If you are so sorry, then why don't you FIX it?

[MattBD]

:shock:, how many websites actually do this. That's just ridiculous!

I agree, it is ridiculous. I first heard about both of these on Digg, and as you'd expect, both made the front page.

The links are here for the one about Firefox (http://www.digg.com/software/Why_Firefox_is_blocked) and
here for the one about Digg (http://digg.com/tech_news/Why_Digg_is_Blocked).

I'd be interested to know how many websites do this as well. Let's face it, if you click on a link and get that appear, it'd really have to be something interesting for you to want to bother to open it in a different browser.

Besides, how many of us really click on ads very much? I've only ever clicked on the ones in Google searches, and that's because they're actually relevant to what I'm looking for. I'm now doing a correspondence course in web design and I found that through an ad in a search, but that's just about the only time I've ever clicked on an ad.

[BL00dFox]

Ignoring is a powerful tool =]

[BreathEasy]

Reading through a dig post about that site.

I came across this: http://www.jacklewis.net/

Go on... try to go there..
Wow, I checked that with IE and yup, it blocks just Firefox. It's fortunate that there's nothing I'd want from there.

[MattBD]

Wow, I checked that with IE and yup, it blocks just Firefox. It's fortunate that there's nothing I'd want from there.

Yes, I just checked it in Konqueror and I think that's one site I'm not that bothered about being unable to view in Firefox.

[oldb0y]

Well, if they block us from their site, then let them. Couldn't care less!

[billgoldberg]

Adblock plus with the first one in the list selected.

Sometimes it misses an ad and then I just add it.

The whole "the website relies on ads" argument is lost on me.

When I was still using IE6/7 I never once clicked on an ad.

When I'm at someone elses pc, I never click and ad.

So the sites don't lose any income and I don't see those bouncing smiles and drinking santas.

[Sporkman]

Blocking flashy, obnoxious ads on a website is equivalent to grand theft auto?

Seriously?

No - in general blocking ads is like using a product without paying for it, on the other hand you didn't commit to seeing the ads as a condition of using the product, so blocking them isn't all that unethical.

I was pointing out that the "walking past the dealership" analogy was false. That would be more like seeing a link to the site, but not clicking on the link.

[Colro]

I've got Adblock, but noscript often gets most of the ads to begin with.

[mr.propre]

Because I believe that a person should have the freedom of seeing them or not seeing them. If I want to see commercials, then I will just watch TV.



I watch TV mostly for movies or soaps, not really to see advertisement. Isn't that the whole point of advertisement, to see it (even if you don't like it). You see it in magazines, on the street, cars and ... the net.

Personally I don't block them, sometimes I even click them. But I use Opera, and some annoying ads I do block.

[Sporkman]

In general, you all should think about being less hostile to advertising. I can understand hating the more annoying & intrusive ads, but otherwise they're harmless ways of generating the revenue necessary to build content. You don't have to pay a dime to get the content goods you're looking for. The internet would not be the wealth of free content it is today without advertising.

In fact, with some effort you could probably draw some parallels between the free content w/ advertising business model & the FOSS business model...

[corney91]

I don't get some of these analogies. Why would people complain unless it's their main source of income? Are they expecting to make alot of money?
Anyway, I selected none because I don't block ads, I even read them occassionally if they're funny/original (not many of them going around though). I also chose other because I don't have flash installed so the really annoying, flashy ones get blocked.

[KOld Iron]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

Scenario 1:
The web site has a non-commercial goal. In that case they may decide to either not have any advertisements at all or just try to get some additional money with advertisement to help their cause. But the running of the web site is not dependent on the income through advertisement. Therefore I don't see why I should not decide to ignore their advertisements actively by using an ad-blocking utility, even if I support their goal. It is not relevant for the existence/operation of the web site.

Scenario2:
The web site has a commercial goal and part (or whole) of the selected business model is to gain income by advertisement. I would like to emphasize that this business model is freely chosen by the web site owner, because they thought it work for them. Obviously the income through advertisement may influence the pricing of the products offered, or even the profit of the person/organisation running the web site. If I choose to ignore the advertisement I would possibly risk that the offering will cease to exist or prices may increase or stuff, that was free of charge, will have to be paid for in the future. But at no time I am responsible for the selection of the business model of the web site owner, or whether he makes money of it or not. If they go bankrupt, they simply have chosen the wrong business model or their competition was better. That's their risk.

Conclusion:
At no point in time there is any obligation (morally or contractually) that I need to accept advertisement. All I need to accept that blocking advertisement may lead to the said consequences. That's my risk. Consequently I will filter advertisement out as I see necessary (and not the least because many businesses also do not care, how much of my time they waste with their intrusion).

I use Ad-Block Plus and No-Script (=other).

[Linuxratty]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

Oh come on,that's absurd! I'm not denying them money...They have jobs.Why should I pay money to someone who is selling something I do not want to buy and who is already gainfully employed?
..I'm not going to click on the ads anyway.
So how many ads do you click on and buy the products on web pages you visit?
I suspect not very many.
There are specific websites I shop at an I never have had an interest in clicking on website adds and buying stiuff.
Where is it written that if i go to a website,I must click on an ad and buy something?

Most people have 9-5 jobs and it won't break their backs to pay for their site with that money,will it?
What is the problem with ads?
They are annoying,obnoxious,they move,they flash,they blink and they NEVER go away..
And they are never selling anything I want...They remind me of spoiled brats demanding attention by jumping up and down and screaming.
I have always hated ads and when I have watched TV i mute them till they are over,walk away and do something else.
As to FF being blocked if it uses ad block,
Reading through a dig post about that site.

I came across this: http://www.jacklewis.net/

Go on... try to go there..

Fine...They can just go ahead and block me..I really do not care.
Block me all you want.
There are millions of websites i can view at my leisure and that one and their ilk are not worth the time of day in my way or thinking...Not are their precious ads.

Oh and while we are at it In general, why should we all think about being less hostile to advertising?
Methinks you have an agenda here.
Do you work for an advertising firm by chance?

[ExpatPaul]

It depends on the ads. I have no problem with reasonably unintrusive (preferably text-based) ads - especially if they are relevant to the site I'm visiting.

On the other hand, if a site has too many of the flashy, annoying, animated ads - especially the sort of flash monstrosities that expand to obscure the content - then I generally don't return to the site.

[tdrusk]

adblock plus

[Spike-X]

In general, you all should think about being less hostile to advertising.

Why? Why should I not even be able to look at my own computer screen without somebody trying to sell me something?

[Sporkman]

Why? Why should I not even be able to look at my own computer screen without somebody trying to sell me something?

Because advertising is the economic driver of the internet. No advertising = having to pay for everything you take for granted. Content & hosting costs money, so unless something's being financed either by wealthy philanthropists like Shuttleworth or Wales, or by governments, then it won't be there unless users are paying for it. Think about it.

Personally, I'll tolerate having ads on my screen for the priveledge of reading my news for free, having free email, getting free tutorials on HTML, etc.

BTW, you wouldn't be having ads on your screen if you weren't consuming content without paying for it. ;)

[popch]

Because advertising is the economic driver of the internet. No advertising = having to pay for everything you take for granted. Content & hosting costs money, so unless something's being financed either by wealthy philanthropists like Shuttleworth or Wales, or by governments, then it won't be there unless users are paying for it. Think about it.

Yes, but.

There are accessability issues. Accessability has been addressed by W3C, for instance.

A site with the obvious and ostensible purpose of presenting textual material to be read which makes it hard for part of its audience to actually read that content is just daft.

A site which takes a factor if not an order of magnitude longer to load just because of all those adverts which have to be fetched is just daft.

[Sporkman]

Yes, but.

There are accessability issues. Accessability has been addressed by W3C, for instance.

A site with the obvious and ostensible purpose of presenting textual material to be read which makes it hard for part of its audience to actually read that content is just daft.

A site which takes a factor if not an order of magnitude longer to load just because of all those adverts which have to be fetched is just daft.

I agree, site owners shouldn't be jerks about it, and hopefully their readership & hence ad revenues fall because of it. Unfortunately, even though people generally say they hate the most obnoxious types of ads like popups, I have read they those types of ads in fact get the best click-through rates.

I personally dislike popups, "heavy" ads which slow my computer down, and ads which jut out into the middle of the actual content.

[Spike-X]

A site which takes a factor if not an order of magnitude longer to load just because of all those adverts which have to be fetched is just daft.

And isn't it interesting how the ads are always the first thing to load?

[mrgnash]

Most of the sites I visit are academic in nature, and so don't tend to contain a lot of ads. All the same, I have Adblock Plus guarding me from sensory overload when I venture beyond the ivory tower. If only one could install a similar feature in the occipital lobe of the brain which filtered out billboards and the like ;)

[ShadowVlican]

And isn't it interesting how the ads are always the first thing to load?
they're either the first to load or cause the entire webpage to load slowly

adblock plus for me (stops most pop-unders too!)

[Linuxratty]

Sporkman;4085473]Because advertising is the economic driver of the internet. No advertising = having to pay for everything you take for granted

You know,I remember a time when there were NO ads on the internet...Yes,it's true...before the infamous .com.
And I AM paying for something,I'm paying my ISP for their service.
I noticed you did not answer my earlier question which was...How many ads do YOU click on when you visit websites?
How many times a week do you click on strange adds and buy stuff?
I strongly suspect none is the answer.
I am not going to shop at places I know nothing about for items I do not want or need.
I'm not going to stop what I'm doing to click on ads cause you think I should.
I am also not going to click on irritating,obnoxious adds like "Whack the monkey" or "You have just won a laptop!"
Nope,not going to happen.
And because you are being so stubborn about this,I'm SURE you have an agenda.

.
Content & hosting costs money, so unless something's being financed either by wealthy philanthropists like Shuttleworth or Wales, or by governments, then it won't be there unless users are paying for it. Think about it.

Not buying it..Like i said,people have JOBS and can and do pay for websites out of their own pocket. If they make extra from stupid,irritating ads,fine and dandy...But this is MY computer and I will decide what I look at on MY computer....You can look at ads till your eyes bleed on YOUR computer for all I care,but i have a different agenda than you...I do not want to be irritated and annoyed by jerks always trying to make me buy their junk..You buy their stuff if you want to. You click on every ad you see,knock yourself out...have a blast...In fact...Click twice for me if you want....




Personally, I'll tolerate having ads on my screen for the priveledge of reading my news for free, having free email, getting free tutorials on HTML, etc.

Good, you go for it then. I'm tired of being annoyed 24/7 by ads everywhere I go and everywhere I look.. And there is no real proof that looking at ads makes people want to buy whatever it is anyway,
Ok,end of rant.

[Faolan84]

I use the host file + no script. blocks most annoying ads

[kidux]

ABP w/filterset G
Flashblock, so I can choose whether to watch the flash or not
And avoiding sites that contain such stuff if possible.

[will1911a1]

Adblock plus and privoxy.

[Sand & Mercury]

What annoys me most about watching TV is when the Ads do come on, they're so much louder than the actual show. I have to scramble for the remote as soon as they come on before my eardrums go out!
Actually, I heard an interesting story about this. Most TV stations have a policy for programs and ads; they'll not allow the ads to be more than x loud in db, so people do not have trouble with ads being too loud. So what people who produce the ads do, is compress the dynamic range of the sound; it technically isn't any louder than what they're allowed, but the audio is "brickwalled" so that it's still louder to the ear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression#Marketing

[aaaantoine]

I voted Other.

NoScript blocks many ads, and I can safely ignore the rest.


Actually, I heard an interesting story about this. Most TV stations have a policy for programs and ads; they'll not allow the ads to be more than x loud in db, so people do not have trouble with ads being too loud. So what people who produce the ads do, is compress the dynamic range of the sound; it technically isn't any louder than what they're allowed, but the audio is "brickwalled" so that it's still louder to the ear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression#Marketing

To counter this, the stations should further limit the commercial audio volume.

Then again this is just one of those things in life that will never go away.

[Dr Small]

I use Privoxy, which routes through DansGuardian and Squid. Plus, I use NoScript and Flashblock, so I rarely see ads.

[kidux]

I voted Other.

NoScript blocks many ads, and I can safely ignore the rest.



To counter this, the stations should further limit the commercial audio volume.

Then again this is just one of those things in life that will never go away.
I agree, there's little worse than to be watching a live show and then trying to talk to the MRS. during commercials only to be inundated with a blast of sound, and on Spike they have the same commercials every break so it happens frequently.

[bashveank]

I click on them if they're at site I like so that the webmaster can continue running a site I consider to be valuable.
I do run AdBlock Plus, though, but I only to block specific ads that I find offensive or disrupting - I don't download the lists of blocked URLs.

[Faolan84]

I use Privoxy, which routes through DansGuardian and Squid. Plus, I use NoScript and Flashblock, so I rarely see ads.

That sounds a bit overkill. I tried the proxies before but found they just slow down my connection so I just switched to keeping an updated hosts file. I just wish there was a way to automate the update process. May I'll get to work on some sh scripts to do that.

[cmay]

no flash installed. i do not go to any websites that uses adds. if anyone sends me adds which happen twice in 6 years i use my spamfilter on my email account. i do not use a email client such as evolution either.

[Tmi]

AdBlock plus with the first selectable filter in the list.
That filter list alone removes most ads, even on Swedish news sites :)

[Skorzen]

I use firefox with adblock plus installed so ads just don't annoy me.

[MikeTheC]

I normally completely ignore any ads I'm exposed to, and sites which are obnoxious I generally avoid returning to.

I don't use browser plug-ins (normally, that is). I have used AdBlock Plus in the past, but I don't have it installed simply because, as I said, I don't use browser plug-ins. However, there are those who have objections on other grounds to actively screening out ads, and I do not share their views.

[Jimmynemo2]

Plus one vote for this

If I'm not going to click them, why should I need to look at them? That's like saying car dealerships rely on car sales for income to pay their employees, and that I'm denying them money by walking past the dealership.

also, i use a host file, since it filters the request itself, not the loading of the image.

[Stan_1936]

...ads...

Adenosine DiSulfate

[Faolan84]

Honestly I think that those people who make the statement "If everyone blocked ads there would be much less content on the Internet." I don't see how that would be a problem. If your site is so important then why not pay to put it up through your host and if you want to make some money off of it then sell some merchandise.

If there were no ads there would certainly be a lot less trash on the net because there would (1) be no audience for it and (2) people would not support or patron sites that have little or poor content. I remember the 1990s, and it wasn't so bad.

[Sunflower1970]

I use adblock pro, noscript & flashblock.

I don't mind text ads like on Google, and in fact, will click on them if it sounds relavent to what I'm looking for. I also don't mind banner ads, as long as they have no movement in them (same goes for tower ads) But popups, and anything flash-based. Forget it. I don't want to see it or hear it, or have to try and chase it around the screen to close it out.

[handy]

I have a headless PIII running IPCop, which is a specialised firewall/router/proxy & other services.

I installed an add-on called Copfilter which integrates beautifully with IPCop & its browser GUI, providing more services, including ClamAV, which I use even though I don't need anti-virus protection as it doesn't slow down my internet speeds, so why not?

Copfilter also provides the ability to run Privoxy with brilliant configuration files pre-installed.

I have run Privoxy on my machines in the past, & it always caused a speed hit, but I considered it worth it.

Running Privoxy via the IPCop/Copfilter box has no effect on my internet speed & few adds get past it.

[handy]

I don't mind text ads like on Google, and in fact, will click on them if it sounds relavent to what I'm looking for.

I use Scroogle, which scrapes Google, so you get the benefit of Googles search engine without the invasion of privacy or the adds.

When I'm interested in seeing Google's adds then I search with Google.

[Dr Small]

That sounds a bit overkill. I tried the proxies before but found they just slow down my connection so I just switched to keeping an updated hosts file. I just wish there was a way to automate the update process. May I'll get to work on some sh scripts to do that.
I personally don't find it overkill. Everything has it's purpose on my network. Squid caches the pages so they load faster and save me bandwidth, DansGuardian blocks bad pages, Privoxy routes connections to DansGuardian and blocks ads, and NoScript/Flashblock save me bandwidth in the long run. And personally, I don't find it that much slower. If everything was wired ethernet, it would be much faster, but at least the server running Squid/DansGuardian is wired ethernet.

Writing a shell script to add entries to /etc/hosts would be very simple :)

[gn2]

Necromancy is alive and well. :)

[Jimmynemo2]

On the side topic that seems to be going here, I'll say I absolutely never go back to a site that tells me it only works with IE. That gets me fuming mad, and I never buy their services again if I can help it at all.

[richg]

With Firefox Flash blocker, no problem. I have over the years learned how to focus on only what I need.

Rich

[Firestem4]

No script and PopUp Master

[Faolan84]

I don't use ad-blocking - I use Chuck Norris.

[InvalidName]

Dell Mini-8 w/ Ubuntu:

I use FireFox with Google as the default web browser. NetFlix big ad popped up when I logged off motherjones.com, and replaced Google as the default, so I couldn't get past it to the web. The ad always appeared when I opened FireFox. There was no way to close the ad except to close FireFox. They wanted me to follow their link to sign-up. No Way. I spent an hour figuring out how to get rid of it.

So much for my first and last look at Mother Jones, and no way will I ever use NetFlix.

How come the F-word came out Red? I didn't do it. Maybe the F-Secret Police?

[chriskin]

other, since i use chrome/chromium (yes, both) and i have a bookmarklet that does the job

[elmaz]

I use Adblock Plus with Element Hiding Helper,
works perfectly for me.

[running_rabbit07]

I use No Script. It blocks all of the annoying ads.

[inobe]

when the adds pop it simply amuses me that the companies pushing them think they actually work' at least on me :lol:

[HappinessNow]

Adblock Plus (I just recently removed Element Hiding Helper because I never used it)

Flashblock for all flash I may not want to completely block but I like the f-button so if I do want to view a particular flash I just click the f-button.


Off Topic:

To the OP I never vote in public polls.

[Little Bit]

I know for my family it's a bandwidth issue. My dad says alot of the big fancy flashy ads consume a bunch of bandwidth that he pays for, so he doesn't feel bad about "denying" web sites money they would make off of his bandwidth.

But what's the custom host file thing? What should be added to it to block ads?

Amy

[TBOL3]

Have you guys noticed that ads have been getting through addblock plus and no script as of late?

[chriskin]

Have you guys noticed that ads have been getting through addblock plus and no script as of late?

just click on them and choose "block this frame" or something like that

[Gen2ly]

Big fan of NoScript. Doesn't block ads per-say but blocks javascript and without that flash ads dont' get through. Makes a noticable speed-bump.

[%hMa@?b<C]

Well it depends what kind of ad it is. If it's one of those flashy ads, they get quite annoying. Good thing I have swfdec installed instead of flash (using 64bit) so flash doesn't play automatically. I absolutely hate the sites with ones like that annoying smilies advert..

does swfdec work well now for stuff like youtube? I use the adobe plugin (64-bit, ugh... I want it to not be a 32 bit plugin) but would like to switch

[XubuRoxMySox]

But what's the custom host file thing? What should be added to it to block ads?


Just add these lines to /etc/hosts:

127.0.0.1 doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.ca.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 adremote.timeinc.net
127.0.0.1 adsremote.scripps.net
127.0.0.1 a.as-us.falkag.net
127.0.0.1 interclick.com
127.0.0.1 a1.interclick.com
127.0.0.1 media.fastclick.net
127.0.0.1 etwork.realmedia.com


These are the sites most commonly responsible for most of the ads that appear in browsers. Redirecting them to your own machine makes the inserts disappear.

I agree with your dad about it being a bandwidth issue. It's my bandwidth, dangit, I pay for it, and I'll be danged if someone else is gonna use MY bandwidth to make money for themselves without compensating me for the use of my bandwidth for their ads.

I feel the same way about cable or satellite TV. If I pay for it, why must I watch commercials? Satellite radio is commercial-free, why not satellite and cable TV?

I'm sure I'm missing something here, but the idea of paying money for the "priviledge" of watching commercials just doesn't seem right, lol.

-Robin

[PurposeOfReason]

Just add these lines to /etc/hosts:

127.0.0.1 doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.ca.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 adremote.timeinc.net
127.0.0.1 adsremote.scripps.net
127.0.0.1 a.as-us.falkag.net
127.0.0.1 interclick.com
127.0.0.1 a1.interclick.com
127.0.0.1 media.fastclick.net
127.0.0.1 etwork.realmedia.com


These are the sites most commonly responsible for most of the ads that appear in browsers. Redirecting them to your own machine makes the inserts disappear.

I agree with your dad about it being a bandwidth issue. It's my bandwidth, dangit, I pay for it, and I'll be danged if someone else is gonna use MY bandwidth to make money for themselves without compensating me for the use of my bandwidth for their ads.

I feel the same way about cable or satellite TV. If I pay for it, why must I watch commercials? Satellite radio is commercial-free, why not satellite and cable TV?

I'm sure I'm missing something here, but the idea of paying money for the "priviledge" of watching commercials just doesn't seem right, lol.

-Robin
Overkills hosts:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt

EDIT - I use that hosts file and adblock. I'm going to take adblock off and see how it goes.
EDIT EDIT - Keeping adblock plus, it fixes the tabes for ads and removes the "could not connect". The two of them together are great.

[CleverTrick]

AdBlock Plus rules: effective and easy.

[cprofitt]

NoScript usually works well enough for me.

[MaxIBoy]

NoScript and Adblock Plus. And together they fight crime.

[karlmp]

i use bfilter

bfilter should be an option in this poll

[NCLI]

I block all ads but the Google text ads. They are the only really fair and discrete ads I've found on the web. They stay out of the way :)

Oh, and I use ABP, it's very useful for commercials imbedded in flash videos as well.

[HappinessNow]

Have you guys noticed that ads have been getting through addblock plus and no script as of late?
No. Do you have a link to an example website?

[bodhi.zazen]

I recently changed to bfilter. It is portable, easier to use (and IMO more effective) then privoxy, works with any browser (great if you are not using firefox - hint Chrome / Opera) and you can import teh Adblock Plus list.

http://blog.bodhizazen.net/linux/adblock-with-bfilter/

bfilter + Noscript.

I believe the hosts file link earlier is the same list as adblock.

[DigitalDuality]

Some site owners rely on ads for income to pay for hosting etc. All you're doing is denying their money. What is the problem with ads anyway?

Because even if you trust the page you're going to, you have to trust the ad network to not host you malware of anykind. Furthermore, I find ads generally take away from how readable a page is.

Take this for instace:

http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/

The site ocassionally has some decent articles and i like to keep tabs with it, but it has so many ads, pop ups ,etc the site is nearly unbearable to look at.

And frankly, i don't really care about denying people money. It's my computer, it's my browser and I'll chose what I view. That's like telling me I shouldn't turn off my tv when commercials come on, or use DVR to fast forward through them. Sorry, but others making money is not my concern.

I have a site, I have small non-intrusive ads on it, It took me 9 months to make $100, even though I've had a million+ visitors. I would fathom most had some kind of ad blocking going on, and good on them. I don't mind one bit.

[XubuRoxMySox]

The etc/hosts file is nice because it works in any browser (even one that doesn't offer an ad-block plugin).

I found two good examples of them here (http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt) and here (http://www.zoominternet.net/%7Elazydog/hosts).

There's like 800 sites listed! But editing /etc/hosts to include them blocks them in any browser, so I understand.

-Robin

[doorknob60]

ABP FTW :) I forget that ads exist and then when I use a computer that doesn't have it it catches me off guard ("Wait, [site here] has ads?!?")

[sertse]

Used to use adblock, now using custom ghosts file taken from here: http://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&startdate%5Bday%5D=&startdate%5Bmonth%5D=&startdate%5Byear%5D=

I also use a custom css to deal with the element/whitespace stuff left behind after ads are removed. http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/

It was made for opera (complementing opera adblock shown in the same page), but it works in any browser that supports css style sheets.

[Sporkman]

Hopefully if adblock software really becomes widespread, companies like Google, paypal, etc, will come up with really easy-to-use & accessible micropayment scheme for small-time website owners to cover their expenses & perhaps make a little extra for their time & effort. It would suck if only companies with sales staff could make any revenue on the internet.

[Sporkman]

BTW I hear that Arch Linux is really great...

[hockeytux]

Ive never had any issues with the Firefox Adblock Plus addon. I can block anything I want to block so it works for me :popcorn: