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So I'm supposed to keep a mental database of all the sites I might visit, and whether their ads, pushy JS popups, autoplay videos, and other crap are too heavy

by dnr 10y ago

So I'm supposed to keep a mental database of all the sites I might visit, and whether their ads, pushy JS popups, autoplay videos, and other crap are too heavy for my taste? And consult that database every time I see an interesting-sounding headline on facebook or twitter or my news app, before I click on the link? If it's a site I've never visited, how do I even know whether the UX will be acceptable to me before I click? I admit I do keep track of a handful of bad offenders in my head, but I really shouldn't have to do that. Sure, it would be better if there was a trusted decentralized system to enforce rules and guarantee a decent UX, perhaps with more granularity so people could set different acceptable points, but until that exists, of course I'm going to use the presence of an instant articles or AMP icon to guide my browsing.

deleted 10y ago
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CaptSpify 10y ago
You should probably use a "defense as default" mindset. Why, by default, do you assume sites you go to will be safe or sane? I don't
- dnr 10y ago
  Because that's how the web used to work, and I've been using it for a while. But how exactly are you suggesting I browse the web? Not following links unless I recognize the destination and know it to be a reasonable site? That just changes a mental blacklist into a whitelist. And how would I ever discover new reasonable sites? Use an ad blocker? That feels like escalating a arms race, and I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. (I currently use Disconnect, which is only a tracking blocker, not an ad blocker, although some sites seem to think it is.)
  - CaptSpify 10y ago
    > Use an ad blocker? That feels like escalating a arms race, and I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. Yes, I'd also recommend a JS blocker. If you don't want to do that, that's OK, but don't expect any sympathy if you get compromised in any way. If you don't lock your front door, don't be surprised if someone breaks into your house.

by dnr 10y ago

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

CaptSpify 10y ago

You should probably use a "defense as default" mindset. Why, by default, do you assume sites you go to will be safe or sane? I don't

dnr 10y ago
Because that's how the web used to work, and I've been using it for a while. But how exactly are you suggesting I browse the web? Not following links unless I recognize the destination and know it to be a reasonable site? That just changes a mental blacklist into a whitelist. And how would I ever discover new reasonable sites? Use an ad blocker? That feels like escalating a arms race, and I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. (I currently use Disconnect, which is only a tracking blocker, not an ad blocker, although some sites seem to think it is.)
- CaptSpify 10y ago
  > Use an ad blocker? That feels like escalating a arms race, and I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. Yes, I'd also recommend a JS blocker. If you don't want to do that, that's OK, but don't expect any sympathy if you get compromised in any way. If you don't lock your front door, don't be surprised if someone breaks into your house.