NoScript Adds Subscriptions To Adblock Plus

hahiss writes "Apparently, NoScript has taken to adding its own whitelist updates to Adblock Plus — so that the ads on the NoScript page show up — without notifying users. (It is described on the NoScript addon page, however.) This was a part of the last update to NoScript. Wladimir Palant, the main developer of Adblock Plus, describes the situation in an informative blog post." Update — 5/02 at 12:30 GMT by SS: Reader spyrochaete notes that "InformAction, makers of the NoScript extension for Firefox, have removed the recently introduced AdBlock exceptions which unblocked the revenue-producing ads on the NoScript homepage with little or no warning to the user. According to the changelog, InformAction pushed out an update specifically addressing this controversial decision 'permanently and with no questions asked.'"

Comments

Re:Personally, I couldn't care less.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll repair your car for free, and as an added bonus I'm also going to change all of your saved radio stations, adjust your seats, replace your tires with a cheaper brand, and rape your lass.

I do it for free, so people aren't allowed to complain!

Re:Really Smart

[mysidia]

There's another side to this... displaying ads is a perfectly acceptable revenue model. Turning off scripting is perfectly acceptable, all browsers allow users to do this, NoScript just makes it more convenient.

Blocking scripts enhances security against drive-by downloaders and various types of malicious-code-related threats.

However, AdBlock is illegally manipulating the author's content to remove ads designed to produce revenue. It's not merely disabling features, it's changing the presentation of web pages.

In a sense, AdBlock is acting as malicious software, because it's altering the site author's message, without their permission.

NoScript is taking measures to manipulate AdBlock so the message is preserved.

They are taking measures so that their users are not effected by the malicious activity that the AdBlock software is performing.

They do have some other options.... they could force the user to sit through some advertising immediately after every NoScript install.

They could inform the user of an incompatibility, due to "Adblock's nefarious practices", and require AdBlock to be uninstalled, before NoScript can be utilized.

Or NoScript could actually monitor whitelist entries, and inform the user that "NoScript functionality will be disabled unless you whitelist our domain"

IOW, they could take more proactive measures, that will hurt AdBlock users in the long run, if adblock users continue to attempt to block their site's ads.

Re:Links are helpful

[Shadow of Eternity]

No, it desperately asks for an answer, thus it begs the question. It's not our problem that a lot of people who don't know what begging is translated the name of a circular logic fallacy improperly.

Re:Does this shock anyone?

[x2A]

God, why does everyone take everything so seriously? One must not play with words lest he be deemed 'troll'?! Sheesh. To mods 'n others of a hair trigger offence mechanism: learn to appreciate the jest, it does make life more fun.