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Where do you get content blockers for OS X?
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Existing content blockers don't use some built-in content blocking API like content blockers on iOS 9, but they have existed for years now, and are nothing new.
Usually you have to download these extenstions from the developer's website, or the Safari Extensions gallery.
One example is Adblock Plus, which is the one I use in both Safari and Firefox.
We'll have to wait and see whether the developers will modify their existing extensions to use the now built-in content blocking functionality, or continue with their existing code.
Usually you have to download these extenstions from the developer's website, or the Safari Extensions gallery.
One example is Adblock Plus, which is the one I use in both Safari and Firefox.
We'll have to wait and see whether the developers will modify their existing extensions to use the now built-in content blocking functionality, or continue with their existing code.
I'm kinda partial to GlimmerBlocker. El Capitan claims it's incompatible, but it runs just fine after you reinstall it.
What would be the benefit if any if developers modified their existing Extensions to use the now built in content blocking functionality in El Capitan? Would it really make any difference?
There wouldn't really be any benefit to developers of existing blockers, IMO.
As far as I know, extensions specifically for the content blocking functionality, may simply be nothing more than a set of instructions on what to block.
I was under the impression that content blockers allow better control of "content" not exclusively ads. Like that post in the Macbook Pro forum section about a pop up disabling Safari, wouldn't content blockers (as implemented in El Capitan) block those elements as well? iOS 9 content blocking is more than just a set of instructions as it seems each content blocker apps block content different (a mouthful of content sorry). Rather than leave white space, it seem content blocker removes elements which is IMO a better implementation.
Extensions specifically made for the new content blocking functionality may still be a set of instructions, because an instruction set can be more than just a list of what to block. It can include instructions on how to block the content.
Existing content blockers do allow for finer control, because one thing they realised is that their filters aren't perfect, so the option to manually add an element, ad or not to the filter is often present.
Each existing blocker works differently, and the one I use doesn't leave a whitespace when it blocks elements, and I don't know of one that does, because I was satisfied with the first one I tried.
Many modern browsers by default block unsolicited pop-ups without any extensions, so unless that person unchecked the box to do that, I'm not sure how that could have happened.
Developers will have to use the new content blocking APIs in El Capitan as well, because the previous methods are deprecated. However, those APIs can be used in tandem with JavaScript and CSS, so the result should be a more efficient and powerful blocker. This isn’t possible on iOS.
I have uBlock installed and pop up blockers on but this website still throws an annoying pop up
http://macprotection.info
^Don't click link unless you have retina device. If you do and want to test, after getting the pop up, open System Preferences -> Display -> Scaled -> choose one one higher resolution (1440*900 for 13" rMBP if originally 1280*800) and then the "okay" or "cancel" button will appear.
Unless there is a specific 3rd party filter I need to turn on, Safari Content blocker should block this since they are content blockers rather than adblockers (much like uBlock is posed to be privacy blocker).
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Hmmm, Glimmerblocker worked for me under Yosemite, but ads are not blocked under El Capitan.
Update: I contacted the developer and everything is working now
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www.disconnect.me
free safari and firefox plugins and a separate paid VPN option for system wide tracker blocking
free safari and firefox plugins and a separate paid VPN option for system wide tracker blocking
uBlock, open source
uBlock is a general-purpose blocker — not an ad blocker specifically. uBlock's main goal is to help users neutralize privacy-invading apparatus — ads being one example.
Ghostery sold out to an AD company (Evidon) a long time ago; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostery it is also reported as helping the AD industry by MIT Technology Review "Evidon helps companies that want to improve their use of tracking code by selling them data collected from the millions of Ghostery users who have enabled a data-sharing feature "Ghostrank" in the tool." It is also questionable if this feature is enabled by default.
The "Ghostrank" feature when enabled Ghostery sends collected user data back to the vendor, who then offers it for sale to AD firms. Ghostery is not really doing anything malicious, equally you do have to dig about on their site to see how they fund the extension/application. Personally the fact that Ghostery is owned by Evidon is the bigger concern as it`s clearly a conflict of interest. Call me jaded, however advertising and privacy rarely go "hand in hand"
FWIW other AD blockers employ similar techniques and or "Acceptable Ads" lists, as ever limiting the number of applications that "phone home" is common sense.
Wipr also does a fair job, however there are no options which makes it difficult to define exactly what is being passed & blocked. uBlock is still remains to be the most comprehensive and tuneable privacy extension by far.
Q-6
uBlock is a general-purpose blocker — not an ad blocker specifically. uBlock's main goal is to help users neutralize privacy-invading apparatus — ads being one example.
Ghostery sold out to an AD company (Evidon) a long time ago; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostery it is also reported as helping the AD industry by MIT Technology Review "Evidon helps companies that want to improve their use of tracking code by selling them data collected from the millions of Ghostery users who have enabled a data-sharing feature "Ghostrank" in the tool." It is also questionable if this feature is enabled by default.
The "Ghostrank" feature when enabled Ghostery sends collected user data back to the vendor, who then offers it for sale to AD firms. Ghostery is not really doing anything malicious, equally you do have to dig about on their site to see how they fund the extension/application. Personally the fact that Ghostery is owned by Evidon is the bigger concern as it`s clearly a conflict of interest. Call me jaded, however advertising and privacy rarely go "hand in hand"
FWIW other AD blockers employ similar techniques and or "Acceptable Ads" lists, as ever limiting the number of applications that "phone home" is common sense.
Wipr also does a fair job, however there are no options which makes it difficult to define exactly what is being passed & blocked. uBlock is still remains to be the most comprehensive and tuneable privacy extension by far.
Q-6
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Apple has a list of verified Safari Add-Ons. Go here: https://extensions.apple.com
The very first one is ad block
Thing is AdBlock is not using the new "content blocker" mechanism, it is using the old extension method and won't be as efficient and fast. There is a good article here explaining the benefits of the content blocker method.Apple has a list of verified Safari Add-Ons. Go here: https://extensions.apple.com
The very first one is ad block
@loft3 Here is a list of content blockers for OS X Safari. I have played around with them and settled on Wipr for now.
For those of you using Ghostery, you might want to take a look at this.
https://blog.malwarebytes.org/privacy-2/2015/09/ghostery-a-tool-that-stop-trackers/
https://blog.malwarebytes.org/privacy-2/2015/09/ghostery-a-tool-that-stop-trackers/