AB-Solution - The Ad Blocking Solution

[M@rco]

What level blacklists to people typically use?

I started out with Medium (+, to exchange info with Skynet) and had to whitelist only a handful of sites. Later on, when I decided to quit using OpenDNS for Parental Controls, I switched to Custom+, pre-populated with the hosts files from Medium and I manually added the Unified hosts file + fakenews + gambling + porn list available at https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts. I presume there are several duplicate entries (as it contains the same sources partially), but for now this is a quick 'n dirty fix to protect the innocent eyes of my 10-year old.

I'd actually prefer adding social as well (basically the largest list Steven Black provides, if I'm correct) but that would leave me with a grumbling, hostile wife, so I need to find some time to block social as well yet keep her Facebook working, which is kinda hard caus' she only lets go of her phone when showering...

Even with this large custom hosts lists I rarely have to whitelist additional sites. Occasionally it happens, and when it does, there's (nearly) always an explanation, like a legit site being hosted on the same server as sites with less legit purposes.

 

[bengalih]

I'd actually prefer adding social as well (basically the largest list Steven Black provides, if I'm correct) but that would leave me with a grumbling, hostile wife, so I need to find some time to block social as well yet keep her Facebook working, which is kinda hard caus' she only lets go of her phone when showering...

Even with this large custom hosts lists I rarely have to whitelist additional sites. Occasionally it happens, and when it does, there's (nearly) always an explanation, like a legit site being hosted on the same server as sites with less legit purposes.

Thanks. I'll have to look at that site and learn a bit more about the individual lists. Your post reminded me of another issue which was my wife said she couldn't use her Facebook app on android anymore. I was able to access FB from my PC, but didn't yet investigate why she couldn't use it on her mobile.

As far as sites being blocked because they share a server - I'm not sure that would cause a problem since the dns names should be different. For instance:

www.legit-site.com = 123.123.10.20
www.we-serve-ads.com = 123.123.10.20

There should be no problem getting to legit-site.com since only we-serve-ads.com should be listed in the block-list. IOW it's keyed/indexed to the domain names, not the IPs. I suppose what is possible is someone saw an offending IP and tried to back trace it and got the wrong domain name? I don't know how automated these block lists are when being built vs someone actually manually adding entries.

 

[^Tripper^]

I'd actually prefer adding social as well (basically the largest list Steven Black provides, if I'm correct) but that would leave me with a grumbling, hostile wife, so I need to find some time to block social as well yet keep her Facebook working, which is kinda hard caus' she only lets go of her phone when showering...

Sounds EXACTLY like my wife. Trying to figure out how to fix this; a “wife” filter? Device specific blocking? A different network/router? A different wife? Gonna wait for AB4 to see what options are possible.

 

[M@rco]

Sounds EXACTLY like my wife. Trying to figure out how to fix this; a “wife” filter? Device specific blocking? A different network/router? A different wife? Gonna wait for AB4 to see what options are possible.

Maybe @thelonelycoder can add an option 'uw'* in AB4 ?

* Uninstall Wife (She's sitting next to me so I have to keep this small)

 

[thelonelycoder]

Maybe @thelonelycoder can add an option 'uw'* in AB4 ?

* Uninstall Wife (She's sitting next to me so I have to keep this small)

An underwear filter you say? Done.
Can be used with the fs option (AB4 option only) , this is the secondary blocking file fast switch.

 

[Clark Griswald]

I have been patiently waiting for the release of AB4, but now that I know there is a "uw" filter, I need you to stop with your "real life" and release AB4

 

[M@rco]

@Clark Griswald Couldn't agree more. I wonder if his employer knows about this option. I'd give @thelonelycoder a sabbatical on the spot to finish his work and get AB4 out there...

On a more serious note:

Is it correct that when I manually blacklist two domains in AB-Solution (the previous version without the 'uw' filter), it shows up in syslog like

Aug 25 16:40:10 RT-AC68U marco: AB-Solution added 'trendnieuws.nl' to blacklist.txt (user action)
Aug 25 16:40:34 RT-AC68U marco: AB-Solution added 'www.trendnieuws.nl' to blacklist.txt (user action)

...but when I edit blacklist.txt directly (by manually adding 184 Dutch and Flemish fake news sites, which I've carefully put in the correct format), sorted, verified and processed, that I don't see anything in syslog?

Just checking...

 

[thelonelycoder]

I'd give @thelonelycoder a sabbatical on the spot to finish his work and get AB4 out there...

My employer and I are very happy for me to work there. I came at the right time, with very specific knowledge and experience they desperately needed.
Workload is high and hours are long but I know this is the job I want to do.

But I also like my hobbies.
AB4 will come out eventually, I promise!

...but when I edit blacklist.txt directly (by manually adding 184 Dutch and Flemish fake news sites, which I've carefully put in the correct format), sorted, verified and processed, that I don't see anything in syslog?

The syslog entries are generated by AB while editing the blacklist/whitelist through el.
Manually adding/removing entries in the files directly is not logged to it. How could it?

 

[bengalih]

2) I've been noticing some weird issues with a couple of sites, coincidentally enough the issue so far has been most prevalant with snbforums.com. I notice that AB has auto-whitelisted some ad domains from snbforums.com - ok, cool, just mentioning that, because... What happens is that when I have AB enabled the snbforums site seems to lag painfully. It looks like the page loads, but as I try to scroll through the page and or type in this box here I get huge lags/hangs that can last well over 10 seconds. I'm using Chrome and I can constantly see in the bottom left of Chrome that it looks like it keeps trying to load other resources. If I switch AB off this doesn't happen. I realize that AB can't account for how any site is coded, but I would think that based on its affinity for snbforums that the default configuration of allowed ads would be including anything that might make site performance slow. I'm not sure how much more info I can give other than AB On = horrible lag on snbforums, AB Off = seemingly normal usage. I can basically recreate this at will. Any ideas?

Just wanted to update that I did some testing and it looks like these issues are related to pixelserv and not AB-Solution per-se. For anyone interested I have queried about it here.

 

[M@rco]

AB4 will come out eventually, I promise!

I know, no worries. I'm most likely the last one who will try to put pressure on you, it's done when it's done

Manually adding/removing entries in the files directly is not logged to it. How could it?

I thought this was logged to syslog during processing the blacklist, which needs to be done in both scenarios, right? But if I understood correctly it only happens when manually adding them by using el. Thanks for clarifying though.

 

[thelonelycoder]

I thought this was logged to syslog during processing the blacklist

No, it is sent to syslog at the time when you add a domain in el, not when processing.

 

[thelonelycoder]

AB-Solution 4.0 is now Diversion 4.0

Diversion 4.0 is released

 

[thelonelycoder]

I have been patiently waiting for the release of AB4, but now that I know there is a "uw" filter, I need you to stop with your "real life" and release AB4

Sorry man, can't deliver AB4. But I have Diversion 4.0 for you!

 

[M@rco]

I knew I could talk some sense into your boss. Looks like Christmas came earlier this year!

Now let's drop the underwear and install this beauty

 

[Goobi]

Does skynet and AB block/unblocks work with each other? Meaning if I unblock something in AB that is blocked in skynet will it be unblocked from skynet or do I need to unblock it there as well. I also ask for the reverse (unblocking from skynet and propagating that to AB).

 

[skeal]

Does skynet and AB block/unblocks work with each other? Meaning if I unblock something in AB that is blocked in skynet will it be unblocked from skynet or do I need to unblock it there as well. I also ask for the reverse (unblocking from skynet and propagating that to AB).

Yes.

 

[M@rco]

Yes.

Indeed, as long as @Goobi adds the + in the blocking file menu (as prompted by AB3) so both scripts can share their data.

 

[thelonelycoder]

Does skynet and AB block/unblocks work with each other? Meaning if I unblock something in AB that is blocked in skynet will it be unblocked from skynet or do I need to unblock it there as well. I also ask for the reverse (unblocking from skynet and propagating that to AB).

Diversion and AB-Solution work seamless with Skynet. But they only share the whitelist vice-versa, not the blacklist.

 

[sentinelvdx]

Question - Do I have to uninstall ABS 3 before installing ABS/Diversion 4?

Also the site for diversion seems not working. It's timing out for me

Sent from S.G. S9+ Duos

 

[M@rco]

Question - Do I have to uninstall ABS 3 before installing ABS/Diversion 4?

Also the site for diversion seems not working. It's timing out for me

No need to uninstall, the Diversion installer will recognize an AB3 installation and offer to port your settings.

As for the website, https://diversion.ch/ loads fine for me.