adverts – Terence Eden’s Blog

Disable JavaScript on Specific Sites using Firefox for Android and uBlock Origin

@edent — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:34:11 +0000

Sometimes, you want to stop scripts running only on specific domains. The best way to do that, I think, is with uBlock Origin - a free and fast ad-blocker.

On the desktop version, it's simple to block scripts. Click the plugin icon, then click the disable scripts button.

But on mobile it's a little more complicated. Here's how to do it on the Android version of Firefox.

Install Firefox. Then open it and install the uBlock Origin extension for Android.

In Firefox, press the ⋮ button and press "Settings":

Press "Extensions":

In the list of Extensions is uBlock. Guess what? Press it!

Press "Settings"

Finally! You come to a page with lots of complex options. I recommend putting your device in landscape mode. Along the top, scroll to "My Rules":

The "My Rules" allows you great power over your uBlock.

To block all JavaScript on example.com, type in this line:

no-scripting: example.com true

Then hit the save button.

You have now disabled JS from running on that specific site. Enjoy!

Ad Blocking As A Radical Political Act

@edent — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 06:49:15 +0000

It was back in the late 1990s when I first got started with ad blocking. I don't remember if it was the "punch the monkey" adverts, or the pop-unders for weird security systems that tipped me over the edge. All I knew was my computer was slowing down and I thought animated ads were the culprit.

I found a USENET post which explained how to modify my totally-legitimate copy of Windows 98 to block ads. In those days, it was easy. Open C:\Windows\hosts with a normal text editor, add the site you want blocked, reboot. Done.

I never looked back.

The first thing I did on every computer I got was to block adverts. I thought I was just doing it to speed my computer up, I didn't realise I was inoculating myself against political propaganda.

I got a TiVo shortly after that - and all TV advertising became dead to me. Aside from unavoidable billboards and the occasional magazine, I just don't see advertising any more. I'm not sure why any sane person would want to.

Even when I worked in the mobile ad industry, I blocked ads. Everyone did. The first thing that the IT helpdesk said to people who complained that they couldn't log into their work email was "yeah mate, you need to turn your ad-blocker off..."

Facebook

I've been blocking Facebook adverts since before it was fashionable. As a result, I'm bemused by the claims that my information has been microtargetted and used to manipulate me.

I thought it was common knowledge that you could set your Facebook preferences to block creepy use of your data for advertising purposes. Even if you didn't want to block adverts, why wouldn't you do that?

Perhaps Facebook themselves have been subtly manipulating what stories they choose to show me. Perhaps my friends are activated Manchurian Candidates swamping me with fake news. Or perhaps I just block the obviously dodgy news sources and unfriend anyone daft enough to share them.

Perhaps we need a word to describe the people who willingly watch adverts? The technology to block them is simple to use, and information about blocking is widely disseminated.

People who watch adverts are like anti-vaxxers - blissfully unaware of the benefits of herd-immunity.

Opera inserts advertising into your bookmarks

@edent — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 08:09:57 +0000

I've long been a fan of the Opera Mobile browser. I used it back in my Nokia Symbian and Blackberry days - it was simply the best browser for those limited devices. I've carried on using it on my Android devices due to its superior text handling.

Last week I was scrolling through my bookmarks, when I found a curious addition - "Breaking News".

I didn't remember adding that bookmark. I suppose I might have done it by mistake...? Let's take a look at where it goes.

Oh. An advert. Shoved into my bookmarks by Opera.

I use an adblocker, so I couldn't see the content - but other people weren't so lucky:

It goes to a South African based "shock news" site. No news - well, unless you consider "woman wears bikini" to be news.

I complained, but this was the non-apology that I got.

Here's a suggestion - don't put adverts in people's browsers! Seriously. You can't release a browser which blocks obnoxious adverts and then engage in the same scummy behaviour.

Now that Opera has lost its most passionate advocates, I'm deeply concerned that it will continue down this dark path of user hostility.

I'm switching to Firefox for Android. I've found an extension which does text-wrapping properly and I'm happy to be back in the land of Open Source.

Goodbye Opera, I've loved you for so long - but it's clear you don't respect users any more.

Hello you Foxy thing!