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.. and that's why running an ad-blocker these days is not even a moral question; It's proper hygiene. I don't eat without washing my hands first, and I don't br

.. and that's why running an ad-blocker these days is not even a moral question; It's proper hygiene. I don't eat without washing my hands first, and I don't browse without an ad blocker.

pavel_lishin 8y ago
But if you don't eat with filthy hands, you'll be putting antibiotic content creators out of business!
- gpm 8y ago
  Also your immune system - which might be a bit of an issue.
  - jakear 8y ago
    This metaphor is actually quite apt. If you aren’t accustomed to mentally filtering out ads from content, you may be more likely to be swayed by sponsored content and the like.
    - pavel_lishin 8y ago
      Sure, but in this particular metaphor, we don't sterilize our environment, but still wash our hands on a regular basis.
    - fjsolwmv 8y ago
      Sponsored content isn't the main problem here. All content is opininates. The problem is anonymous 3rd party malware running on a site.
    - EForEndeavour 8y ago
      In my experience, whenever I browse without an ad blocker (e.g., someone else's computer), the flurry of intrusive ads shocks me out of information-absorption mode, and just prompts me to think about how best to suggest to the computer owner that they use an ad blocker.
NelsonMinar 8y ago
I'm with you on that, but in this specific case people are using Edge exactly once on a new machine in order to download Google Chrome. It's reasonable to assume they aren't going to bother installing an ad blocker on Edge for this use.
- Tsubasachan 8y ago
  Pretty sure malwarebytes would catch this. Or any AV. Malware like this targets the lowest hanging fruit I guess.
wtracy 8y ago
In this instance, that just ads one more level of convolution to the situation without addressing the fundamental issue. If you get ads for a malicious version of a browser on a new PC, why isn't it possible to get ads for a malicious version of an ad blocker? There's no end to this rabbit hole unless you can acquire the software without the use of a search engine, or the search engine cleans up its act.
- rietta 8y ago
  You mean like download a browser from the Windows AppStore of vetted signed apps?

.. and that's why running an ad-blocker these days is not even a moral question; It's proper hygiene. I don't eat without washing my hands first, and I don't browse without an ad blocker.

pavel_lishin 8y ago

But if you don't eat with filthy hands, you'll be putting antibiotic content creators out of business!

gpm 8y ago
Also your immune system - which might be a bit of an issue.
- jakear 8y ago
  This metaphor is actually quite apt. If you aren’t accustomed to mentally filtering out ads from content, you may be more likely to be swayed by sponsored content and the like.
  - pavel_lishin 8y ago
    Sure, but in this particular metaphor, we don't sterilize our environment, but still wash our hands on a regular basis.
  - fjsolwmv 8y ago
    Sponsored content isn't the main problem here. All content is opininates. The problem is anonymous 3rd party malware running on a site.
  - EForEndeavour 8y ago
    In my experience, whenever I browse without an ad blocker (e.g., someone else's computer), the flurry of intrusive ads shocks me out of information-absorption mode, and just prompts me to think about how best to suggest to the computer owner that they use an ad blocker.

NelsonMinar 8y ago

I'm with you on that, but in this specific case people are using Edge exactly once on a new machine in order to download Google Chrome. It's reasonable to assume they aren't going to bother installing an ad blocker on Edge for this use.

Tsubasachan 8y ago
Pretty sure malwarebytes would catch this. Or any AV. Malware like this targets the lowest hanging fruit I guess.

wtracy 8y ago

In this instance, that just ads one more level of convolution to the situation without addressing the fundamental issue. If you get ads for a malicious version of a browser on a new PC, why isn't it possible to get ads for a malicious version of an ad blocker? There's no end to this rabbit hole unless you can acquire the software without the use of a search engine, or the search engine cleans up its act.

rietta 8y ago
You mean like download a browser from the Windows AppStore of vetted signed apps?