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Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

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Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#171

Post by KennyBlanken »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #145
adhesive_wombat wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're all gonna be so screwed if Firefox dies.

Or morphs itself into another Chrome in search of more revenue to support their new corporate lifestyle. I'm more worried about that. Since they made it a corporation with all the usual trimmings like an overpaid CEO they are becoming like all the other big tech. Flirting with big investors, looking at ROIs. All those paths lead the same way and it's away from the user.

This really can't be overstated. The CEO's compensation has skyrocketed for years while by every objective measure the Mozilla is struggling if not outright failing at its mission - with a continuously declining market share.

It baffles me that Mozilla had/has multiple offices located in some of the most expensive real estate markets in the world. Not just in those markets, but in the very-most expensive parts of said markets.

For example, in Boston they're dead center downtown, for no explicable reason other than the prestige.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#172

Post by anonymousab »

thro388 wrote: post #16

There is a legitimate problem with malware that hijacks all traffic via VPN. Maybe you should hear other side before making judgement!

> There is a legitimate problem with malware...

This is a statement and argument that can and is used against any form of user control over their devices, user customization, or general computing.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#173

Post by disintegore »

Larrikin wrote: post #18
bloopernova wrote: post #5

Firefox for Android with ublock origin makes my mobile web browsing sane again. Highly recommended.

The experience is so awful when I browse on my iPad, instead of my Android phone with Firefox+UBlock. I really don't understand how most people can stand to browse with all the ads. The modern web is so much worse than the pop up ads of the old web.

Things got so bad that eventually browser vendors single-handedly put a stop to it. That would never have happened if the people making the pop-up ads also controlled a majority of the browser market.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#174

Post by zasdffaa »

laurent123456 wrote: post #23
Larrikin wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The experience is so awful when I browse on my iPad, instead of my Android phone with Firefox+UBlock. I really don't understand how most people can stand to browse with all the ads. The modern web is so much worse than the pop up ads of the old web.

Even without the ads, you still have multiple cookie popups and banners, floating videos and newsletter notifications to closes before getting to the content. And of course as you scroll down some of those come back (floating videos in particular). There was a time where you could just close the tab if it was that bad, but now pretty much all websites are like this so there's no choice.

There's always a choice. I have no problem with any popups/banners/videos etc. Zero.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#175

Post by jorge-d »

smileybarry wrote: post #162

I started using NextDNS years ago and it's been a blessing. Blocks almost every ad on a DNS level on mobile devices, and on PC I still augment it with uBlock Origin. Per-device logs also let me debug connectivity if something breaks, and it's great for mapping local device names without mDNS debugging or some dnsmasq resolver lying around.

I did the same and I must say it has been a breeze to use. I even configured my own list for my family member's devices and am still not reaching the free-tier quota. I even unplugged my PiHole because this was much simpler.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#176

Post by arkitaip »

londons_explore wrote: post #116
laurent123456 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even without the ads, you still have multiple cookie popups and banners, floating videos and newsletter notifications to closes before getting to the content. And of course as you scroll down some of those come back (floating videos in particular). There was a time where you could just close the tab if it was that bad, but now pretty much all websites are like this so there's no choice.

I wonder if there would be a market for something like ublock, but instead of removing the ads, it removes just the content and puts it on an entirely new page - a bit like 'reader mode'. Obviously it would probably need logic for every web page, but that could be croudsourced

Firefox has the builtin reader mode but there is also plugins that auto click or hide cookie banners.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#177

Post by tartoran »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #145
adhesive_wombat wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're all gonna be so screwed if Firefox dies.

Or morphs itself into another Chrome in search of more revenue to support their new corporate lifestyle. I'm more worried about that. Since they made it a corporation with all the usual trimmings like an overpaid CEO they are becoming like all the other big tech. Flirting with big investors, looking at ROIs. All those paths lead the same way and it's away from the user.

That’s pretty much the same as dying..

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#179

Post by adhesive_wombat »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #145
adhesive_wombat wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're all gonna be so screwed if Firefox dies.

Or morphs itself into another Chrome in search of more revenue to support their new corporate lifestyle. I'm more worried about that. Since they made it a corporation with all the usual trimmings like an overpaid CEO they are becoming like all the other big tech. Flirting with big investors, looking at ROIs. All those paths lead the same way and it's away from the user.

It's frustrating that "filling a niche and filling it well" is just anathema these days. Everyone is hustling to become a trillion dollar whatever, and burning customers, money and good will in the process.

There should be nothing wrong with just bring good at what you do and not seeking endless expansion (and yes, I know, it's actually dangerous because you're vulnerable to predation in that position).

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