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Ask Slashdot: Are AdBlock's Days Numbered?
An anonymous reader writes "This article discusses the ethics and the mechanics of ad-blocking software. Toward the end, it goes into some of the tech that's been built to circumvent ad blockers. Quoting: 'PageFair offers a free JavaScript program that, when inserted into a Web page, monitors ad blocking activity. CEO Sean Blanchfield says he developed the monitoring tool after he noticed a problem on his own multiplayer gaming site. PageFair collects statistics on ad blocking activity, identifies which users are blocking ads and can display an appeal to users to add the publisher's website to their ad-blocking tool's personal whitelist. But Blanchfield acknowledges that the user appeal approach hasn't been very effective. ClarityRay takes a more active role. Like PageFair, it provides a tool that lets publishers monitor blocking activity to show them that they have a problem — and then sells them a remedy. ClarityRay offers a service that CEO Ido Yablonka says fools ad blockers into allowing ads through. "Ad blockers try to make a distinction between content elements and advertorial elements. We make that distinction impossible," he says.' Is this arms race winnable? By which side?"
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"Ad blockers try to make a distinction between content elements and advertorial elements. We make that distinction impossible,"
So long as you're hosting your ads off-site, or even on a local (ad.example.com) server, we'll be able to block them.
the problem is that we are seeing an increase in sites that will pop up with a separate page and wont let you see ANY content until you stop using an adblocker. luckily those are mostly used on bad sites, but if they ever become popular it will be a problem.
but there are ad filters that start to do the load but don't display. I'm betting the geek developer will always win against marketing droids
More subtle than Noscript: Ghostery.
The hilarious thing about many of those sites is that the "block" is just a layer in front of the actual content. Firefox's built-in "inspect element" is usually enough to remove it and get to the content.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
And when a site doesn't work correctly with javascript disabled?
You selectively allow a few key domains to see if it will start working. If that doesn't work or there are dozens of cross-site scripts then move on to a saner website.
I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
Slashdot works with Javascript disabled.
Your turn.
Content providers have a right to display on your computer when YOU request their site.
In other news, newspaper publishers have a right to demand that you read every article in their newspaper that you came across.
GP wants the exact opposite of a PDF. He is advocating for flexible design, not a rigid set of layouts. Trying to create a rigid page structure is exactly what causes problems. Stop micro-managing everything and start making your page simple. You talk about "what people want". I assume you mean what clients want, because consumers don't care about frilly menus. They want a fast loading website with buttons where buttons always go and content in stardard format. The people paying for the website think all of the bling is good, and it is your duty as the expert to try to explain why simple is better. Some clients will not listen, but that's their loss when their page only works on IE9 on 1600x900 screens.