Adblock Plus Launches Adblock Browser: a Fork of Firefox For Android

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Adblock Plus Launches Adblock Browser: a Fork of Firefox For Android

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday May 20, 2015 @05:14AM from the unblocking-the-blocked-blocker dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Adblock Plus has launched Adblock Browser for Android. Currently in beta, the company's first browser was created by taking the open source Firefox for Android and including Adblock Plus out-of-the-box. The Firefox Sync functionality is disabled, as is the ability to use other addons. "Adblock Plus for Android got kicked out of Google Play along with other ad blocking apps in March 2013, because Google’s developer distribution agreement states apps cannot interfere with the functionality of other apps. Williams thus believes Adblock Browser “should be fine” as it only blocks ads that are shown as you browse the Web."

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Resource Hog? by dhalsim2 · 2015-05-20 05:23 · Score: 1

I'd love to have a browser that blocks ads, but I wonder if it's going to be a resource hog. I used to use Chrome, but had to ditch it because it would end up consuming 300 - 400 MB on my 4 GB phone (2 GB usable space). Now I use CM Browser and have never looked back. Fast, low resource utilization, and still very featureful.
How is the Android Firefox browser on resources?
1. Re:Resource Hog? by robmv · 2015-05-20 05:45 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I use Firefox for Android on a daily basis and on a modern phone it runs fine, better that Chrome IMHO. Tried to use Adblock for a few days and it was insufferable. They will need to implement a better way to interact with Firefox code so it doesn't becomes a resource hog with thousands of regular expressions on memory. If they will ship the same extension, I don't see any advantage.
2. Re:Resource Hog? by Skuto · 2015-05-20 05:56 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The ironic thing is that there's a much better AdBlocking plugin for Firefox for Android: uBlock. It's much lighter on resources than AdBlock. You're better off installing the real Firefox and uBlock than this thing.
3. Re:Resource Hog? by suutar · 2015-05-20 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  the only ublock I see on the play store is for phone calls. Did the plugin get removed in the same sweep as adblock, maybe?
4. Re:Resource Hog? by suutar · 2015-05-20 06:10 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  oh, never mind, I see what you mean. Not through the play store, through firefox's plugin browser.
5. Re:Resource Hog? by CauseBy · 2015-05-20 06:17 · Score: 1
  
  Agreed. I came here to ask where I can put a nickel into the pot for getting a uBlockBrowser App.
  Also, yes, lo! To all ye nerds who have not yet heard The Gospel, listen here! uBlock is the new AdBlock Plus because ABP sold out several years ago and, additionally, is implemented poorly. The new prophet is uBlock. Also, use Ghostery. Together, uBlock and Ghostery do what I want blockers to do, good luck with yourselves.
6. Re:Resource Hog? by cheesybagel · 2015-05-20 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  I'm using Adblock Plus and Disconnect but I'll check uBlock out then.
7. Re:Resource Hog? by CrashNBrn · 2015-05-20 07:09 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  uBlock Origin is the original uBlock by gorhill - which was forked from HTTPSwitchboard. Gorhill gave uBlock ownership of uBlock to another team (see uBlock FAQ) , but still maintains his "personal" version... which has over a million users -- compared to the supposed official version uBlock - which has less than 80,000 users.
  
  Interestingly enough, uMatrix - also by Gorhill is now available on Firefox, as well as Opera and Chrome.
  
  Oddly enough, uBlock for FireFox doesn't appear to be related to Gorhill nor to the official uBlock team.
8. Re:Resource Hog? by nanoflower · 2015-05-20 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  I tried to use uBlock but found it more difficult to use than AdBlock or Adblock Plus. The problem is that I'll go into a site with all sites disabled and nothing gets displayed. So I'll have to enable sites one at a time to find out which one enables the display of the site. With ABP or AB it's a quick run through the listed sites to temporarily enable sites one at a time until the web site is properly displayed. That was much more difficult with uBlock.
9. Re:Resource Hog? by Tumbleweed · 2015-05-20 09:19 · Score: 1
  
  uBlock isn't available for the _Android_ version, which is the problem. I use it on the desktop; I'd love to use it on Android as well.
10. Re:Resource Hog? by Darinbob · 2015-05-20 09:48 · Score: 1
  
  The ADS are the resource hogs! I am highly suspicious that this is the reason why there is no decent browser for my android, it's painfully slow even though the same wifi is fast and responsive on a real computer. Alternately it could be JavaScript since there's also no NoScript add-on, but I don't even know if JavaScript can run on smartphones... I'd really like to just get a dumb phone again, there's nothing at all smart or useful about the new phones unless you like to do twitter or facebook.
11. Re:Resource Hog? by Darinbob · 2015-05-20 09:49 · Score: 1
  
  Firefox is amazingly slow on my phone. I stopped using it, it's pointless to even try. I will walk from the lunch breakroom back to my desk in order to look stuff up on the web in order to save time.
12. Re:Resource Hog? by kad77 · 2015-05-20 16:32 · Score: 1
  
  I've had uBlock (now the Origin build) installed on FF Android (fennec) for a couple months now. Install a current build from the Github page.
13. Re:Resource Hog? by CauseBy · 2015-05-21 04:57 · Score: 1
  
  If you care enough, you might want to check your memory and CPU usage before and after switching. I did so and my experience was consistent with claims that uBlock really uses a tiny fraction of the resources as ABP. Good luck!
  Also don't ignore my tip for Ghostery. That really is great, it is mostly for blocking inter-site trackers. I like it because it gives you a popup on every page showing what it's blocked. It gives me a warm feeling.
I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · 2015-05-20 05:24 · Score: 1

...so, it's a less useful version of Firefox???
pointless by Anonymous Coward · 2015-05-20 05:24 · Score: 3, Informative

Pointless. Firefox for Android with ABP extension installed....is that not the same, but better?
1. Re:pointless by niceworkthere · 2015-05-20 06:00 · Score: 2
  
  Adblock Plus devs might as well be afraid that people opt for the better blockers, like Adblock Edge and particularly Block.
2. Re:pointless by niceworkthere · 2015-05-20 06:03 · Score: 1
  
  "... particularly uBlock." Apparently /. dislikes Unicode, or even just Greek letters.
3. Re:pointless by CauseBy · 2015-05-20 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  Apparently /. dislikes Unicode
  Flashback to 2004, man!
4. Re:pointless by lgw · 2015-05-20 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  Adblock Plus devs might as well be afraid that people opt for the better blockers
  This was posted, and still no APK response? I hope he's not sick or something. /. wouldn't be the same w/o 400 posts about the merits of the hosts file whenever ad blocking is mentioned.
  
  --
  Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
5. Re:pointless by nasredin · 2015-05-20 07:32 · Score: 1
  
  One has to say AdBlock three times in one post to summon the beast.
6. Re:pointless by Blaskowicz · 2015-05-20 08:37 · Score: 1
  
  Apparently you dislike viewing the preview :)
Until... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-05-20 05:26 · Score: 1

"Should be fine" ...until Google makes up another excuse.
1. Re:Until... by rudy_wayne · 2015-05-20 05:43 · Score: 1
  
  Adblock Plus for Android got kicked out of Google Play along with other ad blocking apps in March 2013, because Google’s developer distribution agreement states apps cannot interfere with the functionality of other apps
  How is AdBlock interfering with the functionality of other apps? That makes no sense. Are people running apps whose function is to display ads?
  But, this is not surprising, since 98% of Google's revenue depends on advertising being as intrusive as possible,
2. Re:Until... by lister+king+of+smeg · 2015-05-20 05:54 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Adblock Plus for Android got kicked out of Google Play along with other ad blocking apps in March 2013, because Google’s developer distribution agreement states apps cannot interfere with the functionality of other apps
  How is AdBlock interfering with the functionality of other apps? That makes no sense. Are people running apps whose function is to display ads?
  But, this is not surprising, since 98% of Google's revenue depends on advertising being as intrusive as possible,
  Yes that is the sole reason for almost any ad supported app. Whatever other functionality they have is simply the bait used to get you to view their ads. You are the product sold to the ad networks by the app developer and then resold to the whomever is placing the ad.
  
  --
  ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
3. Re:Until... by CauseBy · 2015-05-20 06:19 · Score: 1
  
  Are people running apps whose function is to display ads?
  Um... yes of course they are? How else do you think the ads get onto the screen?
4. Re:Until... by OhPlz · 2015-05-20 06:49 · Score: 2
  
  It's so true. I don't even bother trying a lot of apps because it's just more advertising. They're just hurting themselves. Google's own "news and weather" app is a great example. A good percentage of the sites they link to for news articles are not usable due to invasive ads.
Awesome!! by EzInKy · 2015-05-20 05:29 · Score: 2

Bandwidth sucking and privacy really needs to be addressed by these phone platforms. The default for anything "app" that requests data should be no and strict warnings provided before any user is shown the "I accept" button.

--
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
1. Re:Awesome!! by spire3661 · 2015-05-20 05:38 · Score: 1
  
  Its hard to believe that Microsoft might be the ones to turn to in the end. IM so sick of the 'mobile' web on iOS and Android. I LOVE my Windows 8 tablets because i get the INTERNET on it, not just the mobile web.
  
  --
  Good-bye
2. Re:Awesome!! by MightyMartian · 2015-05-20 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  So you missed View In Desktop mode then?
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
3. Re:Awesome!! by spire3661 · 2015-05-20 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  Some sites refuse to let you view their site on mobile web browser even in desktop mode. Its 'install app or fuck you'.
  
  'Internet, not just web' includes more than WEB browsers....
  
  --
  Good-bye
4. Re:Awesome!! by MightyMartian · 2015-05-20 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  I have yet to find a site that does that.
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
5. Re:Awesome!! by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · 2015-05-20 06:24 · Score: 1
  
  I just wish it was possible to set it to that always instead of having to do it all the damn time. There probably is I just don't like using smartphones enough to figure it out.
  
  --
  Time to offend someone
6. Re:Awesome!! by Scoth · 2015-05-20 09:03 · Score: 1
  
  I use SoundCloud from the browser fine, no problem. It does occasionally show a bar offering to install the app, but it works fine from the browser without even using Desktop mode.
Auto-play video ads by ArcadeMan · 2015-05-20 05:30 · Score: 5, Insightful

Anyone know how to completely block auto-playing videos on Safari? And by completely, I mean prevent them from loading the video file at all. Those stupid things, that I'm never going to watch (fuck you, advertisers), are eating into my monthly cap.

--
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
1. Re:Auto-play video ads by Anonymous Coward · 2015-05-20 06:07 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I use Linux, so my initial response is to suggest using /etc/hosts. However, apparently macs put their /etc/hosts file in /private/etc/hosts. Just search for "how to edit /etc/hosts on mac"; that's how I found out the location. Anyway, just add entries like:
  
  127.0.0.1 ads.somesite.com 127.0.0.1 videos.some-affiliate.org
  
  This works by lying to your computer about the DNS records for those websites. Any time a program tries to access one of those sites, the DNS lookup will come back as your local PC. If you don't have a web server, it won't show anything. Or if you install your own web server on your PC, you could have it set up to show funny videos of your cat instead of advertisements.
  p.s. Another option is to add firewall rules to block specific domains.
2. Re:Auto-play video ads by CauseBy · 2015-05-20 06:21 · Score: 2
  
  I'll say gently, maybe consider a different browser if you can't block what you don't like in the one you use.
3. Re:Auto-play video ads by kamapuaa · 2015-05-20 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  Anyone know how to completely block auto-playing videos on Safari?
  Personally, I would Google "completely block auto-playing videos on Safari"
  
  --
  Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
4. Re:Auto-play video ads by ne0n · 2015-05-20 06:27 · Score: 2
  
  apt-get remove --purge safari
  
  Should do the trick. I can guarantee no autoplaying video adverts and other nuisances if you don't have the root problem installed.
  
  --
  $ :(){ :|:& };:
5. Re:Auto-play video ads by ArcadeMan · 2015-05-20 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  All the solutions I have found seem to only stop the auto-playback but not the actual loading.
  
  --
  Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
6. Re:Auto-play video ads by ArcadeMan · 2015-05-20 11:17 · Score: 1
  
  Whitelist a couple sites and annoying flash-related content is a thing of the past.
  I disabled Java and Flash, my problem is auto-loading and auto-playing HTML5 videos.
  
  --
  Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
7. Re:Auto-play video ads by antdude · 2015-05-20 15:43 · Score: 1
  
  I wished Apple wasn't so strict in not providing addons to its iOS Safari like ad blocker. :(
  
  --
  Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
Re:functionality blocking blocked? by ArcadeMan · 2015-05-20 05:33 · Score: 4, Insightful

I tried to read your comment three times. My head hurts. It reminds me of this xkcd.

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Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
Firefox on Android + uBlock is great by Anonymous Coward · 2015-05-20 05:44 · Score: 2, Informative

Just install the standard Firefox on Android and load the uBlock add-on. It works brilliantly.
I used to be a devout Opera on Android user. While I miss some of the little touches (no pun intended) of Opera, I'm a Firefox convert.
The only thing I use Chrome for now is that abomination that is Amazon Instant Videos.
1. Re:Firefox on Android + uBlock is great by Darinbob · 2015-05-20 09:57 · Score: 1
  
  What's the default on Android? That was an utterly useless piece of crap. I assumed it was Chrome since it's Google... Firefox isn't much better though. So slow, no instruction manual (seriously, I can't figure out how to use it, how to customize it to get rid of accidentally added bookmarks, how to remove the default start page, etc). Then I have to pull out a magnifying glass to read any page that pops up anyway.
2. Re:Firefox on Android + uBlock is great by GuB-42 · 2015-05-21 04:49 · Score: 1
  
  What's the default on Android? That was an utterly useless piece of crap. I assumed it was Chrome since it's Google...
  On modern Android, yes that's Chrome mobile. But before that it was just "android browser", Samsung also has its own browser so not all android phones use the same browser.
  Most of them are based on WebKit though.
Already using palemoon by drinkypoo · 2015-05-20 05:54 · Score: 1

Why would we need another firefox-based browser designed for security? I thought that's what pale moon was. In the bargain you get 64-bit builds.

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
1. Re:Already using palemoon by Skuto · 2015-05-20 05:57 · Score: 1
  
  Pale Moon designed for security? I just pissed my pants laughing.
  The cool aid is not only strong, it keeps revising history.
2. Re:Already using palemoon by drinkypoo · 2015-05-20 07:35 · Score: 1
  
  If you think Pale moon has greater security than firefox you are a drooler.
  It has a better adblock than regular firefox, which is all I meant. Less chance of malware hitting your system.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
3. Re:Already using palemoon by Lehk228 · 2015-05-20 10:14 · Score: 1
  
  you don't need ad blocking, you need script blocking. afaik noscript is still the only blocker that allows selective enabling of scripts from particular domains
  
  --
  Snowden and Manning are heroes.
4. Re:Already using palemoon by drinkypoo · 2015-05-20 11:08 · Score: 1
  
  afaik noscript is still the only blocker that allows selective enabling of scripts from particular domains
  Adblock winds up blocking a lot of scripts, but yes, I use noscript as well since that's its primary purpose.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
5. Re:Already using palemoon by LoneTech · 2015-05-20 20:33 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, since RequestPolicy stopped working in my Iceweasel, I installed Policeman. It provides a neat UI for selecting precisely which sites can load what from where, including options like loading styles but not scripts. I believe NoScript is necessary to block firsthand scripts, however.
Ask? by jklovanc · 2015-05-20 05:54 · Score: 1

Williams thus believes Adblock Browser “should be fine” as it only blocks ads that are shown as you browse the Web.
Williams could not ask Google if it was fine?
Very Nice, by pecosdave · 2015-05-20 06:21 · Score: 1

got rid of the stupid overlay advertisement Slashdot puts on my phone that keeps me from ever being able to read the very bottom of anything....

--
The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
Re:Extension? F-Droid? by CauseBy · 2015-05-20 06:23 · Score: 1

Don't be so sure. I'd estimate 50% of people are smart enough to use an ad blocker, but only 10% know what the heck an APK is or what to do with it. Do you think my numbers are way off? I have F-Droid installed on my rooted Android phone but I still go to Play Store when I want an app.
HEY! WATCH IT WITH THAT KIND OF TALK! by Anonymous Coward · 2015-05-20 07:27 · Score: 1

I'm pretty sure you're infringing on numerous APK patents, trademarks and copyrights, bucko...
Error in summary by MSG · 2015-05-20 07:33 · Score: 2

The Firefox Sync functionality is disabled, as is the ability to use other addons
The article says that they added support for other add-ons (exactly how is unclear), not that they disabled them.
Re:Extension? F-Droid? by Blaskowicz · 2015-05-20 08:56 · Score: 1

Can you delete or just hide the Google Play store? I'm asking this as a buddy will get a new phone and he would likely be interested in only ever installing F-droid apps (gmail is about the only hard requirement on google, with google plus but isn't that one a website anyway).
AdBlock plus still available by Trogre · 2015-05-20 13:04 · Score: 1

Luckily AdBlock Plus is installable from the F-Droid repository, which is a lot more trustworthy than the dross-laden Play Store.

--
"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
ublock works on Android firefox by staalmannen · 2015-05-20 16:17 · Score: 1

I have not tried ABP but lots of firefox extensions do work on Android so it seems like a useless project to make an "Adblock browser". Those who have a little bit of knowlege (and root) most likely already have adaway from f-droid installed making it even less useful
Re:Hosts = less resource use vs. Adblock variants by radarskiy · 2015-05-20 16:45 · Score: 1

1-10, 12 and the first half of 13 are the same thing, which an ad blocker does but with finer granularity than just the host name and with patterns instead of explicit entries.
11 isn't actually affected by host files entries on *your* end.
15 is a design choice by the writer of the ad blocker. Some have text-based configs and some don't.
16 is a comparison, so it depends on what metric you are using.
So only the second half of 13 and 14 are features that a host file could provide but an ad blocker could not.
Re:Extension? F-Droid? by CauseBy · 2015-05-21 04:54 · Score: 1

If you root your device then you should be able to do anything. I have uninstalled a bunch of apps that couldn't be uninstalled before rooting. I've never tried to uninstall Play Store but my guess is yes you could do it. The Play Store ironically has several apps that will remove 'sticky' apps from rooted devices, but you should be able to find them on F-Droid and whatnot. Good luck!
My opinion is that Android is about three times more useful once you root it; in fact, it's almost stupid without rooting.