AB-Solution 1.07 is out!

[thelonelycoder]

If you have a Sonos system and use any of the hosts file types: Add symcb.com to your whitelist.
Sonos plays fine without this entry but for the Sonos Desktop Controller app to update symcb.com needs to be unblocked.
The domain is blocked by someonewhocares.org hosts file, which is included in all hosts file types.

 

[jeff288]

Thanks again for this. At first I was a bit dismissive of an adblocker on the router due to possible performance issues on my N66U but after using it, it works wonders for any phones, tablets, gaming consoles, etc where an ad and malware blocker might be impractical. I just seem to be using ~2MB's more in memory and don't notice any performance issues with it. Looking forward to the GUI version.

FWIW, I'm using this one which also includes the Adaway hosts file specifically for Android client ad/malware blocking. I might try a custom 32MB host file later just to see how much the old boy can take.

 

[thelonelycoder]

Thanks again for this. At first I was a bit dismissive of an adblocker on the router due to possible performance issues on my N66U but after using it, it works wonders for any phones, tablets, gaming consoles, etc where an ad and malware blocker might be impractical. I just seem to be using ~2MB's more in memory and don't notice any performance issues with it. Looking forward to the GUI version.

FWIW, I'm using this one which also includes the Adaway hosts file specifically for Android client ad/malware blocking. I might try a custom 32MB host file later just to see how much the old boy can take.

Dnsmasq loads the hosts files into memory. That's the self generated ones from /etc/: hosts, hosts.dnsmasq and ethers. And the two from the AB-Solution: blacklist.txt and hosts-adblock.
Be careful with the limited capabilities of your router model.

 

[jeff288]

Be careful with the limited capabilities of your router model.

But that's no fun.

I just tried a 34MB hosts file just to push the limits that has ~1,200,000 hosts. It's a combination of one huge one I found plus a few others. CPU load average and page responsiveness doesn't seem too discernible from the latter hosts file which was ~800KB. However, it did use up ~100MB's of my limited 256MB memory with only 78MBs free. So I can conclude from my very limited testing, AB-Solution will likely use 3x memory of the hosts file size.

And from my limited experience, the "medium" option is a very good choice no matter the router since I haven't saw an ad yet, especially since memory use is only a few MBs and page response doesn't seem discernible.

 

[thelonelycoder]

But that's no fun.

If my routers had a conscious memory, they would hate the day I have chosen them from the vendors rack!

 

[cybrnook]

Perhaps it is something else, but I wanted to ask. Does anyone know if google chromes password auto fill feature requires specific url/domains to be white listed in order to operate properly?

I have noticed recently that my username/passwords do not auto populate although they are in the saved list within my chrome profile. Happens on multiple sites.

I am thinking maybe there is a google domain or url I need to white list, but would prefer to be specific instead of white listing google*

 

[thelonelycoder]

Perhaps it is something else, but I wanted to ask. Does anyone know if google chromes password auto fill feature requires specific url/domains to be white listed in order to operate properly?

I have noticed recently that my username/passwords do not auto populate although they are in the saved list within my chrome profile. Happens on multiple sites.

I am thinking maybe there is a google domain or url I need to white list, but would prefer to be specific instead of white listing google*

Just 15 minutes ago I setup a new chrome install on a Laptop. With the Standard hosts file all went well.
Once synced the passwords are stored locally. So you have either a problem with your sync account or the syncing is indeed blocked. Turn on logging and select option 2. Then do a manual sync with chrome or start the browser fresh.

 

[anteac]

Can you block youtube ads on chromecast? or is this already in 1 of the options? I think i used the 3rd option but it blocked normal sites like opensubtitles.org, but did not block youtube ads on chromecast.

 

[thelonelycoder]

Can you block youtube ads on chromecast? or is this already in 1 of the options? I think i used the 3rd option but it blocked normal sites like opensubtitles.org, but did not block youtube ads on chromecast.

AFAIK that is not possible with a hosts file entry. It used to, though.

 

[jeff288]

Can you block youtube ads on chromecast? or is this already in 1 of the options? I think i used the 3rd option but it blocked normal sites like opensubtitles.org, but did not block youtube ads on chromecast.

You might try adding this to your hosts-adblock file in /tmp/mnt/yourusb:

0.0.0.0 ads.youtube.com
0.0.0.0 s0.2mdn.net
0.0.0.0 s1.2mdn.net
0.0.0.0 googleads.g.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 pubads.g.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 static.doubleclick.net

I'm not using an adblocker at the moment other than on the router and haven't noticed youtube ads on any devices. But when you add to the hosts-adblock, I think it gets overwritten when updated so you might want to disable updating in the config and do it manually.

 

[thelonelycoder]

You might try adding this to your hosts-adblock file in /tmp/mnt/yourusb:

Do not add it to hosts-adblock. This file gets regenerated once a week in AB-Solution.
Use the blacklist.txt file in the same directory. This is what it's for.

 

[thelonelycoder]

0.0.0.0 ads.youtube.com
0.0.0.0 s0.2mdn.net
0.0.0.0 s1.2mdn.net
0.0.0.0 googleads.g.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 pubads.g.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 static.doubleclick.net

And just to add to the previous post: These all are already blocked in all of the four hosts files to choose from.

 

[anteac]

thanks for your reply. sucks that it isnt possible tho

 

[cybrnook]

Just 15 minutes ago I setup a new chrome install on a Laptop. With the Standard hosts file all went well.
Once synced the passwords are stored locally. So you have either a problem with your sync account or the syncing is indeed blocked. Turn on logging and select option 2. Then do a manual sync with chrome or start the browser fresh.

I will poke at it some more. I narrowed it down to newegg.com this is now the only site that is giving me issues. But may be a chrome problem and not a AB-Solution. For whatever reason, even after deleting the un/pw combinations from my chrome stored passwords for newegg, then re-entering them manually, chrome is not prompting me to even store the un/pw combinations. So no surprise it is oppositely not promoting me with a stored un/pw to be entered when I am on a screen that would accept it. So I think it is an issue between chrome and newegg.

Thanks for you trouble shooting steps.

EDIT:

Hmmm, maybe I spoke too soon. eBay has the same issue.
Now, I tested the same 2 x URL's on my laptop connected to a VPN (bypassing DNS on the router with the "Medium" list running) and the un/pw prompts worked fine for both newegg and ebay.

Tested again on another laptop off vpn (routing again through DNS of my router running AB-Solution) and the two url's no longer prompt.


I am going to disable AB-Solution now and try again......

 

[cybrnook]

Okay with AB-Solution disabled, the challenges are now working correctly with chrome being able to save/prompt stored un/pw combinations.

I am now going to slim the list down to the standard list (excluding the mw domains from medium list) and try again.

EDIT:

Okay, so disabling malware domains (dropping from medium to standard) solved the issue. So there is something in the malware domains list that is conflicting with chromes ability to correctly use the stored un/pw feature, OR, it is blocking some element from particular sites that are not then flagging to chrome it can use or store a un/pw combination.

 

[elorimer]

try turning on the logging and follow it while you would be otherwise doing the save/prompt. There may be a domain that returns 0.0.0.0 that is relevant. This could be chrome trying to sync across your other chrome browsers.

 

[thelonelycoder]

AB-Solution now has a simple Website: ab-solution.info
This is a work in progress, I'll add more content when time allows.

 

[HawkInOz]

The thought occurred to me that it might be of some value going forward to have an "AB-Solution Whitelist" thread created where everyone could post what URLs they have whitelisted, and why, and - if known - which host file created the need for their whitelisting(s). Having that information consolidated in a single thread could make life a lot easier for someone installing AB-Solution for the first time. Building and maintaining a custom whitelist from those posts might be something that someone would want to do as well...

 

[thelonelycoder]

You asked for it, but I'm not asking you to, but you may do so now.
How much does AB-Solution cost, the License

 

[thelonelycoder]

The thought occurred to me that it might be of some value going forward to have an "AB-Solution Whitelist" thread created where everyone could post what URLs they have whitelisted, and why, and - if known - which host file created the need for their whitelisting(s). Having that information consolidated in a single thread could make life a lot easier for someone installing AB-Solution for the first time. Building and maintaining a custom whitelist from those posts might be something that someone would want to do as well...

I could build a pull into AB-Solution for a combined whitelist hosted somewhere, just like the hosts files. That would be doable if interest is there.
We'd have to figure out the how, where and who's first though.
Ideas are welcome.