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Google Chrome Now Has Resource-Blocking Adblock

Posted by timothy on from the advertising-wants-to-be-shunned dept.

MackieChan writes "It seems to have slipped under the radar, but Google Chrome now has resource-blocking abilities, and may have had the ability for some time. Using the 'beforeload' event on the document, an extension can now intercept resources from loading. Adblock for Chrome has already added it, and I expect the other 'ad-blocking' extensions have as well. Before you start praising Google, however, it's the WebKit team that deserves your credit; one Chromium developer responded to praise by stating '... thank Apple — they added it to WebKit, we just inherited it.' Firefox vs. Chrome just got a bit more exciting."

4 of 335 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Uh, not really by spyder-implee · · Score: 0, Troll

    Apart from not using all my memory, what can Chrome do that Firefox can't?

    --
    Take what ye can. Give nothing back!
  2. Re:Uh, not really by coryking · · Score: -1, Troll

    Why would a bit of software that is essentially a lightning fast javascript compiler with a web browser attached really go out of there way to help Luddites running noscript? Seriously, turn on JavaScript. It isn't slow on a modern browser like chrome.

  3. Apple is trying to kill the web by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    As others have pointed out before, Apple is doing this because they are trying to kill the Web. Apple introduced iAds. They only work on iPad/iPhone and soon Mac and they work outside the web so if they can manage to get lots of people to block ads on the web then advertisers will start to see iAds as the new must use service.

  4. 10 points in favor of HOSTS files vs adblock only by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    10 ADVANTAGES OF HOSTS FILES OVER BROWSER ADDONS ALONE, & EVEN DNS SERVERS:

    Taken from -> http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?s=35faafcfc2596ff0fdd2a54a2717153b&showtopic=33716&st=60

    1.) HOSTS files eat A LOT LESS CPU cycles than browser addons do no less (since browser addons have to parse each HTML page & tag content in them)!

    2.) HOSTS files are also NOT severely LIMITED TO 1 BROWSER FAMILY ONLY... browser addons, are. HOSTS files cover & protect (for security) and speed up (all apps that are webbound) any app you have that goes to the internet (specifically the web).

    3.) HOSTS files allow you to bypass DNS Server requests logs (via hardcoding your favorite sites into them to avoid not only the TIME taken roundtrip to an external DNS server, but also for avoiding those logs OR a DNS server that has been compromised (see Dan Kaminsky online, on that note)).

    4.) HOSTS files will allow you to get to sites you like, via hardcoding your favs into a HOSTS file, FAR faster than DNS servers can by FAR (by saving the roundtrip inquiry time to a DNS server & back to you).

    5.) HOSTS files also allow you to not worry about a DNS server being compromised, or downed (if either occurs, you STILL get to sites you hardcode in a HOSTS file anyhow in EITHER case).

    6.) HOSTS files are EASILY user controlled, updated and obtained (for reliable ones -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file[/url] OR see lists below ) & edited too, via texteditors like Windows notepad.exe or Linux nano (etc.)

    7.) HOSTS files aren't as vulnerable to "bugs" either like programs/libs/extensions of that nature are, OR even DNS servers, as they are NOT code, & because of what's next too

    8.) HOSTS files are also EASILY secured well, via write-protection "read-only" attributes set on them, or more radically, via ACL's even.

    9.) HOSTS files are a solution which also globally extends to EVERY WEBBOUND APP YOU HAVE - NOt just a single webbrowser type (e.g. FireFox/Mozilla & its addons exemplify this, such as ADBLOCK)

    10.) AND, LASTLY? SINCE MALWARE GENERALLY HAS TO OPERATE ON WHAT YOU YOURSELF CAN DO (running as limited class/least privlege user, hopefully, OR even as ADMIN/ROOT/SUPERUSER)? HOSTS "LOCK IN" malware too, vs. communicating "back to mama" for orders (provided they have name servers + C&C botnet servers listed in them, blocked off in your HOSTS that is) - You might think they use a hardcoded IP, which IS possible, but generally they do not & RECYCLE domain/host names they own, & this? This stops that cold, too! Bonus...

    Still, it's a GOOD idea to layer in the usage of BOTH browser addons for security like adblock, &/or NoScript (especially this one, as it covers what HOSTS files can't in javascript which is the main deliverer of MOST attacks online & SECUNIA.COM can verify this for anyone really by looking @ the past few years of attacks nowadays), for the concept of "layered security".

    ---

    To keep "ontop of the latest known malicious sites" online? See these sites (1 I mentioned here already, this is the rest of the list I use, & others too):

    START OF WEBSITES & SOURCES + TOOLS I USED TO POPULATE THIS LIST + MY ORIGINAL LIST OF BLOCKED ADBANNERS SERVERS

    http://ddanchev.blogspot.com/
    http://www.malwareur...isting-urls.php
    https://zeustracker....p?filter=online
    http://www.malware.com.br/lists.shtml
    http://securitylabs....ent/alerts.aspx
    http://www.stopbadware.org
    http://blog.fireeye.com/
    http://mtc.sri.com/
    http://www.scansafe....r/threat_alerts
    http://news.netcraft.com
    http://www.shadowserver.org/
    http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Hosts_file
    http://www.mvps.org/
    http://someonewhocares.org/
    http://hostsfile.mine.nu/hosts0
    http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
    http://www.stopbadware.org/home

    Between they, & SpyBot "Search & Destroy"? You have most of, if not ALL of what a "body needs" fo