Russell's TeapotApr 20, 2017
Munin, Keeper of Lore

Chrome to implement an adblocker

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/04/report-google-will-add-an-ad-blocker-to-all-versions-of-chrome-web-browser/

Kind of a dilution of the term, though - what they're essentially doing here is blocking -other- people's ads that are "below the standard" - e.g. the ads that cause most people to install adblockers - while leaving their own alone.

Apr 20, 2017 at 4:07amWeb
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017

What this amounts to is a play by google to try to stop the increasing share of browsers that block all ads, including theirs.

It's a smart play on their part, to preserve part of the market at the expense of getting rid of the chunk their competitors use.

Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017

I will note that google ads have been implicated in the past as involving malicious entities.

This is not unique to google, mind - the entire industry is tainted this way - but this will not change the security argument for universal ad blocking.

Show threadScottMortimerApr 20, 2017
@munin This to me is as good as an admission by Google that online ads are broken and dangerous. I am thankful for uBlock Origin every single day.
Show threadGoatithroApr 20, 2017
@munin this seems like it would but run aloft of anti-competitive laws/reg
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017
@Goatithro Flagrantly, but good luck enforcing it - especially with the current set of jackasses.
Show threadGoatithroApr 20, 2017
@munin i can see the EU stepping in if someone files a complaint
Show threadit's B! Cavello 🐝Apr 20, 2017
@munin I would really love Firefox to block on default and to create a campaign around folks using Firefox, but I don't really know how to go about this
Show threadcodyApr 20, 2017
@munin effectively what Chrome already does. Any adblocker for chrome which blocks google ads gets purged from the addon store.
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017
@valarauca1 This is not true; ublock origin can be configured to do this and it is present in the store.
Show threadcodyApr 20, 2017
@munin I standard corrected thanks
Show threadRich LarsonApr 20, 2017
@munin Of course this makes the self-righteous assumption that their ads are somehow "better". I'll take my Pi-Hole and block everyone equally thank you. 😎
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017

@richarddlarson But of course.

I will also note that greylisting techniques are quite effective against attempts to bypass such blocking ;-)

Show threadautonominalApr 20, 2017
@munin yeah opera did a similar thing... I don't know if they are paid to keep certain ads up though... also wonder about their "VPN" I bet chrome will come out with one too haha
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017
@autonomous_hippopotamus Opera's ""vpn"" is not a vpn. It is a TLS socks proxy and allows for opera to do traffic inspection, and I have specifically recommended against using it.
Show threadautonominalApr 20, 2017
@munin yeah I had assumed, I'm sure its a goldmine... how do you feel about opera besides the VPN?
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017
@autonomous_hippopotamus I don't use it. #shrug
Show threadautonominalApr 20, 2017
@munin ah,
what do you use?
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017

@autonomous_hippopotamus Chromium - the less-google-infected open source chrome, on BSD.

Yes, I am likely entirely bereft of sanity for using BSD as my daily driver.

Show threadRich LarsonApr 20, 2017
@autonomous_hippopotamus @munin Not "entirely"...but close. Just tell people you are building up a high tolerance to pain. 😎
Show threadMaiyannah BishopApr 20, 2017
@munin AkA the Brave approach.
Show threadMunin, Keeper of LoreApr 20, 2017
@maiyannah More or less. Though I don't know if any 'replacement ads' or other kinds of fun are involved.