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Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

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Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#501

Post by mplewis »

MuffinFlavored wrote: post #498
disintegore wrote: post #178

I categorically reject ads. I want them completely abolished. I will do everything that's in my power to get them out of my machines. If I had just a little bit more courage I would go out at night with cans of spray paint and deface billboards.

> I want them completely abolished. hmm... you do know this is the reason companies like Google + Meta make lots of money, right? I know you don't like ads but... a lot of people obviously are ok with them (otherwise businesses wouldn't find it worth it to advertise on those platforms, in hopes of capturing customers/increasing sales)

That’s their problem, not mine. Ads are a security risk to my devices.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#502

Post by suprjami »

infinityplus1 wrote: post #211
L3viathan wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in the same boat. I recently had to upgrade my phone, and oh boy is is annoying to get root working with Google Pay and my banking app. It still works, but it took me a few hours(!). I'm seriously considering switching to iOS for my next phone.

To solve the banking apps problem with root: 1. Root your phone 2. Install Adaway and update hosts 3. Unroot your phone. It just takes a system restart to unroot. Then all banking apps work fine. If I need root again, I can just flash Magisc zip file again. Easy enough. But nowadays just setting up adguard's DNS in Android's private DNS settings is enough to get Adaway like effect without root.

If you're just doing a single file, I've always thought it would be better to just use adb.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#503

Post by FractalHQ »

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.

I use Brave Browser on iPad (and desktop) so ads are blocked by default. Highly recommend!

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#504

Post by michaelmrose »

onion2k wrote: post #347
alexb_ wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

95% of users have no idea what any of this is.

Developer wages would crash through the floor and all the way down to the centre of the Earth if ad blockers really took off without users also accepting micropayments or subscriptions for web services at the same time. Maybe we should be a little bit glad that the main thing keeping massive amounts of money in tech is accepted by users. The key thing that most people in tech don't appear to grok very easily is that…

You are assuming that most developers work on ad supported websites and couldn't be employed elsewhere resulting in a wage crunch as supply exceeds demand. In fact most developers already work in other endeavors and there aren't enough of them to go around now.

Please cite sources backing up your original claim.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#505

Post by kuon »

josephcsible wrote: post #432
hedora wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll likely just not use banking software that requires safetynet. If that means I need to switch banks, that's OK.

It's a lot more than just banking apps. It's also McDonald's, Netflix, Snapchat, Pokemon Go, Super Mario Run, etc. Will you just stop using all of them too?

Yes. If an app dont run, I do not use it. If I cannot root my phone, I'll stop having one, I'll have a dumb phone.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#506

Post by 2-718-281-828 »

bloopernova wrote: post #5

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

by now i consider ublock origin as more than a tool. it's an integral part of the internet. without it the internet is not usable for me. Raymond Hill deserves no less than a Noble prize or something alike for crafting and maintaining it.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#507

Post by blibble »

adhesive_wombat wrote: post #85
gonom wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here, but also using private browsing mode only. Plus the YouTube Vanced app (including YouTube Music) to be rid of the ads there. I try not to use apps where there's a website equivalent, but I also repackaged a couple of them that I like to rid them of the ads, using apktool. My mobile experience is blissfully ad-free. It's a delight and I would never go back to the default experience.

Apparently Vanced has been C&D'd so it's only a matter of time before the API changes and it dies. Unsure if there's been a development since then.

revanced popped up within about a day

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#508

Post by 1vuio0pswjnm7 »

onion2k wrote: post #347
alexb_ wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

95% of users have no idea what any of this is.

Developer wages would crash through the floor and all the way down to the centre of the Earth if ad blockers really took off without users also accepting micropayments or subscriptions for web services at the same time. Maybe we should be a little bit glad that the main thing keeping massive amounts of money in tech is accepted by users. The key thing that most people in tech don't appear to grok very easily is that…

Think about what comes after this hypothetical runs its course.

Unable to profit from online advertising, what do "tech" companies do next. Are there any other commercial uses for surveillance and data collection.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#509

Post by onion2k »

freeone3000 wrote: post #386
onion2k wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Developer wages would crash through the floor and all the way down to the centre of the Earth if ad blockers really took off without users also accepting micropayments or subscriptions for web services at the same time. Maybe we should be a little bit glad that the main thing keeping massive amounts of money in tech is accepted by users. The key thing that most people in tech don't appear to grok very easily is that…

"The key thing that most people in tech don't appear to grok very easily is that the overwhelming majority of web services like search engines, social media, ad-driven news websites, etc are all things that users place practically zero value on." Then why did we build them? This seems like a massive waste of effort.

The things themselves are very useful. They're just not things people will pay for. It's quite weird.

Re: Google cracks down on VPN based adblockers

#510

Post by MichaelCollins »

josephcsible wrote: post #432
hedora wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll likely just not use banking software that requires safetynet. If that means I need to switch banks, that's OK.

It's a lot more than just banking apps. It's also McDonald's, Netflix, Snapchat, Pokemon Go, Super Mario Run, etc. Will you just stop using all of them too?

I've never used any of those apps. But McDonald's particularly? I know those other apps are popular, but who actually installs the app for a fast food restaurant? I thought this was something these companies wasted money on because they wanted to feel techy and trendy, I didn't think anybody actually fell for it though.

Just walk up to the counter and say "I'll have number whatever"

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