Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 November 24

= November 24 =

Ad blockers
I have heard people complaining about ads that appear while they are surfing the internet, online. In response, I have heard others say "Well, just get an ad blocker. That will solve your problems." So, what exactly is an ad blocker? What does it do, exactly? How do I get one? Where do I find them? Are they free or do I need to pay for them? Thanks. 2602:252:D13:6D70:D08A:A57B:D028:8C8 (talk) 03:43, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Well, you could start by reading ad blocking. --70.49.170.168 (talk) 06:09, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * It is highly likely that you have a web browser that has "add-ons" or "extensions" up in the toolbar or menu. Click on that and click the search button. You can type in "ad blocker". You will likely see "AdBlocker" and "AdBlockerPro". They do the same thing, but they are two completely separate products. Both are free. Just click "install". 209.149.114.197 (talk) 13:11, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Thanks. So do you have to pick one or the other?  Or do you install both?  2602:252:D13:6D70:453:997A:722E:124F (talk) 18:56, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Just install one. The lists of what ads to block are usually pulled from a common source (such as EasyList), so the matter of which ad blocker to use is up to personal preference. clpo13(talk) 19:05, 24 November 2015 (UTC)
 * What they (mostly) do is to look at the situation when a web page pulls in content from a different site than the one where it is stored (cross-site loading). The ad blocker compares the name of the site from which this request is made to a black-list of known advertisement sources and prevents the item from being loaded.  This isn't a 100% perfect strategy - so if I write "Eat at Joe's Diner - their roast aardvark is to die for!" right here in Wikipedia, that's an advert - but the ad blocker can't block it because that content came from Wikipedia itself - not from a cross-site download.  But since most websites get paid for advertising by going through one of a relatively small number of agencies, the black-list approach works fairly well - and I rarely see an advert.  Moreover, by taking this approach, it's almost impossible for the ad-blocker to block content that ISN'T an advert - although it's quite possible for an occasional advert to slip through.


 * Other things such as pop-up ads can also be trapped and ignored because of they way that they are displayed - but in that case, you run the risk of the tool blocking things that aren't adverts - which is highly problematic.


 * Like many (most?) people, I use AdBlock - which is a really easy thing to install in your browser and puts up a logo (a red octagon with a hand in it) in the top-right corner of the browser which shows you how many ads it blocked on the page you're looking at. It contains a menu that allows you to un-block ads temporarily, or on just one particular web page - and has a bunch of other fancy options.  If it fails to block an advert, you can also report the fact - and presumably, if they get enough reports, they'll add the offending advertisement source to their blacklist, so the tool automatically tracks new advert sources and adapts accordingly.


 * SteveBaker (talk) 13:56, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Thanks. So are there any disadvantages or problems (bugs, glitches) that accompany this ad blocking notion?  It seems to good to be true.  So, I am bracing to hear what the downside is?  Thanks.  2602:252:D13:6D70:453:997A:722E:124F (talk) 18:59, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Some sites will say "Turn off ad blocker to view this site" and won't work. If you really want to see an ad, it may be blocked. You need to turn off the ad blocker to see it. If everyone blocked ads for a site, the site would lose income and may go away. If you really like the website, you need to help it. You can turn off ad blocker for a specific site. 209.149.113.52 (talk) 19:01, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Some adblockers upgrade their filters automaticly, some needs to be configured with a filter list manually. If You do not select and install the filter list, it can not be applied. The blocker addon makes the browser skip web content defined in the filterlist. -- Hans Haase (有问题吗) 23:07, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Just as a bit of additional information to go with SteveBaker’s response, AdBlock and AdBlock Plus available at Adblock Plus are two very effective ad-blockers that can greatly reduce the chance of any unwanted pop-pops. However, as well as your ad-block may be, certain adware retains the ability to circumvent pop-up blockers. It is always important to keep in mind to not only install an ad-blocker from an official website, but also regularly scan your computer for malware if you ever find that a large quantity of pop-ups are still getting through. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/am-still-getting-popups-chrome-75606.html
 * If your computer is already infected with malware, you can read into this article on the Norton webpage about removing it Here.


 * Armbandit95 (talk) 21:44, 25 November 2015 (UTC)

GMail
I've found out that just about everyone I know uses GMail for their personal e-mail. Is GMail strictly webmail only, or does it offer SMTP/POP/IMAP connections for use through a normal, bog-standard, common-or-garden mail reader like Evolution or Outlook? J I P &#124; Talk 19:56, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * I don't mean to be rude, but why not use Google to find that out? -- LarryMac  | Talk  20:04, 24 November 2015 (UTC)
 * Yes it does. clpo13(talk) 20:07, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


 * I'm using it. Just ensure You do not retrieve the information of server settings from blogs or untrusted source. Refer the providers information only. Your password will be send to the server You entered in the mail clients settings. -- Hans Haase (有问题吗) 22:58, 24 November 2015 (UTC)