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All the more reason we need adblockers and private-by-default browsing. It worries me that I can't use something like Privoxy on Android without rooting the dev

All the more reason we need adblockers and private-by-default browsing. It worries me that I can't use something like Privoxy on Android without rooting the device. An alternative would be a good privacy VPN with blocking/filtering of ads and trackers.

organsnyder 9y ago
I've switched to using Firefox Focus as my main Android browser. It provides ad blocking and privacy features. For apps, I try to avoid ad-supported ones whenever possible, and am happy to pay for apps that I find useful.
- brndnmtthws 9y ago
  I'm using Focus too, it's pretty nice.
- paulie_a 9y ago
  I'd it possible to import passwords and bookmarks into focus? I've been meaning to ditch chrome on all devices because of the sewer of ads on chrome mobile
- JoshTriplett 9y ago
  You can also just run the standard Firefox on Android, and install uBlock Origin.
- otp124 9y ago
  Does the focus app block ads on Android Chrome mobile? On iOS it does.
  - brndnmtthws 9y ago
    It does not block ads, but it does block ad trackers.
wan23 9y ago
I think you're missing the main point here. What we really need is a better way to pay for the web. If everyone blocks all ads without solving this problem first there won't be any content left to block ads on.
- pjc50 9y ago
  There was content before even advertising. And we're here creating ""content"" without being paid on a site with no ads.
  - ashark 9y ago
    There was also commercial ad-supported content before tracking advertising. You know, 100% of ad-supported content before the Web. The world will for sure not end if spyvertising goes away.
  - mrob 9y ago
    HN has ads, but they're text only, non-tracking, and posted infrequently. They're also not trying to sell you anything, and not trying to manipulate you emotionally. You can identify them by the lack of upvote option. These kinds of ads are tolerable IMO.
    - amelius 9y ago
      Yes, but if these ads were not possible, we would probably still have something like HN.
- white-flame 9y ago
  For certain there wouldn't be content whose only purpose is to maximize ad revenue. That would easily be a net positive for overall quality of online content.

organsnyder 9y ago

I've switched to using Firefox Focus as my main Android browser. It provides ad blocking and privacy features. For apps, I try to avoid ad-supported ones whenever possible, and am happy to pay for apps that I find useful.

brndnmtthws 9y ago
I'm using Focus too, it's pretty nice.
paulie_a 9y ago
I'd it possible to import passwords and bookmarks into focus? I've been meaning to ditch chrome on all devices because of the sewer of ads on chrome mobile
JoshTriplett 9y ago
You can also just run the standard Firefox on Android, and install uBlock Origin.
otp124 9y ago
Does the focus app block ads on Android Chrome mobile? On iOS it does.
- brndnmtthws 9y ago
  It does not block ads, but it does block ad trackers.

wan23 9y ago

I think you're missing the main point here. What we really need is a better way to pay for the web. If everyone blocks all ads without solving this problem first there won't be any content left to block ads on.

pjc50 9y ago
There was content before even advertising. And we're here creating ""content"" without being paid on a site with no ads.
- ashark 9y ago
  There was also commercial ad-supported content before tracking advertising. You know, 100% of ad-supported content before the Web. The world will for sure not end if spyvertising goes away.
- mrob 9y ago
  HN has ads, but they're text only, non-tracking, and posted infrequently. They're also not trying to sell you anything, and not trying to manipulate you emotionally. You can identify them by the lack of upvote option. These kinds of ads are tolerable IMO.
  - amelius 9y ago
    Yes, but if these ads were not possible, we would probably still have something like HN.
white-flame 9y ago
For certain there wouldn't be content whose only purpose is to maximize ad revenue. That would easily be a net positive for overall quality of online content.