iOS 9 Content Blockers Mini-Reviews

[Shirasaki]

I find an Adblocker specially designed for Japanese market. It is called AdFilter. (Maybe only available in Japanese App Store)
Basic Feature: Block ads on a good number of Japan websites including nicovideo.jp.
Advanced Feature:
1. It can set Access Analysis Block to prevent analysis data being sent back to site.
2. It can block social buttons, like Twitter, Facebook, and LINE.
3. It can also block "native ads". App description shows it can "remove the space that has been sent in the ad itself, but it can not be removed in the case has been set size on the site".
4. It can remove some Google Ads. I suppose this is similar to previous "native ads block".
Custom: This option can allow users to add custom filter to block other ads. You can set up a filter based on "Block communication", "Block cookies", Hidden Elements", Content Blocker JSON", and "URL Filter List". There are even more options to adjust.
Each Site: This setting can specify certain sites to apply either default filter, or your custom filter, or both of them, on per site basis.

I just start using Safari Content Block. But I think the feature provided by this app is more powerful than Ad Blocker mentioned in here.

 

[bushido]

@avatar-adg hi could you check why Bild.de is no longer working with adguard enabled? i always get busted for using an ad blocker and they lock me out. my filters are all up to date and it used to work perfectly until yesterday. it randomly worked again without changing anything for a couple of minutes earlier today and now it isnt working again. thanks!

 

[eclipse01]

The best overall ad blocker for Safari right now is Adguard with "Use Simplified Filters" turned on. It blocks the most ads with the least issues. Now if you want the one that is most customizable then 1Blocker is the best choice. The best set it and forget it option is Adamant. The developer of Crystal is now accepting money from ad companies so their ads won't be filtered by Crystal. Now if you want one that blocks ads in apps too then you want Adblock by FutureMind. It is the only in app ad blocker on the AppStore that works on both WiFi and on cellular. The downside to Adblock is it uses VPN and it will not work with another VPN. It will for instance turn off F-Secure Freedome. My overall recommendation right now is go with Adguard, it's not only the one that causes the least issues, it's also ironically the only one mentioned that's actually free and with no iAPs.

This whole thread should get killed and just have this post!

Thanks, I have tried many and I mean MANY content blockers, and this one is by far the best!

 

[avatar-adg]

@avatar-adg hi could you check why Bild.de is no longer working with adguard enabled? i always get busted for using an ad blocker and they lock me out. my filters are all up to date and it used to work perfectly until yesterday. it randomly worked again without changing anything for a couple of minutes earlier today and now it isnt working again. thanks!

Hi!

Seems they've changed anti-adblock script again. I am not sure if it is possible to trick them on iOS.

We are able to do it on PC/Mac and Android, but on iOS there're just too many limitations.
I hope one day Safari on iOS will allow to install custom userscripts, it will solve the issue.

 

[Anonymous123]

I hope one day Safari on iOS will allow to install custom userscripts, it will solve the issue.

I could be wrong but I think 1Blocker allows custom userscripts?

 

[avatar-adg]

I could be wrong but I think 1Blocker allows custom userscripts?

I am pretty sure it is impossible. It is not about content blocking API, but it would be a great addition if apple adds support for it.

Heard about Greasemonkey/Tampermonkey/Violentmonkey add-ons?

 

[Anonymous123]

I am pretty sure it is impossible. It is not about content blocking API, but it would be a great addition if apple adds support for it.

Heard about Greasemonkey/Tampermonkey/Violentmonkey add-ons?

I just sent you an email with a few screenshots of the 1Blocker app as an example. Interested in hearing your thoughts.

 

[avatar-adg]

I just sent you an email with a few screenshots of the 1Blocker app as an example. Interested in hearing your thoughts.

This is a GUI constructor for content blocking rules. In AG you can add custom rules to the user filter. Also in the next version we'll introduce a way to select&block an element right on the webpage.

 

[bushido]

Hi!

Seems they've changed anti-adblock script again. I am not sure if it is possible to trick them on iOS.

We are able to do it on PC/Mac and Android, but on iOS there're just too many limitations.
I hope one day Safari on iOS will allow to install custom userscripts, it will solve the issue.

okay thanks for the feedback one more thing. do you know why it doesnt work even if i do "reload page without content blocker"?

 

[avatar-adg]

okay thanks for the feedback one more thing. do you know why it doesnt work even if i do "reload page without content blocker"?

1. You reload the blocking page (look at the page address)
2. They see that there's no content blocker and redirect you to the homepage
3. Content blocker is used for the homepage
4. They send you back to the blocking page

 

[gaanee]

@avatar-adg Does Adguard has anti-adblock filter?

 

[avatar-adg]

@avatar-adg Does Adguard has anti-adblock filter?

Our policy on this:
1. If anti-adblock is aggressive, we handle it in the language-specific filters.
2. If it is not aggressive, we block it in the experimental filter. In future we will make a separate "Annoyances" filter and move all these rules there.

Also you can use anti-adblock-killer filter.

 

[bushido]

1. You reload the blocking page (look at the page address)
2. They see that there's no content blocker and redirect you to the homepage
3. Content blocker is used for the homepage
4. They send you back to the blocking page

hah ironic. just as i read your reply i can get on the website again without doing anything. strange

 

[gaanee]

For my understanding- what is aggressive anti-adblock?
On PC, I've noticed wired.com sometimes detects and blocks page from loading.. is there any anti-adblock on the PC side?

Our policy on this:
1. If anti-adblock is aggressive, we handle it in the language-specific filters.
2. If it is not aggressive, we block it in the experimental filter. In future we will make a separate "Annoyances" filter and move all these rules there.

Also you can use anti-adblock-killer filter.

 

[daleski75]

Will adguard ever support blocking of ads across all apps on iOS?

 

[ardchoille50]

Will adguard ever support blocking of ads across all apps on iOS?

You'll likely need a VPN for that, a system-wide content blocker is a whole different setup.

 

[daleski75]

You'll likely need a VPN for that, a system-wide content blocker is a whole different setup.

I was using one called adblock on the apple store but it doesn't work very well on 9.3 so maybe adguard might do a paid for version in the future which is system-wide.

Found a vpn solution although their terms and conditions leaves a bit to be desired but testing it anyway which is www.adbl0ck.com (download the vn profile, install, connect)

 

[ardchoille50]

I was using one called adblock on the apple store but it doesn't work very well on 9.3 so maybe adguard might do a paid for version in the future which is system-wide.

Found a vpn solution although their terms and conditions leaves a bit to be desired but testing it anyway which is www.adbl0ck.com (download the vn profile, install, connect)

I don't mean to cause alarm, but you do realize that using a VPN causes all of your traffic to go through their servers, correct? It's an easy way to spy on people and capture data. I refuse to use a VPN from someone I don't know is trustworthy.

 

[avatar-adg]

hah ironic. just as i read your reply i can get on the website again without doing anything. strange

Looks like they are doing some experiments with it.
[doublepost=1459444291][/doublepost]

For my understanding- what is aggressive anti-adblock?

EasyList provides a great guide for such messages:
https://easylist.adblockplus.org/blog/2013/05/10/anti-adblock-guide-for-site-admins

On PC, I've noticed wired.com sometimes detects and blocks page from loading.. is there any anti-adblock on the PC side?

I didn't heard about it. But I may have missed something as i am not the one who maintains filters.
[doublepost=1459444411][/doublepost]

Will adguard ever support blocking of ads across all apps on iOS?

Yep, we plan to do it in the "Pro" version.

You'll likely need a VPN for that, a system-wide content blocker is a whole different setup.

I hope we'll be able to do the same trick as we've done in AG for Android: create a local VPN server working right on your device.

 

[ardchoille50]

I hope we'll be able to do the same trick as we've done in AG for Android: create a local VPN server working right on your device.

That is a great idea! I'd be willing to use something like that. I hope you can do this.

 

[daleski75]

I don't mean to cause alarm, but you do realize that using a VPN causes all of your traffic to go through their servers, correct? It's an easy way to spy on people and capture data. I refuse to use a VPN from someone I don't know is trustworthy.

Going to give adblock vpn another go with 9.3.1 to see if it behaves better.
[doublepost=1459445874][/doublepost]

Looks like they are doing some experiments with it.
[doublepost=1459444291][/doublepost]

EasyList provides a great guide for such messages:
https://easylist.adblockplus.org/blog/2013/05/10/anti-adblock-guide-for-site-admins



I didn't heard about it. But I may have missed something as i am not the one who maintains filters.
[doublepost=1459444411][/doublepost]

Yep, we plan to do it in the "Pro" version.



I hope we'll be able to do the same trick as we've done in AG for Android: create a local VPN server working right on your device.

adbck vpn creates a fake vpn if this helps.

https://www.adblockios.com/faq/
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/adblock/id691121579?mt=8

 

[ganja24]

"Yep, we plan to do it in the "Pro" version."


When is the Pro version coming out?

 

[daleski75]

"Yep, we plan to do it in the "Pro" version."


When is the Pro version coming out?

Well spotted

 

[avatar-adg]

Going to give adblock vpn another go with 9.3.1 to see if it behaves better.
[doublepost=1459445874][/doublepost]

adbck vpn creates a fake vpn if this helps.

https://www.adblockios.com/faq/

Oh no, that's not what I mean. However the idea is not bad. It won't allow you block all ads, but at least it's enough to block most popular ad networks and trackers. You know, we may use it in the very first version just to release it sooner.

But again, ideally I'd like it to use a different method (from what i've read - it is possible). AG for Android has a real VPN server inside the app. So it can get a web request and block it or modify response stripping ads from it (just like AG for Mac or Windows do with a network driver).
[doublepost=1459467541][/doublepost]

When is the Pro version coming out?

Experience shows that I am very bad with giving ETA on anything. Precision is plus or minus one year.

 

[Anonymous123]

@avatar-adg From what I understand, the Anti-Adblock Killer filter requires a userscript to work. Since iOS does not allow userscripts, does that mean it has no effect on iOS?