The tech behind the detection.
How We Detect Adblock
blog.pagefair.com
How We Detect Adblock
1–10 of 81 posts
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#2Is there somewhere I can go to see an example of Pagefair in action?
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#3Coincidentally I just open sourced some JavaScript I've been using to detect adblock: http://esd.io/blog/detecting-adblock-javascript.html
There's not much to it, but it's important to note that many ad filters actively try to avoids detection by whitelisting "test ads" or blocking externally loaded adblock detection code. That's why I suggesting inlining this javascript snippet but all of this, of course, is ultimately a cat and mouse game.
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#4Is there somewhere I can go to see an example of Pagefair in action?
You can check out this article on Destructoid to see how they used the tool (fyi- we used to be called "Block Metrics")
http://www.destructoid.com/half-of-destructoid-s-readers-blo...
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#5I assume that you are just injecting some snippet of JS into pages. What does protects you from getting (ad-)blocked?
If you get more customers somebody will create ad-blocker-blocker-blocker (we are going deeper). And ad-blockers have much better position than you have, they can execute anytime and intercept code before it is evaluated.
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#6>We then carefully observe what happens when a page loads. onLoad and onError events tell us if they’re successfully retrieved or if requests have been blocked
Unfortunately for them many Adblock users also use Noscript or Javascript Blocker. Circumventing Adblock this way will just drive more people to prevent untrusted websites running code on their machines. A net win for web security but probably not the intended effect.
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#7You guys should take a look at piracy and how well that worked out for content creators. They still get paid, but it'll always be whack-a-mole.
I have a comfy six figure IT job, and I'd still spend a few hours for fun just to figure out how to work around your javascript. Now think about how much time someone determined will spend on it.
Pivot and go do something with a higher possible success rate.
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#8What does PageFair do, exactly? I mean, they're very proud of themselves for detecting Adblock, but it's not clear what they do with that information.
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#9What does PageFair do, exactly? I mean, they're very proud of themselves for detecting Adblock, but it's not clear what they do with that information.
We won’t bore you with complaints here though; hopefully you’ve now got enough information to understand what’s going on in the background when you sign up to use our free adblock measurement service.
From the homepage: Measure: How many of your visitors are blocking ads and how much does it cost you in advertising revenue?
etc etc. They are selling a service.
Re: How We Detect Adblock
#10>We then carefully observe what happens when a page loads. onLoad and onError events tell us if they’re successfully retrieved or if requests have been blocked Unfortunately for them many Adblock users also use Noscript or Javascript Blocker. Circumventing Adblock this way will just drive more people to prevent untrusted websites running code on their machines. A net win for web security but probably not the intended…
Can anyone else confirm this? Personally, I've always used AdBlock, but never used a Javascript blocker because it is substantially more effort and I am lazy. I do use Disconnect, though, to block that certain flavor of JS.