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System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

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Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#131

Post by mike_d »

anfragment wrote: post #125

Hello HN! Having just posted the app to a couple of small subreddits before sleep and then waking up to being on the front page over here is quite an experience :) I was hoping to make a Show HN post after giving Zen a bit more polish, but I guess here we are. Thanks for all the constructive feedback. I totally share your concerns about its security and likewise wouldn't use some unverified application trying to inst…

Thank you for starting this project. There is a bit of overall negativity in this thread from users who don't fully understand what is going on here, but please don't get discouraged. This is ultimately the correct approach to addressing browsers that have a financial interest in serving ads.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#132

Post by rmkrmk »

_boffin_ wrote: post #98

Does LittleSnitch allow for an import of urls, IPs, etc.. to block? if so, know of any lists?

They have a few blocklists with IP addresses and hostnames listed on their page you can easily subscribe to. https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch-mini/blocklists.h...

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#133

Post by lelanthran »

rollcat wrote: post #77
lolinder wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This would be a reasonable argument if there weren't many alternative ad blocking methods that don't require MITMing your TLS traffic.

It's in no way worse than running a single browser extension with overly broad privileges. If this method of adblocking gains more traction (quite possible, as Google keeps moving to damage in-browser ad blockers), I expect the implementation to receive a lot more scrutiny. I think we have to face the reality that web browsers might no longer be considered "user" agents.

> I think we have to face the reality that web browsers might no longer be considered "user" agents.

I think too many techies are, much like yourself, contributing to the problem by refusing to move away from Chrome for "reasons"[1], and then compounding it by refusing to acknowledge that "web browsers" != "Google Chrome".

[1] The "reasons" are of dubious quality. Myself and many others are able to do all normal web-browsing from firefox or firefox forks with no functional or performance degradation.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#134

Post by hellotomyrars »

mike_d wrote: post #129
acl777 wrote: post #80

How does this compare to using a hosts file with known ad servers? like: https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts

Hosts files have never been a good idea for ad blocking, I really wish users would stop promoting them.

It isn't the best way to do it as far as effectiveness goes but it it is pretty good, especially for web browsing. It is the easiest way to do it on my iOS devices (as a fake VPN profile) and can be switched off in a corner case where I need to access something it is filtering out.

It isn't as flexible or powerful as other methods, but it is very simple. Tools are all about how you use them. Ignoring them isn't any better than suggesting them.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#135

Post by quyleanh »

anfragment wrote: post #125

Hello HN! Having just posted the app to a couple of small subreddits before sleep and then waking up to being on the front page over here is quite an experience :) I was hoping to make a Show HN post after giving Zen a bit more polish, but I guess here we are. Thanks for all the constructive feedback. I totally share your concerns about its security and likewise wouldn't use some unverified application trying to inst…

Thank you for your work. I appreciate it very much. Please don’t be down motivation by the negative comments.

About your comment of security, I think it’s better to make a FAQ file and write it there to clearly explain.

And one suggestion is I hope zen will have function to choose upstream DNS server (can be DoH or DoT server). It will be the best block ads with combo DNS and HTTPS.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#136

Post by quyleanh »

lxgr wrote: post #122
quyleanh wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An easy example for comparison is hosts file cannot block YouTube ads, while this one can.

How? Can't Youtube just detect which expected resources are not loading and refuse to play?

I know the YouTube ads is getting more complicated now, but it's just simple example. Another is hosts file/DNS blocking will remain the blank space on web page, but this one will not.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#137

Post by hummingn3rd »

anfragment wrote: post #125

Hello HN! Having just posted the app to a couple of small subreddits before sleep and then waking up to being on the front page over here is quite an experience :) I was hoping to make a Show HN post after giving Zen a bit more polish, but I guess here we are. Thanks for all the constructive feedback. I totally share your concerns about its security and likewise wouldn't use some unverified application trying to inst…

Thank you for your work! If you are interested in users verifying your binaries, maybe sigstore could help you.

https://www.sigstore.dev/

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#138

Post by Dalewyn »

jolux wrote: post #110
Dalewyn wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I can apply the same logic to Microsoft concerning Windows, Office, etc. and you wouldn't dispute me, right? Incidentally, no I have no objections against closed source. I find the religious dogma behind FOSS patently stupid.

> So I can apply the same logic to Microsoft concerning Windows, Office, etc. and you wouldn't dispute me, right? I mean, no, I would dispute you, because everything Microsoft is doing in those products isn't publicly available for the world to see. Still probably pretty unlikely because those products are hugely popular and widely scrutinized.

So you would dispute me, but not for the criteria you originally posed.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#139

Post by 1vuio0pswjnm7 »

tejohnso wrote: post #16

I'm comfortable with a DNS based blocker (pi-hole) and it seems to work quite well. Bonus: It works across all devices on the network, rather than installing something onto the OS.

"Bonus: It works across all devices on the network, rather than installing somthing onto the OS."

A proxy can be installed "onto the OS" of a RPi. It does not have to be installed on the computer used to view web pages.

A Pi-Hole is a modified dnsmasq installed "onto the OS" of a RPi.

Re: System-wide open source ad blocker for Mac, Windows, and Linux

#140

Post by Erratic6576 »

jay_kyburz wrote: post #43
newcool1230 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I meaning Microsoft is trying to introduce ads into the file explorer and search centers...

What do you mean trying to? Look at this shit. https://imgur.com/a/d0jq4s1 Every time you stamp it out they find a way to sneak it back in.

If that was my macOS start menu, I’d smash my display with anything I had at hand
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