Sohcahtoa82
Sinclair-SpeccyDo you use an ad blocker while browsing the internet?
Pls boost for a wider reach
#Mastodon #Fediverse #AdBlocker #InternetBrowsing #UserPreferences #Ads #Internet
Yes, always
Yes, occasionally
No, never
Poll ended at .
JoYo@SinclairSpeccy i use ad blockers at multiple levels on my home network.
im more weary of ads than i am of malware lol.
Jernej Simončič �@SinclairSpeccy Not only I use an ad-blocker, I install it at every client through group policy, because it measurably lowers the amount of support calls.
Kevin@SinclairSpeccy the brave browser is my ad blocker
(edit: and ad speedup for youtube)
(edit: and ad speedup for youtube)
Rebecca@SinclairSpeccy Yes, always.
I used to work for a local newspaper, so I understand that ads are important. I also understand the challenges in trying to get people to pay for... well, literally anything on the Internet.
But a) when there are more ads than content, and b) when the ads potentially contain malicious software, or link you to such, I'm blocking them.
It reminds me of the early days when pop-up blockers became a thing. I was happy for an occasional pop-up, but not ALL THE TIME.
Violet@SinclairSpeccy
I picked the middle option because I use Privacy Badger, which isn't technically an ad blocker, but since most ads use third-party tracking cookies, it effectively is!
I picked the middle option because I use Privacy Badger, which isn't technically an ad blocker, but since most ads use third-party tracking cookies, it effectively is!
Oh 
@SinclairSpeccy The internat is has too many distracting, flashing ads that obscure the text. They can also be inappropriate or misleading, so yeah I use an adblocker. If I specifically want to support a site and it has good ads, I will turn it off.
M Schommer@SinclairSpeccy
I'm not using an ad blocker, but a JS blocker (NoScript). But for this poll, that's a yes, I guess.
I'm not using an ad blocker, but a JS blocker (NoScript). But for this poll, that's a yes, I guess.
polypropylen
🄯 CarlOS@SinclairSpeccy #uBlockOrigin is my best friend when surfing the internet.
bobocubedadblocker (multiple), VPN, and a pi-hole for the rest of the devices on my LAN.
Stephen Wuebker@SinclairSpeccy network-wide adguard home instances. All machines and devices are protected in every app.
Michael Schurter@SinclairSpeccy wow I’m in the tiny minority at 4%
I don’t block ads because I want to support creators. The sites with the most egregious ads just don’t get my visits. I respect people’s right to block ads and may do so someday, but for now I kind of enjoy seeing the garbage Temu is shilling and all of the DTC tacticool ridiculousness.
I do use Firefox though. Containers are great!
JodieM@SinclairSpeccy
Always on desktop, but it's too difficult on the phone.
Always on desktop, but it's too difficult on the phone.
Telorand 
🏳️🌈@jodiem
Not at all! Firefox Mobile > Hamburger menu > Add-ons > uBlock Origin
Adjust the settings how you like!
@SinclairSpeccy
Karsten DC7OSI use the AdBlocker and Spam filter between my ears...
#Mastodon #Fediverse #AdBlocker #InternetBrowsing #UserPreferences #Ads #Internet
🌸Lilyana Marie🌸@SinclairSpeccy I block ads on everything I use.
Cinnamon (moving to @SinclairSpeccy yes as ads intimidate me and make me scared. I am one of those people that cannot look at ads, or risk actually getting a panic attack.
ADS ARE FUCKING HORRIBLE FOR MY MOTH BRAIN AND IF YOU SAY OTHERWISE YOU ARE WRONG.
ADS ARE FUCKING HORRIBLE FOR MY MOTH BRAIN AND IF YOU SAY OTHERWISE YOU ARE WRONG.
Stéphane Bortzmeyer@SinclairSpeccy But only on the Web, not for other Internet services. (Well, I have an antispam for email, does it count?)
@bortzmeyer I would say it counts in a way
Thom Zane@SinclairSpeccy For those looking... Use uBlock Origin to protect yourself. https://ublockorigin.com/ Use Pi-hole to protect others on your network. https://pi-hole.net/
24😷-185@SinclairSpeccy uBlock Origin + uMatrix + custom DNS that sends some ad domains, Twitter and Facebook into a black hole.
AnomnomnomalyNot only do I use an ad blocker, I use firefox as a browser with ublock, noscript, privacy badger, ghostery, https everywhere and a few specific youtube based enhancement and blocking plugins.
Search engine is set to duckduckgo
On mobile, I use the duckduckgo with app blocking enabled. In the last 7 days just 9 apps have made nearly 8000 attempts to track me using methods you cannot give or refuse permission for.
iam-py-test 
@anomnomnomaly @SinclairSpeccy
Sorry to hijack the thread (and please do not take this as rude), but Privacy Badger and Ghostery conflict with uBlock Origin.
Also, in my opinion, both are redundant as uBlock Origin blocks most trackers anyway and Firefox handles tracking cookies.
Thanks and sorry.
Sorry to hijack the thread (and please do not take this as rude), but Privacy Badger and Ghostery conflict with uBlock Origin.
Also, in my opinion, both are redundant as uBlock Origin blocks most trackers anyway and Firefox handles tracking cookies.
Thanks and sorry.
ScriptFanix💍
@anomnomnomaly
On mobile I use blokada which presents itself as a vpn tri the android system and block trackers and ads, even in-app ones
@SinclairSpeccy
On mobile I use blokada which presents itself as a vpn tri the android system and block trackers and ads, even in-app ones
@SinclairSpeccy
Darwin Woodka@SinclairSpeccy of course
Stefan Ritter@SinclairSpeccy Pi-hole + uBlock.
Simon Arthur@SinclairSpeccy Yes and No. I do not use an Adblocker because it's built into the browser #BraveSoftware
Martin Kelly@SinclairSpeccy With several. Adblocker, Cookie Defence, and also a pihole. when i accidentally see how bad the internet is without these defences (using in-app browsers by mistake etc) it genuinely shocks me
Chris@RedOct @SinclairSpeccy They really are marvellous wee things
Fabi 
@SinclairSpeccy I'm interested in those who answered "No, never": If you need help installing one, then please ask, there are plenty of people here who will assist you with that.
Trojan Duck@SinclairSpeccy Multiple layers of blockers and anti-trackers
Seán Fenian@SinclairSpeccy with the amount of malware and information theft vectored through ads, it's stupid not to. The ad industry has gone totally metastatic. Advertising isn't about selling products any more, it's about selling ads, whether they result in any sales or not.
jstm ausm paralleluniversum@[email protected] yes, always. my client does not like votes.
Locke@SinclairSpeccy Blocking JS does the job good enough, so no ad blocker for me.
ned@SinclairSpeccy have you tried using the internet without an adblocker?
🐧DaveNull🐧 ☣️pResident Evil☣
Steve Leach@SinclairSpeccy I always use an adblocker online. Also, I don't own or watch TV nor listen to commercial radio. Even the ads on NPR and especially on the NPR One "app" irritate me. And I absolutely won't use any of the streaming services, having heard ads played on them when used by others. Oh, and one of the many reasons I picked #Madison WI as a city to settle in was the ban on billboards. And I won't buy any product I recall ads for.
P. Hightower@SinclairSpeccy I use a script blocker and a side effect is that it blocks ads fed by third-party scripts. I don't mind ads and have no issue with seeing them as long as allowing them doesn't also allow malicious scripts.
Quick Fastly@SinclairSpeccy I can't imagine life without one. my website even warns people who *aren't* using one to install one
Shinryu
moondog548@SinclairSpeccy and I didn't until Google finally broke the camel's back with their YouTube bullshit!
Arataka@SinclairSpeccy Tbh nowadays you SHOULD use an ad blocker for the most part. Too many scam ads trying to target people and too many crappy AD systems letting them through cough adsense.
四@SinclairSpeccy AdBlocker plus PiHole and anything else you can throw at it honestly.
CyberD3m0n@SinclairSpeccy for me, it depends in the website.
jhx@SinclairSpeccy
Can't imagine surfing the modern web without
Can't imagine surfing the modern web without
travisfw@SinclairSpeccy I had a bout of sympathy for news and blogs a year or so ago and decided to try not blocking ads and OMFG it has gotten so bad it's absurd. The amount of work your phone or computer does to "faithfully" execute all that tracking code and send it over the network is at least an order of magnitude more.
I also leave my phone in power saving mode most of the time because wtf is it doing that uses so much energy when I'm not even touching it.
Linebyline→mastoart.social@SinclairSpeccy Using an ad-blocker is like wearing a seat belt when driving, but you have to imagine that people are always jumping in front of you while you drive trying to stick flyers over your windshield, and the seat belt somehow got rid of them, too.
epicEaston197@SinclairSpeccy
funny thing is that I would be perfectly fine with not using an ad blocker I don't mind ads I understand that you need to keep your site up or whatever but as soon as it becomes annoying and obscures content that's when I use my adblocker
funny thing is that I would be perfectly fine with not using an ad blocker I don't mind ads I understand that you need to keep your site up or whatever but as soon as it becomes annoying and obscures content that's when I use my adblocker
@SinclairSpeccy
YouTube is an excellent example of this I just wanna watch my video but having something played before it's just annoying but when it's like a banner or something that can easily be ignored
YouTube is an excellent example of this I just wanna watch my video but having something played before it's just annoying but when it's like a banner or something that can easily be ignored
Snoogles Art
Simon Cox 
@SinclairSpeccy
I'm not surprised by this result as a Mastodon audience but i would think the same poll on the other socials might show high numbers for ad blockers too.
I have one client who decide to have opt in analytics a few years ago and we were able to calculate that we are now measuring about 30% of the actual traffic - still gives good indicators as to what is performing well just not the full scale of it (and they have no advertising on the site).
peek@SinclairSpeccy The same, Firefox for Android + UBlock Origin and Blokada to avoid a maximum of unknown connections.
Flamekebab@SinclairSpeccy Absolutely. I contribute plenty to the internet and free culture out of my own pocket and do so without advertising.
DD0UL ✅@SinclairSpeccy using Ghostery, uBlock Origin and Youtube Sponsor Blocker.