5 ms·

This article makes an important point: ad-blocking is not just a means to remove annoying (and often disgusting) advertisements; it's also to prevent data being

This article makes an important point: ad-blocking is not just a means to remove annoying (and often disgusting) advertisements; it's also to prevent data being collected about you without any consent or oversight.

iwwr 11y ago
I'm not sure how successful it is in that regard. Just browser fingerprinting is enough to track most people; cookies and third party connections are not essential. https://wiki.mozilla.org/Fingerprinting https://wiki.mozilla.org/Fingerprinting
- octo_t 11y ago
  It prevents ad companies from fingerprinting you, you never make the connection to seedy-ad-company-X, you only make the connection to facebook/nyt/WaPo etc
  - leni536 11y ago
    You should avoid tracking pixels too, or downloading any 3rd party content (like CSS). You can use umatrix for this though.
    - talmand 11y ago
      Ok, this is new. Why exactly must we not download CSS?
      - throwaway7767 11y ago
        3rd-party CSS. I.e., if the page includes CSS from an ad network, the network gets the request and can track it. Basically using CSS instead of a 1px tracking bug. One of the many shitty, underhanded methods these companies use to track people without their knowledge or consent. I will shed no tears for these companies when they go bankrupt as people push back against their methods.
        talmand 11y ago
        I understand now, but the idea of CSS in this is what threw me off. This is valid for any file that the computer makes a request for, if queries are attached to it.
- troels 11y ago
  It's an arms race. Blocking cookies currently works.
- rmc 11y ago
  Is it possible to track someone without using cookies? Maybe. Do most of these advert sites make heavy use of cookies? Oh yes.
lorenzhs 11y ago
Don't forget the security perspective -- as ad networks are being abused for malware delivery more and more, ad-blocking is also a way to stay safe. Not to mention all the fake "DOWNLOAD!!1" buttons that an ad-blocker removes, eliminating a large percentago of malware installations for less tech-savvy users.

iwwr 11y ago

I'm not sure how successful it is in that regard. Just browser fingerprinting is enough to track most people; cookies and third party connections are not essential. https://wiki.mozilla.org/Fingerprinting https://wiki.mozilla.org/Fingerprinting

octo_t 11y ago
It prevents ad companies from fingerprinting you, you never make the connection to seedy-ad-company-X, you only make the connection to facebook/nyt/WaPo etc
- leni536 11y ago
  You should avoid tracking pixels too, or downloading any 3rd party content (like CSS). You can use umatrix for this though.
  - talmand 11y ago
    Ok, this is new. Why exactly must we not download CSS?
    - throwaway7767 11y ago
      3rd-party CSS. I.e., if the page includes CSS from an ad network, the network gets the request and can track it. Basically using CSS instead of a 1px tracking bug. One of the many shitty, underhanded methods these companies use to track people without their knowledge or consent. I will shed no tears for these companies when they go bankrupt as people push back against their methods.
      - talmand 11y ago
        I understand now, but the idea of CSS in this is what threw me off. This is valid for any file that the computer makes a request for, if queries are attached to it.
troels 11y ago
It's an arms race. Blocking cookies currently works.
rmc 11y ago
Is it possible to track someone without using cookies? Maybe. Do most of these advert sites make heavy use of cookies? Oh yes.

lorenzhs 11y ago

Don't forget the security perspective -- as ad networks are being abused for malware delivery more and more, ad-blocking is also a way to stay safe. Not to mention all the fake "DOWNLOAD!!1" buttons that an ad-blocker removes, eliminating a large percentago of malware installations for less tech-savvy users.