Slashdot Mirror


Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industry?

HughPickens.com writes: Michael Rosenwald writes at the Columbia Journalism Review that global online ad revenue continues to rise, reaching nearly $180 billion last year. But analysts say the rise of ad blocking threatens the entire industry—the free sites that rely exclusively on ads, as well as the paywalled outlets that rely on ads to compensate for the vast majority of internet users who refuse to pay for news. A new report from Adobe and one of several startups helping publishers fight ad blocking shows that 198 million people globally are now blocking ads, up 41 percent from 2014. In the US, ad blocking grew 48 percent from last year, to 45 million users. "Taken together, ad blockers are hitting publishers in their digital guts," writes Rosenwald. "Adobe says that $21.8 billion in global ad revenue will be blocked this year."

Publishers have been banking on the growth of mobile, where the ad blocking plugins either don't work or are cumbersome to install. A Wells Fargo analyst wrote in a report on ad blocking that "the mobile migration should thwart some of the growth" of ad blockers. But Apple recently revealed that its new operating system scheduled for release this fall will allow ad blocking on Safari. Apple is trying to pull iPhone and iPad users off the web. It wants you to read, watch, search, and listen in its Apple-certified walled gardens known as apps. It makes apps, it approves apps, and it profits from apps. But, for its plan to work, the company will need those entertainers and publishers to funnel their content to where Apple wants it to be. As the company makes strategic moves to devalue the web in favor of apps, those content creators dependent on ads to stay afloat may be forced to play along with Apple. Adblock Plus has released a browser for mobile Android devices that blocks ads, and it's planning to release a similar product for Apple devices. "The desire to figure out how to bring ad blocking to mobile consumers is a worldwide phenomenon," says Roi Carthy Ad blocking, he says, "is an inalienable right."

519 comments

  1. Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One can only hope so.

  2. It's arms race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ad blockers rely on content domain name to remove ads and that can be worked around. For example, the advertisers can simply embed the ads into the primary content where they will become even more annoying.

    1. Re:It's arms race by Aaden42 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Current blockers are only partially domain based, though that's the larger part. AdBlock & friends can also block based on HTML DOM ID's, classes, paths, etc.

      Even if the ads are served by proxy through the origin site's domain, they're going to be in a defined place in the layout. AdBlock can block things like:
      div[id='ad']
      div/span[class='whatever']/p/img

      I haven't found an ad yet that isn't susceptible to being blocked via DOM attributes.

      Next step would probably be to dynamically perturb the classes & ID's returned in the page, but then the blockers parse the returned HTML, deobfuscating it in such a way as to give you consistent tokenized identifiers which are then blocked.

      Arms race yes, but already predictable domains aren't a requirement for effective blocking.

    2. Re:It's arms race by sims+2 · · Score: 2

      Yeah have you seen yahoo news lately? its exactly like that.

      However more people comment on yahoo news than anywhere else i've found.

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    3. Re:It's arms race by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Which means that people will instead stop visiting the primary content altogether. Treat your visitors as scum and they'll treat you as scum.

    4. Re:It's arms race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I block all js and cookies from all Google domains in FF, and run ABE with easyprivacy list. Google still is able to serve me ads on searches, though this is new within maybe the last year or two, as I suspect someone at Google decided enough is enough with all us free-loaders.

    5. Re:It's arms race by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      I use an element hider to fix that. It will always be an arms race.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    6. Re:It's arms race by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 2

      The problem is Yahoo jumped the shark a long time ago.

      History of Google search page vs Yahoo Portal crap
      http://praveenrajan.com/blog/u...

    7. Re:It's arms race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first ad-blocking technique simply blocked images based on size. Banner ads had standardized sizes, and banner ads was all the ads there were in those days. Such techniques still works, and do not depend on domains.

      Of course, when browsing slashdot, you simply turn images off. Unlike most sites, slashdot is text-only :-)

    8. Re:It's arms race by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      I quit using yahoo search in 2004. I liked it better than google's search but when you are on dialup the extra crap is quite noticeable in the load times. After I got higher speeds I used google out of habit. Now its a rather moot point yahoo search is crap because there is no yahoo search anymore its just bing with a diffrent ui. And msn/live/bing is still crap.

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    9. Re:It's arms race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A few domains have started hiding the ads in the background image, which isn't a clickable ad, but it is annoying and uBlock doesn't seem to want to easily block them.

    10. Re: It's arms race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then google should kill itself because it is the biggest free-loader of all.

  3. Deal with it. by abuelos84 · · Score: 0

    You dun goof'd up with your freaking perverse ad methods. Now you can fuck yourself.
    Good riddance.

    --
    -- Counting backwards since 1984!
  4. get ready for a paywall google by musixman · · Score: 0

    Hi hope Google charges everyone $1 for a search instead for being free. Then people with money will own all the worlds information. Genius

    1. Re:get ready for a paywall google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because, you know, sites like Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, etc don't exist, right? ;)

    2. Re:get ready for a paywall google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Hey Genius, the google home page doesn't have adds and adblockers don't block google's text search adds.

    3. Re:get ready for a paywall google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope so too, because I wouldn't mind if Google goes bankrupt.

    4. Re:get ready for a paywall google by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      Bing will stay free.

      Isn't Google just a loss-leader beta project from a company called Alphabet now, anyway?

    5. Re:get ready for a paywall google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey Genius, it's "Ad" not "Add".

    6. Re:get ready for a paywall google by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Then Google will suffer the fate of many news pages that thought they should charge for their content: People will close the tab and yell NEXT.

      It's not like there's a lack of search engines.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Hopefully, yes... by mjm1231 · · Score: 2

    You know what? The internet was better/more informative/easier to use/more interesting/etc. etc. etc. before all these pay by ad sites started springing up. If they all go away, I don't see the problem.

    --
    Ideology: A tool used primarily to avoid the bother of thinking.
    1. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yup, the internet was paid for by paying for the internet itself; subscriptions to ISPs, building out infrastructure, etc. Today coporations want you to pay for the internet AND pay for the crappy content too, and they want to have you pay in order to receive the ads since they're not reimbursing you for all those unnecessary downloads. Even worse on a mobile phone as you can incur big penalties if you use more data than your plan allows, so the ads slow the network and drain your wallet.

      At which point someone on slashdot pops in and says "you're all a bunch of worthless freeloaders, if you want to look at my glorious blog about hamster farming then you have to look at these ads about Buicks so that I can buy a better microphone for my hamster podcast."

    2. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Pascoea · · Score: 2

      Yup, the internet was paid for by paying for the internet itself

      Yeah, the network is supposed to be paid for by your internet subscription. The "problem" is that the Internet isn't like a Cable subscription. Part of your Internet payment doesn't go to the content providers. Without content the Internet would be pretty useless, and you have to pay for the content somehow. Sorry, ads are a necessary thing.

      My problem with them is that they have become overly aggressive. Pop-ups, ads with sound, ads you can't close, paging through 12 pages to read on paragraph of text, etc. If they wouldn't have abused that, most people wouldn't have installed an ad blocker.

    3. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd rather throw $20 at a good content creator than a hundredth of that over a year with ad impressions, all while my computer is potentially getting fucked sideways.

    4. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      We are all supposed to be providing the content to each other in the first place.

      I still have (some) hope for a symmetrical web. I still use Seamonkey for my Internet Suite, and yes, I have used the Composer component to create HTML that I have put on my web site.

    5. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 2

      I have used the Composer component to create HTML that I have put on my web site.

      Takes a lot to be able to admit to something like that.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    6. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      If the content providers don't care enough about their viewers to stop using aggressive advertisers and continue to use advertising networks instead of curating their own ads, then I don't care about those content providers. If they respect their viewers fairly and treat them as something other than revenue sources then their viewers will respect them in return.

      Right now there are so many abusive ad networks that it's impossible to separate the millions of bad actors from the two or three good guys. It's sad that a few content providers lose out but there's a war going on.

    7. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Once money entered the picture all hope of a community vanished.

    8. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Pascoea · · Score: 1

      Couldn't agree with you more.

    9. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1

      At which point someone on slashdot pops in and says "you're all a bunch of worthless freeloaders [...]"

      Truth be told, I honor requests from otherwise reputable sites that ask nicely. My local newspaper's site politely asked if I would please consider disabling my blocker for their site so that they could afford to continue paying reporters and such. OK, that's a fair trade and I'm happy to do it. Don't tell me to disable it, though. That's unlikely to have the desired result.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    10. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's a nice sentiment and all, but are they willing to pay to clean your machine when the 3rd party ad-network on their site serves you up a malicious ad that results in malware being installed on the system?

      That's the #1 reason I said "fuck you" a few years back and installed things like FlashBlock / FlashControl / NoScript (or some sort of Adblocker for the less-technical folks). Got tired of my user's machines getting infected every few months, even though we were up to date on patches. And these were not individuals browsing the "dark side" of the internet or clicking on things that they should not have.

      The sites that host their own ads and vet the content? I have no trouble with them.

    11. Re:Hopefully, yes... by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      Part of your Internet payment doesn't go to the content providers.

      The content creators were never guaranteed a living. The internet is a place to share information. It is not a place to make money by selling content on a crappy link farm that somebody else made available for free but your SEO has drowned out their free or donation supported website.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    12. Re:Hopefully, yes... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's more than that.

      Why the fuck should we accept being constantly tracked by dozens of analytic companies as a price of using the web?

      When there's 15 or 20 trackers in addition to ads in every page, the only reasonable response is to block the hell out of all of this crap.

      It's none of score card research's fucking business what sites I visit. Nor it it Facebook's business. Nor is it any of the dozens of other companies I've blocked with privacy extensions.

      This idea that self entitled corporations are entitled to all of this information about us is complete bullshit.

      In the real world it would be like a retailer implanting a tracking chip in you when you walked in the store.

      I don't care about anybody's damned analytics. And as much as I can, I'll block everything which isn't the content I'm there to see.

      The revenue model isn't my damned problem. My privacy is.

      And I'm not giving that away to some asshole marketer who wants to optimize his synergies.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    13. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Retailers are tracking you. Some of them. Not with chips, but they manage it. I went to store once and they kept asking my name at check out, and I said I wasn't in the system (I was), then they asked for a phone number and said maybe it was in the system, and I said no, and so on. Finally they gave up and I handed them the credit card and then they said "oh, this is in the system."

      On the other hand my local drug and grocery stores have tracking cards, but they also have sales that only apply if you have the card so at least there's a benefit to me. On the internet though the tracking is of no benefit to the person browsing the web, it's only there to try and extract more money.

    14. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Odd. There was content before corporations discovered the net. Where the hell did that come from? Hmm... wait, I think I remember.

      Gosh, we made it ourselves! No, really! It might sound crazy, but allegedly, you can't just consume on the internet. You can actually produce content! Yes, really! I'm not kidding. It's not like TV where you can just consume whatever someone else presents, you can actually go and make your very own content! And others can see that! And not just cat videos, actual, insightful and informative content!

      I know. Crazy. Unimaginable today.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    15. Re:Hopefully, yes... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      The whole point of the WWW is communication. We've gone past the point now, it seems, where every computer runs an httpd and your 'home page' is in a folder on your hard drive, but the whole point in the web was for everyone to put up pages with info on them. I have an account on freeshell.org and paid my one-time membership fee so the httpd there serves up whatever I put in my ~/www folder. I can shell into the account and do the web the way it was originally intended.

    16. Re:Hopefully, yes... by goose-incarnated · · Score: 1

      Yup, the internet was paid for by paying for the internet itself

      Yeah, the network is supposed to be paid for by your internet subscription. The "problem" is that the Internet isn't like a Cable subscription. Part of your Internet payment doesn't go to the content providers. Without content the Internet would be pretty useless, and you have to pay for the content somehow. Sorry, ads are a necessary thing.

      My problem with them is that they have become overly aggressive. Pop-ups, ads with sound, ads you can't close, paging through 12 pages to read on paragraph of text, etc. If they wouldn't have abused that, most people wouldn't have installed an ad blocker.

      Well, then, it's a self-fixing problem. The sites that do all that *should* go out of business. The ones that remain would do well to use an ad-serving method that doesn't get on the adblockers radar.

      --
      I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
  6. Ad Blocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I installed ad blocker this year, and its for mainly one reason: video ads. Since these have become popular, it eats up my bandwidth and starts playing ridiculously loud sound even when I don't click on it. If anyone is too blame for the rise of ad blocking technology its advertisers.

    1. Re:Ad Blocking by mlts · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Last time I used a VM without ad-blocking, it seemed almost every page I visited had ads that started talking or playing music. About ten minutes into browsing on a popular social network site, the VM got nailed by scareware, apparently through a hole in a browser add-on.

      The real life example is people offering you newspapers for free if you open the door and listen to a sales pitch... but then some newspaper companies started having a percentage of their salesperson hold the people at gunpoint and do a home invasion, so the smarter people just don't open the door.

    2. Re:Ad Blocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep. Slashdot is, ironically, useless on my iPhone because I can't block ads (yet) and they have some advertiser that loves video ads that play as soon as you scroll them into view. You don't have to tap them, they just start playing as soon as they're visible. (Hey, at least they wait they long, I guess.)

      But the problem is that if I'm viewing Slashdot on my iPhone, it's because I'm away from a real computer. This means mobile data. This means that video ad they're trying to show me costs me money. So instead I just force-quit Safari, enter Airplane mode (otherwise the video will restart the instant I open Safari again), and close the tab. Fuck your video ads, Slashdot.

      The other issue the iPhone has is that ads can send you way from the site into the App Store. It would seem that Apple doesn't care to fix this and is instead going to allow ad blockers to solve the issue. Whatever, it's still ads that make sites running them unusable because any attempt to read the site just bounces you back to the App Store. (See above "solution.")

      I'm not 100% against ads. I think it's possible to have advertising that is disruptive. I just haven't seen it in ages to the point where the first thing I do on a new computer is install an ad blocker. And that's ignoring the fact that ad blockers these days are often more important to keeping your computer secure than anti-virus programs!

    3. Re:Ad Blocking by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1

      About ten minutes into browsing on a popular social network site

      IMGUR??>?

    4. Re:Ad Blocking by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "If you keep putting up your No Solicitors sign then you will hurt the door-to-door shake-down industry. We need your dollars because we we like money, so won't you please take down your No Solicitors sign before we resort to harsher measures?"

    5. Re:Ad Blocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've had an ad blocker installed for several years now, I think, and I had no idea that video ads are now a thing.

    6. Re:Ad Blocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I did it about 10 (which seems too long, but thinking back...) years ago for mainly one reason: adds that play noise.

      Specifically a crazy frog add on dilbert. So thankyou crazy frog!

    7. Re:Ad Blocking by Drethon · · Score: 1

      I use flashblock to block the video ads and I can still choose to view them. Also stops auto play videos that are "content".

    8. Re:Ad Blocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does Flashblock also block HTML5 stuff? Because guess what, most of the abusive ads these days aren't Flash any more. That shit is now baked into the browser.

    9. Re:Ad Blocking by Toad-san · · Score: 1

      I fully agree. When a page takes three times as long to load because of the godz-cursed ads, I do what I can to get rid of them. That plus the known threat from malware that has been a problem with ads since they first came out.

      Keep them fast, short, simple .. and SAFE .. and I might reconsider removing my beloved ad blocker. Otherwise .. well, screw you, advertisers, and I don't care what it costs me for "free" online services and information.

  7. Its not ajust a right, its a security issue,. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ad networks profligate malware, as a result an ad blocking isn't just to block an annoyance, its to protect myself from a drive by download of a flash powered/explioted malware that takes over my system and ransoms it back to me. Ad blockers are the new anti-virus.

    1. Re:Its not ajust a right, its a security issue,. by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      If I manage to block ads, that's just a fortunate coincidence. What I block are scripts from untrusted sources. I don't want to load scripts from 20 other sites that are not under the control of the website I happen to be viewing.

      That's like running all of those attachments you get in your inbox (or not depending on how good your spam filters are).

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  8. How does that song go? by sims+2 · · Score: 1

    You'll have to get your blood from somebody else now.

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    1. Re:How does that song go? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      "Brand New Sucker", Jonathan Coulton?

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    2. Re:How does that song go? by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      Thats the one!

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    3. Re:How does that song go? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      great song, almost might have been written by Lennon.

      As soon as you're born they make you feel small
      By giving you no time instead of it all
      Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
      A working class hero is something to be

      They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
      They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
      Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
      A working class hero is something to be

      When they've tortured and scared you for twenty-odd years
      Then they expect you to pick a career
      When you can't really function you're so full of fear
      A working class hero is something to be

      Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
      And you think you're so clever and classless and free
      But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
      A working class hero is something to be

      There's room at the top they're telling you still
      But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
      If you want to be like the folks on the hill

      A working class hero is something to be
      A working class hero is something to be

      If you want to be a hero well just follow me
      If you want to be a hero well just follow me

        - Working Class Hero (1970 Lennon (P)1971 Apple)

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  9. Meh. Fuck em by bazmail · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The ad industry is killing the ad industry. When I reinstall my OS and start a browser before installing an ad blocker the web looks and sounds like complete shit.

    auto start video ads and popup ads that popup about on web pages 30 seconds after you start reading an article are my 2 least favorite ad types.
    Fuck em

    1. Re:Meh. Fuck em by vivaoporto · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Yes. Here is the angle this article is trying to spin:

      Apple is trying to pull iPhone and iPad users off the web. It wants you to read, watch, search, and listen in its Apple-certified walled gardens known as apps. It makes apps, it approves apps, and it profits from apps. But, for its plan to work, the company will need those entertainers and publishers to funnel their content to where Apple wants it to be. As the company makes strategic moves to devalue the web in favor of apps, those content creators dependent on ads to stay afloat may be forced to play along with Apple.

      That's one way to look at it. Here is another perspective:

      The absence didn't last long. In two previous Monday Notes (News Sites Are Fatter and Slower Than Ever and 20 Home Pages, 500 Trackers Loaded: Media Succumbs to Monitoring Frenzy), my compadre Frederic Filloux cast a harsh light on bloated, prying pages. Web publishers insert gratuitous chunks of code that let advertisers vend their wares and track our every move, code that causes pages to stutter, juggle, and reload for no discernible reason. Even after the page has settled into seeming quiescence, it may keep loading unseen content in the background for minutes on end.

    2. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Firethorn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      auto start video ads and popup ads that popup about on web pages 30 seconds after you start reading an article are my 2 least favorite ad types.

      One recent experience. Open up a review site. Like 15 seconds in, it pops up a center ad: "Do you like this article? Recommend it on XYZ*!!!" Dude, I might read fast, but I haven't even seen a complete paragraph!

      One site asked for me to review something. I gave it 1 star for the popup.

      *Facebook/twitter/yadayadayada

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    3. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Informative

      I look over coworkers shoulders sometimes when we're working on something, and I'm always surprised to see so many ads. Ie, someone has the same email provider I do from our ISP and it's chock full of ads I never see. From an ISP service we *PAY* for. That's ridiculous; I'm paying $50/month so why should they be subsidizing themselves with ridiculous randomized ads?

    4. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Noah+Haders · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I have ghostery on my browser. it shows for each web page how many trackers are being blocked. I've seen many sites with 12+ different trackers.

    5. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      That's ridiculous; I'm paying $50/month so why should they be subsidizing themselves with ridiculous randomized ads?

      Keep in mind that there's malware out there that's essentially the *reverse* of ad-blocker: It inserts even MORE ads into content, and seeing them where there shouldn't be ads is generally a good clue. In some cases it'll even intercept the ads that are supposed to be supporting the site and putting it's own in. IE instead of a an ad from company X going to the website, you get an ad from company Y that goes towards the malware maker. In some cases company X & Y can actually be the same.

      As such, I'd be careful about blaming your ISP until it's been tested with a browser known to be without said plug-ins.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    6. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Like 15 seconds in, it pops up a center ad: "Do you like this article? Recommend it on XYZ*!!!"

      I fought back hard against my boss on that, and it wasn't even ad related... he wanted our main website to start popping shit up as soon as the user got there to let them know they can sign up now and schedule a demo now and buy now and so on, and we had a pretty good shouting match over it because he refused to believe that people aren't going to click buy now 15 seconds after loading our page and before reading about what the fuck they're buying.

      I don't know what the hell they're teaching MBAs these days, but marketing isn't it.

    7. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Which is why you'll never see this topic discussed at Ars Technica, holy shit, Batman. If you run NoScript you'll really be disgusted with media sites. Last time I counted Ars wanted to run scripts from something like 27 different domains. WTF!

    8. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No big loss. Ars is a rag.

    9. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Nope, this is AT&T using Yahoo email web browser. Ads are inherent there. It's not just AT&T either, a lot of major ISPs do the same thing, in the same way that pay cable channels will show ads.

    10. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try Privacy Badger - I've seen sites with counts into the 30s. At this point, you're a fool to browse the web without:

      - A click-to-run Flash blocking plug-in (it's going away, slowly), i.e. FlashBlock or FlashControl

      - Ghostery or Privacy Badger

      - NoScript or at least some sort of ad blocker

      Anything else is just asking for another round of the "infect your machine" gambling game.

    11. Re:Meh. Fuck em by hjf · · Score: 1

      The new trend is to BEG you to subscribe to their e-mail newsletter.

      Didn't they say e-mail was dead a while ago? That social media and instant messaging killed it? Now suddenly everyone wants me to subscribe to their newsletter?

    12. Re:Meh. Fuck em by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Want some fun? Install Opera (the new version) and then install the uMatrix extension. It is pretty much a firewall for your browser. 35 elements on this page, few from this domain. Ghostery shows 7 blocked. Disconnect has 11. And, finally, AB+ still has found 1 something to block that the others missed. (I stopped with NoScript, it is not available for this browser really and I do better with uMatrix.)

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    13. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had one, last night, that had some images I wanted to see. The images were hidden with a notice in their place politely informing me that, should I truly want to see these images, I had to share the site on Twitter or Google+ or Facebook.

      I don't have accounts with any of those "services" so I just closed the window. Nice job to that particular site admin.

    14. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      The most I have personally seen is 26
      http://s3.danscomp.net/dailyte...

      This is without adblock and Ghostery filtering disabled.
      There has to be a bigger one out there, somewhere.

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
    15. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why would you think they teach any thing useful when getting a "Moron Boss Award"

    16. Re:Meh. Fuck em by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do understand your ISP is not supplying (selling) you your email service?

      They have sold you to yahoo to advertise too.

      (ISP's used to run their own email servers, not now!!!, unless you use a good small ISP mom & pop style).

  10. If you don't want me to read your paper for free by future+assassin · · Score: 1

    don't show all the pages with the articles stuck to your shops window.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  11. I don't mind ads, but... by Radical+Moderate · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Being a slashdotter in good standing, I have the option to turn off ads here, but I don't, because I find Slashdot's ads harmless and unobtrusive. But lordy, some sites I go to they're insane, causing the page to constantly reload, while my CPU and hard drive churn away full-bore. How can they expect people won't want to block ads like that? Seems like it's grown worse in the last few months, these stupid advertisers are driving me to block their ads.

    --
    Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.
    1. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by Firethorn · · Score: 4, Informative

      Indeed, my response to their begging me to disable my ad-blocker for their site is that I DO have ad-blocks 'non-intrusive ad whitelist' enabled, they can serve me ads so long as they meet those standards.

      Oh, they're not as 'effective'? They're more effective than ads that drive me to block them!

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    2. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been meaning to unblock ads on slashdot for awhile. So today I did, just now, but because I also run NoScript I still don't get ads. I trust* slashdot enough to allow their domain to execute scripts in my browser but I don't trust the ad companies to run scripts.

      I've had some ethical pangs of guilt about blocking ads but I have no such qualms about blocking scripts. I guess I'll stay ad free.

      *for a given value of trust

    3. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by HideyoshiJP · · Score: 1

      I only disable it at work, for reasons. I don't mind ads on slashdot at home. I whitelist it in Kaspersky Anti-Banner.

    4. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by sk999 · · Score: 1

      Slashdot has had episodes of bad ads that forced me to turn them off (even though, like you, I'd prefer to leave them on).

    5. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by houghi · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I DO mind ads. Noifs and buts. I understand why they exist, yet I do not want to see them. A bit like syphilis. So I try to avoid them as much as possible with any means possible.

      I did not ask for them. I do not like them. I do not want them.

      I do not want the video ads. I do not want the GIF ads. I do not want the static ads. I do not want the text ads. And as always here a quote from Banksy who says it way much better than I can:

              People are taking the piss out of you everyday. They butt into your life, take a cheap shot at you and then disappear. They leer at you from tall buildings and make you feel small. They make flippant comments from buses that imply youâ(TM)re not sexy enough and that all the fun is happening somewhere else. They are on TV making your girlfriend feel inadequate. They have access to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen and they bully you with it. They are The Advertisers and they are laughing at you.

              You, however, are forbidden to touch them. Trademarks, intellectual property rights and copyright law mean advertisers can say what they like wherever they like with total impunity.

              Fuck that. Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. Itâ(TM)s yours to take, re-arrange and re-use. You can do whatever you like with it. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.

              You owe the companies nothing. Less than nothing, you especially donâ(TM)t owe them any courtesy. They owe you. They have re-arranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, donâ(TM)t even start asking for theirs.

              â" Banksy

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    6. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Being a slashdotter in good standing, I have the option to turn off ads here, but I don't, because I find Slashdot's ads harmless and unobtrusive.

      Well, I've had them turned off and been running an ad blocker for so long that I wouldn't know, but last time I saw an ad on Slashdot, they were delivering bullshit animated ads that shit all over my web browser. So if they're only running unobtrusive ads now, that's a change.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    7. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not quite the same experience via a mobile device.

      I actually had to install Adblock on the Android because of the GD Ads on Slashdot alone. It's a far more pleasant experience now.

    8. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I approve of this blatant advertisement for Banksy.

    9. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try browsing Slashdot's mobile site on an iPhone. There's an ad that always appears shilling mobile apps that takes up the entire fucking screen to display four fucking icons. Yes the girl for Game of War has huge tits! I got that 100 page loads ago!

      I can't wait to get an adblocking extension for iOS.

    10. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by istartedi · · Score: 1

      I also have the option to turn off Slashdot's ads; but I've never seen one. I think they get caught up in the dragnet of my blockers. If Slashdot served old-school banners hosted from slashdot.org, and if they were just plain old GIFs or JPEGs with a hyperlink, I probably wouldn't turn them off. Others have expressed a similar idea--bomb advertising back to the mid 1990s, and we'd be OK with it.

      --
      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    11. Re:I don't mind ads, but... by Whorhay · · Score: 1

      Wow, if that's an advertisement it's effective as hell. That raises my opinion of Banksy immeasurably.

  12. Betteridge says "No"... by Zocalo · · Score: 2

    Betteridge says "No", but we can always hope that this one will be the exception that proves the rule. :)

    --
    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
  13. Ad blockers aren't; ads are. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When ads stop playing sound, hijacking the page, redirecting me to app stores, acting as hovertraps ("Oh! You briefly moused over our ad! Let's take up the whole screen and play loud sounds!"), eating all my computer's resources, and distributing malware - then, and only then, I'll look into not using adblockers.
    Web-ad-serving companies complaining about ad blockers are like grade-school bullies, crying to the teacher about "So-and-so punched me back!" They keep escalating their 'services', and are acting surprised that people aren't just taking it.

    1. Re:Ad blockers aren't; ads are. by mlts · · Score: 2

      The ironic thing is that Google has done extremely well with their quiet text ads. Apple has done well with their relatively unobtrusive iAd platform.

      The problem is that nobody cares to fix this problem:

      The ad slingers can play three-monkeys when bad guys use their networks for malvertising, then they whine when people block their stuff. They have zero accountability. If, instead of malware, it was infringing IP, said ad servers would be out of business immediately.

      It is easy to blame the "evil adblockers", and try to start countering it. Newsweek uses scripts so it doesn't display if it detects AdBlock for example.

      I'm not going to be surprised to see an arms race between people wanting to keep their networks clean, versus advertisers who want to be ever more intrusive.

      The advertisers are winning on one front -- they can find you... I have yet to see a Web browser that doesn't score "unique" on EFF's Panopticlick and have decent functionality, so I have to filter sites by IP and hostname, so the nasty behavioral tracking sites can't get in contact to the browser in the first place... and when they do, the browser is sandboxed, in a VM, or both to minimize potential damage.

    2. Re:Ad blockers aren't; ads are. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... then, and only then, I'll look into not using adblockers.

      I won't. They've lost me for good. Fuck 'em all.

    3. Re:Ad blockers aren't; ads are. by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      I have no problem if sites block me from viewing them when they detect adblock. It's only fair. If they depend upon ads to make a living then I can go elsewhere. I'd much prefer this model in fact as I can more easily avoid any site that treats me as a wallet with eyeballs.

    4. Re:Ad blockers aren't; ads are. by meta-monkey · · Score: 1

      I use NoScript + uBlock + ghostery (and some other less relevant things) and have not whitelisted anything from Newsweek.com (never been there before seeing your post) and it loads fine for me. No ads, and I didn't even have to tell NoScript to allow anything. What u doin'?

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
  14. What is this? A BS Business term paper? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ad blocking does not threaten the entire industry, sadly. It may change the dynamics of it but won't kill ads.

    The mobile migration to apps may likewise change the dynamics of being able to block ads. But I know that I'm *really* pissed when I pay money for an app only to find that it still serves up ads as well and that I migrate away from such given an alternative. But it won't be the salvation of ads, either, as some of us will still use our browsers and say "Fuck No!" to interstitials asking if the user wants to install their app, too.

    *Sigh* I miss the the early Internet.
    Shit, sometimes I even miss the Compuserve text interface.

    Now don't get off my lawn, get out of my town....

    1. Re:What is this? A BS Business term paper? by mlts · · Score: 1

      Nothing wrong with the CIS interface. Type in "go wherever", and you can read what you want. Similar with newsgroups pre-Canter/Siegel where trolls would feel the wrath of their local BOFH quite quickly.

      I just think it will get worse. Windows 10, with its privacy settings that allow all your data to be slurped up, and the Edge browser which doesn't allow for extensions like AdBlock, but is happy with add-ons like Flash. DRM extensions are already in all major browsing platforms, so I wouldn't be surprised to see all content DRM-protected, just to protect the ads, similar to the all-Flash web pages back in the early 2000s to bypass hosts files and such, but were killed by devices that didn't play well with Adobe's add-ons. I also wouldn't be surprised to see more websites refuse to work on mobile sites unless via their app.

    2. Re:What is this? A BS Business term paper? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the browser don't support extensions like adblock, you run a proxy server like squid instead. No browser support needed, and you can protect every device in your network. Windows 10, iphones and weirder things.

      The all-flash sites died for a reason - not everybody support flash. Websites that demand 'an app' will die the same way. Many won't bother with their 'app'. They will loose all the casual surfers who just stumble upon the site and therefore don't have the app. And there will always be platforms that don't support any 'apps'. My (non-android) smart TV - no apps exists for it. But it has a shitty browser - surely some poor souls actually uses that sort of thing.

  15. The thing I don't understand with the ad business by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's extremely clear that most everybody hates ads with a passion - else why would so many people install ad blockers eh?

    So even if ad blockers were to disappear tomorrow, what makes advertisers feel that forcing ads down the throat of people who hate them increase sales for their customers?

    To me, it seems that either people hate ads, block them and won't buy the shit being advertised, or people hate ads, can't block them and won't buy the shit being advertised regardless.

    Worse, forcing people to see ads they don't want to see may very well antagonize them. Me, when I see an ad that gets through my ad blockers, I remember the product as something I'll make extra sure I'll never, ever buy.

    So what's the business model here? I can't believe enough people actually like ads to make online advertising a viable business proposition...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  16. You've only got yourselves to blame by cyber-vandal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I made the mistake of opening a link to a games website in IE not long ago and ended up having to kill it because it brought the browser to its knees. I opened it in Chrome with Disconnect and click to play Flash and it loaded pretty much instantly. You made your bed and then shit in it as well. Don't complain about having to lie in it now.

  17. Dear media companies: by Yosho · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Please find a business model that does not involve annoying and exploiting the people who consume your media.

    Now, it's not my job to tell you what your business model should be. Sell merchandise, provide paid services, ask for donations, or whatever else you can think of.

    But if the basis of your business model is providing content for free to me while accepting money from people who solely want to annoy me or buy information about me, then I'm not going to allow that and you deserve to go out of business.

    --
    Karma: Terrifying (mostly affected by atrocities you've committed)
    1. Re:Dear media companies: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now, it's not my job to tell you what your business model should be. Sell merchandise, provide paid services, ask for donations, or whatever else you can think of.

      I like how you said it's not your job to tell them what their business model should be, and then suggested so many.

      My suggestion is: stop the bullshit, and get a real job. All these people going into media, are doing it at the expense of producing something people the citizenry will actually pay for. This is harming our economy, and our culture. Advertising and it's parasitic industries like television, and web media, are already over half the entire economy, and continue to grow. That's half the productivity of the world sapped from the earth, drained away, leaving the other half working twice as hard to support them.

      We don't need more media, stop trying to find ways to fund the production of the most abundant, worthless crap in the world. The best thing that could happen is everyone starts using adblockers, and people stop making so much of this filthy crap, and return to work on something productive.

  18. maybe the spammers will eventually get the message by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    Speaking for myself: I don't want ads, I want the content I asked for. Stick your ads up your arse.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  19. Answer... by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 1

    No, but it is a lovely thought...

    --
    That is all.
  20. B-O-O by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    H-O-O

  21. External Resource Count by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they want us to stop blocking ad's on their site, maybe limit it to a SINGLE external Ad / Tracking resource.
    Its simply amazing how much Tracking and Ad resources get loaded now days.

  22. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're making one fundamental logical mistake.

    The advertising industry exists to sell ads. It does not exist to sell the things they're advertising.

    They don't care whether it works. They care that people pay them to push ads.

  23. What exactly am I paying for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    News is one thing but what you mostly see are editorials. If I want news I go to a news aggregator, where a lot of these other news "sources" get their news

    But, let's not get sidetracked, the real question is that people are voting with their browsers and pushing ads off the table as a revenue stream, I always questioned how this industry worked in the first place, do 100,000 ad impressions actually net business? (Well, other than for the person who claims business will come your way with 100k ad impressions)

    Why are there so many monetized VEVO channels in the top 25 YouTube channels? Would they exist if you couldn't monetize YouTube videos? Would they be missed?

    What was the net effect on the blocking of SPAM by filters? It's still around, is it even effective?

    Is adblock not the same thing as a spam filter?

    My guess is the real money is what Google has been pushing for years, which is targeted advertising. Which is more evil, more subtle. Where you do a search for "video capture cards" and stores that just happen to be local to you mysteriously show up in the first 5 results (even though you didn't explicitly share you location information... and aren't looking to buy anything, but they're there now)

    1. Re:What exactly am I paying for? by tepples · · Score: 1

      Why are there so many monetized VEVO channels in the top 25 YouTube channels? Would they exist if you couldn't monetize YouTube videos?

      If copyright owners couldn't monetize YouTube videos, then even more of them would set their Content ID policies to "block" and deploy overzealous takedown bots.

      Where you do a search for "video capture cards" and stores that just happen to be local to you mysteriously show up in the first 5 results

      You shared it by choosing to connect with your IP address rather than a VPN elsewhere. And because you shared it, the search engine decided to present links to stores near you rather than hundreds of miles or km away because nearby stores are more relevant to most people.

    2. Re:What exactly am I paying for? by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      But, let's not get sidetracked, the real question is that people are voting with their browsers and pushing ads off the table as a revenue stream, I always questioned how this industry worked in the first place, do 100,000 ad impressions actually net business? (Well, other than for the person who claims business will come your way with 100k ad impressions)

      It's 'complicated'. From what I've seen of the early studies, people who, for example, see only Coke ads but no Pepsi ads will tend to buy Coke instead of Pepsi.

      As the relative expense increases, advertising matters less once you've at least put your name out enough that you're on the 'to be checked out' list.

      For example, let's say I'm a restaurant. In the old days, once I'm in the yellow pages, a spot here and there to remind people that I exist is sufficient to keep new customers coming in to replace old ones, assuming that I'm not in a 'hot enough' location to do it all on local traffic. BTW, 'Local Traffic' is the reason why restaurants often have 'unique' appearances.

      However, it's important to remember that people only have so much money, and value their time. But so doesn't Coke and Pepsi want that revenue. So they end up in a game of one-upmanship for our viewings. After a while, they lose track of how much sales they're gaining/losing due to their advertising. Still, they generally try to make their ads interesting.

      The problem is, with internet ads they can actually see effectiveness rates, and had deluded themselves that response rates should be high, so when they get 1 response out of 1k impressions, they think the advertising is less effective than with television and such. When in reality it's probably the same to better.

      Another problem is that the more advertising we're exposed to, the less effective it is. As a result people today, especially Americans, are incredibly resistent to the effects of ads. We're like type-2 diabetics when it comes to insulin. So the ad companies ratchet things up again.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    3. Re:What exactly am I paying for? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      If it's in email then it's spam and most people agree it's spam. Spammers got such a bad reputation that even advertisers distance themselves from it. People hated them because it was lots of extra work to clean out the spam to get to the real mail But the ads on web sites are essentially the same thing. But instead of annoying people who have to slow down and clean out the inbox, it slows down the computer and internet instead and annoys people indirectly. The end user sees the page loading in ten seconds and learns to live with it without knowing the cause. Maybe they think they need a new computer instead of focusing their rage on the advertisers.

      But it's all essentially spam. Like the difference between bombs and smart bombs, we have spam and smart spam.

  24. Stop it, Ad blockers aren't evil. by GoodNewsJimDotCom · · Score: 2

    Ads are way more evil. Ads are irresponsible because they're not checked against viruses. Want a virus? Don't run an ad blocker.

    I think someday we'll look back today like we do to 1998 webpages. We'll go,"They really tried to slap you with an ad before you read some goon's pointless article that was hyped?" I don't think ads should or will go away, but I think they should be more responsible. Commit to who you want to advertise with, don't just run an adnetwork. Do you really want to put nefarious ads on things kids might be reading? Well you might be doing that if you run a generic adnetwork. Sadly I don't think people will become more responsible with advertisements. I see them becoming more obnoxious because they're greedy for the monies.

    Now this last thing is a pet random idea: Actually I think if you wanted to really get a huge ad based network, you should build a pyramid scheme where no one loses anything. Use the gameshow model so they're playing a game of any level of skill, but they share ad revenue with you. At the end of the month with a raffle where they get points by doing well in the game + 50% additional tickets from everyone they referred and 25% tickets from people they referred etc... People would get a portion of the ad revenue by playing the game. And they'd get additional tickets by just watching ads. Get people wanting to watch the ads for their own profit, and you have a gold mine. If I'm not getting anything for watching your ad, its just wasting my time at best. At worst, my computer is getting crypto locked with ransom ware.

    I run adblock. And yes, I'd download a car if I could.

  25. It will adapt by RyoShin · · Score: 1

    Unlike giant, rusty conglomerates (such as members of the RIAA), small studios that rely on advertising will adapt--they'll have to, or they'll die. Many already have, using services like Kickstarter and Patreon to run campaigns for funding. Digital content sites have long had stores to purchase physical goods, using profit from that as (partial) funding.

    Companies that offer subscriptions in addition to ad-supported revenue will likely lock down more of their content behind the subscription, offering scraps and glimpses to entice people to subscribe. I would also expect existing subscriptions to spread into tiers, so people can use cheaper subscriptions to get access, albeit at lower quality or content than the full subscription.

    More directly to the web in general, I expect many competitors to pop up in "website funding". They could work like Patreon does, where you subscribe to a site for a small amount (likely $1 or less a month.) It could bring about the oft-spoken "micropayments", where a site using the service would charge the viewer a pittance per page or per day, depending on costs. (Users would ideally have full control on whitelisting/blacklisting.)

    What will be killed off are the tons of blogs/sites that exist only to re-serve someone else's content (usually without attribution). It will be extremely refreshing, I think. There will be some unfortunate causalities during the transition, but in the end the web will be far better for it.

    During all of this, giant publishers will just continue to stick their head in the sand and sue people, clutching to the "old ways" that they understood.

    1. Re:It will adapt by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1

      There will be some unfortunate causalities

      I agree, like a bad science fiction time travel plot!

  26. marketers already suing in germany by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Here in Germany the marketers are already suing to ban adblockers.
    But it doesn't seem like they'll succeed.
    The only english article i could find on this subject is here ( it sadly isn't up to date ):
    http://blog.pagefair.com/2015/adblocking-goes-to-court/

  27. as soon as you start by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    displaying static, unobtrusive, low bandwidth unanimated ads that do not track us, are served from the same domain as the web page it's displayed on, are presented below the fold, are not misleading, link to unobfuscated urls vetted by trusted third-parties to be safe, and are constantly monitored malicious code, content or redirection.. maybe, just maybe, people will start putting up with online ads again... until then... enjoy my adblock and noscript with a half-dozen years of tuning to their blocklists and whitelists.

    1. Re:as soon as you start by techno-vampire · · Score: 1

      Back when banner ads were the latest and greatest thing, they were always displayed right at the top of the page. Instead of complaining, I just got into the habit of scrolling down just far enough to take them out of my sight. The advertisers were happy, the sites got the revenue and I never really saw them because they were off the edge of the screen before I had a chance to read them. Now, of course, that doesn't work because the ads are all over the page, or so I'm told. What with Add-blocker + and Ghostery, I hardly see any of them at all, including the ones that are supposed to be on Slashdot's main page.

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
  28. So Be It by Anna+Merikin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "When in the course of human events...." ads become too onerous, rebellions break out. The "consumers" of news (as if news can be "used up" somehow) are rebelling against too many and too invasive ads.

    It was easier to find the information I wanted on the internet before the media companies filled all google's top spots with commercial products instead of the student/hobbyist stuff that was there before.

    1. Re:So Be It by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Gods, I hate the phrase "content consumption". I don't "consume" anything. I *read* or *view*, and--as you point out--the text or video is still there when I'm done with it.

      It's a buzz-phrase made up by media marketers envious of industries with actual products that can be *used* (and *used up*), and who want us to go along with their "let's pretend our products are consumables, too" fantasy (and give them money for nothing).

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    2. Re:So Be It by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're at minimum consuming bandwidth, which is the obvious variable cost for websites, beyond the fixed costs of just producing content.

  29. A Simple Issue by cirby · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A plain ad, with a link to someone's site? That's fine. I'll even read them as I scroll down the page, most times. If it's something I'm interested in, I'll even do a quick search for the product and look at the actual seller's page.

    A really, REALLY annoying ad, with autoplay video and sound, popping up and getting in the way of the actual content, and often becoming home to all sorts of security issues like viruses or rogue redirects to trash pages? That's not. That's why I use adblocking software.

    Here's a thought, advertisers:

    Try spending as much time on creative and entertaining ads as you do in trying to come up with new and more obnoxious pop-ups. That actually works.

    1. Re:A Simple Issue by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 2

      Try spending as much time on creative and entertaining ads as you do in trying to come up with new and more obnoxious pop-ups.

      You know, there's an annual advertising gala disguised as a sports event, and a lot of people watch it for the commercials! It is possible to make people want to see your ads, but it takes more effort than bitching about the freeloaders who don't want to punch the monkey.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    2. Re:A Simple Issue by g01d4 · · Score: 1

      try spending as much time on creative and entertaining ads

      I think you mean relevant and informative. I think it's their perception of "creative and entertaining" that got us into this mess.

    3. Re:A Simple Issue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A plain ad, with a link to someone's site?

      And please don't lie about the link target. Practically all google ads that are displayed alongside the results display a nice and short link in the ad (e.g. http://foo.com/bar), but actually redirect via some tracking servers so some obscure URL (e.g. http://foo.com/asdf.cgi?urtm=123&prod=bar...), while the displayed link just returns a 404.

  30. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by tehlinux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Good riddance. The Internet is shit because of ad-sponsored content and SEO.

    --
    Most linux users don't know this, but the man pages were named after Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris fsck'ing hates noobs!
  31. Interesting conflict by lq_x_pl · · Score: 4, Informative

    It is an arms race between ad networks and ad blockers. I don't think anyone would fault a site for trying to monetize its content (stuff consts money). Unfortunately, too many sites got lazy and handed over the handling of advertisements to these larger conglomerated ad networks. The ad networks got lazy about who they let advertise/what tech they allowed to be used in advertisements, and now internet ads are yet another vector for the spread of malware.

    This is not ok.

    I'm willing to chalk up my annoyance with loud flashing pseudo-videos to personal preference, but it seems like everyone else who consumes internet content is also irritated by these things.

    Until the ad networks can guarantee (which they can't, now) that they won't deposit malware on my parents' computers, I will evangelize the use of adblockers until I die. Another option, as others have already mentioned, is to bring control of ad content back to the sites' actual owners.

    --
    An internal system operation returned the error "The operation completed successfully.".
    1. Re:Interesting conflict by gweihir · · Score: 1

      You miss something important completely: If people install ad-blockers, then they do not want ads and any revenue sites are making are based on invalid assumptions.
         

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    2. Re:Interesting conflict by tepples · · Score: 1

      Another option, as others have already mentioned, is to bring control of ad content back to the sites' actual owners.

      I agree. So how should small site owners find advertisers for their sites or vice versa?

    3. Re:Interesting conflict by luvirini · · Score: 1

      At least Google used to allow only running text adds if you wanted. Have not followed the development of that though.

    4. Re:Interesting conflict by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So how should small site owners find advertisers for their sites or vice versa?

      They shouldn't. If you're a small site owner, run it as a hobby, not a goddamn cottage industry. If you have something of your own to sell (you're an author, artist, builder of gizmos, whatever) then fine, run your own ads on your site. As soon as you start running somebody elses you're their whore.

    5. Re:Interesting conflict by lq_x_pl · · Score: 2

      That is a difficult egg to crack. It may mean the end of turn-key ready-to-roll websites - but if the 'digital media industry' is genuinely worried about extinction, they should already be looking at ways to make their ads safe and palatable, rather than continuing the ads-arms-race.

      I take a lot of comfort knowing that I'm not uniquely intelligent - and honestly, some of the work-arounds advertisers have come up with for getting around ad blockers are pretty clever. Restructuring how a business works isn't the same thing as inserting an ad, but there are plenty of very intelligent people already involved in the industry. I would like to see the 'worried about extinction' folks make some proposals about alternate ways of doing business. Up until this article, most of the ad-blocker news coverage has gone just short of callling ad-blocker users baby-killers.

      From time to time, I'll fire up a vanilla web browsers in a VM to see what an unprotected browsing experience is like, hoping to see things calming down (I want companies to be able to monetize their websites! I didn't even opt-out of Slashdot's ads until they started yelling at me), but each foray sans adblocker is more miserable than the last. I would think that an organization would strive to avoid associating their product with misery, but this is exactly the opposite of what the ad industry has done to the web.

      Finding a way to get ads in the hands of small website owners is a difficult task. Even more difficult will be convincing content consumers that the ads are safe and unobtrusive again.

      --
      An internal system operation returned the error "The operation completed successfully.".
    6. Re:Interesting conflict by 0123456 · · Score: 2

      As soon as you start running somebody elses you're their whore.

      Yes. I've seen a number of sites I read regularly, or forums I post to, suddenly cull certain topics because Google or some other ad service tells them those topics are no longer acceptable on their site.

    7. Re:Interesting conflict by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "handed over the handling of advertisements to these larger conglomerated ad networks"

      I'm glad they did. It makes it really easy to vaporize the ads with my HOSTS file.

    8. Re:Interesting conflict by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Another option, as others have already mentioned, is to bring control of ad content back to the sites' actual owners.

      That's a totally unworkable solution. Web sites would love to be able to do this, but the advertisers will stop advertising before they will let that happen.

      The problem is that the advertisers do not trust the publishers to serve up the ads. A publisher has absolutely no incentive to tell the truth about how many times an ad was viewed. Ads must be pulled from a different server that's owned (or controlled) by the advertiser, so that the advertiser can trust the metrics.

      In fact, this lack of trust is the only reason that it's even possible to have ad blockers. If publishers could be trusted to serve up ads, then they would simply in-line the ads into their content -- and in that case, trying to tell the difference between ads and content could easily be beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced AI. But fortunately, publishers cannot be trusted, so ad blockers can simply use the domain to distinguish ads from content.

      I think it's amazing that the only reason the web is still a tolerable place is because of this total lack of trust. If publishers could be trusted, the web would be absolutely unusable by now.

    9. Re:Interesting conflict by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's their problem, why are you asking anybody else for solutions? If you have a solution, implement it and charge money for it.

    10. Re:Interesting conflict by tepples · · Score: 1

      That's their problem

      What steps would they take to go about solving their problem?

      why are you asking anybody else for solutions?

      Because "anybody else" proposed blocking ads with the knowledge that ads are the primary source of revenue for many sites.

    11. Re:Interesting conflict by FunkSoulBrother · · Score: 1

      This seems like a non-issue to me? How did they come to trust the New York Times or Des Moines' hot rock 104.5 or Sports Illustrated when they were selling ad space in 1975?

      They ran surveys, demographic groups, advertised their circulation, right? They were using perfect invasive metrics that tracked every impression and conversion, and yet, the ad space sold and the world kept turning.

      They should just go back to doing that. Why is it that they will trust Sports Illustrated's circulation numbers but not ESPN.COMs?

    12. Re:Interesting conflict by FunkSoulBrother · · Score: 1

      ugh, proofreading:

      They were *NOT* using perfect invasive metrics....

  32. Ads = virus attack vector by mileshigh · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I could live with ads if they were just annoying, but ad blocking is just commonsense self-defense. Browsing just one site exposes you ads from potentially hundreds of sources, each of which potentially carries as much or more risk of attack as the site you're browsing! It just doesn't make sense to voluntarily expose yourself to that magnitude of increased risk.

    Seems like a week doesn't go by without seeing a zero-day advisory along the lines of "observed in the wild being served from XYZ ad network." A lot of attackers no longer bother compromising servers, etc when they can just spend a few $ to almost instantly serve up the targets.

    First order of business for advertising networks: fix the security, bandwidth and response times issues. Until then, I won't feel any guilt whatsoever about protecting myself from you.

  33. There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by sycodon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have no problem with ad on the margins of the page. Slashdot has three up right now and they don't block my view of the content, they aren't playing music or videos (chewing up my bandwidth), and nothing opened a popup. Those are Ads in the tradition of a news paper.

    The Fucking Ads are the opposite. They block the content, force you to find that little X in some corner...if they didn't put a fake one in that's just a link to another page. Fucking Ads seem to be loaded first. So if some Ad service has shit slow servers, it takes forever for a simple Text article to appear. Fucking Ads also hijack random clicks. Ever click on a page to be sure the scroll is focused on the page and not something else so you can use the scroll wheel...and here comes a popup.

    Fucking Ads are also dangerous. To get rid of them you have to interact with them. Who knows what the fuck will happen when you click that close button?

    So if they just stick to what they've been doing for the last 200 years, we're fine.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    1. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Noah+Haders · · Score: 5, Informative

      a lot of page loads are slowed by ads because the ads are bid and filled in real time. You click on a link, your deets are passed thru to the ad server (IP, operating system, mobile or desktop, etc, whatever the browser sends), ad server auctions off your eyeballs. The auction window is left open as long as people can stand it in order to maximize bids.

    2. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Fucking Ads pop up over my content and, on my tablet, display a close button just off screen, so I can go no further.

    3. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      I have no problem with ad on the margins of the page. Slashdot has three up right now and they don't block my view of the content, they aren't playing music or videos (chewing up my bandwidth), and nothing opened a popup.

      I have "Ads disabled" checked on /. and I'm getting headline banner ads that actively rotate (chewing up bandwidth and CPU), a small add at the top of the right column (right above the "ads disabled" option), and another ad below that option.

      And just prior to coming to this article, the main page of /. got covered up by a full-page popup grocery ad for Fred Meijer, which had NO obvious way of making it go away. That ad came from a rollover when my cursor touched the top headine ad, which hadn't yet loaded.

      The add on the right side has an 'x' that should make it go away, but it brings up a menu to report the ad. I'm actively reporting every such ad as "inappropriate", because that is what they are.

    4. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Ads are ads and on my computers they are a no-no. Every ad, from the tiniest, out of the way text ad to the most obnoxious pop-ups get blocked here. If it's an ad, I don't want to see it.

    5. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      I don't want to see them in the margins either - that is MY bandwidth that is being stolen. If they refuse to show the content if I don't view the ads, then that is ok with me and it is easy enough to do. But to passively suck up my bandwidth is unacceptable, no matter how desparate the site owners are to make a few bucks so that they can quit their day job.

    6. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The "disable advertising" checkbox has never made much sense. If you're reading Slashdot, you ought to be using an adblocker anyway

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    7. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by mattventura · · Score: 2

      I'd like to make a similar point: I have no issue with an ad blocker that an individual user installs and configures. However, I do think that mass ad blocking (on a company, ISP, or OS level or some other way of spreading adblocking en-masse) actually will have dire consequences. Individual ad blocking would be like one person carrying an umbrella to stay dry. Mass ad blocking would be like constructing a dome over the entire city with no regards to the ecosystem. Up until recently, adblocking was used mainly by people who weren't going to be swayed by crappy online advertising to begin with, but now it's starting to go beyond that and will seriously hurt many websites that rely on ad revenue (even the ones with non-invasive ads). Not to mention the whole thing will just degenerate into an arms race between advertisers+webmasters versus adblocker devs.

    8. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Bullshit. When I visit sites on the internet, I don't expect to see ads. That is the default state of the internet. It wasn't until little sleazeballs like you jumped into our world and started filling it with ads. Fuck you, go back to where you came from and get the fuck off of my internet.

    9. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That said, I hope models like Patreon catch on enough to provide an alternative that is better for everyone, supporting artists directly and eliminating the need for ads and all the issues that come with them.

      I hope cable TV catches on, because subscriptions will eliminate the need for ads and all the issues that come with them.

      Oh, sorry, the adholes just pushed their crap onto cable subscribers, too, until it became as bad as over-the-air TV but you had to pay for it, too.

    10. Re: There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except it's not being used it's being wasted. And they aren't even advertising things you can buy. Most ads are just click bait to get you to a tiny article covered with more ads.
      It's all 100% about tracking you. They should be paying you. It doesn't matter what sites you go to the same ads follow you around.
      If sites had to host ads themselves the metrics would be all in their own server logs and they wouldn't be so heavy on bandwidth usage or they would suffer. The site would load faster not having to wait on 3rd party servers. And they would be harder to block. But these are ads are not valuable as ads, never have been. Internet ads have never paid well. People have to actually click or you get nothing. It's all about tracking and speculation about how much "data" is worth.

    11. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not true. If the creator of the web site does not want to me watch with adblock on then they can say so and I will never go back to their site. I don't need to see them, they are not vital to my life. But their third party advertising partner is slowing down my internet and slowing down my computer if I turn off adblock. The content creator needs to find a better way to make a living than to associate with scum advertisers.

      Who are these content creators? Why is AT&T showing me ads when I use AT&T's web mail when I pay then $50 a month? Why would you defend such actions? Are the bloggers? Screw them, they should get a job instead of relying on me; and I don't read blogs anyway.

      I am not using adblock because I want to be a freeloader. I am using adblock because ads are actively hostile to me and my computer, they introduce malware and slow down my computer. Too many ads on TV and I cut the cord; no ads, less cost, more actual paid content.

    12. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I didn't block them for the longest time because I was willing to look at the dumb ads as the price of free content I enjoy. I gave up and clicked the checkbox when Slashdot's ads went full jackass, and installed ABP when Slashdot (temporarily?) stopped honoring the checkbox. Yes, that's right: I installed ABP because of Slashdot.

      Slow golf clap. Well done, corporate overlords.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    13. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      The "disable advertising" checkbox has never made much sense. If you're reading Slashdot, you ought to be using an adblocker anyway

      Not just that but it's not like you get the sidebar space back if you disable ads, you just get a big white space reminding you that you've disabled ads. Thanks! I knew that. I run an ad blocker.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    14. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Interesting

      What's even worse is ad content in the main body of the document that spends about five to ten seconds after a page load changing its size, so that the text of the document is bouncing all over the place as AJAX-loaded images size themselves to whatever is viewed as the correct size. If you don't basically walk away for about thirty seconds, you'll end up trying to click on a link, click on the wrong link and end up in some other page than you wanted.

      The sheer incompetence of web design, even on major sites like the Guardian's website, just amazes me. We literally have taken the latest web tools, and found a way to make the web experience even worse than it was during those purgatorial days of Internet Explorer 6.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    15. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 3, Interesting

      One of my biggest peeves these days is the imposition of artificial pagination upon the reader as though the web were some nasty old newspaper or an elementary-school slideshow... just to artificially jack up the fucking ad impressions that much more. Combine that with the stupid javascript and HTML5 tricks that are en vogue these days and many sites are all but unusable on mobile browsers.

      I too actually never minded banner ads at the top or bottom of the page. I do understand that content has to be paid for. Hell, I don't even mind targeted advertising, so long as it's well-targetd, not insulting (Looking at you, Facebook, on this one for continuing to suggest that I should like things like bill gates, samsung, and walmart.), and not obnoxious... so basically... Google AdSense.

      I even whitelist some sites I do want to support. But the first time I see shenanigans... flash, java, pop-ups, pop-unders, overlays, interstitials, sounds, auto-playing video, or the aforementioned stupid javascript or HTML5 tricks... I have zero qualms whatsoever about immediately going back to blocking everything.

      --
      Imagine all the people...
    16. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      a lot of page loads are slowed by ads because the ads are bid and filled in real time. You click on a link, your deets are passed thru to the ad server (IP, operating system, mobile or desktop, etc, whatever the browser sends), ad server auctions off your eyeballs. The auction window is left open as long as people can stand it in order to maximize bids.

      Well, it ought to be a quick auction in my case. "Wow, this person has literally never ever clicked on an ad except by accident because we tricked him into thinking something was content. He will never EVER legitimately click on anything and will never EVER buy anything on an ad, so we should save our money and not present ads at him."

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    17. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'll disagree with you on one thing. While no ISP or OS vendor should be the one making and imposing the choice to block on behalf of the customers; in the case of a company, said company IS the customer and has every right and, I'd argue, responsibility to block ads.

      In a company environment, the bandwidth doesn't belong to the users, nor does the equipment. It belongs to the company. And remember, web ads are a fairly common vector for malware infection. They can also be bandwidth and CPU hogs. As such, it is a fairly responsible practice to block them with a proxy or at the gateway, even if you're otherwise pretty liberal about what you allow your users to do online. Hardly anyone will miss them. And if some users do have a legitimate business need to view the unfiltered web, advertising, tracking cookies, malware, and all; accommodations can be made in those cases.

      --
      Imagine all the people...
    18. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      I have "Ads disabled" checked on /. and I'm getting headline banner ads that actively rotate (chewing up bandwidth and CPU), a small add at the top of the right column (right above the "ads disabled" option), and another ad below that option.

      I have been given the option to disable advertising, but have not done so. Hopefully, slashdot is making a little money off of the impressions (I will never ever click an ad on purpose). There have been times when I have been extremely tempted to disabled ads. Slashdot had some autoplay video ads for a period of time. That is a definite no-no. They also have had ads that were broken and so I would get the "unresponsive script" notification and every time I clicked and told it to stop running the script, it would pop up again about a minute later. I started blocking the script by domain name.
      Hmm, now that I look at it, I have no ads on my slashdot page, and lo and behold, I apparently have Adblockplus on my Firefox browser. I don't even remember installing it. I still get plenty of ads on other sites despite having ABP though.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    19. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd go back to reading various groups on usenet if there was a critical mass to make it worthwhile. If 95% of the internet sites that only made money from ads and user tracking closed down tomorrow, I would not care. I'm sure a lot of people would not care.

    20. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by AntiSol · · Score: 1

      To get rid of them you have to interact with them. Who knows what the fuck will happen when you click that close button?

      I tend to use my developer tools to find the element and hide it rather than clicking on the close buttons.

      That's assuming, of course, that I didn't just close the tab the instant I saw a popover starting to load.

    21. Re: There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those auctions will take the longest since nobody is bidding and the seller is waiting longer for an appropriate bid.

    22. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Your.Master · · Score: 1

      That is the default state of the internet.

      The Internet carries content. One type of content is Advertisements. The Internet having no ads is only the default state of the Internet in the same sense as the Internet having no non-ad content is.

      It's like saying "the default state of a flat surface is that it has no ads" in a rage against newspapers, magazines, billboards, storefronts, signs, television, etc.. Again, true only in the same sense that the default state of a flat surface is that it has no content whatsoever.

    23. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by citylivin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Releasing something for free on the internet does not guarantee you a right to profit. I would think by your low user id you would have got this very basic fact by now.

      Advertising is cancer. It warps the mind to consume, causes needy people, mental problems and over-consumption. Something we cannot afford in this new century. Advertising wastes, time, money, bandwidth and fills peoples heads with garbage. Advertising should be banned. Its nothing more than for profit mind control.

      --
      As a potential lottery winner, I totally support tax cuts for the wealthy
    24. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by AntiSol · · Score: 1

      now it's starting to go beyond that and will seriously hurt many websites that rely on ad revenue

      Good. They can go and get real jobs.

    25. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is black and white thinking. Just because a person thinks ads aren't inherently bad, doesn't mean they agree with AT&T's advertisements on your web mail server.

      By the way, I think this thing that you said is the correct reaction: "If the creator of the web site does not want to me watch with adblock on then they can say so and I will never go back to their site.". That's a completely reasonable response. I am somewhat less opposed to unobtrusive advertisements than you are, so I don't do the same thing, but I respect that response. I have much more of a problem when somebody says "if they don't want me to watch with adblock, then fuck them, I'm going to watch with adblock anyway". And then complains when anti-adblock measures start being taken.

      I will say, however, that any site that tries to show an add that is blocked is sending a pretty strong signal that they don't want you to view it with adblock.

      Having said all that, I personally reinstalled AdBlock recently after a very long time without it, because I am simply *done* with ads that autoplay sound. I'm more than willing to whitelist back in the reasonable ads.

      Here's my criteria for ads.

      Your ad can have sound if and only if the content I am viewing has sound, it does not play overtop of / alongside the content I am viewing (I don't want to have to rewind), and the volume of your sound is no greater than that of the content I am viewing. Basically, you can have a pre-roll, post-roll, or even a commercial break for podcasts or videos. Now, I may choose to just not view your video if you have ads like that, but I won't go insane over it.

      Your ad can be animated if and only if I'm viewing a page where the main content is animated.

      Your ad cannot take 100% of CPU.

      Your ad cannot cause Flash to crash.

      If your ad contains something I perceive as malware, then I don't trust your site to advertise to me in any way, shape, or form.

      Relatedly, if you have a site that offers free downloads, and you have *any* ad that is of the form "download now" which downloads something completely different from what you were trying to download, you're dead to me.

    26. Re: There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have no clue what you are talking about do you?
      The internet was designed to carry bits, not content. They could be formatting, content or just protocol.

    27. Re: There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I love it when YouTube channels beg you to turn off ad blocking as if they pay for youtube's bandwidth.

    28. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      a lot of page loads are slowed by ads because the ads are bid and filled in real time. You click on a link, your deets are passed thru to the ad server (IP, operating system, mobile or desktop, etc, whatever the browser sends), ad server auctions off your eyeballs. The auction window is left open as long as people can stand it in order to maximize bids.

      I never understood that "fact".

      I work on the real-time bidding part (the DSP part - the ones buying), and we have a fixed window to bid. There's no variability anywhere, if we bid too late (and that's measured in milliseconds), we automatically lose.

      So none of the exchanges I work with act like that, and I work with many of the big names. I'm surprised it made the news.

      Furthermore, there's no technical reason (and the means are way too cumbersome) to force said sequential loading. If anything, I'd blame the browsers for:

      1. Piss-poor and snail-slow JS compilers
      2. Lacking compile caches (or if they have them, slow as fuck)
      3. Bad parallelization

    29. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since you can't block the Ads on Cable without a capable DVR, the next best solution to the deluge of Advertising was to simply cut the cable and walk away from Cable TV for good.

      Is reason 1 of 2 why I dropped Cable TV. The Advertising was driving me insane. ( The other reason was a bazillion channels of shit doth not entertainment make )

    30. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      The funny part is, I haven't seen an ad on slashdot since the 90s, but I always re-check the box to make sure I'm in the right category; that I cast my vote as a person who can select products without advertising. It always annoys me when it finally forgets or resets the setting... even though I never saw an ad.

    31. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Aighearach · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This. Very this.

      One of the chess sites detects if the ads don't load, and sends nasty emails threatening to delete your account if you block ads. That is their right, just as blocking ads until they ban me is my right. That is just the give-and-take of Freedom.

      I didn't wait to get banned, or unblock the ads, I just switched to a different site. The best chess site doesn't have ads and is membership only; none of the free-to-access ones are worth paying for, or worth crying over if they fail to make money off of a "free" service.

      I spend lots of money at the stores I shop at, but they aren't ones that have large advertising budgets. And if blogs-for-profit all go bust... honestly the content quality will skyrocket. Way less noise, even if the signal appears smaller in the short term.

    32. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by kidsizedcoffin · · Score: 1

      I'm a few years removed from Usenet, but outside of a few moderated groups, the spam was out of control. If you think ads are bad now, the cost of ads/spam there was essentially 0, so people went all out. If people were going to make a move back there, it would take something a bit more robust than Google groups or some simple spam filters on your favorite Usenet client to make it usable on any scale, especially once advertisers realized there was a critical mass.

    33. Re: There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Nermal · · Score: 1

      You have no clue what you are talking about do you?
      The internet was designed to carry bits, not content. They could be formatting, content or just protocol.

      I... I just...

      O.o

      Yeah, now is the time on Sprockets when for my sanity's sake I assume that this person must be trolling.

    34. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by PixetaledPikachu · · Score: 1

      I have no problem with ad on the margins of the page. Slashdot has three up right now and they don't block my view of the content, they aren't playing music or videos (chewing up my bandwidth), and nothing opened a popup. Those are Ads in the tradition of a news paper.

      The Fucking Ads are the opposite. They block the content, force you to find that little X in some corner...if they didn't put a fake one in that's just a link to another page. Fucking Ads seem to be loaded first. So if some Ad service has shit slow servers, it takes forever for a simple Text article to appear. Fucking Ads also hijack random clicks. Ever click on a page to be sure the scroll is focused on the page and not something else so you can use the scroll wheel...and here comes a popup.

      Fucking Ads are also dangerous. To get rid of them you have to interact with them. Who knows what the fuck will happen when you click that close button?

      So if they just stick to what they've been doing for the last 200 years, we're fine.

      Try opening slashdot on an android browser. Oftentimes, I got redirected to a playstore page for a games or apps

    35. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      F-12 + right click + delete for site blocking modals and email required. FTW. ;-)

      And if I still can't see the content, I'm not really that interested anyway.

    36. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      your deets are passed thru to the ad server (IP, operating system, mobile or desktop, etc, whatever the browser sends)

      I've come to believe that the browser should be sending *nothing* except for the requested URL and the IP to send it back to. Referrer URL, operating system version, browser version, javascript status, GPS coordinates, list of installed fonts, battery status, etc., etc. ... they should *not* be going to the webserver.

      How did we reach this point? Did the browser writers collectively decide to take a steaming crap over their users' privacy? Were they forced to do it somehow, or did it just seem like a good idea at the time? And the big question: how do we get back?

    37. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Surely enough, with about the same lines of reasoning, it's why i leave the box unchecked. To remind them that an unobtrusive ad would get displayed.

    38. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your rant makes no sense - you are free to select the sites you want to visit, and the site owner is free to construct a site as they see fit.

      In turn you have the tools to disable ads and can control what information reaches you.

      I don't like ads at all with all arguments listed here, but if you don't like a site, visit another or make your own or apply a blocker, since the site is totally free to experiment with their business model as they see fit, just as visitors are free to select what they visit.

    39. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      Do banner ads work though? I had to check to see what the ad on top of the front page was.

    40. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by KGIII · · Score: 1

      You must be very new to the internet. There was a time, back in the BBS days, when ads were all over the place and they had stuff like phone numbers that they wanted you to dial so that you could visit their BBS. Hell, you could dial in (and pay for the long distance) to view ads at IBM, Intel, and even Apple. It was 1200 baud and we liked it! But no, we still saw ads back before you were even on the internet kid. You have no idea what the default state is. The default state is that humans are greedy bastards who want attention. You will have ads.

      Which is why I block them.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    41. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Heh... I was an early adopter, so to speak. I used to have an application that I ran which would block most ads. It sat in the system tray and it served as a proxy server. I do not remember its name and I do not think it was very expensive either. I also seem to recall pirating it for a while before paying for it. It was a conundrum, really. I could not get Ghost VPN (or VPN Ghost or GhostProxy or some crap with Ghost in its name) and my ad blocking application to both work at the same time - I could not tunnel from one to the next so that they both worked as both required I change the proxy server to localhost.

      So, it was around that time that I gave up on using a proxy. It was just so much nicer without ads. I could have, and did, use the hosts file for a long time but I really prefer being more selective even if it means additional resources are used. I do not have any moral issues with ads. I just hate them. Hell, one of the primary reasons I moved to where I am is because billboards are illegal. There are no billboards (other than a couple that are still maintained and are grandfathered specifically) in the entire State of Maine. I like that.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    42. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      We need a new poll: WHEN did ads on /. cause you to install an ad blocker?

      * 1997-2001
      * 2002-2006
      * 2007-2010
      * 2011-2013
      * 2014-2015
      * Not yet!
      * CowboyNeal personally installed my adblocker in 1996.

    43. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yup, you've got a great list of dirty tactics there but it's even worse. You are only listing the stuff you see that impacts you, what you are missing are the ad services that roll ad after ad after ad in the background, never displaying this to you. GREAT! right? you don't see it? No, it's worse, because if they serve you 1 ad you see, fine, but rolling ads in the background the entire time you are on the page, or in the app, downloading these images one after another on your BW.

      On a computer or phone with wifi, no biggy, it might not even slow you down any. On a data plan however, you can rack up some hefty charges and wouldn't be aware unless you are checking your usage constantly.

      Most people seem to gravitate to adblock plus, I was using that for years until I starting doing a lot of streaming. Somebody, somewhere, figured out a way to still mess with you. Go to veetle (the site not the phone app) and pick ANY streaming channel from the "shows" section. Turn on adblock plus, block the ads but also turn on the "blocked ad counter". Stream one of the channels for a few minutes and watch the counter.

      People are referring to this as an adbomb, and it fits. The site sees you are streaming and has some scheduled script to display an ad, but it can see the ad is blocked, so it sends ALL OF THE ADS. I've watched it go from 4 blocked (page load) and within 2 minutes the number is at 7500 blocked ads and climbing. On my laptop by the time the blocked ads hit 8000 the whole thing is lagging out, either adblock or chrome itself, it's impossible to tell as all the chrome processes are named chrome.exe (gee thanks).

      So eventually, your video starts to stutter and crap out because the adbomb is crashing your browser. You can either reload the whole page and wait for the next bomb to go off and reload again, or disable adblock plus.....

      I'm experimenting with adblock pro using the same "easy list" from plus. It does NOT crash my browser, but doesn't display the counter either. I can still see when the adbomb goes off, the video will freeze but the audio will continue, a few seconds later the video catches up with the audio and it's fine until the next bomb.

      How exactly is the advertiser or site operator the victim here? Can they sue when for the times when I still had cable, and didn't watch commercials? I actually muted them and walked away, so I should be in jail or owe them some money right?

      Fuck ads, fuck the ad companies, fuck the sites that keep them in business. And yes, I'm fully aware of what it takes to host a high traffic website, I don't care, you can provide ads in a way that is not intrusive or dangerous. Besides, I don't buy crap I see on stupid popup ads anyways, so much like digital piracy, there's no loss of sales related to this.

    44. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well see there's your problem, you assume this is incompetent webdesign. It's not. If your goal is to trick people into clicking on ads that get you paid, this is the way to do it. Because, oops, it's user error.

      I've ended up accidentally installing android apps because of the exact thing you are talking about and I see it enough to know it's not always an accident. Much like the adbombs I've been ranting about recently, it's no mistake. It's simply creative use of technology or the limitations thereof.

      I hate it with every fiber of my being, if that wasn't clear, but it is kind of ingenious.

      Why code your page not to do that, or have placeholders like a normal person so your page formatting isn't spastic, when you can leave it that way knowing 4 out of 10 people will accidentally click an ad that gets you paid? Who cares if it takes them off your site, they will be back because THEY accidentally clicked the wrong link.

      It's genius

    45. Re: There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, do you really think anybody here cares what problems you have or the adware company you work for?

      And yes, the browser is slow-as-shit since it obviously does not have ABP and is allowing your crapscripts to run.

    46. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, let's make javashit hog all the cpu, instead of just a core.

    47. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Proxomitron?

    48. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by johanw · · Score: 1

      Install one? I even worked on one in the late 1990's: a filtering proxy that used a domain blacklist with advertisers domains on it. A Linux program that I converted into a Windows service. Of course, adblockers have become much more advanced now.

    49. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ublock has a counter in the icon

    50. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Nah, this predated that or at least predates its popularity. The worst part is I can neither remember the name or even what the icon looked like. It sat in the system tray, updated it's settings online once in a while, and was an application that enabled me to block specific images (at specific sites or by name or by size) or even block whole domains - I think. It even worked with sub-domains as I recall. This has to be nearly 15-20 years ago.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    51. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um, I remember the "default" Internet well. I remember Mosaic, Netscape and every landmark along the way.

      It sucked.

      There was barely any content. There were no web apps. There was no interactivity. There wasn't even webmail. What's this fantasy version of history you're referencing?

      Ads made the Internet possible. Period.

    52. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Over *my* content"

      The entitlement generation is truly incredible.

    53. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (WHOOSH)

      [GP is implying that /. ads are THE reason everyone here uses any form of adblock.]

    54. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The entitlement of site owners is incredible. Do the think we go to their shitty site to look at ads? FUCK NO, and if the ads interfere too much with viewing the actual content they have no reason to exist.

    55. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      0. Lets get this out of the way, you wont be liked here.
      1. Don't use java script, simple ads are best
      2. I don't want you to run any sort of code on my computer as I do not trust that it is virus laden. You shouldn't need to compile anything for a text or banner ad.
      3. If you are doing something that needs multiple cores of my computer you are so far n the wrong that it is no longer humorous.

      Ad block users in general do not trust any ad that needs to run code, plays a video, or makes noise. You have no right whatsoever to do that, and you cannot be trusted with those abilities because so often the ad is the attack vector. Stop trying to force me to pay attention to your ad and I will stop blocking it. What you are doing now is the equivalent of a billboard jumping out in front of you on the road to ensure you see the ad. I do click on ads that are relevant to what I am currently looking at (not what I looked at two weeks ago, I already bought one of those) keeping that in mind you should be more concerned about getting ads relevant to the page and not try to figure out who I am so you can show me something I am not currently interested in.

      When I look at a page for say vacuum cleaners, it is appropriate to show me a static ad for your brand of vacuum, it is not appropriate to show me a/v ads for dating sites.

    56. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      until they install adblock.. they you wonder why your revenue stream just dried up

    57. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Dr_Terminus · · Score: 1

      Funny you say this since as I loaded Slashdot today, there was some Samsung ad playing sound on all of my tabs that I couldn't stop. Off to get AdBlock I go...

    58. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Say bye-bye to free content

    59. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. Really? You're like a parody of a self-entitled, whiny kid.

      It's THEIR site. And THEIR server. That's not entitlement. That's called OWNERSHIP. And yeah, it comes with rights. Rights which you don't have.

      And the ads do indeed have a reason to exist: They PAY for the content which you love -- or you wouldn't be there in the first place.

      To answer your question: Of course you don't go to their site to look at ads. You go to look at THEIR content, which THEY own and THEY allow you to look at.

      What part of PROPERTY do you not understand?

      It's not YOUR content. It's THEIR content. Paid for by ADS.

      People tell me millennials are whiny little fags, but really I had no idea. You're incredible. You probably want free everything.

       

    60. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Thelasko · · Score: 1

      Why is AT&T showing me ads when I use AT&T's web mail when I pay then $50 a month?

      Or is why Amazon, NewEgg, etc. showing me ads when I'm about to pay them money. I see ads for their competitors while shopping on their website. Have they forgotten they are the one place on the internet where people are willing to pay for their services?

      --
      One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
    61. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The default state of the internet also didn't include you so go die in a fucking fire fucking faggot.

    62. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Obfuscant · · Score: 2
      Well, because of the rollover-popup ad that they chose to start running, I am now.

      And funny coincidence, today my "ad block" option is UNset and I can click on it but it won't stay set.

      Thanks slashdot.

    63. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by PlusFiveTroll · · Score: 1

      Bye free content, don't let the door hit you on the ass when you leave.

      This is just like saying "I shouldn't leave my abusive spouse because they pay the car payment". Yea, we might (and probably not) be without free content, but the abuser will be gone.

      Anyway, sites won't go away, they'll just adapt. The ads will become part of the content, or something that we've not even thought of yet.

    64. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by jc42 · · Score: 1

      The "disable advertising" checkbox has never made much sense. If you're reading Slashdot, you ought to be using an adblocker anyway

      Yeah; the first time I saw that, my response was "What ads? Does /. have ads?" ;-)

      I've always read /. on Firefox, which has ABP and noscript installed, so I've hardly ever seen any of the ads. I was duly complimented by being told that, due to my "positive contributions to Slashdot", I was allowed to disable ads, but I was also a bit curious, because I thought that /. didn't have ads. Guess I was wrong.

      Actually, I have a couple of cell phones with lots of browsers installed, mostly for testing how well various web sites I'm responsible for work on little "mobile" gadgets. I've tried reading /. there, but I gave up because there was so little info visible on the screen. I'm tempted to install all the block software there, but that's become a lot of work and difficult to do right, so I just restrict my "reading" to my laptop, where several of my browsers do a pretty good job of blocking the "active" ads.

      And the real ad problems do show up on mobiles, where they invariably use most of the bandwidth and keep the cpu busy, wiping out the battery in a few hours and making the gadget hot to the touch. So maybe I should pick one as my "browsing" phone, and figure out how to make all the blocking software work there. But that would be mostly useful when I'm away from home for more than a day, which isn't often. In the meantime, most of the cpu- and bandwidth-eating stuff can be erased by a reboot, which I tend to do daily. on the mobiles.

      In any case, we should be making lots of noise about the ads that eat our batteries and bandwidth. That's not innocent harm on the part of the advertisers. They are actively attacking our mobile devices, eating up the GBs that we pay for and batteries that are supposed to hold a charge good enough for a day of use. That's not acceptable; it's an active attack on the victims' mobile computer gadgets. The advertisers have no "right" (legal, natural, or otherwise) to attack us in that manner.

      --
      Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
    65. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdot has three up right now and they don't block my view of the content, they aren't playing music or videos (chewing up my bandwidth), and nothing opened a popup.

      I call bull shit on that. Sure they are in the margins but they are playing sound, and are chewing up my bandwith with videos they are not static. Every fucking time the Kroger ad at the top comes up the mother fucker opens full page and the only fucking way to close it is to close the fucking browser.

      So don't give me that shit. Slashdot has become just as bad.

    66. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, just bye bye to shit content. I was using the internet before ads were ever a part of it and it was much better.

    67. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used to call and run BBSes and don't ever recall seeing or placing ads on them.

      Aside from that, the fact that you even try to bring up BBSes as being comparable to the internet back then is laughable and betrays your lack of experience. 1200 baud? Pfft, try 300 baud, junior. You and all of your little Eternal September friends can fuck right off.

    68. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you don't remember the internet, boy. You only remember the web because you weren't alive before then.

    69. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People like me built the fucking internet while your teenage whore of a mother was getting fucked by ten men a day, kid.

    70. Re:There are Ads and then there are Fucking Ads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True story: A company-owned PC I was using once got a malware infection after I searched for help using the built in help feature in Microsoft Word, and it linked to a third party website with malware-ridden ads on it. To date, this, as far as I am aware, was the only malware infection I have ever witnessed on a computer I was using.

  34. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by NatasRevol · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Worst part? They'll never realize they killed themselves.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  35. Ads no different from TV ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The ads are no different than TV, most cable, Hulu Plus, etc.

    1. Re:Ads no different from TV ads by techno-vampire · · Score: 1

      This is true, and using an ad blocker is no different than using the mute button when there's a TV ad that you find obnoxious or have gotten tired of listening to.

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
    2. Re:Ads no different from TV ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The ads are no different than TV, most cable, Hulu Plus, etc.

      TV ads cannot track you, nor infect your TV with malware. That is a huge difference.

  36. Hosts file by Count+Fecal · · Score: 1

    Use an ad blocking and tracking hosts file instead of a plugin. A properly set up hosts file can also prevent malware.

    1. Re:Hosts file by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hosts files aren't much more effective than an ad blocker plugin, because they don't support wildcards. You have to know the full hostname of the ad server in advance. It's much better to set up your own local name server and have it act authoritative for entire ad domains. So when DoubleClick adds another pool83.east-19.srv.doubleclick.net to their server farm, you're already blocking it without having to change anything.

      There's even a three-letter guy (djb) who makes a nice little name server and *doesn't* spend hours a day spamming Slashdot!

  37. Tune in next week...Same Bat Time by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

    This reads like the cliffhanger at the end of the original TV Batman. "Will Evil Mediacorp be devoured by the ungrateful, greedy, gluttonous masses bent on destroying the world?" "Tune in next week to find out" "And now a word from our sponsors" The truth is they overstepped their bounds by making the ads overt and invasive and that created a backlash. On TV the media is controlled but web sites the user can control what parts he wants and what he doesn't.If you ease up on the IN-YOUR-FACE popup, flash, loud noises ads the majority of people will never even consider an ad blocker because those unobtrusive little banners aren't bothering me at all. But media companies never take the advice and are now paying for their arrogance.

    --
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    1. Re:Tune in next week...Same Bat Time by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      The truth is they overstepped their bounds by making the ads overt and invasive and that created a backlash.

      To be fair, there was backlash even with television, it just wasn't as visible. You had a mix of people using the ad times as bathroom breaks, taping then fast forwarding through the ads, etc...

      Also, there were 'numerous' attempts at legislation over the volume thing(where they'd turn up the effective volume of ads, often substantially, over the program content). Much like how when I switch the radio to NPR or the college radio station I have to give it a quarter notch up on volume as opposed to the commercial stations. And a preventive notch down when I go back to them.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    2. Re:Tune in next week...Same Bat Time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which suffers the age old "tragedy of the commons". Every advertiser could be well behaved, but one detractor will ruin it for everybody. I'm not saying that is the case now, as there are plenty of offenders in this matter. I'm only saying that asking advertisers to stop being obnoxious is a lost cause, because there will always be at least one asshole who is willing to aggressively push their crap, beyond all civility.

    3. Re:Tune in next week...Same Bat Time by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

      I agree about TV but like I said they controlled the medium.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    4. Re:Tune in next week...Same Bat Time by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

      But in this instance there are two perpetrators. The ad aggregator and the web site you visit. There are web sites I simply do not visit any longer because they insist on the IN YOUR FACE popups every time I visit. As long as a web site chooses not to use one of the offending aggregators they won't run afoul of their visitors.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  38. End of the internet by Ayanami_R · · Score: 1

    It will kill the internet as we know it. Only those entities with money will be able to post any content. Smaller sites like /. may survive on subscriptions, but many will not. If you think the coroprtization of the internet is bad now...

    --
    "Science is the power of man"
    1. Re:End of the internet by 0123456 · · Score: 1

      It will kill the internet as we know it. Only those entities with money will be able to post any content. Smaller sites like /. may survive on subscriptions, but many will not. If you think the coroprtization of the internet is bad now...

      Yeah, because the Internet didn't exist before ads.

      Lots of sites will die. Those will be the sites that exist to serve ads, rather than do something people are willing to pay for.

    2. Re:End of the internet by Spy+Handler · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It will kill the internet as we know it.

      Somewhat of an overstatement, but I suppose it will bring about changes.

      Only those entities with money will be able to post any content.

      Dead wrong. I pay $120 a year for my site hosting and $10 a year for the domain. You can do it for free actually, I just like having big mysql databases and cron jobs.

      Smaller sites like /. may survive on subscriptions, but many will not. If you think the coroprtization of the internet is bad now...

      No, sites will move toward self-hosted ads and rely less on ad networks. It will probably give rise to a new industry of ad brokering for smaller sites unable to find their own advertisers, replacing the current ad+malware delivery networks.

  39. They're beginning with a false premise by ErikTheRed · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "the vast majority of internet users who refuse to pay for news."

    I don't think ad blockers exist because people don't want ads or "refuse to pay for news." Ad blockers exist because ads have become so ridiculously obnoxious and disruptive with animations or even sound that they make the web pages they're on pretty close to unusable. This is on top of the occasional but still-to-frequent usage of ad networks as malware distribution platforms. If the ad networks set some reasonable standards and actually enforced them, then ad blockers wouldn't be as much of an issue. As it is right now, using an ad block is a security requirement, not an option. From an aesthetic and usability standpoint it's just highly desirable.

    --

    Help save the critically endangered Blue Iguana
    1. Re:They're beginning with a false premise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Ads provide a service. Where else can people go to punch monkeys or have auto-play videos to scare them awake in the middle of the night? Less sleep == More productivity obviously.

    2. Re:They're beginning with a false premise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go to any porn site if you'd like to "punch the monkey".

    3. Re:They're beginning with a false premise by martas · · Score: 1

      The point of that line was to motivate the importance of ads for content creators, not to explain the desire of people to block ads. I.e., "we need ads to survive, because you won't pay for shit, and now you're blocking ads too!!" Not saying I agree, but that was the intended meaning.

    4. Re:They're beginning with a false premise by Locando · · Score: 1

      Don't forget the people who don't mind paying for things if necessary, but find the whole concept of advertising obnoxious and revel in the magic of technology to expunge them from our computers. If that screws over companies who insist on a business model that is predicated on insulting their customers, all the better! They're insisting we consent to the insult and are whining that we have the freedom to refuse while still legally consuming their product. Fuck 'em if they can't deal. No one ever apologized to me for how the new economy has made finding good jobs harder; why should I feel sorry for those who believe I have an obligation to keep their profit stream afloat? This is all fair within the logic of the free market, isn't it?

  40. No sympathy... none by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have zero sympathy for the advertising industry, they are the shills that try and get me to buy product I don't want, need, or have any interest in.

    Trust me, if your brand is good, my friends will likely let me know. And even if they don't, if you sell product near me, and its something I want, I will be looking for it, either directly in a store, or via online reviews.

    I don't need random (or worse targetted) advertising in my browser when I'm reading news, updating social media, or browsing YouTube videos.

    So, two works for the advertising industry.

    FUCK OFF

  41. I didn't mind ads. Didn't. by ExekielS · · Score: 1

    Then they started getting invasive. Autoplaying with noise, making pages download super-slow, popping over content I'm reading, containing malware, being 4x louder than the show I'm watching, being the same ad 15 times in one show instead of a good variety. I like seeing the ads out there, getting updates on new products and services, knowing they exist, and often they are amusing. But when I'm watching a sad, quiet scene about the death of an anorexic girl and the "I'M ON THE COOKIE AIR DIET" commercial pops up, for the 53rd time this episode, I'm not fucking doing it. Make ads good or we will block them and you will fail. It is truly that simple. And the rest of us, good content producers will move to subscription services, patreon, other similar methods of providing content. I use adblock because I feel I have no choice, and I feel bad about costing legitimate pages money from using it, I've even disabled it on a few pages I really enjoy that do advertising not-horribly.

    --
    ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
  42. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by aaron4801 · · Score: 1

    I have to think it's some perverse offshoot of the "there's no such thing as bad publicity" theory. You say you mentally catalog all the bad ads, but the ire certainly fades after some time. In a few months, maybe you have a choice to make between Widget Company and Acme Corp, and even though you can no longer remember that you had been angry with Acme, you recognize the name, so you give them a shot.

  43. The whole ad industry is elaborate fraud by gweihir · · Score: 1

    It relies on invalid assumptions. People that block ads are not going to buy things from the blocked ads, ever, even if they were displayed. The industry is lying to its customers, and, as is traditional, fraud of this nature allows its perpetrators to make far more money than any type of honest work. On the other hand, the ad-industry has over-done it to an extreme degree. The success of ad-blocking software shows how intrusive and disrespectful of the user's time and attention it has become. Of course, people fight back, and the ultimate outcome can only be the demise of this cancer of the Internet. On the plus-side, this does not threaten content creators, as there are other, valid ways to finance content-creation.

    Like the copyright-industry, the ad-industry cannot die fast enough.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  44. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 2

    But it's the same thing: at some point, companies that pay to push ads are bound to notice people get pissed off, their sales aren't increasing as much as they'd like after running advertising campaigns after campaigns, and pushing ads turns out to be counterproductive. Then they'll stop paying to push ads.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  45. Intrusive ads by Bert64 · · Score: 1

    The more intrusive ads get (popups, sounds, unskippable video, high bandwidth use combined with capped connections etc - i especially hate ads with sound), the more likely people are to install ad blockers.
    If ads were less intrusive, people would be less inclined to block them.

    I installed an ad blocker specifically because of ads which contained sound, especially annoying when you have multiple tabs open and ads rotate so all of a sudden one of your 50 tabs starts making noise and you have to hunt around to shut it off.

    --
    http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
    1. Re:Intrusive ads by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      Then there's the Polar Pops ad with extremely LOUD sound, and there's no volume control. If I don't yank my headset off when I see the first frame, it could damage my hearing.

  46. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No. The digital media industry will kill the digital media industry.

    >A new report from Adobe and one of several startups helping publishers fight ad blocking shows that 198 million people globally are now blocking ads, up 41 percent from 2014.
    >"Taken together, ad blockers are hitting publishers in their digital guts," ... "Adobe says that $21.8 billion in global ad revenue will be blocked this year."

    Well how about that. Here I thought that in a capitalist society, the best way of showing disapproval of a brand's hostile, dangerous or incompetent products or activities is by boycotting said brands - which is effectively what ad blocking is doing to these "affected sites". Wonder why they aren't getting the message?

    Maybe they should spend some of that ~$180b (or is it ~$158b now?) revenue in figuring out that people HATE obnoxious, dangerous, intrusive, annoying, irrelevant, shitty ads being shoved into their face from the moment a non-blocking user hits the web instead of hiring anti-blocking startups to make the web an even worse place than it's fallen to already.

  47. Parasites of the internet by Richard+Kirk · · Score: 1

    I have seen this argument and always found it incredible. These people who wish to place pop-up ads have neither invented the internet, nor enabled its growth, nor provided useful or beneficial content; and yet they argue that they are the true owners of the Internet who should be able to tax us for its survival, and that to install ad-blocking filters is somehow 'piracy'. There are other, nobler organisations that use advertising in moderation (Google), and others that try to do without (Wikipedia) - I would not argue that one is right and the other wholly wrong. Both of them manage to live well within the bounds of what I feel is to the general good. But the click bait links, the promises that this 'weird trick' discovered by a mum discovered will free you from ageing or snoring or male pattern baldness, the stupid, stupid stuff that I wish would burn and die, all you are a cancer on the Internet, the beautiful child of all nerds of the world, and I hope the chemotherapy of filtering may earn us a remission, if not a cure. I have not heard from Nigerian princes in a while. No-one has tried to sell me Viagra in weeks. We may win this one too, if we stay firm.

    Whew. Sorry about that. But it came from the heart...

    1. Re:Parasites of the internet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have seen this argument and always found it incredible. These people who wish to place pop-up ads have neither invented the internet, nor enabled its growth, nor provided useful or beneficial content; and yet they argue that they are the true owners of the Internet who should be able to tax us for its survival, and that to install ad-blocking filters is somehow 'piracy'. There are other, nobler organisations that use advertising in moderation (Google), and others that try to do without (Wikipedia) - I would not argue that one is right and the other wholly wrong. Both of them manage to live well within the bounds of what I feel is to the general good. But the click bait links, the promises that this 'weird trick' discovered by a mum discovered will free you from ageing or snoring or male pattern baldness, the stupid, stupid stuff that I wish would burn and die, all you are a cancer on the Internet, the beautiful child of all nerds of the world, and I hope the chemotherapy of filtering may earn us a remission, if not a cure. I have not heard from Nigerian princes in a while. No-one has tried to sell me Viagra in weeks. We may win this one too, if we stay firm.

        Whew. Sorry about that. But it came from the heart...

      Why should you ever be sorry for saying what you truly believe?

  48. More inbounds to a free article by tepples · · Score: 1

    I think some sites make their articles available without charge with ads because paywalled articles are less likely to get cited in other publications.

    1. Re:More inbounds to a free article by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I think some sites make their articles available without charge with ads because paywalled articles are less likely to get cited in other publications.

      That should probably be a sign to people who can't create content without ad revenue or paywall revenue that their days are numbered, and they may have to go get a job that doesn't involve forcing people to see things they don't want to see.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  49. my network, my system, my rules by Indy1 · · Score: 2

    don't think for one single fucking second that your slimy piece of shit malware infested crappy ad server or the network it resides on has any right to pass so much as a single bit past my firewall.

    Don't like it? Choke on a dick and die.

    BTW: I block ad's on my phone too, so don't think mobile devices will save you either.

    --
    Lawyers, MBA's, RIAA? A jedi fears not these things!
  50. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by mileshigh · · Score: 1

    Yeah, look at YouTube's auto-play feature. Used to be that advertisers could count on the the customer actually watching the video (and associated ad) they just clicked for, but with auto play they can get paid for ads even if nobody's watching! Google wins, but only until advertisers realize that their ads "mysteriously" don't work like they used to.

  51. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by 0123456 · · Score: 1

    But it's the same thing: at some point, companies that pay to push ads are bound to notice people get pissed off, their sales aren't increasing as much as they'd like after running advertising campaigns after campaigns, and pushing ads turns out to be counterproductive. Then they'll stop paying to push ads.

    If that was true, companies would have stopped buying ads on cable TV decades ago.

  52. I'd respect them if they respected me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As it stands I'm fed up with ads that take up half the page and play a 2minute video all while "conveniently" pushing their [x] close button just out of frame so you couldn't click it even if you wanted to and you do want to. Frankly ads have not only become obnoxiously intrusive but they have also become a nearly perfect vector for malware since everyone under the sun subcontracts out to someone else. When you go to read one news page and it cross links with like 30 freaking ad sites ...... there is a problem..... and it isn't with the end user.

    I've even tried to white list sites that I frequent but there comes a point where I just can't figure out what in the giant pile of spaghetti cross link is relevant, throw my hands up and proclaim "sucks to be you I'm not dealing with this".

  53. Ad blocker != blocking all ads by SoftwareArtist · · Score: 1

    Adblock Plus is a great example of this. It blocks the flashing, buzzing, throw-themselves-in-your-face, totally obnoxious ads. But for advertisers who are willing to stick to less offensive things, they can still get through. So no, it won't kill the digital media industry. But I hope it will force them to stop torturing the internet and making their products so unpleasant to use!

    --
    "I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."
  54. Add one more... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just installed AdBlock Plus at work, will do at home tomorrow

    Na hahahahaha

  55. This again? by Roger+Wilcox · · Score: 1

    The Web was a fine place before there were advertisements on the Web.

    If you ever wanted to put a site up on the Web, then you always knew that visitors to your site could read it through a browser capable of parsing its content and displaying it however the visitor wanted to view it. The Web has been like this since the very beginning--it was designed that way.

    Crying over it is like crying over gravity. This is the reality we live in. Deal with it.

    Ad-supported "content" is never as good as the information disseminated by ordinary folks who are posting on the Web for personal and non-monetary edification. Anything that is worth being said without ad revenue attached is just more worth listening to. If you need the ad revenue to make your posts worth it, perhaps you are posting for the wrong reason.

    Disclaimer: I use Adblock Plus and I have for nearly a decade now.

  56. In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    VCR will kill commercial TV broadcasting
    VCR/DVD rentals will kill Hollywood
    Napster/bit torrent will kill the music industry
    etc...

    1. Re:In other news... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      This really needs to be modded up insightful. For every excuse that X will industry it has turned out to be false.

  57. How to sell inventory for the first time? by tepples · · Score: 1

    Commit to who you want to advertise with, don't just run an adnetwork.

    In theory, I agree. In practice, how should a newly established web site go about finding advertisers? It's their problem to solve, so what should they do to go about solving it?

    1. Re:How to sell inventory for the first time? by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      Why should a newly established web site do this? I'm serious. Is there some sort of inherent concept that a new web site must be profitable and that profit must come from ads?

      What sort of new web site is this? If it's a blog then screw it, if they won't post their stupid ideas without being paid for it, then they can just not have a blog. If they blog could be better with donations then ask for donations instead of screwing the viewers with ads. Oh, but donations are rare and don't cover all the costs of the goodies the blogger wants; in that case, shut down the blog. If you must have an ad, then consider having ads which are respectful of your viewers, which means you can not go to a third party ad network (spammer). Treat the blog like a radio station - do you want to be a skummy Clear Channel affiliate that goes with an ad server, or do you want to be a cool college station that curates the ads in house?

      What if it's a commercial web site? Then presumably they're getting money from other sources and don't need to abuse their viewers with ads. Don't be like ISPs who charge you for their service and then dump a ton of ads on you. Ad revenue is tiny, but a lot of companies don't care because they think their viewers don't care. These ads are a lot like the license plate holders from car dealerships, annoying and ugly and the first thing I remove when I get a new car. Give me the product for free then I'll watch and share all the ads you want (and I've done it) but make me pay for the product then get rid of that ad crap.

    2. Re:How to sell inventory for the first time? by Earthquake+Retrofit · · Score: 1

      ...how should a newly established web site go about finding advertisers?

      1. People who sell stuff, should have their own website.

      2. People who need money to run their website can be paid to publish a LINK to that seller.

      3. Profit!!!

      --
      Fifty years of Yippie! 1968-2018
    3. Re:How to sell inventory for the first time? by tepples · · Score: 1

      So how do site operators in group 2 efficiently find a merchant in group 1 willing to advertise on a particular site in group 2?

    4. Re:How to sell inventory for the first time? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do we need more websites?

      No.

      Fuck off and get a real job. Plenty of things people really need like healthcare, food, transportation, housing, business intelligence, engineering.

      I thought we had a crumbling electricity grid, and transportation network? aren't all our bridges about to fall down? don't we need better solutions for energy supply? How about people stop making stupid websites and apps, and work on some of these problems that actually exist, instead of trying to invent ones in cyberspace.

  58. I compromise by Voyager529 · · Score: 1

    Personally, I don't use ABP/uBlock. I actually make an effort to allow ads through. However, I have rules:

    1.) Thou shalt not track me. Ghostery does a sad amount of blocking from its blacklists, and I have the ad-based one disabled...
    2.) Thou shalt not obfuscate what I came to see. BehindTheOverlay is invaluable; it allows me to nix whatever overlays happen to be blocking my view of the content.
    3.) Thou shalt not autoplay audio. FlashBlock nixes most ads that play sound, unwarranted.

    I feel that I have very reasonable expectations from advertisers. They can advertise. They can use images if they want. I don't fault the website owners from having to make a buck, and advertising firms are, in the abstract, a middleman that makes sense. They cross a line, that's when I lose respect.

    In the late 1990's, pop-up ads were the intrusive, annoying ads of their day. Pop-up blockers became so widely circulated, that all of the browsers have one built in. Are we here again?

    1. Re:I compromise by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      2.) Thou shalt not obfuscate what I came to see. BehindTheOverlay is invaluable; it allows me to nix whatever overlays happen to be blocking my view of the content.

      Sadly, I can't install it in Pale Moon...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  59. Audio enabled ads must die by wol · · Score: 1

    I listen to music while I am browsing. Any ad executive that thinks he/she/it has the right to start their ad and automatically start playing audio, interfering with something else I am listening to, is the equivalent of home invasion. That is the fastest way to get me to block you and I will have no sympathy whatsoever.

    --
    If you think deeply enough, you will have no single direction for your outrage.
  60. Are those numbers even real? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    In coming up with these numbers for lost revenue, they're assuming that every internet user click on a certain number of ads per day/month/year/whatever and so by ad-blocking, they're missing that click revenue. (Similarly, the entertainment industry assumes that if you download a movie, they've lost revenue because you watched a pirated copy of their movie instead of going to a cinema and paying to see it.)

    I block ads because they are annoying, intrusive and so rarely relevant to anything I am interested in. I've probably clicked on three ads my whole life, two were by accident.

    And just because I downloaded Pixels, it does NOT mean that I would've paid someone my hard earned cash for Adam Sandler to violate every one of my senses. I prefer he does that for free, in the comfort of my own home.

  61. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Darinbob · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So many industries are this way. They assume that there is a captive audience with only a few malcontents, but over time it starts slipping away and they don't know how to cope. Like television, they decide to save money by having crappier unscripted content or hire only interns as script writers, then are baffled that people are cutting the cord.

  62. They aren't hiding it very well. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Michael Rosenwald

    I am not surprised anymore.

  63. Privacy Badger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Get Privacy Badger! It will judge trackers from scratch, and the end result will be much the same as if you were running AdBlock Plus or Ghostery. Or at least it's converging to that point here. At least you can say you tried to get along. For a while, I had most ad scumbags either blocked in DNS or blocked by subnet at the firewall. Privacy Badger is giving me the opportunity to review my early anger and put things into perspective. It turns out I wasn't too terribly wrong, with Privacy Badger flagging almost each and every site that I unblocked for further review.

    FWIW, where I've been deploying AdBlock Plus, it isn't for people who hate ads. It's for people whose 1.6-GHz laptops are dying under the weight of running two Web pages in the same browser at one time. I could run 4 Web pages at once on a 100-MHz Pentium with 40 MB of RAM, so today's ad/analytics/Javascript producers find no sympathy from me for this situation. Usually, when somebody complains about a computer is way too slow, I remind that somebody that maybe it's time for a new computer. Not this time.

  64. Ads burn 30% of bandwidth that YOU pay for by Forever+Wondering · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In a recent story, a university installed ad blocking at their edge router. They saw their total Internet usage drop by 30%. Since, they were probably also doing non-web traffic (e.g. software updates, dropbox, etc.), this means that the actual percentage of website content that is ads is probably higher.

    Are companies who inject ads going to compensate the recipient for the bandwidth usage? Will such usage push the subscriber over their datacap?

    I installed ad blocking early, because, back then, the flash video ad was more likely to hang the flash player.

    And, I used to have a datacap [Note: I'm in California, and I switched to sonic.net, one of the few ISPs that have no datacap], but now the load time with the ads would still be too great.

    And, I'm not against ads in general, but, the privilege [of sending me an ad] has been abused. Obnoxiousness, malware vector, delaying page load until the ad is dynamically selected in a back haul bidding network. The list just keeps going.

    --
    Like a good neighbor, fsck is there ...
  65. iAd on iPhone won't be able to be blocked by jerel · · Score: 1
    I have come to really despise the iAds for companies who pay Apple to insert them into the web pages I'm viewing in Safari on my iPhone. I'm enough of a consumer to know that advertising pays for stuff, but does every page you view, every time you view it, have to have one or more ads right in the middle? On the small phone screen it's very obnoxious. Apple is hacking the flow of information on my browser screen and injecting an ad right in the middle of the page. It really is making me crazy, and provides a great incentive for jailbreaking.

    Now, Apple is crowing about their new ad blocking features in the next release of iOS, but they will not be blocking iAds. This great new feature merely blocks ads for companies that have not paid Apple to advertise. Once you pay Apple for the privilege, Apple will guarantee that the user will not be able to block the ad. Since this whole advertising scheme is built into the OS and not Safari, it will be very difficult to defeat. I am growing to regret my purchase of an iPhone 6.

    --
    Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.
    1. Re:iAd on iPhone won't be able to be blocked by Andreas+Mayer · · Score: 1

      Now, Apple is crowing about their new ad blocking features in the next release of iOS, but they will not be blocking iAds.

      Really? Can you tell us your source please?

      I watched the WWDC session on ad blocking. Apple will not be blocking anything by itself. Instead the feature allows apps to add content blocking rules which Safari will then use. There was no mention of an exception for iAd.

      Here is a more technical explanation: https://www.hackingwithswift.c...

  66. They killed their own goose, not the blockers by Bugler412 · · Score: 2

    If they hadn't created an environment where 50 ads per page (with 50 trackers) was commonplace, in your face popups and interstitials, being a malware vector, and just generally abusing their own users, perhaps it wouldn't have to come to this. They have only themselves to blame.

  67. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Betmmmmphhmmmphh! by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    don't raise up what you can't put down CF!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  68. Privacy top concern by Socguy · · Score: 1

    Ads are getting more and more intrusive and that's likely the driving force behind people installing blockers.

    The other reason for blocking advertisers that no one is talking about is for privacy. Ads are not just in your face, they're tracking you across multiple web pages and allowing others to build profiles of you and your families. The privacy features of many ad block programs along with stand alone extensions are a necessity in today's hyper-targeted world. Unfortunately, with the growing use of browser fingerprinting, even that's not enough anymore.

  69. W/O advertiser restraint, ad blocking inevitable by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Currently, ads:

    1) Interrupt my flow of thought.

    2) Use video, which eats my limited bandwidth (Some of us use hotspots with data limits, comprende?)

    3) Unexpectedly start creating sounds, interrupting my wife, the cat, myself and the children.

    4) And the very worse thing, the godamm ads start JUMPING MY PAGE AROUND so the thing I was trying to click is no longer there by the time my mouse/finger manage to click the screen and I've suddenly opened the ad for hot singles in my area (The wife just loves that one).

    So, clue train manifesto for online advertisers:

    1) DO! NOT! INTERRUPT! ME! If you can't do that, I'm happy to go elsewhere.

    2) Do not ever randomly resize or refresh my web page. It needs to load once AND STAY THERE. If you can't do that, I'm happy to go elsewhere.

    3) Do not include noise in your ads, if possible. If necessary, make sure I have to work to consciously turn it on. If you can't do that, I'm happy to go elsewhere.

    4) Do NOT use bandwidth sucking video unless I request it by consciously turning it on. If you can't do that, I'm happy to go elsewhere.

    5) DO NOT ASK IF I WANT TO DOWNLOAD YOUR APP, RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTER, OR ALERTS BEFORE I'VE EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE DAMN PAGE.

    Seriously guys. Basic reasoning? How the hell would I know if I want anything to do with you ever again if I haven't even looked you over yet?

    The more I see the results of web advertising, I wonder if they lobotomize the ad designers before, or after they are hired. Hire a UI specialist. Hire a psychologist. Most of all, pull your heads out of your own self absorbed asses and actually *talk* to a customer now and then.

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
  70. An app is by Lew+Perin · · Score: 1

    an unblockable ad delivery system. (I'm looking at you, New York Times, and I do pay you every month.)

    --
    Sorry, I forgot there are ads on the Web; I use Lynx.
  71. Revenue is up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Revenue is up, but damn you little people we want more!

    It also presumes the content is worth something. The author naturally feels his work is the most important thing ever created, the artist feels he's a genius of untold proportion. Reality check: I don't buy the narcissism. There are billions of web pages, content is ever pervasive, just as when the printing press was invented, the availability of the printed book, makes the parchment manuscript both more expensive but at the same time less desirable, except to the collector of manuscripts.

    However the printed books were often of high quality, now we see that products entering the public domain are in many ways of higher quality than modern works, perhaps why there is so much effort to prevent this from happening.

    I repeat as ever, neo-liberal globalist policies have reduced the ability of me to consume and spend, I have less disposable income than 5 years ago, my lifestyle is more limited than my parents generation, etc. I will not happily give my money to billionaires over and over again. I'm not a consumer, so I'm not the least bit interested in the ads, or the tabloids. Fuck off and stop annoying me. You can't force me to pay attention to your shit.

  72. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Darinbob · · Score: 1

    The ad industry doesn't even care of advertising is effective or not. The people buying the ads are going to wake up and realize it's not worth the cost. Then the people trying to make a living with cheap ass youtube videos are going to have to update their resumes.

  73. A new way by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1
    Ads have been taking up more and more space on web pages, and more and more time on radio and television. In fact, on radio and Television they are almost half of the experience. A half hour show might be 15 minutes of show, and 15 minutes of advertisement.

    So much so that for me to be watching at all, the content darn well better be good. Alas, so often it isn't - so i don't watch a lot of television any more.

    And now to the web. A very similar situation. If I have to wade through a few dozen or more tracking scripts, analytics and sounds, and videos, and whatever malware they feel they have to install on my computer, and steal my bandwidth, and make the pages take 5 times as long to load.

    That page damn well better be worth it.

    And 99 times out of a hundred, it is not even remotely worth it, as llikely as not its another advertisement.

    So thte plain bald and irrefutable truth is adblockers are not killing the digital media industry. They are committing suicide. And will succeed at it.

    But there is a new way, my friends. It will be difficult at first, but in the end, might just save them.

    First off, responsible advertisers must band together. They need to form a Responsible Internet Transparency Advertising Limitations Inentive Nexus - or RITALIN - forgive the lame joke. Some sort of industry organization anyhow.

    Then they need to voluntarily limit the asshattery that is pissing people off. Then they need a few big sites to sign on to the standards, and make a big deal out of it. That you know when you go ot their pages, you aren't getting served a steaming hot pile of webbish weaselry. I'd bet the situation will go a long way towaards resolving itself. It's a choice between innocuous advertisements that don't install mallware or track your movements - but are seen, and the ridiculous crap we are served now, which anyone who is sane will block - and never be seen.

    Because when an adblocker and noscript and a hostfile has become the first line of defense for intelligent and safe web surfing, and necessary to protect yourself from people who want you to buy their products but feel they have to treat you like the enemy, well - that's just sad.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  74. I don't care about your bottom line, even a little by Wee · · Score: 1

    I'm never going to unblock ads. Ever. The web is not usable without a script blocker and an ad blocker. That's the simple fact of the matter.

    If that "kicks you in the guts" then too fucking bad. Find a viable business model. But don't expect me to put up with your intrusive, bandwidth-abusing horseshit.

    -B

    --

    Ash and Hickory, straight-grained and true, make excellent bludgeons, dandy for the cudgeling of vegetarians.

  75. Disable JavaScript by Wee · · Score: 1

    Newsweek uses scripts so it doesn't display if it detects AdBlock for example.

    Their site loads fine for me. You're not letting sites run JavaScript without you whitelisting them first, are you? If so, why in the hell would you ever do that?

    -B

    --

    Ash and Hickory, straight-grained and true, make excellent bludgeons, dandy for the cudgeling of vegetarians.

    1. Re:Disable JavaScript by hjf · · Score: 1

      They're stuck in 2000 thinking JavaScript is evil.

  76. Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industry? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    No, it will transform it.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  77. Streisand Effect by O-Deka-K · · Score: 1

    You can block Internet ads now? Why didn't anyone tell me about this sooner!? I'm installing this right now! Thanks!!

  78. Same here by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am willing to play fair and tolerate some advertising, but it finally got too invasive and so I got adblock. I am fine with ads, but only so long as they don't disturb me using the web. No autoplay video/audio, no popups, no interstitial. When they start pulling that crap, well sorry but I'm going to have to opt out. If it kills a site off, too bad, maybe you shouldn't have been so annoying.

    Advertisers are going to have to learn to keep it reasonable if they want me to stop using adblocking. As it stands now I block by default and only whitelist sites I know aren't bad about it.

    1. Re:Same here by hankwang · · Score: 1

      As it stands now I block by default and only whitelist sites I know aren't bad about it.

      How do you typically figure out that they are "not bad" if the ads are already suppreseed?

  79. Haven't seen ads for years by Kernel+Krumpit · · Score: 1

    What? you mean people still aren't using adblock + [or -] and/or uBlock and Firefox? Shocking! I haven't seen ads for years. Sure, the odd crass, idiotic Blogsite seduced plugin pop-up [because it's sooooo beyoooteeful] but by and large I am shocked that ads are still a problem. Still I guess it's like Land Lines, Cable TV and Alphabet - they just take a while to die after they roll over. Can't wait!

    --
    May the lies we live by make us strong, healthy, happy and wise - Kurt Vonnegut.
    1. Re:Haven't seen ads for years by Todd+Palin · · Score: 1

      I'm with you. I didn't realize there were ads on the internet. OK, I actually do realize it, but I haven't seen an ad on my computer screen for years. Why on earth would anyone bitch about it though. If you don't like it, just block it. No need to complain. I would never click on one of the ads, so why would I want to look at them.

    2. Re:Haven't seen ads for years by Kernel+Krumpit · · Score: 1

      Indeed. Even the Amazon ads for stuff you've already purchased. Just amazing. Kinda like Cable TV!

      --
      May the lies we live by make us strong, healthy, happy and wise - Kurt Vonnegut.
    3. Re:Haven't seen ads for years by Todd+Palin · · Score: 1

      In my need for fairness I went to all the sites in the top twenty of my bookmarks and looked for ads that might escape the adblockers. Wired had some promotions for Wired that probably couldn't be blocked. Spaceweather had some unobtrusive ads on the side that I never noticed before. Otherwise, nada. Slashdot never shows ads, of course. Yahoo news had none. Google news had none. I followed a couple links from G-News. Time, New York Times, and CNET had no ads. Nothing to bitch about, really.

  80. Anytime you're ready by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    to start serving ads in a tasteful and minimally intrusive way, instead of the current shove-it-in-their-faces way. Any time.

  81. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by jedidiah · · Score: 1

    Decades ago, the ads on TV weren't nearly annoying. The ads themselves were far less obnoxious. There were also less of them. They also did not creep across the content either.

    Modern TV advertising practices exist in an era where cord cutters seem to be finally impacting the bottom line of cable operators.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  82. Herewith, my solution by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    Let's devise an Online Advertising Code. The Code would forbid popups, autoplaying videos, slow ad servers, ads containing malware, ads that yank you to an app store, and videos with no sound controls. Ad blocker extensions would have an "Allow OAC compliant ads" checkbox. Problem solved.

  83. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Jaazaniah · · Score: 1

    The argument of ROI decrease is a sound one, eventually the promised throughput will vanish.

    Having said that, I wonder if the TV ad argument could be taken to a study, where you're looking at age and income groups that still watch TV, and the targeting of ads played on TV. My money would be on the extremes: Young of lower to middle income (automatic babysitter), and approaching retirement and beyond of lower to middle income (low-energy past time reminiscent of their younger years).

    There's a lot better targeting on the web via ads, but what the industry seems to be missing (either in rise of new companies or "revitilization" efforts of old ones) is the intrusiveness of ads compared to the target page is directly proportional to the malcontent of the receiver. In this way, the "new" "hip" way to play sounds and be the thing on the page that speaks to you, literally! is the ad that drives users to AdBlock Plus. Any of the other techniques mentioned here are also a problem. The trick is mental shock, and how to avoid it. but it seems that this factor is something ad producers are trying to increase, rather than decrease, and they're losing the battle of psychology.

  84. Stop filling pages with ads then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A couple of ads are fine! But when the page is loaded with crappy ads or fills the screen with ads, etc this is why people are using the blockers! Put a couple of ads on the page and be done!

  85. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by LessThanObvious · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dear Advertisers, Figure out how to do ads in a trustworthy way (i.e. no privacy invasive behavior tracking and little or no risk of malware exposure) and I'll be happy to allow those ads. I'd prefer the ads to be static HTML hosted within the site I visit. I don't want my browser touching 15 domains that all run scripts every time I visit a page. As long as ads compromise my privacy and security I will consider advertising networks the enemy and treat them accordingly.

  86. Should be Obvious... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Internet advertisements are noisy, intrusive, and obstructive. They have an approximately 0% chance of influencing me to purchase whatever their product is, though if they are obnoxious enough, I'll almost certainly end up being dissuaded, should I have been thinking about purchasing their product.

    If businesses want to use the Internet to promote something I might be interested in, then they should figure out how to have a good working relationship with the relevant websites, sponsor them, and advertise overtly and non-obtrusively.

  87. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  88. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Mikkeles · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I dislike the intrusive ads, but someone has to pay for good, insightful comment and reporting. I am willing to pay about $365 p.a. for unencumbered access to newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals. I am not willing to pay $10 p.m. for every single one of these; especially to only read any article very occasionally or only once (I can't afford multiple thousand $s per year!).
        Should the biggies (Times, Washington Post, Le Monde, Nature, The Economist, etc.) get together and set up such a system, I'm sure most of the rest would follow.
    But: would anyone else pay?

    --
    Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
  89. Betteridge's law of headlines by WD · · Score: 1

    I'm just going to put this right here:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    Or for those who don't like to clicky:
    "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

  90. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Darinbob · · Score: 1

    I go with the generic brand name.

    This is sort of what baffles me. The math doesn't seem to hold up. I'm just not worth that much money per view of an ad. I don't spend enough to justify it. The only reason it's working so far is that advertising is ridiculously cheap on the internet. It can be just a fraction of the total marketing costs, you can even put your marketing interns on the internet project. I think companies are either losing money on it or barely breaking even, but it's so small a cost that they either don't realize it or don't care.

  91. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If that was true, companies would have stopped buying ads on cable TV decades ago.

    TV is different. People accept that TV shows whatever the producer arrange for them. And if they want to see the rest of the show, they let the ad play - perhaps muted.

    But the web isn't TV! On the web, you watch what you want, when you want it, at the speed you want it. The producer only do layout; they don't get to schedule anything. Which is why people is so pissed off at popups/coverups and so on. Scrolling past and ad is sort of ok - they have inserted a passive ad into the layout they control. But images is the limit. Anything more, and people get angry. And then there is the tracking business...

  92. Statistics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this always cracks me up:

    "Adobe says that $21.8 billion in global ad revenue will be blocked this year."

    No, $0 will be blocked this year. I wasn't going to buy your product anyway, given the way you try to sell it.

    My spending didn't go down after I installed an ad blocker, if anything it went up. If your product is good and I want it, I'll find it.

  93. Digital media have created this problem themselves by Thraxy · · Score: 1

    Users didn't start blocking ads because of some unreasonable hatered towards good deals on stuff and services. Users started blocking ads because of bad ad practices. I don't want to search through 10 tabs looking for that one dickhead page that's playing audio half way down a mile long article. I don't want to search for an X and cross my fingers that I'm not getting hijacked, simply because my cursor ventured away from the content area of the website. I really really really don't want to take your survey about how well your website works 1½ seconds after loading the page. I don't want blinking banners telling me I've won some imaginary prize.

    Bad ad practices have gotten so out of hand that I would claim it's down right a security risk for the average user not to run some sort of ad/flash blocker. My pensioned mother has installed trojans in the belief that she's actually getting a real security warning that her computer is infected, because of fraudulent ads served on regular websites. If the people that manage those ad networks don't give a damn what they're serving, I don't give a damn about what they want to sell me.

    I unblock on a pr. page basis. I do believe the content creators I follow, on for example youtube, deserve some money for their efforts, so I sit through some of their video ads. Slashdot ads I've simply forgotten to unblock, because they're so unintrusive that I forget they're there (will unblock after submitting this). Random faceless media can however kiss my ass. If I don't trust them, if I can't trust them and if I don't have any emotional/personal connection to them, they don't deserve the income I can generate for them.

  94. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is what I'm talking about; Europe really missed the ball when it came to cookie laws; they should have looked at a tracker law instead.

  95. Pointless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have never once intentionally clicked on an ad because I found it noteworthy. Perhaps I'm a statistical outlier (probably not), but when I want an item or service, I will research it first and look at all available options. I can not comprehend the purpose of ads in general. What matters most to me are independent user reviews.

  96. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by 0123456 · · Score: 1

    TV is different. People accept that TV shows whatever the producer arrange for them. And if they want to see the rest of the show, they let the ad play - perhaps muted.

    Just about everyone I know who still watches TV records the shows and fast-forwards through the ads. Our MythTV box does it automatically for us, though it's not perfect.

  97. Who else will pay for my research and writing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can very much see why people install adblockers. Skyscrapers, pop overs, pop unders etc etc. They all suck. Suck big time.Especially flashing ones! Malware infection channel, tick.

    However you have to ask why you were at that site (or the one that caused the popup) in the first place.You were more than likely reading the content on that site. Content isn't free. Content costs money. (Well facebook shit doesn't count as its user generated trash for trash on the whole,) Good content costs good money. Certain IT sites burn through high five figures worth of content a day. I dont mean theoretical value but value that has been paid for via a invoice and bank transfer.

    If people stop clicking ads, companies spend less. If companies spend les on advertising I get fewer commisions. This means fewer interesting articles to read. Then when what are you left with, FB crap and "Sponsored Content" which I hate with a passion.

    Without stating the obvious, /. is a news harvesting site. Less content means less good stuff on ./ too, even if their MO is slightly parasitic in that they don't generate anything at all, you do! They just get to slip ads between you and the story you want to read and comment on.

    Every story has an angle and pretty much every angle has to be paid for.

    1. Re:Who else will pay for my research and writing by 0123456 · · Score: 1

      If your 'content' isn't worth people paying for it... you can't really complain that people aren't paying for it.

      If your 'content' is worth paying for, then people will pay for it.

      Losing ad revenue would just mean many 'content' writers would have to find a real job, not that 'content' wouldn't exist.

  98. $21.8 billion lost. What a crock ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't these clowns realise that if I don't want to see their adds, that I'm not going to read or click on them anyway ? Also, that I'm far more likely to use a competing product in the future if they've p*ssed me off by wasting my time and bandwidth in the past.

  99. I do not like green ads and ham... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...I do not like them, Spam I Am.

    I do not really see an opportunity for them to become an acquired taste, either.

  100. Gosh, I hope so. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the words of Bill Hicks: advertisers, kill yourselves.

    No seriously, kill yourselves.

  101. Know why we ad block? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because it wasn't enough for you to show us ads, you had to try to rape us with bundling spyware and trackware with the ads. Serving up a banner with a hyperlink isn't a big deal, serving 200KB of additional JS payload to fucking rape us is the problem YOU STUPID ASSHOLES

  102. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 1

    Question is, how much money is it worth to control the population?

    The answer is, all of it.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  103. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by aNonnyMouseCowered · · Score: 1

    The solution is to target ads to a site's target audience. No end-user tracking cookies needed. Just what you can learn from data-mining the site itself, especially the user comments (if any). Obviously, visitors to geek sites like Slashdot would want at most ads with static graphics. Better would be Google-style text ads, prominently marked as "advertisement". (Best would be no ads, but that won't be an option unless you can cook up a really subtle slashvertisement.)

  104. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by gijoel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And get rid of those fucking audio ads as well. I don't need some dick yelling at me about how to get free sex whilst I'm searching for Dora the explorer for a friends kid.

  105. Silicon Valley burst by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone recently said it's always good to edge our bets in case Silicon Valley is in bubble mode and bursts. But that doesn't seem possible at this point.

    I replied that a lot of the money here is related to digital marketing but maybe it's not as effective as people think or are told, and if they realize they are just being taken out to the cleaners this place could burst indeed.

    Personally, I don't think the people who pay the digital marketers are getting their money back from me..

    But that's just a start. Soon we'll need "content blockers" too. Gone with the Kardashians and all the stupidities that litter the web!

    1. Re:Silicon Valley burst by 0123456 · · Score: 2

      One of the great things about Microsoft being in catchup mode is that you can pretty much bet that, by the time they start doing something, it will be on the way out.

      Now they've pushed all the user tracking and ad-serving crap into Windows, the advertising bubble is probably about to burst.

  106. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They'll probably get Congress to include adblocking software as something illegal in the TPP.

  107. bad ads must die but who pays for what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Obnoxious ads are ... obnoxious. That said, what's the better revenue model for the web. Code and design for free or pennies and hope for a job serving coffee - which is where the live music profession went - or some sort of micro payments? How about much better bespoke advertising with sites doing their own sales instead of youtube piping me the same damn Bluehost ad every time.

    ah forget it. got no ideas here so posting anon

  108. Adblocking as a service problem by timrod · · Score: 1

    I see ad blocking as part of a larger service problem with the content industry on the web. Many website operators have gone to war with Adblock Plus, and lose every time because Adblock Plus can adapt around whatever new safeguards they've put in against it. If people are blocking your ads, it's because you have a service problem. Allow me to give an example:

    I play a game called Pathfinder fairly regularly with a group of friends online. Pathfinder is basically a clone of Dungeons and Dragons 3.5th edition, very rules-heavy and with lots of little things to look up that most people don't bother memorizing. To that end, there are two major sites that carry all of the open game content (which in Pathfinder is pretty much 100% of the content) in a searchable form which is a lot easier than figuring out which book you need and then looking through a corresponding PDF or the book itself.

    One of these sites is d20pfsrd.com, which is run by a guy who ran tons of ads for a long time and then ultimately resorted to a Patreon account.. in addition to ads. Now, I understand that he needs money to keep buying the books to put the stuff on his website, but it becomes more than a little annoying when I'm trying to look something up in the middle of a game and have a third of my phone's screen taken up by the incessant pop-ups advertising sales of third-party books (from which the site owner gets a cut) that no one ever uses or linking people to his Patreon to donate money. I don't know how successful his Patreon campaign is, but I'm imagining it's not very much if he keeps begging for money.

    Meanwhile, there's a second site called Archives of Nethys that is in general better organized, doesn't run intrusive ads, and has the same exact content that d20pfsrd does. I don't block ads on Archives of Nethys because like the d20pfsrd owner, I understand that they need money for books - but at the same time, they're not running intrusive ads or begging me for Patreon dollars in an overlay that blocks me from reading the actual content of their website. If I was going to donate money to one of these sites, I'd pick Archives of Nethys hands down because they have better service to their readers.

    You could say that from a business perspective, d20pfsrd has a service problem: their ads are more annoying than their competitor's, and thus more likely to be blocked. The same principle can be applied to any website.

  109. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The fundamental mistake you are making is not that the advertising industry doesn't care if it works.
    You are misunderstanding how ads work fundamentally.
    Most ads are not there to inform you about some product in an effort to get you to buy it.
    Ads are there to work on your subconscious.
    For instance you are searching for food and you see one million subway ads.
    Maybe next time you are out and you are hungry you think "hey what about subway?"
    Or put another way: Let's say you're in a store buying toothpaste.
    They have colgate, and they have some other brand you've never heard of before.
    Maybe you've never used colgate, but you've seen ads for it on tv, or online. The name is familiar. You are much more likely to buy the Colgate (or whatever product) simply because the name is familiar to you.

  110. That, or... by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 1

    "It makes apps, it approves apps, and it profits from apps. But, for its plan to work, the company will need those entertainers and publishers to funnel their content to where Apple wants it to be. "

    I recently went to a page where the JS begged me to turn off AdBlock. So I did. I was rewarded with a page that was 3/5th ads, with the content squished into the center. Turning it back on produced a single column of readable text. I can't wait for AB on iOS.

    When Apple refused to support Flash and told everyone it was because Flash sucked, the interwebs came alive with conspiracy theories about how Apple was trying to force people onto QT and apps. The thing is, Flash did suck, and all the other platforms turned it off too. And today, the conspiracy theory is no longer mentioned.

    So here we are with plug-ins. Is Apple making a plug-in system, or trying to force everyone to use apps? I suspect the later, and have a feeling this story arc will play out the same way as Flash over the next six months.

  111. Spotify or Pandora for news? by chappel · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't even mind PAYING for access to newspapers and commentaries, but I don't live in a major metro area, and it just isn't worth it to me to pay the entire going rate for access to just ONE paper (as I recall, the NY Times is like $250/yr), the vast majority of which doesn't relate to me - but I'd jump at the chance to pay $10/mo for access to articles that interest me that I could pick and choose from 100s - 1000s of papers all over - just like the way no one wants to pay for an entire album just to hear one good song, or buy a subscription to just one record label.

  112. Re:future by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

    I'm sorry, it appears that someone clicked "Overrated" by mistake. Surely no-one would use that moderation on a perfectly sensible (and previously unmoderated) post on purpose. I'm sure they meant to rate it "Insightful" or "Interesting".

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  113. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So what's the business model here? I can't believe enough people actually like ads to make online advertising a viable business proposition...

    Same as panhandling: if you ask enough people, one of them will click your link, buy your product, or give you money. Even if they don't, advertisers can convince their clients that they need to buy advertising because all of their competitors have bought advertising.

  114. Excessive and abusive ads will kill ad industry. by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

    One hour show in the 1950's, 52 minutes of content, 8 minutes of ads.
    One hour show today, 39 to 41 minutes of content, 19 to 21 minutes of ads.

    Web sites at the start- a few relevant ads which were low bandwidth, didn't flash, weren't animated, and didn't interfere with your mouse and put invisible overlays over the screen to steal your mouseclick and shoot you off to some random site, combined with massive numbers of privacy invading cookies (i've stopped trying to load pages after the cookie and ad count passed 25 and the page still wasn't loading.

    Web sites today- often the advertising content consumes 10x to over 500x the bandwidth of the content. Intrusive, and everything bad up above PLUS occasionally injects PUP's and virii into my computer. Dangerous and obnoxious. Often the ads have nothing to do with me OR they are creepily over relevant (having cookied me on some other site unrelated to the current one).

    I wouldn't go to heroic efforts to block low bandwidth, relevant polite ads.

    Now, it's reached a point, I simply don't load certain pages. If I can't get them to load within 30 seconds, I move on to some other less convoluted, less intrusive site.

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  115. To Adobe and all other whiners about ad-blocking by iggymanz · · Score: 1

    I'm paying for my internet bandwidth, you are not. Are you going to pay for my internet connection that you waste with your malware filled bloat and spyware? No? Then die.

  116. WE all hope so. by Lumpy · · Score: 1

    Because the media industry needs to die.

    Reporting by "reporters" is bullshit. Nothing but instant glossing over or regurgitation of the API feed. ZERO reporting so if "new media" writers get let go, this is a good thing. Let's look at my favorite motorcycle websites, all reviews are done for 10 minutes at a desk, some are done without opening the package. So yes I hope those writes lose their jobs as they are worthless. Car websites writing car reviews without touching the frigging car or worse, sitting in it for 10 minutes. What does the REAL car magazine Road and Track do? Subscription based and they are making money.

    It's already proven you dont need ads, you need content that is worth a damn. Game of Thrones is the #1 TV show in the world for 5 years running, NO ADS. Hell, Kung Fury is a 15 minute short that made more money BEFORE IT WAS FINISHED than any other movie twice it's length.

    So yes, I hope it all dies.... Dies in a Fire.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  117. Didn't we go through all this when browsers first by Cloud+K · · Score: 1

    It will find a way to survive- maybe by being less obnoxious, but more likely by finding new workarounds, after a brief year or two of peace like that glorious time in the early days of popup blocking before they started using JavaScript based pop-over 'windows' instead.

    I actually don't mind the tracking, or ads in general (it was not knowing about being tracked that annoyed me more). If I'm looking up something sensitive I'll use Private Browsing - the rest of the time I will get ads for things that actually do interest me, because they know e.g. I visit slashdot and enjoy geeky things. And perhaps by offering me more relevant ads, they will feel less inclined to overload me with intrusive ones to be "more effective".

    Ads that pop over content, cause you to play "guess the real download link" or auto play though can die in a fire. So can most of Youtube's advertising.

  118. I don't use an ad blocker by satch89450 · · Score: 1

    Like so many other people have commented, I have earned the right to turn off advertising on ./ and decided not to check that checkbox. Instead, I use another method to block ads: /etc/hosts. Here is a small sample:

    127.0.0.1 media.sonypictures.com.
    127.0.0.1 images.adsyndication.msn.com.
    127.0.0.1 2mdn.net.
    127.0.0.1 atdmt.com.
    127.0.0.1 fastclick.net.
    127.0.0.1 hire.tv.
    127.0.0.1 hiro.tv.
    127.0.0.1 pointroll.com.

    In firefix, I have also set to "ask first" for every single media player. I just wish there was a way I could do this with HTML5 video content as well.

  119. Re: Didn't we go through all this when browsers fi by Cloud+K · · Score: 1

    FYI that title was meant to say "first got popup blocking" but got silently truncated.

  120. Upcoming Slashdot Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I got an email from slashdot saying they were going to start adding text ads along with and in the same form as the stories, distinguishable only by a different color and an ad tag. I wonder if the ad blockers will work if they can't be disabled in the sites preferences. And a question... Who in their right mind would click on an add? I make it a point never to do business with nag ads or any type of spam.

  121. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by mjwx · · Score: 1

    So many industries are this way. They assume that there is a captive audience with only a few malcontents, but over time it starts slipping away and they don't know how to cope. Like television, they decide to save money by having crappier unscripted content or hire only interns as script writers, then are baffled that people are cutting the cord.

    For case in point see: retail in Australia.

    See also: travel agents.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  122. The exception that proves Betteridge wrong? by cbhacking · · Score: 1

    Betteridge says "No", but we can always hope that this one will be an exception.

    FTFY :-)

    Just checking: are you aware that the way you (mis)used "exception that proves the rule" here makes absolutely no sense? It's sort of like saying "I could care less" when you mean the exact opposite ("I could not care less"), except in this case it's just incoherent. "The exception that proves the rule (in cases not excepted)" is a heuristic you apply to things that look like exceptions to an implied rule, not something you apply to rules when you want to make an exception to them. Generally speaking, rules/laws are made weaker - the opposite of "proven" - by the presence of exceptions to them. Parroting "the exception that proves the rule" (when you don't even understand what it means) doesn't change this obvious fact.

    Example: suppose you're not really familiar with the local driving laws (maybe you're in a different state or country than usual), and you come to a stoplight with a sign (which most other stop lights don't have) that says "No right turn on red". That sign implies the existence of a rule - that normally right turns on red are allowed - because otherwise there'd be no need to have the sign in order to make an exception to the rule. If you later come to a red light which has no such sign and you want to make a right turn, you could reasonably assume that it's legal to do so.

    On the other hand, if you claim that a feather falls takes longer to hit the ground than a brick does, even when dropped from the same height, and somebody points out that this isn't true on the moon... well, that exception doesn't actually prove your "rule" at all. It does the exact opposite, in fact, showing that your rule is flawed. Similarly, if the answer to the headline is "yes", the only thing that proves is that Betteridge's Law is wrong, false, incorrect, unreliable, etc.

    --
    There's no place I could be, since I've found Serenity...
  123. My Favourite Is When... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My favourite is when you go to a site and it tells you you have adblocker turned on, and how much better the site would be if you turned it back off. Ummmm, how about no?

  124. Content providers deserve to be paid...but... by Chas · · Score: 1

    Okay, everyone deserves to be paid for their work.

    The main thing with ads is that they're stealing bandwidth (and time) from the END USER.
    And, as users have worked to block out the most egregious, the ad networks seek more and more egregious ways to inject bigger, more-badly-behaved ads into content.
    And, at the same time, the hind end of the ad beast, whats' considered LEAST egregious, eventually migrates toward more annoying, intrusive behaviors.

    Worse, badly maintained ad networks can KILL the ability to access content.
    And worst of all, badly SECURED ad networks leave their viewer base open to getting their computers compromised.

    Again, sites deserve to be paid for their content. But the proliferation of adblockers is the public's way of saying "You're asking too much for that."

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  125. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by hairyfeet · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is pure unadulterated TRUTH! When many of us got online in the late 80s/early 90s nobody was bothered by ads...why? Because they were a simple hyperlink or at most a tiny .jpg or .gif showing a product for sale...so what. in fact i bet many of us even bought products from those ads because they were 1.- Almost all first party and thus relevant to the site you were viewing and 2.- The one who wrote the site would often have a nice polite "Here is the stuff I like, they have good deals on it, if you like the site maybe you could have a look?" and many of us did that.

    Then here came the third party ad companies to take a big fat Cleveland Steamer on everything! First came the obnoxious pop ups, I bet many here first started hating ads in the mid 90s when that shit started really blowing up. First came pop up, then pop under, then pop all over the fucking screen. Then came the Java ads, followed by flash. Remember when Java was the hot thing, they were even showing desktops running entirely in java and it was Java this and Java that? I personally believe all the fucking Java ads slamming the hell out of those P3s is what turned the masses off of Java...but then came Flash, and boy was that name ever apropos when it comes to ads as the first ones were an epileptic nightmare as they flashed images worse than a Japanese cartoon trying to get your attention. Was that enough for the ad corp assholes? Nope because "hey we can blow their ears off and make 'em listen to our pitches, brilliant!" until it got to the point you couldn't have speakers in an office PC because you never knew when it would blow your ears out!

    But of course the rotting elephant in the room is none of these ad corps or websites take responsibility for the malware they spread thus driving the final nail in the ad driven web coffin, because now its a severe security risk to allow ads to be loaded. I can tell everybody that once I switched all my users to browsers running ABP in low rights mode? Malware just dried up, in fact I can't remember the last nasty I saw on a PC that was running adblocking. And all those that scream about ABP and "acceptable ads" really need to look at the policy to become an acceptable ad, its the best practices I've been pushing for years, NO flash or java, NO sound, NO pop up/under/over, NO hidden redirects or misleading images like faking a security dialog box, in other words it is the kind of ads we used to not have to worry about, simple hyperlinks or non moving images.

    So I'm sorry websites but you brought it upon yourselves, you had a good thing going and in the name of greed you shat all over it and made ads the plague blankets of the net. Switch to the ABP acceptable ad model and most of us will happily let your ads run, but of course that means not letting third parties throw any shit on your page they want and risking your viewers PCs but instead they will just whine and moan. I'm proud to say I got banned from The Escapist for calling them out on their BS, they had Jim Sterling whine about how evil ABP was and I posted a link showing how many times The Escapist had shown malware infected ads and simply asked "So are you gonna take responsibility and pay for the damages to those you infect with your ads?". Wow you should have seen how quickly they started burying the thread and throwing the banhammer, didn't work as the whole narrative got switched to ads and malware. So if any claim its about "saving websites" simply ask that little question, are they gonna take responsibility and pay for the damages if they infect their viewers? If not they can fuck right off!

    --
    ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  126. Don't oversell adblocking! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Technically literate people should keep adblocking for themselves. Let the tech illiterate deal with the ads. When the population of adblockers users gets over 5%-10% content owners start to desire countermeasures. Therefore we shouldn't make it too easy to install adblocking measures. We should construct an adblocking system so that for the technically literate person it takes 30min of our time to set up. But for the tech illiterate it should take days or be just plain difficult for them to set up. Then the best of us don't have to worry about constantly keeping up with counter measures. Ads are designed for the commonfolk, not us. The commonfolk benefit from ads, we don't. So make system to benefit us, not the commonfolk.

  127. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by JonathanR · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Running NoScript; it boggles my mind how many domains are required to get some sites working (particularly MSM sites). Sometimes I just give up on trying to access the content.

  128. Re:W/O advertiser restraint, ad blocking inevitabl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Personally, I think some of these should be browser-level fixes.

    I told Mozilla this some months ago: there is no imaginable conceivable circumstance, up to and including the end of all life on earth, in which I would want a video or sound to start playing on a web page without me having to click a clearly-labelled "play" button of some kind.

    How hard would that be to implement?

  129. Simple rules for advertisers by Trogre · · Score: 1

    1. Don't be obnoxious
    2. Don't lie

    Point 1 has been raised in the above comments many times, and includes ads with any kind of pop-up, sound, video or other movement.

    Point 2 is much more sinister, and includes ads that claim you have won a prize, have an issue detected with your computer, or fool you into thinking the ad is the Download link for the software you are trying to download.

    Those ads will always be blocked, and are killing the digital media industry.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  130. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by mlts · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What I find pathetic is that these companies, oftentimes the source of the most abusive and invasive software on the Internet, call themselves the victims when people just block their garbage.

    It has gotten so bad, that in the last 10 years, it is quite obvious that the #1 defense against malware on a computer is not a firewall, nor is it an AV program. It is an adblocking extension coupled with some form of click to play or NoScript. In fact, if a user doesn't run anything downloaded, adblock/noscript/updated browser/firewall is pretty much all they need for adequate security.

    Of course, iOS/Android tend to not be that better. Half the time, you find sites trying to shunt over to the App Store for some brain-dead F2P/P2W clone of Candy Crush or junk like that. Using Dolphin Browser on Android does help with this.

    The problem isn't the ads. Plain old static banner ads did work. Google text ads are useful. The actual problem is greed. The banner ads were replaced by tower ads, content was moved from one page and broken up into 5-30 pages. Hyperlinks were replaced by mouseovers. Even photos are broken up requiring 4-5 pages to see the entire pithy meme.

  131. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

    See any retail industry. Anywhere.

    Quite frankly, if I go to a bookstore to get information about books and what I get is an employee who knows less about books than me and turns to her computer to search Amazon for recommendations... I can do that myself, thank you! I was hoping that I'd find somewhere there who, ya know, KNOWS a thing about the shit they sell?

    That's the whole point behind going into a specialized store instead of doing your shopping online. To talk with someone who knows MORE about the stuff than you do, or you could find out by using the internet. That is the whole point.

    But of course, people who actually know what they're doing cost more money, so what you get is people who sell you mattresses today, books tomorrow and in a week you see them flipping burgers.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  132. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Now who would pay for that kind of law? Seriously, you don't know how politics works.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  133. loss of ads =/= loss of revenue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the argument that lost viewers == lost $ is wrong. People installing ad blockers might not be looking at ads anyway.

    Also, failure to generate revenue is not a loss. If it were, I could claim to be losing billions of $ per second for any arbitrary reason.

  134. No sympathy by msobkow · · Score: 1

    They brought it on themselves with migraine-inducing scrolling, flashing, animated, popup-on-mouse-over, beeping, clicking, sound-clip-playing and malware-inducing crap.

    When they used simple static banner ads, I didn't need to ad-block. Now if I want to surf for more than five minutes without developing a raging migraine, I have no choice but to block.

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  135. Java by pigsycyberbully · · Score: 0

    AdBlock plus interacts with secure websites meaning even when you're doing your banking AdBlock plus can look at your bank account. For a non-pop-ups adverts simply turn Java off. You will get no adverts, you will get no drive-by malware. Your Internet browsing will be faster. Your web browser will not give out Java information operating system and so on. If you were not all auto bots and Slashdot idiots you would know that. If you must run Java for browsing then use a firewall to block the ads like oneclick profiling Google ads. Slashdot, the place for auto bots and click click idiots.

  136. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I must be an idiot but I don't hate ads.

    What I hate is when they're overused and render a site unusable, which oddly enough, is happening more and more.

  137. I like Pat the NES Punk by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    The AVGN, Kotaku and the Escapist (mostly Zero Punctuation). All of these guys make money off ads. A few are big enough to survive w/o ads now, but that also means no new content creators since they won't be able to use advertising to get off the ground.

    I've been offered ad free /. for years and haven't bothered. And no, I don't count the slashvertisments.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re: I like Pat the NES Punk by unami · · Score: 1

      it's not about the advertising, it's about the form of advertising. just look at daringfireball.com . that's advertising done right.

  138. Do you want to know why I block ads? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

    Because text ads are fine. Static images ads are fine.

    Where I draw the line is when ads are:
    - auto-play videos that annoy me, prevent me from reading whatever I'm trying to read and wasting my monthly data quota on top of it. Not everyone has a lightning-fast connection with unlimited bandwidth.
    - javascript-enabled, HTML5 canvas ads that delay the whole page load and waste my CPU cycles on top of it. Not everyone has a fast CPU.

    So whoever in marketing is reading this and is furious at me, don't be. Be furious at the other assholes in marketing who pushed that shit too far. We, the users, will not let you turn the Internet into "TV 2.0".

    1. Re:Do you want to know why I block ads? by bartmcmurray · · Score: 0

      I agree. I got an ad blocker when auto starting videos with audio became wide spread. Who a thunk that intrusive ads would span ad blockers. It's like phone tree designers took over web development.

  139. So we play "blame the victim" now? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Why do people install ad blockers? It's not like they are easy to get for Joe Average Randomsurfer. It's not like they are being peddled and hawked like, well, nearly every other shit on the net. Joe just wants to surf the net. Of course, there's that "on principle" crowd. You know them. The ones that block ads "on principle", to make a point or to feel superior, not because ads are actually in any way something that bugs them. It's one of those "I want it to bug me for I have no other problem in my petty little life" thing. You find that kind everywhere. And of course on the net, and of course with ads being the pet peeve.

    I'm not talking about them.

    These people always existed. Even 20 years ago when "ad" on the internet meant "someone who gave you a few pages of content that took your 56k modem half a minute to load saying 'oh, and btw, the stuff I explained to you, I bought it at Johnson's Chemicals, they deliver internationally, they're cool and give good deals, you might wanna buy there'."

    But those kind of "ads" never bothered anyone. Well, aside of the aforementioned "on principle" people. But they were few and far between. Yes, even back then when there were few people using the internet in the first place (well, at least compared to today).

    Fast forwards through the years, more people came on the net, and it suddenly got interesting for the "professional" advertisers. Professional as in "doing it for money". Not necessarily "having a fucking clue what they're doing". And ads got more. And since they got more, they also had to compete. For our eyes. And later ears. And they got more and more, and more and more intrusive. Because, well, an ad only works if you notice it. So they started flashing and blaring at you, wanting your attention.

    And more and more people started to reach for ad blockers. Because those things got fucking ANNOYING. Worse than a 3 year old who wants a lolly.

    But can you imagine just HOW annoying something has to become that it actually drives people who don't want to invest time into "tweaking" their internet use into finding out how to block it? How I know that people who usually cannot be bothered with the internal workings of their computers, who want it to "just work good enough", how I know that these people are going out of their way now to block ads? Because this would not even be an issue if they were not. These people are today the majority of internet users. People who actually care about their connection and their computers, and hence block ads because they know that a plugin ain't something that connects their computer to the power socket in the wall, are the minority.

    Can you even possibly imagine just how fucking ANNOYING ads have to be that people who don't WANT to deal with "this computer stuff" actually decide that it's less annoying to deal with their computers and browser setup than the ads?

    Ad industry? Listen. This is your doing. You killed the goose that lays the golden eggs. And no, there's no going back. People already know how to block your ads. Backpedaling to a less obnoxious form is not going to do you any good. Because ads serve no purpose to us. They are essentially what the products that you sell us are to you: The necessary evil for the actual thing we want. For us, ads are the necessary evil to get content. For you, producing products is the necessary evil to get our money.

    We don't want your ads. We don't need your ads. And once someone learned how to block them, they will not unblock them.

    You poisoned your own well.

    Live with it.

    Or, preferably, die from it.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  140. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Irate+Engineer · · Score: 1

    The ad industry doesn't even care of advertising is effective or not. The people buying the ads are going to wake up and realize it's not worth the cost. Then the people trying to make a living with cheap ass youtube videos are going to have to update their resumes.

    No, they won't, because they believe that the money they are shoveling out for advertising lets them keep the business they have. They are mortally terrified that if they stop advertising sales will go to zero in short order and they will never ever get new customers.

    Advertisers are parasites that feed on newborn companies. They live by selling FUD to companies. Here is their life cycle:

    1. Company starts, engages (gets parasitised by) advertising. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

    2. Small company grows to big company. Advertisers claim it is due to their advertising, of course.

    3. Company sales growth slows, advertisers suggest MOAR ADS! Company shells out accordingly.

    4. Company sales flatline, advertisers suggest EVEN MOAR ADS! Company shells out accordingly, but with worried looks to their books

    5. Smart company exec asks what advertising is actually doing for sales; advertisers claim they would be nowhere without advertising and to cut advertising would destroy the company.

    6. Smart company exec is fired for their heresy, company continues to pay advertisers.

    7. Before company tanks, advertisers point to the success of the company, suckers more new companies (hosts), starting back at 1.

    --

    Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!

    Vote for Bernie in 2016!

  141. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Darinbob · · Score: 1

    They're typically advertising elsewhere. The internet is cheap but the response tends to be low. The only ones really relying on internet advertising are internet only companies.

  142. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe they should spend some of that ~$180b (or is it ~$158b now?) revenue in figuring out that people HATE obnoxious, dangerous, intrusive, annoying, irrelevant, shitty ads being shoved into their face from the moment a non-blocking user hits the web instead of hiring anti-blocking startups to make the web an even worse place than it's fallen to already.

    'It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.'
    - Upton Sinclair, decades before the computer

  143. Noscript by scruffy · · Score: 1

    Dear advertisers,

    I don't mind ads so much, but I definitely do not want to run your programs, hence Noscript.

  144. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Dear Advertisers, Figure out how to do ads in a trustworthy way (i.e. no privacy invasive behavior tracking and little or no risk of malware exposure) and I'll be happy to allow those ads. I'd prefer the ads to be static HTML hosted within the site I visit. I don't want my browser touching 15 domains that all run scripts every time I visit a page. As long as ads compromise my privacy and security I will consider advertising networks the enemy and treat them accordingly.

    A co-worker asked which browser I used at home.
    Firefox I replied.
    Now many add-ons?
    About 30.
    Your favorite?
    Ad block plus.
    You know that's how the sites make money.
    I know.
    Why use it then?
    When the sites start paying a portion of my Internet bill for them using my bandwidth I'll quit using ad block.

    Nuff said.

  145. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by luvirini · · Score: 1

    Basically $30/month. No I do not think you would get all that many takers.

    But at $10/month, yes I would think you would get quite many interested people. That guess is based on the pricing of things like Spotify and Netflix.

  146. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by ultranova · · Score: 2

    Quite frankly, if I go to a bookstore to get information about books and what I get is an employee who knows less about books than me and turns to her computer to search Amazon for recommendations... I can do that myself, thank you! I was hoping that I'd find somewhere there who, ya know, KNOWS a thing about the shit they sell?

    And what happens when they hire someone motivated (and thus expensive), and you then buy the actual book at Amazon anyway after getting the info you need?

    Bookstores are simply outdated. They're going to die no matter what they do, and know that. So why spend any more fighting the inevitable rather than just extract what profit they can on their way out?

    But of course, people who actually know what they're doing cost more money, so what you get is people who sell you mattresses today, books tomorrow and in a week you see them flipping burgers.

    And they know that too. They're never getting out of poverty unless they get fantastically lucky, so why bother trying? People allocate their resources - including time and effort - based on expectations of results, and the expected result for a low-rank worker working hard is ending up flipping burgers.

    A social system works by creating a kind of shared dream of how the world works, what kinds of positions are available, who can fill them, and what's expected of them. These dreams can take a certain amount of being contradicted by evidence, but not the kind of brutal beatdown Capitalism is currently experiencing, at least not without attaching religious feeling its dogma, which it has done. But even so, if things don't start improving fast, the disillusionment will spread until the entire machinery falls apart.

    So, any guesses where the next round of Communistic revolutions (Neo-communism? Communism 2.0?) is going to start?

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  147. The truth of it all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People build websites solely for ad revenue - have you ever been to one of those websites "top 10 cutest dogs" or similar? In order to see all the pictures you need to go through 10 pages, thus 10 lots of ads. It's not uncommon practice. My local newpaper online has over 6 ads + some Outbrain referral scheme that tries to trick you into reading something that isn't actually news.

  148. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...

    Why don't you have a seat over there.

  149. Re:W/O advertiser restraint, ad blocking inevitabl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well said.

  150. Already solved by blackiner · · Score: 1

    "The desire to figure out how to bring ad blocking to mobile consumers is a worldwide phenomenon," says Roi Carthy Ad blocking, he says, "is an inalienable right."

    This was already solved via firefox mobile + uBlock origin. I'll admit firefox mobile isn't really the best browser out there in terms of performance, but the ad blocking more than makes up for it, and it is the only browser I use on my phone.

  151. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by just+another+AC · · Score: 2

    And get rid of those fucking audio ads as well. I don't need some dick yelling at me about how to get free sex whilst I'm searching for Dora the explorer for a friends kid.

    Did you search for:

    Dora exploring her sexuality?
    Dora self exploring?
    Dora does exploring?
    Dora + safari suit + adventure?
    Sluts gone wild?

  152. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Grishnakh · · Score: 3, Informative

    You've got your decades confused. There were no ads online in the late 80s or early 90s, unless you're talking about Prodigy, because no one outside of academia used the internet then, and the WWW and the Mosaic browser didn't even exist until 1994. Looking at a .gif (JPEG didn't even come out until 1992, and didn't see real usage on regular people's computers until later) meant manually downloading it first (perhaps from alt.binaries.pictures.*), then opening up an image viewer to look at it. The internet didn't really get commercialized with ads until the late 90s.

  153. Prove you are responsible by just+another+AC · · Score: 1

    When a site proves for a (long) period they are responsible with the ads they serve, (both style and scripting), then I am likely to unblock them. If not, then all defenses up.

  154. Adobe fights ad blocking by Art3x · · Score: 1

    From the summary:

    A new report from Adobe and one of several startups helping publishers fight ad blocking

    Well, now I really don't like Adobe anymore.

  155. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by dizzy8578 · · Score: 2

    I know a lot about books. I read pretty much non stop and have for 56 years. The only job I ever got fired from was in a book store. I could not even tear the covers off returns (paperbacks) without falling into reading them. This may be why you do not find avid readers working in book stores that expect to make a profit.

    --
    *"Cogito Ergo Liberalis"*
  156. Had their chance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The advertisers had their chance to make nice, tasteful, non-intrusive, non-data-intensive, non-cpu/gpu-intensive, non-privacy-invasive ads. And they (mostly) didn't. Been running adblockers and flashblockers now on all systems for years, and will always do so (even bought the one for jailbroken iThings; works pretty well).

  157. First it was the printing press... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    then the audio cassette, then the video cassette, then the writable CD, then a couple of other writable media -- now the ad blockers.

    Every time, the thought control industry yells bloody murder and gets the ear of the others in power (perhaps because they have shared interests?).

    Here still hoping that something, whatever, drives a fat stake through the heart of this horrible vampire, which has always been a blight.

  158. They killed their own business by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They try to put the blame on to their users when in fact they shot themselves in the foot. Modern ads are:

    1) A serious threat to data security because they can spread malware.
    2) A serious threat to privacy because they can collect impressive amounts of private information.
    3) Very annoying because often sound, animation and bright sticking out colors are used.
    4) Very, *very* large in size. Often larger in size than the *actual content of the page* and thus eat up your bandwidth in excessive amounts.
    5) Resource hogs and mostly that because of points 3 and 4. This can slow down or even crash your browser.
    6) Interrupting. Who else is tired of overlay popups constantly blocking your view with fantastic offers? And this of course done so that when you click the close button, it's actually a link that opens another window.

    These are just some of the major points that come to mind. A few years back people were running sites powered by good content and donations or straight out of their own pockets. They were doing it because they wanted to do it, they loved hosting sites about things they felt were nice or important. Admins were well known personalities instead of faceless corporation jargon sent as autoreplies. When sites picked up more and more traffic and thus costs, many were able to provide so good content that their users would willingly pay for access, status or similar. It might have been nothing more than a different color in your forum name, but that kept the sites up and running.

    Ads are killing content. They have driven news sites to click baiters, turned hobby sites with good content into ad whoring garbage dumps without a soul and taken away our privacy in the process. Ads are a lazy and stupid way of getting money from promoting products or services. This can be done with sponsorship deals (competitions, product reviews with attached discounts etc.) and various other means, but this is more work than agreeing to some random ad company's ToS and giving them your bank account details.

  159. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by bayankaran · · Score: 1

    I am not willing to pay $10 p.m. for every single one of these; especially to only read any article very occasionally or only once

    You hit the nail on the head.

    The biggest success in the world of software and entertainment as far as adoption go is Popcorn Time. If there is a subscription model attached most of the viewers will be OK to pay a few dollars a month for unfettered access. (To an extent this is what Netflix is providing.)

    Popcorn Time is not possible with online versions of print media. The closest you get is Google News - except for a few websites the links do not need a subscription. But then you will quickly go over the limit of free articles with no option but to pay full price / subscribe.

    Even "Google Contribute" is not addressing this issue...its only to show less advertisement.

    --
    Tat Tvam Asi
  160. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by sl149q · · Score: 1

    I keep hearing that if I don't want to see abusive ads I should simply not go back to those sites...

    The problem is that there are (literally) thousands and thousands of them. Can't remember them all.

    Perhaps what we need is a way for sites to indicate or for an ad blocking site to rate that they require "no-ad blocking" and then on pages with URL's instead of a blue underline we get a red underline. Then we can vote with our clicks without ever having to actually visit the site first. Don't want to view invasive ads then don't click on the red links.

  161. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You sir are a legend, I read this article and felt compelled to post and then I read your reply that just about states every point I wanted to make.

    The only other issue I wanted to point out is that on a rooted android device if you install AdAway (its still developed you have to google for it if you want the apk) you enjoy the benifits of ad blocking system wide :)

  162. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Totally agree!
    Ever used the Internet without adblock? It's a physical pain! Huge banners everywhere clogging up the actual content of the site. Then all these in-site popups you actually first have to click away before you can see the site. No wonder people are getting tired of this.

  163. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When the sites start paying a portion of my Internet bill for them using my bandwidth I'll quit using ad block.

    Yeah, I hate it too that websites I visit use my bandwidth. Especially Youtube is bad.

  164. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

    Exactly. I don't block ads. I do block tracking JavaScript. Anything that uses Flash / HTML5 video / audio needs me to click on it before I see it. The result? I very rarely see ads. Put plain-text ads that are relevant to the content of the page, and I might click on them. I used to click on Google ads periodically back when they did this, but they gradually went down the route of trying to profile me and find things that I was interested in and replaced all of the ads that were relevant to the stuff I was looking at now with ads for things that I bought last month and won't need to buy again for a long time.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  165. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now who would pay for that kind of law? Seriously, you don't know how politics works.

    So, who paid for the cookie privacy law?

  166. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by KGIII · · Score: 1

    YouTube has ads? Heh... I did not know that. I was wondering what the Skip Ads thing was about in Magic Actions. I thought they were just static banners and the likes but you mention that they autoplay so I am assuming they are in the videos themselves? I use Firefox to install Opera. I then install AdBlock (and more). I do not actually see ads. I do not use other folks computers unless I am fixing them and, then, I install Opera and AdBlock (and more)...

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  167. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You sir are a legend, I read this article and felt compelled to post and then I read your reply that just about states every point I wanted to make.

    Well, if we want to be factual his history of how this developed is at least 10 years off. Ads didn't start to "really blowing up" in the mid-nineties. This is when early adopters started using web browsers at all. The very first web browser came in 1993, Netscape 0.9 came in December 1994. And there were no .jpgs at this time.

    Even correcting for that, Java was never used much for ads. By the time non-static banner ads started to take off Flash already had a larger installed base of users.

  168. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/

    Didn't consumers kill this type of stores long ago ? What premium are you willing to pay for this service (ya know, competent shop assistant) ?

  169. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So in other words people should pay you for viewing their website with content they provided for free?

  170. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    It's one of those things that puzzle me to no end. Maybe some politician was affected by it, anything else doesn't really make sense.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  171. fool ad providers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would opt for "ad block" who will download silently files from the ad server without displaying them. Maybe this will fool ad server that his ads are served and everyone will be happy. I don't mind some extra traffic, if I don't see the ads themselves.

  172. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But how will you know those ads are there? Once advertisers have screwed the pooch sufficiently to get an adblocker installed, that pooch is hard to unscrew.

  173. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    My money is on between 2020 and 2025. Though I doubt it will be a communist revolution. I'd fear it will lean towards fascism rather. There's far more money backing that kind of development, and far more people willing to follow it.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  174. Boo friggin hoo. by stevenm86 · · Score: 1

    Have these people stopped to consider that maybe the people blocking their ads have no interest in purchasing products based on ads? Before adblock, I have never intentionally clicked on an ad I saw. So, if anything, adblock saves bandwidth costs by preventing advertisers from serving ads to an ad-adverse demographic. Let the luddites shoulder the cost of free content by clicking on ads. It's win-win!

  175. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ahhh, the joy of targeted advertising based on your browsing history!

  176. Re:The thing I don't understand with the ad busine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They continue to push adds because there is a psychological effect to seeing something, even if it's not front-and-center. Many people vote based on party lines, others vote not because of a candidates stance, but because they associate the name with something (e.g. patriotic, just, whatever) due to an ad. There are proven "dispositions" toward even fictional products based solely on a person seeing them within a scene of a movie, or on a billboard in a photo, or any number of other unobtrusive places.

    Now if only the industry would take advantage of that, instead of forcing me to flip through open tabs to try to find the offending ad ruining my music...

  177. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is that modded Insightful?

    I use AdBlock, but I have to say it concerns me now that even my mom knows about AdBlock. (Which is to say, a woman who thinks "Internet" is something that's installed on her computer, has AdBlock)

    I occasionally whitelist sites, but like most people, I block by default -- which means that all those arguments about "offensive ads" aren't really true because I block inoffensive ads as well. And if a site is doing its best to use responsible ad practices, I block their ads anyway.

    I read news and blogs a lot. On most days I probably read for more than 2 hours, if you add up time spent reading my mobile while commuting as well.

    I'd hate to see the awesomeness of the web wane in any way -- but I'm painfully aware that if everyone blocks ads, then the web as we know it won't work.

    Why would anyone want to put indie bloggers and webmasters out of business. I don't understand.

  178. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL at the last 5 comments. All these people who claim if the ads were responsible they'd whitelist.

    Just totally untrue.

    The stats are in, people. Nobody whitelists.

    When we surf the web we hit tens or even hundreds of new sites per day. Does everyone turn off AdBlock for a second and see if the ads are offensive? No. We all block by default.

    We want stuff for free and we don't want to bother being annoyed. Yes, the media industry is in serious trouble. Hand that includes hundreds of thousands of mom and pop, indie site owners who are responsible webmasters.

  179. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by unami · · Score: 1

    it's certainly going in that direction now. even if it turns out to be communism, it will probably be the old communism-dictatorship type. you know, lots of media propaganda, elites living in luxury, peoply spying on each other... only worse, because the elites have become richer, the media less independent and the survilance state technically sophisticated since then... but it's more likely to become ugly ol' fascism. remember, nazi was short for "national socialists". let's hope for the machines to rise before that. you're our only hope...teminator.

  180. No. Drivel, spyware, and virus delivery will by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No. Drivel, spyware, and virus delivery will.

    Obnoxious ads were just the beginning of my blocking. First nail.

    The unwanted tracking was the next nail.

    The added performance made me keep it. Next nail.

    The viruses and spyware being installed made me get good at it and share that knowledge with everyone I knew. Last nail in the coffin.

    Die. Die. Die.

  181. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And the hundreds of thousands of indie bloggers and web app developers?

    See, you and everyone else here is actually voting for a corporate-dominated web.

    What you're going to get is big media. What you're going to lose is indie voices.

    And you're going to keep cheering all the way until all the little voices are silenced.

  182. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I dislike the intrusive ads, but someone has to pay for good, insightful comment and reporting.

    Why? Plenty of people (including some posts here on slashdot), write good, insightful comments with no remuneration. Plenty of people make great youtube videos without advertising (I'm not sure how many, because I use adblock, but some of the videos I've watched explicitly state that they are not ad supported). If Youtube died tomorrow, everyone competent knows how to make the same thing in a p2p distributed system, so we wouldn't lose much of anything. You can easily host a video stream for a billion people off a standard VDSL or fiber home connection using tail distribution models.

    I'd much rather live in a world where ads don't exist, and people communicate because they have something to say, rather than to make a quick buck shovelling clickbait.

    "Journalists" have nothing to add. They just repeat the same populist tripe to get idiots to click on stuff so they can feel good about agreeing with simplistic lies. This has always been true, since the first newspapers. People bought newspapers, not to be informed, but to read something they agree with that repeated the same bigoted cultural bias that was popular at the time. To get actual relevant, accurate information, you can't rely on freeloading journalists, you have to actually communicate and be involved with people who are actually making the world happen; then those people are more than happy to tell you what's going on in their little bubble. Outside your own little bubble, what you know, you simply don't, and even if you did, it wouldn't be worth a damn thing. Journalism is just voyeurism dressed up, deceiving you for monetary gain, into believing that knowing "what's happening in the world" makes a damn bit of difference to your life.

    It doesn't.

  183. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they offer it for free, how does one not have a right to access it? There's no obligation to run any of their code or fetch all their link targets. Where would it come from? Where's the contract?

    A simple webserver on port 80 that hands out HTML with no obligation, that's all. How is that not free?

  184. nothing against advertising per se, by unami · · Score: 1

    i just don't like those tracking ads, bandwith/cpu hogging ads, autoplaying audio/video ads, view blocking ads, pop-ups... just embed your ads as plain text or decent sized banners or as the first two search results (but clearly marked as ads), or even as marked paid content, and i'm fine with it - but as long as you do javascript-shit, links that track me across sites, or banners that pop over buttons, i'll fight them and avoid your sites,

  185. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by unami · · Score: 1

    even slashdot often puts an ad that's hard to dismiss over the "submit" button - at least on an ipad. fortunately, ios9 and content blockers are on their way.

  186. Simple as moo by alex4747 · · Score: 1

    So far it is more effective for media companies to use ads in the form of link to a third party websites and live with adblocks. I suppose at some point media companies will start place ads hosted in the same domains as their primary services to make current generation of adblocks obsolete.

  187. I'm so confused by this logic by wardrich86 · · Score: 1

    I mean, do people really click on adverts on legitimate sites? I can see people getting confused on those sketchy download sites where there are 3 download links that all point to ads instead of the expected file... but really, legitimate companies losing money from blocked ads? Seems insane. On second thought, the only possible legitimate lost revenue I can think of would be YouTube videos where the commercials are blocked out.

  188. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL at the last 5 comments. All these people who claim if the ads were responsible they'd whitelist.

    Just totally untrue.

    The stats are in, people. Nobody whitelists.

    When we surf the web we hit tens or even hundreds of new sites per day. Does everyone turn off AdBlock for a second and see if the ads are offensive? No. We all block by default.

    We want stuff for free and we don't want to bother being annoyed. Yes, the media industry is in serious trouble. Hand that includes hundreds of thousands of mom and pop, indie site owners who are responsible webmasters.

    You use the "we" word as if you speak for all, but you don't. ABP come with acceptable ads whitelist on by default. But the bigger question is -- if your business model is based on irritating your customers is that really a good and sustainable business model? When one model fail, new ones will find a way, if providing something people really want. A major reason for me paying for Netflix is that I absolutely can't stand watching TV that gets interrupted by ads.

  189. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by rhazz · · Score: 1

    (off-topic) I worked at a bookstore briefly and I remember the first and only time I had to do the cover-ripping thing for inventory return. It felt awful to destroy a book like that.

  190. Gird your loins. by xenotransplant · · Score: 1

    The more big companies cry about the lost zillions, the closer we get to having NO control over our bandwidth use.

  191. They started it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If their ads weren't so intrusive, full size popups, loaded with trackers, and outright obnoxious, then we wouldn't have ad blockers. Fuck em' start the subscription model for media and your shit won't be anything. NYT and their limited viewing can kiss my ass too!!!

    Quit using those spammy advertising companies, hire your own tech, and create your own inline ads. Asshats!

  192. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Whorhay · · Score: 1

    I honestly can't remember the last time I actually went to a store to do research for an online purchase. It just doesn't happen. If I actually take the time and go to a store and they have what I need/want it is very unlikely that I'll go back home and order whatever it was to save a few bucks and spend even more time waiting for it to be delivered. I don't doubt that there are people who do that but judging by the number of people living paycheck to paycheck I doubt they are in the majority.

  193. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by David_Hart · · Score: 1

    I honestly can't remember the last time I actually went to a store to do research for an online purchase. It just doesn't happen. If I actually take the time and go to a store and they have what I need/want it is very unlikely that I'll go back home and order whatever it was to save a few bucks and spend even more time waiting for it to be delivered. I don't doubt that there are people who do that but judging by the number of people living paycheck to paycheck I doubt they are in the majority.

    I agree about the research comment. I've never gone to a store for product research except for vehicles like cars, boats, etc..

    There are three situations where I go to a store to buy anything but groceries:

    1. When I need something right away and overnight shipping is more than 3% of the item cost. Typically in this situation, the item wouldn't get to me on time if I ordered online with 2 day shipping. I would have to pay through the nose for next day. It's usually when I'm about to go on vacation and I forgot to buy something.

    2. Clothes. Yes, most online clothing stores have free return policies but its more inconvenient than running down to the nearest clothing store. Shoes and sneakers are the hardest to buy as, it seems, not one shoe manufacturer uses the same sizing chart. Kohls actually does a good job here. I can try on stuff in store, scan the bar-code with their mobile app, and order through their online store. Usually I only do this if they don't have the size/style I want in the store. That being said, I have been buying dress shirts online.

    3. Same Price. If the store has the item at a similar or same price as I can find online I will buy from the store. At that point it's more convenient for me to drive to the local store and pick it up or grab it while I am already there for something else.

  194. Betting against technological and social advances by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A Wells Fargo analyst wrote in a report on ad blocking that "the mobile migration should thwart some of the growth" of ad blockers.

    *facepalm*

    Just because all handheld PCs are currently garbage, doesn't mean no one is ever going to make a good one. The hardware is very ready. All that's wrong with the software is that most of it isn't open enough yet, so it's still mostly geared toward s manufacturer's or service providers' interests, instead of the users' interest. That can change so quickly, though.

  195. slows page loads, spreads malware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My biggest problem is the rate at which a page will load and the potential to spread malware.

  196. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Whorhay · · Score: 1

    For the last seven years at least, maybe all the way out to ten, I have only used a firewall, ABP, and NoScript. No antivirus or malware scanners required. And I've thus far had no infections or problems at all.

  197. Ad blockers really only block ... by Rambo+Tribble · · Score: 1

    ... third party ads. If advertisers want to present their ads to the public, let them rent page space, like on a billboard. They can still track, though customized URLs, where the clicks came from, but will no longer be able to directly intrude on the relationship between the user and the page owner.

  198. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by JustSomeProgrammer · · Score: 2

    Are you willing to pay more for the books you get in a bookstore than the identical product you can get online? Brick and mortar stores have already found that in general the answer to that question is no. Brick and mortar stores have lots of expenses that online does not. Brick and mortar for one, sales employees for another. And the situation you're describing is having knowledge experts (read people who get paid more) working as the sales people. This works in some markets; I'm willing to pay more for wine if bought from someone who knows about what they are talking about. But typically doesn't work for the vast majority of people.

  199. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bloggers deserver to get paid why? It is usually the equivalent of a journal for all to read

  200. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by mlts · · Score: 1

    The turning point was in the early to mid 2000s, when worms, executable E-mail, and infected Word documents were dealt with by signing, spam control, and just not running code in the E-mail, period. Once that vector of infection was stopped, other than Trojan horses, it became the Web browser (and add-ons) that has become the largest vector of infections, because it constantly is in contact with untrusted, likely hostile code.

    As for AV, I've yet to see a normal antivirus scanner be able to deal with an exploit crawling out of a browser or add-on. The sole exception to this is Malwarebytes because it blocks malicious sites by IP. However, that doesn't give full protection, since an ad server can be completely benign for 99.999% of the time, then when it noticed IP addresses from a certain range, serve up something malicious.

  201. There's a third perpetrator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your web browser isn't as good as it could be. It's not intended to be that good.

    Think while wearing your "user hat": is there any conceivable situation, at any time and for any purpose, where it might possibly be useful (to you, the user) for a web page's script to have the means to request that a popup window be opened? Is there the slightest chance that the browser's code which opens new windows at behest of scripts, isn't malicious? Is there really any legitimate reason the API even exist (regardless of whether or not the browser makes sophisticated decisions about when to do it versus fail)? Have you ever seen any popup from a web page, ad or otherwise, that didn't piss you off?

    I say no, to all of these questions.

    A user-oriented web browser wouldn't ever show popup ads. (Not because the author is clever enough to "block" them, but because the author will never have the evil intent to go to the extra trouble of adding the bug.) Yet I sometimes see popup ads. Conclusion: I am willfully running malware. The malware is called Chromium, Firefox, etc.

    1. Re:There's a third perpetrator by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

      You wrote this from your Faraday cage with tinfoil on your head didn't you?

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  202. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1) Tell me about that "acceptable ads whitelist". I know all about it. Do you? How much does it cost for a publication to be on it? Do you even know the answer?

    2) Business model "irritating customers"? What customers? Readers? Let me be perfectly clear: If a reader has AdBlock on, they are in no way a "customer", and yes, they can go away and never come back. Doesn't bother me at all.

    3) How much do you spend on websites per annum? Do you think that comes close to the amount you would generate in advertising without AdBlock?

    Doesn't matter anyway. We block the blockers. They can go somewhere else. I hope they do.

  203. Want us to stop blocking? Make them less annoying by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

    The reason people block ads is that the advertisers have gone overboard with intrusive advertising. Popup windows are annoying and malfunction on some combinations of hardware and browser. Autoplay videos make your browser crawl, suck up huge amounts of bandwidth, and if the audio also autoplays they annoy everyone around you. Ads that deliver malware to your computer clearly must be blocked. Finally, there are the privacy implications of ad tracking.

    If advertising was limited to text and static banners, I wouldn't bother to block it. I don't want the online ad industry to die, I want the online ad industry to return to 1998.

  204. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  205. Time for another look at micropayments? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As Marco Arment and John Gruber have pointed out, it's not just about the outrageous invasion of privacy. Ads impose real, tangible costs in money and time on users, especially mobile users: data plan overages, reduced battery life, and pages that take forever to load.

    Every time someone mentions micropayments, the response is "we tried that and it didn't work". But that was a long time ago. With newer technology and a much-different online environment, maybe it's time to take another look at them.

  206. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  207. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1) Tell me about that "acceptable ads whitelist". I know all about it. Do you? How much does it cost for a publication to be on it? Do you even know the answer?

    Yes, I do, in addition to rules for what constitutes an acceptable ads they require a fee to be on the whitelist by default. Their argument is that they actually use resources to check that the sites follow the acceptable ads rules. For me as a user I like this. But regardless of what you think about this system, I only used it as one counter-example to your very categorical claim that nobody use whitelist.

    2) Business model "irritating customers"? What customers? Readers? Let me be perfectly clear: If a reader has AdBlock on, they are in no way a "customer", and yes, they can go away and never come back. Doesn't bother me at all.

    The customers they are irritating are the ones visiting *without* adblock!

    3) How much do you spend on websites per annum? Do you think that comes close to the amount you would generate in advertising without AdBlock?

    No business have a right to keep earning the same as thing changes. And user payment might not be the only answer. But change and innovation is hard, and one tend to view it differently if you are in the particular industry that is going through change at the moment, or if you are seeing it from the outside, as a consumer.

    Doesn't matter anyway. We block the blockers. They can go somewhere else. I hope they do.

    Good for you, but your business model is built on irritating your customers (those who haven't blocked, yet)

  208. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  209. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  210. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by aurizon · · Score: 1

    In the old days, before Amazon, before the web, there were support staff, paid for by the margins on books and magazines.
    Now huge numbers of scanned books are traded for free on line = zero profit on those. In addition, Amazon's buying power and pricing policies have meant that the book shops no longer have hose margins. People come and look and ask, then go home and buy on Amazon or get an online file.
    Most magazines were sold far below the cost of printing, the ads paid the freight, and with paper magazines and story splitting there was enough ad readership to sustain the system.
    If 100% of ads get blocked = zero to pay for the web site, the site will fold.

    Solution:- Sites can now render the site as a full screen jpeg, with the ads as part of the picture, unblockable. All they need is a click detecting frame for each ad..
    If the frame is blocked, the system will not render the jpeg = you can not see the site if you deny the frame.

    This will be slower to render, but with wide band = doable.
    The alternative = pay a fee to see a site.

    There will be few altruists capable of funding a high volume site with zero revenue.

  211. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  212. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  213. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  214. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  215. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  216. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  217. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  218. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  219. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  220. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  221. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  222. Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ublock do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (4 reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you by dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded favs
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do those & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu + memory use

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on UBlock doing it as well or @ all!

    APK

    P.S.=> UBlock does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ublock's NOT as efficient:

    Hosts @ 3mb-11mb w/ current data vs. threats + ads - test yourself using my program.

    UBlock uses 63++ MB -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/...

    SCREENSHOT -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it detecting it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods to do so!

    +

    UBlock adds complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's better?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

    1. Re:Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You need to stop bud, your incessant spam is worse than ads.

  223. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  224. Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ublock do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (4 reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you by dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded favs
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do those & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu + memory use

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on UBlock doing it as well or @ all!

    APK

    P.S.=> UBlock does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ublock's NOT as efficient:

    Hosts @ 3mb-11mb w/ current data vs. threats + ads - test yourself using my program.

    UBlock uses 63++ MB -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/...

    SCREENSHOT -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it detecting it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods to do so!

    +

    UBlock adds complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's better?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  225. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  226. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  227. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  228. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  229. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  230. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  231. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  232. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  233. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  234. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  235. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  236. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  237. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  238. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  239. PrivacyBadger = ABP code & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can PrivacyBadger do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on PrivacyBadger doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> PrivacyBadger does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    PrivacyBadger's Adblock+ codebase 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    PrivacyBadger adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  240. Change the type of ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ad blocking would not be needed if most websites would change the type of ads, for example I don't use adblock on my Android phone because the mobile websites work fine with small ads. However I have no choice but to use adblock on my laptop or it grinds to a halt when I open up a news article with 20 animated photo/video ads on the page.

  241. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  242. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  243. PrivacyBadger = ABP code & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can PrivacyBadger do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on PrivacyBadger doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> PrivacyBadger does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    PrivacyBadger's Adblock+ codebase 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    PrivacyBadger adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  244. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  245. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  246. Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ublock do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (4 reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you by dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded favs
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do those & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu + memory use

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on UBlock doing it as well or @ all!

    APK

    P.S.=> UBlock does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ublock's NOT as efficient:

    Hosts @ 3mb-11mb w/ current data vs. threats + ads - test yourself using my program.

    UBlock uses 63++ MB -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/...

    SCREENSHOT -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it detecting it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods to do so!

    +

    UBlock adds complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's better?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  247. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  248. Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ublock do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (4 reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you by dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded favs
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do those & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu + memory use

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on UBlock doing it as well or @ all!

    APK

    P.S.=> UBlock does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ublock's NOT as efficient:

    Hosts @ 3mb-11mb w/ current data vs. threats + ads - test yourself using my program.

    UBlock uses 63++ MB -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/...

    SCREENSHOT -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it detecting it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods to do so!

    +

    UBlock adds complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's better?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  249. Re:AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. host by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Large hosts files slow down name resolution of the local stack, slowing network performace

  250. They're faster than addons & not detectable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hosts are faster, undetectable by clarityray (blocks addons) + less usermode slow overhead (hosts are in kernelmode and faster AND they're not "PILING ON 'MOAR'" stupidly in a slower mode of operations).

    * I merely point out facts showing you can USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE that's massively refined over decades in hosts + firewalls...

    APK

    P.S.=> Facts are facts & there's no disputing truth + fact... apk

    1. Re:They're faster than addons & not detectable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fair enough, but if APK is so good, why do you feel the need to spam it everywhere instead of just letting the results speak for themselves?

  251. Hosts don't: It's windows usermode dnscache by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: Windows' usermode slower dnscache service does - it has problems due to inflexible architecture & limited size (vs. doing a queue or redimmable array or list) + aging issues.

    Hosts are FASTER in kernelmode as I noted before AND once you disable the USERMODE SLOWER local dnscache service (as my program instructs you to do with larger hosts files), you also SAVE cpu cycles, RAM, & other I/O used on that faulty usermode slower dnscache service.

    Hosts then cache into RAM, like any file does, & work BETTER than ANY browser addon there is, doing MORE FOR ADDED speed, security, reliability, & even anonymity than ANY single browser addon alone can + hosts work vs. FAR MORE THREATS out there than browser addons do, AND they fix DNS security & reliability problems as well!

    APK

    P.S.=> "Beat THAT with a stick" (nobody can or ever has here)... apk

    1. Re:Hosts don't: It's windows usermode dnscache by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      8.) Protect vs. spam

      I installed APK on my computer but your spam posts are still showing up? It seems like number 8 is inaccurate

  252. It's merely replies vs. inferior competitors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: Not spam, & ANY of you are more than welcome to TRY prove my points wrong in favor of hosts over slower, detectable & blockable, messagepassing overheads ridden browser addons operating in slower usermode vs. hosts in kernelmode...

    (NOBODY ANYWHERE EVER validly & technically HAS - not even once).

    APK

    P.S.=> Seeing you all resort to "it's spam" makes me laugh - more like I TELL THE TRUTH that can't be defeated validly & technically... & that, TRULY IS, that... apk

    1. Re:It's merely replies vs. inferior competitors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      47 out of the 100 most recent comments on this article are you spamming the exact same post but with "adblock" "ublock" or "privacy badger" mentioned. How exactly is that not spam when it constitutes nearly half of all replies? Although I do find it admirable that it appears you do it all manually and not with a bot of some sort.

  253. Mr. advertiser or inferior competitor sockpuppet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject, & this link + "Rinse, Lather, & Repeat" http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

    APK

    P.S.=> There's NO WAY you can defeat truth, & you KNOW it - but I surely AM defeating you all, every single time, no questions asked... apk

  254. Call the truth spam all you like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: It's STILL truth you can't defeat. I just reply where adblock, ublock, ghostery, & privacybadger are posted informing users of the SUPERIOR truth in hosts...

    * I'll keep on doing it & smashing them into the ground, along with sockpuppets + trolls like you... & the BEST PART?

    ROTFLMAO - YOU CAN'T STOP ME.

    APK

    P.S.=> Lastly, on that note, going to quote Jack Nicholson from "A Few Good Men" on that - "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH"... & you know it - lol, seeing you reduced to calling my fair replies 'spam' makes me laugh, it really does - it shows everyone here YOU ARE LOSING & YOU KNOW IT vs. myself - NO QUESTIONS ASKED... apk

    1. Re:Call the truth spam all you like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In fact, with 440ish replies to the article in total, your posts make up about 10% of the posts in the comment section, all with nearly identical post content. That is near textbook definition spam.

      "Electronic spamming is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited messages (spam), especially advertising, as well as sending messages repeatedly on the same site."
      -Wikipedia

      Now given the belief that you actually want to propogate usage of APK, remember why people dislike ads ->> THey are annoying and everywhere.

      Repeatedly posting the near exact same text will just turn people off of APK, however, a SINGLE well written full post describing its merits once per ARTICLE rather than once per a COMMENT would work wonders in spreading word while not annoying the crap out of people or scaring them away.

  255. Validly technically prove me wrong then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: Stop me. You can't manage proving me wrong validly & technically, can you? Nope... lol!

    APK

    P.S.=> You can call truths I post on hosts superiority (in terms of BOTH superior resources usage & superior abilities for giving users more speed + reliability AND anonymity online as well as MORE security FOR LESS YET HOSTS DO FAR MORE too) "SPAM" all you like, doesn't bother me & actually makes me laugh + it shows me that when you're reduced to THAT bs? I am kicking you ASSES!

    Also - your illogical off topic antics? They're NOT TOO CONVINCING when you can't prove a thing I say wrong, now is it?? Nope - guess what?

    YOU HAVE FAILED, badly, vs. myself - & you know it, I KNOW IT, + anyone reading with 1/2 a brain does... apk

  256. Enough bs: Validly technically prove me wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & it's completely FAIR challenge put to you vs. http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

    * Good luck, you'll NEED it...

    (LOL, you'll need more than luck - you'd need a miracle!)

    APK

    P.S.=> And, that, is TRULY, that - & you know it (since you'll run to NO end vs. that challenge, "Forrest")... apk

    1. Re:Enough bs: Validly technically prove me wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not arguing about the technical viabilities of APK, in fact, I believe what you say, I am arguing against your guerrilla marketing tactics that are just as bad as modern day advertising networks. It is analogous to the kid in class you waves his hands around wildly yelling "pick me, pick me" and the kid who quietly raises his hand. I would call on the quiet kid regardless if the other kid was correct or not. If you truly want APK to become a new standard, you need to stop doing the very thing that people dislike and are trying to stop.

  257. Then you have no valid argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject - You're helping me make a case for hosts vs. inferior browser addons.

    * Thank- you!

    (I'm just like the kid that KNOCKS THE BLOCK OFF the other kids spouting bullshit about him, that's all - it's not MY fault they get knocked out by truth & facts I post they can't get the best of -> http://news.slashdot.org/comme... )

    HOWEVER:

    Above ALL else?

    Listen: When you've got commercially sold code to YOUR NAME as I do? THEN, you can *TRY* to tell me "How it's done", ok??

    (See, because UNTIL then? You've got nothing & certainly are NO PEER of mine that can give me valid advice - I've done it before, & my methods have worked for me in the past... see above)

    APK

    P.S.=> You can call my rightfully replying to users of those BLATANTLY inferior slower usermode messagepassing overheads ridden addons 'spam' all you like, but you're FAILING to prove me wrong - & that, TRULY IS, that (+ you know it)... apk

    1. Re:Then you have no valid argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have sold commercial code in my name, and its success was based on satisfied users telling their peers about it, not by me constantly commenting on every mention of my competitors. I certainly never have made 44 exact copy posts on the same article, yet somehow, my software still gets bought and used. Amazing.

  258. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  259. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  260. Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ublock do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (4 reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you by dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded favs
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do those & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu + memory use

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on UBlock doing it as well or @ all!

    APK

    P.S.=> UBlock does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ublock's NOT as efficient:

    Hosts @ 3mb-11mb w/ current data vs. threats + ads - test yourself using my program.

    UBlock uses 63++ MB -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/...

    SCREENSHOT -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it detecting it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods to do so!

    +

    UBlock adds complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's better?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  261. PrivacyBadger = AB+ code & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can PrivacyBadger do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on PrivacyBadger doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> PrivacyBadger does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    PrivacyBadger's Adblock+ codebase 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    PrivacyBadger adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  262. Ghostery = 'souled-out' & inferior vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ghostery do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop communique to C&C servers
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. bandwidth caps
    11.) Get you by a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (e.g. stand-alone email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu + memory use vs. addons

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on Ghostery doing all that let alone as well as hosts do!

    APK

    P.S.=> Addons do FAR less than hosts do & FAR less efficiently - hosts by way of comparison, do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse" -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...

    Addons add complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    ClarityRay DETECTS browser addons like Ghostery & blocks them (not hosts) via native browser methods.

    What's better than ghostery by FAR?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  263. Prove it, & prove me wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: I can prove it, just ask, & my challenge stands http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

    (EEC Systems/SuperSpeed.com's SuperCache whose efficacy I improved 40% & they bought my code out from me for that, + as our work was reviewed excellently in Windows NT Magazine (Windows IT Pro currently iirc), in 1996, & then going on to win a 2 yr. in a ROW "finalist" placement @ Microsoft Tech-Ed 2000-2002 in its HARDEST CATEGORY - SQLServer Performance Enhancement - by using ideas I came up with LONG BEFORE 1996 by placing database devices (tables & temp etc. - et al) onto a faster media vs. DISK (RAM)).

    * IN FACT?

    As per usual: That COMPLETELY FAIR CHALLENGE OF MINE STANDS INVIOLATE & UNSCATHED... as always.

    APK

    P.S.=> Just another fact... apk

    1. Re:Prove it, & prove me wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your constant Red herrings in response to my complaints about your aggressive spam usage in your marketing campaign are getting old.
        By bringing up how I have not "disproved" any of your points, you are issuing a strawman tactic. I have not nor will I ever make any argument against the technical viability of your APK.

      Everything you just mentioned in that post at no place attributes continuous spam posts on forums to be the cause of software sales or good reviews.
      You keep completely avoiding the actual point of my comments. You make up over 1/9th of the posts on this article. THAT IS A PROBLEM, you are spamming, there is no argument otherwise. Regardless of how good your software is, if you spam about it continuously, how is that any less annoying than the ads/spam that your software blocks?

    2. Re:Prove it, & prove me wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're arguing with someone who is mentally unstable.

      I really really do like his cause though. Just wish he could write coherently, and stop spamming us.

  264. As usual? You're "Run, Forrest: RUN!!!", lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject - says all vs. my fair challenge http://news.slashdot.org/comme... (& where's your proof of that commercially sold code of YOURS? It's not... lol, just like your inability to prove my points wrong on hosts superiority to inferior STUPIDLY architected browser addons loaded with RAM + CPU eating massive overheads & messagepassing slowups in slower usermode vs. hosts in kernelmode run by 2 highly refined decades old kernelmode subsystems (diskcache + the IP stack itself).

    * Once more - THANK YOU for helping me make my case, having to resort to your "last resort" of trolls & browser addon sockpuppets - falsehoods & bs!

    APK

    P.S.=> When fools like you that I have helpless vs. truths I tell, & FAIR CHALLENGES I put to "Your Kind"? Hey - It TRULY, says it all... apk

  265. It's so good, I & it have shut you down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & all subsequent replies beneath yours - keep running "Forrest" vs. -> http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

    * :)

    Thank-you for helping me make my case for hosts files' superiority over inferior slower usermode "so-called 'solutions'" bribed to NOT do their job (adblock & adblock +), or are owned by advertisers (ghostery, a fox guarding your henhouses), & that can't do a fraction of what hosts do for added speed, security, reliability, + anonymity from a SINGLE file run in a faster highly refined level of operations in kernelmode (by the diskcaching subsystem & IP stack themselves) vs. slower usermode junk in browser addons that burn CPU & RAM to no end, inefficiently.

    APK

    P.S.=> I realize you're scared for your livelyhoods - guess you shouldn't have 'souled-out' to advertisers & you should've used what you ALREADY NATIVELY HAD instead, since it's superior on ALL levels, no questions asked (your failure to prove me wrong in the link above proves it)... apk

  266. As usual? You are completely ignoring my argument! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Again, completely dodging my points, where in my post am I even TRYING to disprove APK, NOWHERE, I just am saying that you need to stop pasting the EXACT SAME THING on EVERY SINGLE COMMENT involving ad-blockers. Continuously pushing APK on everything is just annoying, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT IS BETTER. Nobody wants to see the exact same post 50 times in the comments section. ONCE IS ENOUGH. How do you not understand that?

    There is literally no way you could not acknowledge that what you are doing is spam. Imagine replacing all of your posts with just the word "moo" Okay once it is an annoying useless post. but 50+ times, its spam. Same with your posts. Once is an useful thoughtful post. 50+ times is spam.

    You are spamming. Just stop. Limit yourself to once per an article. That is all that is neccessary. Any more and you are no longer contributing to the discussion.

  267. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by PlusFiveTroll · · Score: 1

    > I really can't wait until everything is a pay service and everyone is complaining.

    Won't happen. As storage, processor time, and bandwidth gets cheaper a site like ./ will cost almost nothing to run. Some business will figure they can run a social media site like this with embedded employees flogging their goods and be able to profit from it. Yea, maybe free video will die, maybe free images will, but text is so cheap to transmit and manage that what you're talking about just won't happen.

  268. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by jc42 · · Score: 1

    I honestly can't remember the last time I actually went to a store to do research for an online purchase.

    Yeah, plus funny story: Just last week, a tool I had broke, so I went online looking for a replacement. I first checked out the local hardware stores' web sites (they all have them), fully planning to drive over and pick one up so I could get to work. I found that, although they all listed of it, and could order one for me, none of them had it in stock. I even called the few remaining locally-owned hardware stores, and got the same reply. None of them could get it in less than a week. So I asked amazon, they had it "in stock" (whatever that means ;-), and said "next-day delivery" for my address. They also had the cheapest price (including tax and postage). So I ordered it from amazon, and got it the next day. The job is (almost) done now.

    Occasionally this approach has worked, and I have in fact driven over and bought what I was looking for. 20 minutes is a lot less than one day, after all. But it is getting hard for local stores to have enough space to match a string of huge warehouses.

    What's odd about this story is that amazon could deliver in one day, but none of the commercial hardware stores could, though they all have an online order system, including the choice of shipping to the store or to your address. You'd think that the hardware stores would be more expert than amazon on the topic of deliverable hardware. But apparently not. Even the big-box warehouse-like stores like Home Depot gave me estimates of over a week.

    --
    Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
  269. Ad Blockers Not at Fault Here by kattisch · · Score: 1

    Ad Blockers do not block well-behaved ads. It blocks obnoxious, flashing, bouncing, ads. So, if anything is being killed here it is bad, distasteful ads. If the advertising can't curtail their misbehaving work, someone else will. If it kills the industry, is it really the ad blockers' fault? No, I do not think so!

  270. You have no valid argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: & you're out of modpoints to downmod me with (the only time you'll engage me in conversation is then) obviously!

    Yes- that's right: I KNOW YOU, better than you know yourselves... so does everyone here.

    * :)

    (You can call my fair replies to others who MAY just be unaware they're "PILING ON 'MOAR'" for NO GOOD REASON, in slower usermode INEFFICIENT messagepassing overheads + slower usermode USELESS BULK in BLATANTLY INFERIOR browser addons that don't do a fraction of what hosts do for added SPEED, SECURITY, RELIABILITY, & ANONYMITY for CONSIDERABLY LESS cpu + ram consumption from a SINGLE native file you already have, SPAM... truth is, it's TRUTHS YOU CANNOT VALIDLY TECHNICALLY GET THE BETTER OF, lol... it makes me laugh & make YOU look like fools in my 'naysayers' that always, like yourself, "Run, FORREST: Run!!!" vs. myself...)).

    FACE facts: You have FAILED...

    APK

    P.S.=> My completely FAIR challenge to *ANY* browser addon fan stands, as usual, unscathed (OR sockpuppet hired by the likes of "AlmostALLAdsBlocked" via their bribery money to NOT DO THE SINGLE JOB THEY HAD, block ads (which hosts do & ONE hell of a LOT MORE FOR LESS too + Free, as they're already part of your system)) -> http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

  271. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by r-diddly · · Score: 1

    It could be that Amazon is making a very small margin or even taking a loss on hardware shipped overnight. If they can do it long enough to drive everybody else out of the market, they'll have a monopoly and can make all that money back. Hardware is probably a sector they're keen to compete in too. Other sectors where they're already pretty established, that's where they make their money and how they can afford this kind of "marketing" if you will.

  272. you wait though by r-diddly · · Score: 1

    Assuming their industry (like every other) is made up of people who think the world owes them a living, you won't see them crawl off to die without a fight. Before it's through, you'll hear them claim the inalienable right to force ads on people. You'll hear them demand the government step in to force ads on people. They might even succeed with that... government is very "available" right now for the right price.

  273. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by BurningFeetMan · · Score: 1

    I know them feels. ;_;

  274. This is what I think of them... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Quoting a great man (Charlie Chaplin) from LONG AGO on that one - he said it better than I ever could:

    I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white.

    We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness - not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

    Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

    We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.

    Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost...

    The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

    To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

    Soldiers: Don't give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!

    You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts!

    You don't hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery - Fight for liberty!

    In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: "the Kingdom of God is within man" - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you!

    You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

    Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security.

    By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will!

    Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people!

    Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

    Soldiers: in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

    * FROM -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dX25PDBb708#t=62

    APK

    P.S.=> AMEN (regarding the world today, & how it's always been - hopefully, we can make a BETTER one)... apk

  275. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by jc42 · · Score: 1

    You're probably right. Amazon has gotten big enough that they can probably afford to take losses in a lot of "small" markets to bankrupt most of the smaller competitors. It is sorts funny to think that what the local hardware stores sell can be called a "small" market. But I suppose even in what looks like a large market, it might not be all that difficult for a company like amazon to kill off all the smaller competitors in a list of small areas, after which a few judicious buyouts and mergers completes the job.

    It is interesting to see this starting to happen to Home Depot, which only a few years ago was the giant moving in and bankrupting all the locally-owned hardware stores.

    --
    Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
  276. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by wallsg · · Score: 1

    On many sites if you want to let ALL the scripts run you have to hit "Temporarily allow all this page" six or seven times before all scripts are running. Now, let's assume that one of these scripts contains an exploit. Who is responsible for serving that script to you?

  277. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  278. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Websites that work whilst running Noscript are broken by design. Be thankful that you don't have to deal with the bullshit that broken website would have heaped upon you had you permitted the scripts.

  279. Payout for Ads is too small for site owners by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If ad providers compensated site owners more appropriately for their ads they wouldn't need 10 on their page, two would probably do.
    Increasing the cost for an ad should also help with malware and crapware too.

  280. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Which would actually not even be a problem for ad companies if they didn't themselves poison the well they were drinking from. They deliberately shat into it deliberately and now they wonder why people want to keep them away.

    As I pointed out elsewhere, Joe Randomsurfer never bothered to block ads for the longest time. Yes, some geeks did, but they were few and far between. They're about as meaningful or "threatening" to the ad business as the people who switch channels when ads come on TV or who get something to drink or take out the bodily waste such drinks produce. Statistically insignificant.

    But ads became SO painful that even ordinary people who would normally not bother to even wonder whether there was such a thing as AdBlocker actually went out of their way to block them.

    And once blocked, you're right on that one, once blocked, they stay blocked. Because ads are to us what the product is to the company: The necessary evil to get what they want. For us, the ads is the evil to get content. For companies, making a product is the necessary evil to get our money.

    It's not like either side really wants to provide the othe rside with anything.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  281. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Communism is out of the question. Nobody that could gather the masses would want to hand over his industrial power to the state. Not even in exchange for political power. Why bother when you can simply buy politicians anyway? And that's not even something that you'd have to install, that's already pretty much the case. Politicians are dependent, absolutely and totally dependent, on corporate money.

    What this will essentially mean is that a plutocracy is the most likely end product. Money makes right. We're essentially already there. Corporations decide what candidates you may vote for. Essentially, this eventually means that you may choose which corporate ideology and which business interest you wish to support when you go vote.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  282. You're FULL of it (prove otherwise) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "I have sold commercial code in my name, and its success was based on satisfied users" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 13, 2015 @03:13PM (#50311237)

    You're quoted stating you have commercially sold code of yours bought out by others - WHERE?

    I don't see it...

    (... & I *never* have seen a ware by "anonymous coward", pal!)

    See subject - You're lying imo since you're NOT showing me otherwise, backing yourself up, & PROVING you might be someone worth listening to, even IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT - Prove otherwise...

    I know I can, have, & DID state 1 possible from myself... where's yours? "It ain't"... just a lot of HOT air from an online bs'ing windbag as far as I am concerned now outta you.

    APK

    P.S.=> You can't even backup your OWN words, so, NOW? You have to "eat them"... apk

  283. "Pot calling a kettle black", hypocrite? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: YOU are COMPLETELY ignoring my argument http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

    * You're a bs artist, hotair windbag...

    ("Run, Forrest: RUN!!!" - it's all you're good for!)

    APK

    P.S.=> All you have is lies as far as I am concerned @ this point, & you certainly CAN'T VALIDLY TECHNICALLY DISPROVE MY POINTS ON HOSTS SUPERIORITY (on all levels) -> http://news.slashdot.org/comme...

    To slower, less efficient, bloating resource hogging messagepassing overheads usermode (vs. hosts in kernelmode) browser addons (especially those BRIBED to not do their job by the likes of Amazon, Google, Microsoft + possibly others) THAT DON'T DO A FRACTION OF WHAT HOSTS DO FOR ADDED speed, security, reliability, & anonymity for users... apk

  284. We need a poll of how many pay for ABP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Its a given that there are many legitimate reasons to install and use an ad-blocker and or other counter measures. I am curious as to how many actually pay for these programs when utilizing them as an integral part of using the web?

  285. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how to get free sex whilst I'm searching for Dora the explorer for a friends kid

    That's an oddly specific fetish.

  286. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I, too, can't wait to get rid of every lousy, shallow, regurgitated article, spread over 2341234 pages with one paragraph each, that only serves as clickbait to grab the mighty ad dollar.

    You're probably one of those cockroaches that dwells in this kind of business.

    Good riddance.

  287. Aha (lol): The "SiDeWaLk-ShRiNk of /." appears by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do you have a degree & license in the psychiatric sciences + a formal examination/diagnosis given in an accredited professional psychiatric environment of my ALLEGED mental state, according to you the "SiDeWaLk-ShRiNk of /.", alias Dr. Quack?

    Hell no to ALL of the above I wager...

    APK

    P.S.=> You do know that's libeling myself also, don't you? No, I doubt you do - you're too ignorant & FULL OF IT Mr. Anonymous Coward that CLAIMS to have commercially sold software HE WROTE but can't produce valid actual proof of it (you're a liar or you have NO BALLS, either way, you fail) -> http://news.slashdot.org/comme... ya damn bullshitter troll (& you certainly can't validly technically disprove my points on hosts either)... apk

  288. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's hairyfeet, he takes 4 paragraphs to say what 1 will.

    I've also never seen a "Java ad" so I have no idea WTF he's talking about, been online since '94.

  289. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not all laws are bought, especially not in Europe.

  290. Re: Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Indus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ads or paywall is NOT the only ways to make money. Take a webshop; making money from selling their stuff. They don't need ads - at least not on their own site.

  291. Old guy here ... by admiralZ · · Score: 1

    I am from an age when advertisement blocking wasn't dreamed of, let alone possible. I remember when sites used to run tons of animated GIF ads and could support themselves on ad revenue alone. I didn't begrudge them this; I was dirt poor, and it was the only way I could get content and services.

    Two things that emerged are what are driving ad-blocking and killing ad-based revenue:
    -- Bulk reselling of "anonymized" data which can accurately fingerprint a specific user and/or device simply by device configuration and browsing habits (and, if you believe the hype, by typing "fingerprints").
    -- Advertisement placement auctioning: the advertising companies' system of being able to auction a specific client's advertisement space in the browser on the (supposedly) relevant page.

    These wouldn't even be so bad if:
    -- advertisement data collected were "opt-in" and incentivized. Instead, it isn't even opt-out, and the "incentive" given to people is to use "free" services which allow companies to collect even more targeted data from customers (effectively turning them into the product, rather than the target).
    -- the advertising auctions (which are entirely automated and are supposed to occur during the short period during page load) weren't intentionally lengthened to allow for profitable bids every time, but at a cost to the user visiting the site, more often than not blocking other page elements from loading while advertising connections are "loading", but not really, just delaying the page until someone meets their price and then releasing the stranglehold on the legitimate process of loading the webpage.

    Ad-blockers damage both of these tactics by not letting browsers even accept connections to known ad servers. It isn't really that people are more savvy about privacy, although a growing number are, especially with all of the data breaches happening with the various companies holding this aggregated information about a great many people. It is more that their web functions better without interference from advertising.
    Anecdotal and personal experience has taught me that ad-blocking on all pages, even those to whom I would actually want to receive advertising revenue through my efforts, speeds my pageloads up. One good example of this is http://mangastream.com/ . Whitelisting their pages in my ad-blocker plug-in made reading a manga nearly impossible (pages taking 1-3 minutes to load). I had to block ads on that site again in order to read a flippin' manga!

    People aren't flocking in droves to ad-blocking because they don't like the ads. Most couldn't care less about ads.
    People don't want to have to wait on content they want to read or view just because ad companies hold sites by the nuts for the privilege of being able to show content to consumers without directly charging them.

    Advertisement itself needs to change, or it will cease to exist specifically due to the way it affects the medium that carries it.

  292. Online ads causing too many problems. by MtViewGuy · · Score: 1

    Here's the reason why ad-blocking software is popular: it stops most ads created with Adobe Flash, Oracle (neé Sun) Java, and Microsoft Silverlight, which means way less system resource usage and eliminating a major vector for the loading of malware.

    I think the solution is simple: set a date to BAN all online ads unless the ad was specifically created completely in HTML 5.0. Just that change would eliminate the vector of loading malware via plugins and might actually speed up system performance, too.

  293. Ublock = inferior & inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can ublock do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (4 reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phishing
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you by dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded favs
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do those & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu + memory use

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each on UBlock doing it as well or @ all!

    APK

    P.S.=> UBlock does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ublock's NOT as efficient:

    Hosts @ 3mb-11mb w/ current data vs. threats + ads - test yourself using my program.

    UBlock uses 63++ MB -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/...

    SCREENSHOT -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it detecting it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods to do so!

    +

    UBlock adds complexity/room for breakdown/exploit + from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's better?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model also https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  294. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  295. AdBlock+ = inferior & 'souled-out' vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can adblock+ do 16 things hosts do for speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. malicious sites/servers (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnets + stop C&C communique
    3.) Protect vs. dynamic dns botnets + stop C&C communique
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnets + stop C&C communique
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (adds reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS redirect poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam
    9.) Protect vs. phish
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get you past a dnsbl
    12.) Keep you off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up surfing by adblocks & hardcoded fav. sites
    14.) Work on anything webbound (ie email programs) multiplatform.
    15.) Give you easily controlled data
    16.) Do all that & block ads better than addons more efficiently in cpu cycles + memory usage

    * ANSWER ="NO" to each above on ab+ doing it + hosts = already on every device natively.

    APK

    P.S.=> Ab+ does less than hosts & less efficiently - hosts do MORE w/ less + Hosts start w/ the IP stack before REDUNDANT inefficient addons BEGIN to operate (as 1st resolver queried):

    Ab+'s 128mb memory inefficiency http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte... (hosts consume 3-11mb using my program initially).

    +

    ClarityRay defeats it by dumping addons in use in a browser via native browser methods!

    +

    Ab+'s paid to not do its job http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...

    Ab+ adds complexity from a slower mode of operations (usermode = more messagepassing overheads vs. hosts in kernelmode).

    What's best?

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-2 32/64-bit http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    MalwareBytes' hpHosts Admin (MalwareBytes employee) hosts & recommends it http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... & MalwareBytes = BEST antivirus http://www.av-test.org/en/news...

    &

    It's GUARANTEED safe & clean per it being checked by 57 antivirus programs recently in BOTH its 64-bit model https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    +

    In its 32-bit model too https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    ... apk

  296. Don't hate the player...Hate the game: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IE.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,\
    Safari.,.,.,.,.,|______
    Firefox.,.,.,.,|======| Game makers.
    Chrome.,.,./

  297. Re:Will Ad Blockers Kill the Digital Media Industr by Rich0 · · Score: 1

    That is certainly possible, but I suspect it isn't the case.

    In order to get something to you there are a few steps:
    1. They have to have it in inventory.
    2. They have to package and ship the item out.
    3. The courier has to deliver it.

    #3 should be the same for everybody, though I'm sure Amazon can negotiate lower rates on the basis of volume and integration (it isn't like the guy at Amazon picks up the phone and calls UPS to ask for a pickup, etc). Also, Amazon can save money by keeping lots of metrics on delivery times. If the USPS gets stuff from zip code 1 to zip code 2 in 2 days 99% of the time, then they can sell that as 2-day shipping and bribe the customers with incentives anytime there is a miss, rather than paying 2x as much for guaranteed 2-day shipping from somebody else (which also has some failure rate anyway).

    A large hardware chain could probably achieve #1, but whether they do is debatable. You'd be amazed at how poor big companies can be at inventory management, and historically this has caused many a company's ruin. Walmart killed KMart and everybody else largely on the basis of really well-managed inventory. Dell nearly killed just about everybody else back in the day because of just-in-time inventory management for rapidly-depreciating assets like CPUs (you can't buy a $500 CPU and then take a month to sell it when your competitor just buys it a month later for $400).

    However, I think #2 is the real killer. Sears and Amazon may very well have the same product available in their warehouses. However, with Amazon after you click the button they may very well have a robot with the item heading to the packing line in 15 minutes, with the shipment data already transmitted electronically to their carrier. They are extremely efficient at getting stuff out the door. An item that somebody wants to buy and which is sitting on your shelf is just a waste of space and money, and customer satisfaction as well.

    In my experience that is where most companies fail. With Amazon if I buy with 2-day shipping the thing is out the door same day before 5PM or whatever (and that cutoff is very late in the day compared to many competitors). With Amazon 2-day means that I have the item in 2-days. With most other big vendors if I buy with 2-day shipping it often means that they take 3-4 days to ship the thing out, and then it arrives 2 days later. So, I'm paying that premium on shipping just to watch the vendor fumble around with my order, and I never really am sure about when it will arrive.

    Amazon is pretty ruthless on this stuff, and IMHO their practices are so ruthless they border on human-rights violations in their actual warehouses. However, even if they cleaned that stuff up they'd still be way cheaper and faster than just about anybody else. Companies that want to compete have to invest a lot more in streamlined processes, because customers aren't going to pay for mail-order that takes a week to arrive.

  298. StackExchange shows hosts are faster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & this link + "eat your words" troll http://superuser.com/questions...

    APK

    P.S.=> When will you FOOLS realize you're no match for me? apk

  299. The media and ad blockers, just don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A letter I sent to Michael Rosenwald since he just is a typical journalist who doesn't get why people don't want ads in their face. From personal experience (sadly) if you want it wrong, tell the media since they already have their narrative ready, d@mn the facts.

    Dear Michael:

    While I understand your point, I regularly ad block, since the ads are so annoying and in your face. The sites where I do not kill the ads are ones where I can ignore them if I wish such as this one: http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/blog_index.html his ads are not annoying banners, pop ups, malware, annoying music/videos, or screaming trash. This is how ads should be handled, and I keep coming to his site, and I sometimes click on the ads. But to have something completely block my view of the page, to flash on and off, and follow me to other sites just pisses me off.

    I understand ads are important to make money. Just have them do it in a way that does not take control of my tablet, phone or computer. Annoying me is the best way to get me to NOT bother with your site or pay attention to the crud you are trying to sell me, so I block the annoying ads. I just wish Apple would allow ad killing software on the iPads, I would install it in a New York minute! This site tells me the best ad blockers for Android: http://getandroidstuff.com/5-best-ad-blocker-app-for-android/ Yahoo is learning, by marking "sponsored" stuff exactly as that, not doing what media does best, lie. I go to Yahoo many times a day, and have their app on all my devices because of how they handle ads.

    I sometimes even click on the sponsored stuff since it looks interesting, but it is MY CHOICE, to do so, I am not sucked into some media sponsored BS. Also most journalists are looked on a pretty much the social equals of child molesters is because they no longer have any objectivity, they have essentially become the propaganda arm of the DNC. Give me the facts, let me make MY mind up, we might even be close. While I realize that most of the media is not Rolling Stone, its not too far from it.

    But, I digress from ad blocking, make it less intrusive, make it optional, and I think you will find fewer people block the ads. Also a fear is that too many ad servers are either malware, insecure, or infected, and so I don't want that stuff on my computer since identity theft is an ever present danger from those sorts of things. So until you get the ads out of my face, I shall continue to block them.

    Sincerely,

    Me.