Your opinion on (not) blocking ads on websites

[technix]

As the title suggests, do you block ads? Why, or why not?

Personally I global block all ads, so I won't participate in Internet warfare. It is known when either a Chinese Internet user loads an ad from wherever, or any Internet user loads an ad from a Chinese server, this traffic can be used to launch weaponized DDoS attacks against any entity.

Also the hard block is applied on my phone since my data plan is metered by traffic - I pay (very expensively) for the Internet traffic on my phone. (My home network is not metered though.)

[WastelandTek]

what ads?  I haven't seen an ad in like 6 years

[Rbastler]

what ads?  I haven't seen an ad in like 6 years

  

Ads ? 

[MarkS]

I don't block ads on most sites that I frequent, like this one, but recently had to start blocking YouTube ads again. It was getting too obnoxious. I'm sorry for the loss in ad revenue for the content creators I subscribe to, but enough is enough.

[SeanB]

Pay Dave each month via either Patreon or direct via the Paypal donate link on the front page of the website. More that do that the better, as you at least know that you are both directly supporting him, you run a lot lower risk of getting malware from drive by ads, and he probably gets a higher percentage of the per person money as well.

He does not demand this, does not make it a condition, but probably will appreciate it.

[amirm]

I block them because some of the sites I used to visit had so much advertising with active scripts and flash that it would cause my CPU to cook!  Otherwise I don't mind supporting web site by letting them show it.  It is the excess that ruins it for the rest of the sites.

[David Hess]

While any of the following are true, I block ads:

1. Any ads are animated.
2. Any ads make unsolicited noise.
3. Any ads execute any script or program.
4. Any ads are a source of infection.

Note that I have run across or can find examples of all of the above so I block ads, period.

[Messtechniker]

Many sites blasting ads are simply unusable. 
Thus I block all ads. Sorry for those sites which
use ads sparingly. They suffer of course a bit
of collateral damage. Can't be bothered to enable
ads on a site by site basis. I simply just want to get
on with my business without being sidetracked.

[NiHaoMike]

Adblock Plus with acceptable ads not blocked.

[steve30]

I have a large hosts file which seems to block the majority of ads.

I notice that most sites seem to load there adverts from a dedicated ad server, rather than from the website itself. This can make adblocking quite easy.

I've been blocking ads since about 2008 ish. Back then I had a Pentium III machine (old by 2008's standards) and it couldn't cope with most web ads. These days, I have a much more modern PC, but it still can't reasonably cope with many current ads, and my older machines certainly can't.

[trophosphere]

I block most ads on all websites except for a select few such as the EEVBlog on both my computer and phone. Pure text ads which are clearly demarcated and not in the way of site content are alright with me. I hate those ads that make your phone start vibrating. As an aside, the person(s) that thought of that idea should be taken out behind the house and shot.

[nctnico]

I block all ads because:
- Ads take the focus away from the actual content
- Ads are a source of malware/virusses and I want/need to avoid any risk

[Gary350z]

Could someone list some good ad blocking tools.
Thanks in advance.

[Ampera]

I block ads on my PC, but not on my tablet nor smartphone, so it's a bit of a compromise.

[f5r5e5d]

blocking html5 video autoplay seems like a good idea, trying it now on chrome

[Halcyon]

I've raised this point in another thread, but I block ads for two main reasons: They just get in the way of the content I actually want to view and advertising doesn't "work" on me, I simply ignore the ad and I certainly wouldn't buy the product or service based on an advertisement. If I want to find out about a product, I'll do my own research and shop around.

I know some content producers rely quite a bit off revenue generated by ads and I certainly don't want to deny those people (like Dave, Big Clive etc...) a living by blocking ads, so I donate cash and/or hardware to these people which is more than they'd receive off my ad revenue anyway.

Ultimately, my computer, my rules.

Could someone list some good ad blocking tools.

I use both Ad Block Plus and Ghostery as well as network-level content blocking on my firewall.

[JPortici]

While any of the following are true, I block ads:

1. Any ads are animated.
2. Any ads make unsolicited noise.
3. Any ads execute any script or program.
4. Any ads are a source of infection.

Note that I have run across or can find examples of all of the above so I block ads, period.

one-hundred-percent agree. fuck ads, seriously. patreon supporter until they will feel there is need for a "change of direction" and the whole system collapses

now for the same reasons as david's i just have to find a way to block them on my phone that doesn't involve using a service running 24/7 that will halve (or worse) my battery life.
regarding free app developers and their "muh ads are muh income": shut up and get a real job.
there are many great free apps that don't rely on any annoying ads that pops up automatically, invade the whole screen or worst of all, self clicking ads that open a webpage that automatically subscribe you to some bullshit service you must be crazy to find how to unsubscribe. you'd think that was a relic of the early nineties and dialup, but we still have those..

fuck ads, seriously.

[/rant of the day ]

[Kjelt]

I don't block  yet  and don't see them as a security thread, just do not click on them.
However lately some sites like this one do not work good on some older hardware like my ipad3. So will start experimenting to see if it helps.

[mcinque]

Ads had become more and more intrusive so I block them.
I allow only selected websites, like this.
I could allow all the ads of the world if they become not intrusive (i.e. only a fixed block on a specific part of the page that doesn't require interaction). I can't accept pre-video ads or something that must clicked to be closed.
I understand that ads moves money and they supports the creation of new content, but I can't accept the intrusive way they are put on the pages or the way they mask an ad like an essential part of the page (i.e. a fake download button).

[Karel]

For me the reasons to block ads always and everywhere:

- security, most ads are not served from the server or site you are visiting
  and there is absolutely no guarantee that those ads don't try to install malware.

- the websites I visit don't want to take full responsability and don't want to pay
  any damage done by malware hided in ads.

- privacy, most ads don't care about privacy and will track you.

- ads are annoying.

- loadtimes of pages increases.


I don't care if websites go bankrupt because they don't make enough money with ads.
I also don't feel like a "freeloader". If you don't want to make it available for free,
then don't give it away for free.

Websites can use pay-walls or deny access in case they detect an ad-blocker.
That's fine for me, either I'll pay or I'll go somewhere else. I will not disable
my ad-blocker.

If this means that many nice or interesting sites and fora will dissappear, so be it.
The internet was originally designed for defense and later used for universities
to share knowledge. Would be nice to go back to that era...

[Lord of nothing]

I dont block add i block domains. 

Code: [Select]

..google-analytics.com
mobileads.msn.com
.supaads.com
.prodtraff.com
omniture.chip.de
ad.apps.fm
rad.msn.com
live.rads.msn.com
ads1.msn.com
static.2mdn.net
g.msn.com
.ads2.msads.net
.fwmrm.net
ac3.msn.com
.beilagen-prospekte.de
.vtracy.de
.veeseo.com
.geotrust.com
.sitestat.com
.sensic.net
.ad-balancer.at
.ad-balancer.net
.blank.gif
.homadConfigVideoplaza-nowtv.json
.adsymptotic.com
.revsci.net
.goldbach.com
.ads4pubs.com
toplist.cz
.vgwort.de
.ads.supplyframe.com
.crwdcntrl.net
.statistik.it-kessler.de
.t4ft.de
.tradefx.com
.advolution.de
.kiosked.com
.adspirit.de
.getclicky.com
.mathtag.com
.meetrics.net
.spotxchange.com
.quantserve.com
.qservz.com
.degrees.com
.prismamediadigital.com
.win2day.at
.liverail.com
.thebrighttag.com
.casalemedia.com
.imrworldwide.com
.pubmatic.com
.exoclick.com
.agomwefq.com
.ru4.com
.bidswitch.net
.advertising.com
.atdmt.com
.turn.com
.adtech.de
.smartredirect.de
.adgoal.de
.adtago.de
.addthis.com
.oingo.com
.urchin.com
.appliedsemantics.com
.overture.com
.intellitxt.com
.ligatus.com
.adform.com
.belboon.de
.zanox.de
.zanox.com
.zanox-affiliate.de
.comissionjunction.com
.cj.com
.qksrv.net
.dpbolvw.net
.adbutler.de
.tradedoubler.com
.quality-channel.de
.ligatus.de
.adpublisher.com
.webgains.de
.affiliwelt.net
.affiliwelt.de
.contaxe.com
.ad-srv.net
.adyard.de
.adverserve.net
.mediaplex.com
.smartadserver.com
.adalizer.com
.quartermedia.de
.mpnrs.com
.bluelithium.com
.adcloud.net
.performance-netzwerk.de
.erange.de
.twenga.de
.twenga.com
.clixgalore.com
.tradetracker.net
.shareasale.com
.pepperjamnetwork.com
.linksynergy.com
.retailerweb.net
.plista.com
.digidip.de
.digidip.net
.yieldkit.com
.criteo.com
.adobedtm.com
.adlink.net
.appspot.com
.switchads.com
.tapad.com
.mrworldwide.com
.tubemogul.com
.adbutter.net
.adscale.de
.yieldoptimizer.com
.sitescout.com
.legolas-media.com
.scorecardresearch.com
.atwola.com
.21mxptint.net
.gwallet.com
.adform.net
.w55c.net
.adsrvr.org
.chartbeat.com
.mmondi.com
.lotto24.de
.meetrics.net
.rubiconproject.com
.mookie1.com
.demdex.net
.adtiger.de
.alenty.com
.simpli.fi
.contextweb.com
.adformdsp.net
.55c.net
.rlcdn.com
.adition.com
.greatviews.de
.adadvisor.net
.yield.com
.fastclick.net
.omtrdc.net
.adgrx.com
.msn-tst.com
.statcounter.com
.u1hw38x0.com
.ebocornac.com
.vipergirls.to
.doublepimp.com
.puhtml.com
#.symcd.com
.webtrekk.net
.google-analytics.com
.doubleclick.net
.adzerk.net
.googleadservices.com
.googlesyndication.com
simad.min.js
.yoc-adserver.com
.lmgtfy.com
.sim-technik.de
ads.creative-serving.com
redat.pr85.spacenet.de
nexus.ensighten.com
ad.adworx.at
.webmasterplan.com
.etracker.de
pdc.sf.apa.at
.maxymiser.net
.nuggad.net
.oewabox.at
.oewabox.de
ad.resultsaccelerator.net
ad.yieldmanager.com
ads.up-value.de
mads.aol.com
m-ads.adsonar.com
js.adsonar.com
.adsfac.eu
.gmads.net
.exoticads.com
graphics.pop6.com
.visualrevenue.com
.amazon-adsystem.com
.clicktale.net
.bussi.at
servedby.flashtalking.com
.ioam.de
.xiti.com
.krxd.net
ad.71i.de
prod-technisat.xroadmedia.com
ping.chartbeat.net
log.pinterest.com
.teads.tv
bs.serving-sys.com
ad.yieldlab.net
.adtechus.com
.twyn.com
media.monster.com
.amazon-adsystem.com
.emetriq.de
csi.gstatic.com
.outbrain.com
.ip-ads.de
.schneevonmorgen.com
.ads.yahoo.com
.adserver.yahoo.com
data.flurry.com
.tapjoyads.com
.heyzap.com
partners.webmasterplan.com
ads.converge-digital.com
.analytics.carbonite.com
ad.360yield.com
.umeng.com
.ad-srv.net
.offerzone.click
.mobileofferplace.site
.asnetworks.de
.sponsorads.de
.regiocheck.com
.comodoca.com
.mobilemonetize.me
.aldtrax.com
delivery.bb2022.info
.atas.ioI also use that list: https://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/

[Electro Detective]

.
Karel above has summed it up nicely    

=============

In my case, I have the hottest babes flashing ALL their wares on the top and bottom of every page       

Unless I'm a lady with better 'wares' and see no point in looking at low class, sub circus sideshow women that could not cut it on the street,
why would I block these?    

 

[FreddyVictor]

I enabled Adblock a couple of years ago, Ads still appeared on EEVblog & other forums, and were fine

Approx a week ago, it stopped working, tried updating/re-installing etc to no effect
On another forum, it became unusable, scripts running continuously and I often needed 20+ Back button presses just to go to previous page 

Had to install another blocker which has done the trick...

[GreyWoolfe]

I feel the same way Karel does.  If you have to keep shoving intrusive ads in my face, obviously your product/service is way too inferior for me to even consider looking at it.  If your product/service is that awesome and I am in need of it, I will already know about and be contacting you.  I use ABP for all sites.  One site I visit puts a bright red banner ad at the bottom of the page to let me know that I have ABP enabled and could I please stop using it to help keep the site free.  It doesn't get in the way of viewing the content so I ignore it.

[crispus]

My problem with the ads is not the ads themselves, but the tracking.

So, I use uBlock origin combined with blacklisted domains. It is open source and configurable.