New Update A first look at SmartAdblock for Firefox and Chrome

[CyberTech]

SmartAdblock is a new content blocker for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, and compatible browsers.

While there are certainly lots of content blockers out there already, including the excellent cross-platform extensions uBlock Origin and uMatrix, it is fair to say that there is still room for improvement especially when it comes to usability and also functionality.

SmartAdblock does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to the blocking of ads, but it does add some extra features on top of it that set it apart from the default configurations of other content blockers.

The three main features that the browser extension supports out of the box deal with cookie and GDPR warnings, handle adblock detectors on popular websites, and block aggressive popup ads on sites.

Note: Advertisement is still powering a large part of the Internet and sites like Ghacks rely on the revenue to stay online. Consider supporting the sites that you like and visit regularly.


SmartAdblock First Look:

The extension adds an icon to the main browser toolbar. The icon indicates the number of blocked elements on the active page. It furthermore lists an option to disable content-blocking on the active site, and to open the developer website to contact the developer or tip them.

SmartAdblock works out of the box; that is necessary, as it does not offer any configuration options besides enabling or disabling ads on a site.

If you need more control, e.g. allowing or disallowing certain connections, you need to look elsewhere right now. Options to add custom filters, remove elements visually, and other important features are missing as well at the time of writing.


Bypassing Adblock detectors and cookie / GDPR privacy notifications:
Many sites display notifications or prompts to users when they detect the use of content blockers. Some allow users to continue without disabling the content blocker, others block access until the use signs up for a premium account or disables the content blocker.

SmartAdblock bypasses these prompts on a number of popular websites and many more. The extension worked on sites like CNET, Business Insider, IGN, Eurogamer, and Techradar.

Site content loads directly and interrupting prompts are not displayed. The bypassing works for many cookie and GDPR privacy notifications as well out of the box.


Popup blocking:
Popup blocking is another specialty of SmartAdblock especially when it comes to aggressive popups used on sites like Putlocker.

The blocking worked really well during tests on sites that throw popup ads at users regularly. Blocked popups are highlighted in the extension interface so that they may be opened in case of false positives.


Closing Words:
SmartAdblock is a set and forget kind of adblocker that blocks advertisement well. It is the extension's extra features, the bypassing of anti-adblock and privacy prompts, and the blocking of aggressive popup ads that make it stand out.

The developers should consider adding more control over the blocking process to the extension to make it more useful. Also, more options, e.g. custom filters, loading of extra lists, and so on would certainly be appreciated by many users.

Full article: A first look at SmartAdblock for Firefox and Chrome - gHacks Tech News

 

[HarborFront]

Ok tested it on my FF for android phone

It failed to remove the cookie pop-up message from

Information Security and IT Security News - Infosecurity Magazine

'I don't care about cookies' extension removed the above cookie pop-up mesaage

 

[Moonhorse]

There is zero configuration on this extension, just do happy clicker test and it will let every pop-up throught and open new websites

With ublock origin u you can click videos without having to worry about redirecting to suspicious sites

 

[jerzy601]

the add-on can and is good but it is not possible to set it or configure it, not to mention its cooperation with other additions.
let's start maybe something will change in its further development.
we will see time will show.

 

[Petrovic]

smartadblock filterlist

https://www.trafiklite.com/smartadblock/filters/sabfilter.txt

 

[jerzy601]

thanks for providing a list of filters.
but that's just information.
but I can not set or configure it.

 

[Windows_Security]

Hi, my name is Kees: I am browser extension addict.

Gave it a spin today on Linux Lite to cold turkey from my newly acquired 'install, tweak and remove" extensions addiction (all other security was covered on my Linux Lite setup I had nothing to play with). So a big thanks to @CyberTech for this zero config set and forget extension.

I will report tomorrow evening whether I managed to survive my first day in extension rehab.

Taking a peak at the network requests made by SmartAdblock with Chrome developer tools you can see which filters it uses Besides blocking ads it also does a decent job blocking cookie prompts, javascript popups/popunders and ads in video's (without stutter).

 

[LDogg]

I'll stick to Nano Adblocker w/ i don't care about cookie and Anti Adblocker Killer filter lists, however this does seem like a good idea to start off with and hopefully more things can happen.

~LDogg

 

[smartadblock]

Ok tested it on my FF for android phone

It failed to remove the cookie pop-up message from

Information Security and IT Security News - Infosecurity Magazine

'I don't care about cookies' extension removed the above cookie pop-up mesaage

Hi
We just tried this website on windows chrome and firefox and to be clear for other readers you do not get cookie prompt. We dont have an android phone but I would be surprised if it behaved differently. Are you sure you installed it properly?

There is zero configuration on this extension, just do happy clicker test and it will let every pop-up throught and open new websites

With ublock origin u you can click videos without having to worry about redirecting to suspicious sites

Can you please give the url of the "happy clicker test" ?

 

[Moonhorse]

Can you please give the url of the "happy clicker test" ?

There is no one. It was just example sentence of real world situation. Ublock origin has ability to work as pop-up blocker, block cross-site scripts etc.

With smartadblocker as example i wanted to go site A, but i get redirected to site B
With ublock origin I want to go site A and i get to site A, without redirecting to site B, wich can contain mature content, sketchy ads, something suspicious or something thats fine

On my ublock origin, there is no space for Ads, trackers, 3rdparty scripts wich you can configure by yourself(medium mode) or manually add filterlists to do work for you

 

[Windows_Security]

@smartadblock

On www.nu.nl, choose sport (in left vertical menu), choose Champions Leugue when submenu expands, click any of the video's shown. The website throws a "content not shown, disable adblocker". All other video do play.

Thanks for registrating in this forum.

Regards Kees

There is no one. It was just example sentence of real world situation

Using a manner of speech as an example of a real world situation? Would not that be an alternative fact?

 

[oldschool]

Hi, my name is Kees: I am browser extension addict....

I will report tomorrow evening whether I managed to survive my first day in extension rehab....

We have a suitable program for you: Browser Extensions Anonymous. One of our mottos is: Let go of the extensions and let go of the shame!"

 

[smartadblock]

There is no one. It was just example sentence of real world situation. Ublock origin has ability to work as pop-up blocker, block cross-site scripts etc.

With smartadblocker as example i wanted to go site A, but i get redirected to site B
With ublock origin I want to go site A and i get to site A, without redirecting to site B, wich can contain mature content, sketchy ads, something suspicious or something thats fine

On my ublock origin, there is no space for Ads, trackers, 3rdparty scripts wich you can configure by yourself(medium mode) or manually add filterlists to do work for you

Would you mind giving everyone an example ... please ..... sir ???

@smartadblock

On www.nu.nl, choose sport (in left vertical menu), choose Champions Leugue when submenu expands, click any of the video's shown. The website throws a "content not shown, disable adblocker". All other video do play.

Thanks for registrating in this forum.

Regards Kees

Should be fixed now thanks for pointing this out, if you have any other bug we have a subreddit r/smartadblock

cheers

 

[Moonhorse]

Would you mind giving everyone an example ... please ..... sir ???

Screen capture - 7aed6fe0f9863869d412c611b6ca4dd8 - Gyazo

Screen capture - 6110c8ea51096916ab001e86da1063fa - Gyazo

both Gyazo links are safe, and contains no MATURE content
First is smartadblock redirecting me to livehotty.url
Second is ublock origin doing the job well



Ublock origin doesnt redirect you to sites you dont want to visit
Smartadblock redirects you to sites you dont want to visit
Pornsites are probably most simple way to get pup/pua infection and malware in worst cases
Im okay with the site specific ads, but not 3rd party scripts / ads

Im fine if Smartadblock is showing site specific ads by default, but you guys need to add settings to configure script blocking or atleast let us add filterlists

 

[oldschool]

Screen capture - 7aed6fe0f9863869d412c611b6ca4dd8 - Gyazo

Screen capture - 6110c8ea51096916ab001e86da1063fa - Gyazo

both Gyazo links are safe, and contains no MATURE content
First is smartadblock redirecting me to livehotty.url
Second is ublock origin doing the job well



Ublock origin doesnt redirect you to sites you dont want to visit
Smartadblock redirects you to sites you dont want to visit
Pornsites are probably most simple way to get pup/pua infection and malware in worst cases
Im okay with the site specific ads, but not 3rd party scripts / ads

Im fine if Smartadblock is showing site specific ads by default, but you guys need to add settings to configure script blocking or atleast let us add filterlists

Your images were blurry and I can't make them out!

 

[Moonhorse]

Your images were blurry and I can't make them out!

Well for me theyre working well and the main point was that ublock blocks pop-ups and smartadblock doesnt, Ublock has many more features than smartadblock does

I could make a video, but its just too much effort for such a simple thing and it makes me feel dumb

 

[Weebarra]

Your images were blurry and I can't make them out!

A wee bit blurry for me too but if i squint, i can make it out, lol. You must be younger @Moonhorse with decent eyesight, old codgers like me don't see so well

 

[LDogg]

I must say that the images a indeed blurry and hard to make out my friend. @Moonhorse

~LDogg

 

[Moonhorse]

1. Go pornhub, Sites > youporn > with ublock origin = no pop-up or redirects.

1. Go pornhub > Sites > youporn > Smartadblocker doesnt block pop-up/ redirect

1. Smartadblock cant handle such simple thing as this
2. There is no settings to configurate smartadblock anyhow

3. Why would i use smartadblock + pop-up blocker (wich is needed) over ublock origin?

and yes im using common sense by using porn sites to see my extensions really work

 

[Windows_Security]

I tried the porn sites, but when a pop-up is triggered it is suppressed by SmartAdblock. On other websites it shows a notification (in a similar manner as poper blocker does).

On my Windows Desktop video's start with sound off, I must have forgotten to set a Chrome flag on my Linux Lite desktop (autoplay policy set to require user gesture). So the video started playing immediately with lots of fake loud moaning. :emoji_flushed:

My wife was sitting behind same table surfing through face book. When she heard the loud moaning she looked up and noticed the porn website. She raised one eyebrow and said: enjoying yourself, are you? ..... What to respond?

So I smiled and said to her: Hi, my name is Kees: I am browser extension addict....