Firefox + AdBlock Extension = Heaven

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Wed May 05, 2004 10:29 am

I just recently installed the AdBlock extension for FireFox and I must say that I am most impressed. This thing not only blocks ads, it completely removes them from the page so that the page looks normal. For example, here's what HardOCP.com looked like before and after:

Before:

After:

It also supports wildcards so you can block everything from say, http://*.doubleclick.net/*. You can also block flash ads, which is quite handy.

Very handy indeed.

Tetrad · Post by **Tetrad** » Wed May 05, 2004 12:01 pm

I've been doing the exact same thing for years with the Proxomitron.

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Wed May 05, 2004 12:03 pm

The beauty of the AdBlock extension is that it doesn't require an additional piece of software.

Birdseye · Post by **Birdseye** » Wed May 05, 2004 12:30 pm

The problem i've had with adblockers is frequently sites have popups I actually need to use for information or to enter info in. With those on, I keep going WTF at the website, wondering what is going on, until later i turn the blocker off and realize what happened.

Tetrad · Post by **Tetrad** » Wed May 05, 2004 12:54 pm

Arch wrote:The beauty of the AdBlock extension is that it doesn't require an additional piece of software.

... Isn't that exactly what it is?

And "the beauty" of proxomitron is that it is browser independent and fully customizable.

Edit: I'm not trying to troll here. If you like it and it works, great. I'm just offering alternatives.

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Wed May 05, 2004 4:46 pm

Ooohh... me likey adblock.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Wed May 05, 2004 6:41 pm

ooooooh...I think I may justhave to try that soon

Jeff250 · Post by **Jeff250** » Wed May 05, 2004 9:11 pm

Looks exactly like Internet Explorer with Norton Personal Firewall.

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Wed May 05, 2004 11:23 pm

Tetrad wrote:I've been doing the exact same thing for years with the Proxomitron.

and I've been doing the same with my hosts file.

Seriously though, its a nice idea. Any shots of the config screen?

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Thu May 06, 2004 12:23 am

I've been doing it with the hosts file too (62.7kb worth, in fact) but this makes ad blocking that much easier.

roid · Post by **roid** » Thu May 06, 2004 1:00 am

my site's bandwidth is payed for with ads.

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Thu May 06, 2004 7:30 am

Here's the preference window:

I like that I can do wildcards, so instead of having a whole crap load of entries, I can simply block http://ads.* or http://ad.* or any other combo. It works very well and also removes flash objects and iFrames.

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Thu May 06, 2004 8:29 pm

roid wrote:my site's bandwidth is payed for with ads.

Good for you, but we couldn't give a rats ass.

Ad free browsing = A-1 SUPAR!

Arch: Any word on such an extention for regular Mozilla?

Nightmare USA · Post by **Nightmare USA** » Thu May 06, 2004 8:35 pm

sounds like I will have to try firefox. I can't stand all the crap out there.

roid · Post by **roid** » Fri May 07, 2004 12:17 am

you all make kitty cry

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Fri May 07, 2004 5:20 am

Vind, you mind posting a link to that hosts file somewhere? I wanna stick it on my router so I can have universal Ad-Blockage.

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Fri May 07, 2004 8:02 am

MD, according to the website, AdBlock works in all versions of Mozilla and Firefox. Here's a link:
http://adblock.mozdev.org/

Install link:
http://adblock.mozdev.org/adblock-0.5-dev.xpi

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Fri May 07, 2004 10:19 am

Too bad it doesnt work with other browsers, I'll stick with AtGuard because it works on any browser and OS, blocks http refers, javascripts, popups, ads, activex controls, cookies and just about anything else you want it to, plus it is a software firewall if you want it to be.

-Krom

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Fri May 07, 2004 1:41 pm

Vader: here

Stick it in your Windows/system32/drivers/etc folder. Its not quite perfect, but it does get rid of quite a few ads. Its basically the hosts file that comes with Kazaa K++, with a few additions.

bash · Post by **bash** » Fri May 07, 2004 1:51 pm

Adblock owns. I haven't seen an ad in months.

The dictionary extension is also hella handy.