Adblock: Difference between revisions

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[http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm  '''Hosts File'''] is a file not an extension, it blocks  ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and even most hijackers.  The hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at system startup, then the system (Windows/Linux) checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers; and,  bad domains are blocked and will not be seen.  Hosts file blocks some things cannot be blocked by extensions.  A hosts file provides cross-application protection, regardless of what Firefox profile is used or what browser is used, or other applications accessing the web.  It should be considered as a primary protection against malware and prevalent major annoyances, but usage is not very flexible as it relates only to a host domain.  Adblock Plus provides more flexible filtering to deal better with annoyances than it does with malware,  Both types should be used along with Anti-Virus protection.  
[http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm  '''Hosts File'''] is a file not an extension, it blocks  ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and even most hijackers.  The hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at system startup, then the system (Windows/Linux) checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers; and,  bad domains are blocked and will not be seen.  Hosts file blocks some things cannot be blocked by extensions.  A hosts file provides cross-application protection, regardless of what Firefox profile is used or what browser is used, or other applications accessing the web.  It should be considered as a primary protection against malware and prevalent major annoyances, but usage is not very flexible as it relates only to a host domain.  Adblock Plus provides more flexible filtering to deal better with annoyances than it does with malware,  Both types should be used along with Anti-Virus protection.  
===Adblock Plus===
Eliminate ads.  Ads, particularly third party ads, are a primary source of malware and viruses.  Eliminating ads helps protect your system, speeds up downloads, and helps protect your system.  ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNvb2SjVjjI video overview]).  Filters are required -- "EasyList USA" subscription is recommended to start with -- additional subscriptions and your own filters can be added as well.  Features: Easy to add customized filter and whitelist items.


===Adblock Plus filtering===
===Adblock Plus filtering===
If you have the "[https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/adblock-plus Adblock Plus]" extension, you could be blocking both images and text with filters, or whole files with javascript or CSS,  etc. which may be on purpose, or could be causing problems if blocking too much.
If you have the "[https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/adblock-plus Adblock Plus]" extension, you also need to install filters -- without filters the extension will nothing.  After installing the extension go to the extensions options or  right click on ADP icon then choose "Preferences" then choose ""Add filter subscription" -- the "EasyList USA" is the most widely used and needed filter subscription.
 
With Adblock Plus filters you can block images and text, or whole files containing javascript or CSS,  etc. which may be on purpose, or could be causing problems if blocking too much.
 
Right click on the ADP toolbar icon or addons bar icon and choose "Open blockable items".  Suggest displaying: Address, Filter, Type, and State (sorted, red at top) -- selected from the icon at the right of the titles.  From here you can right click on an item and are offered several choices to create a filter that would block that item.  You should be familiar with the [http://adblockplus.org/en/getting_started Getting started] usage documentation from when you installed the extension.
 
If something is blocked you will be able to see what filter blocked it and where that filter resides by hovering over  the blocked item line to identify where the filter came from -- which filter subscription(s), or your own.  There is also a context (right-click) menu associated with each line.  You can block/unblock the filter on that list via the context menu for the line and see the change in the "State" symbol, or permanently delete the filter altogether on  the Preferences list.


Right click on the ADP toolbar icon or addons bar icon and choose "Open blockable items".  Suggest displaying: Address, Filter, Type, and State (sorted, red at top) -- selected from the icon at the right of the titles.  
You can turn ADP off without uninstalling it and without restarting Firefox by right clicking on the ADP icon and choosing "Disable everywhere" and the icon will turn to gray, don't forget to turn filter back on afterwards to see the icon active with normal red color.  Fix your filters though so they work for you, because turning off ADP to run something means you have removed protection.


If something is blocked you will be able to see what filter blocked it and where that filter resides by hovering over  the blocked item line to identify which filter subscription, or your ownThere is also a context (right-click) menu associated with each line.  You can block/unblock the filter on that list via the context menu for the line and see the change in the "State" symbol, or permanently delete the filter altogether on  the Preferences list.
All of the filters are listed in Preferences The Preferences list shows filters by location (subscription) and has checkmark boxes to activate or suppress the filter.


All of the filters are listed in Preferences -- right click on ADP icon then choose "Preferences".  The Preferences list shows filters by location (subscription) and has checkmark boxes to activate or suppress the filter.
A companion extension "[https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/4364 Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus]" can be installed to remove remaining text area ads interactively, be careful with this one as it is very easy to block too much.


===External links===
===External links===

Revision as of 12:39, 3 November 2011

Adblock is an extension for Firefox and the Mozilla Suite. It can hide graphics on pages, block them from ever loading, block JavaScript files, embedded frames (IFRAMEs), and Flash movies. Adblock as an extension in current Firefox versions is dead replaced by Adblock Plus. The original project page can be seen at mozdev.org - adblock: index.

Adblock Plus is an improved version of Adblock with a better user interface, and interfaces better to filter subscriptions so that your own filters and multiple subscriptions will not interfere with one another.   Adblock Plus: Element Hiding Helper is a companion extension for Adblock Plus designed to make creating element hiding rules easier and is invoked from the Adblock Plus button's context menu.

Hosts File is a file not an extension, it blocks ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and even most hijackers. The hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at system startup, then the system (Windows/Linux) checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers; and, bad domains are blocked and will not be seen. Hosts file blocks some things cannot be blocked by extensions. A hosts file provides cross-application protection, regardless of what Firefox profile is used or what browser is used, or other applications accessing the web. It should be considered as a primary protection against malware and prevalent major annoyances, but usage is not very flexible as it relates only to a host domain. Adblock Plus provides more flexible filtering to deal better with annoyances than it does with malware, Both types should be used along with Anti-Virus protection.

Adblock Plus

Eliminate ads. Ads, particularly third party ads, are a primary source of malware and viruses. Eliminating ads helps protect your system, speeds up downloads, and helps protect your system. (video overview). Filters are required -- "EasyList USA" subscription is recommended to start with -- additional subscriptions and your own filters can be added as well. Features: Easy to add customized filter and whitelist items.

Adblock Plus filtering

If you have the "Adblock Plus" extension, you also need to install filters -- without filters the extension will nothing. After installing the extension go to the extensions options or right click on ADP icon then choose "Preferences" then choose ""Add filter subscription" -- the "EasyList USA" is the most widely used and needed filter subscription.

With Adblock Plus filters you can block images and text, or whole files containing javascript or CSS, etc. which may be on purpose, or could be causing problems if blocking too much.

Right click on the ADP toolbar icon or addons bar icon and choose "Open blockable items". Suggest displaying: Address, Filter, Type, and State (sorted, red at top) -- selected from the icon at the right of the titles. From here you can right click on an item and are offered several choices to create a filter that would block that item. You should be familiar with the Getting started usage documentation from when you installed the extension.

If something is blocked you will be able to see what filter blocked it and where that filter resides by hovering over the blocked item line to identify where the filter came from -- which filter subscription(s), or your own. There is also a context (right-click) menu associated with each line. You can block/unblock the filter on that list via the context menu for the line and see the change in the "State" symbol, or permanently delete the filter altogether on the Preferences list.

You can turn ADP off without uninstalling it and without restarting Firefox by right clicking on the ADP icon and choosing "Disable everywhere" and the icon will turn to gray, don't forget to turn filter back on afterwards to see the icon active with normal red color. Fix your filters though so they work for you, because turning off ADP to run something means you have removed protection.

All of the filters are listed in Preferences . The Preferences list shows filters by location (subscription) and has checkmark boxes to activate or suppress the filter.

A companion extension "Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus" can be installed to remove remaining text area ads interactively, be careful with this one as it is very easy to block too much.

External links