SafariBlock: More powerful ad blocking

Found this awesome tutorial (I'm not the author) for installing privoxy, it's so stupid simple and blocks flash ads (which safariblock doesn't appear to do).

http://www.macinstruct.com/node/94

PithHelmet also relies on the InputManager method... in fact, it relies on SIMBL (written by the PithHelmet developer), which is a sort of meta-input-manager method. Both SIMBL and all other InputManager approaches are going away with Leopard. However, I think Apple is putting out a new API for WebKit plugins, which would then work in all WebKit-based browsers (e.g., Shiira, OmniWeb, and any other webview like Coda or DevonAgent that use the WebKit).

Advertising is a necessary evil... but it can be just as evil as necessary. Web publishing relies on advertising just as print publishing does. However, print publishing typically is tasteful, well designed, and has been reviewed and approved by the editor of the publishing outfit. In contrast, web advertising is either boring, ugly text ads that look like part of the site but are not (hence, very deceptive, especially to the most gullible segment of the population), or they are garish, distracting (often seriously so), ugly rectangles that no serious designer or editor has ever laid a critical eye on.

Until standards and content for web advertising rises to the level of print or even television ads, I'm going to block as many of them as I can. Besides this rather highfalutin argument, I block ads because all too often they are the direct cause of delays in page rendering. If the browser can fetch that ad from doubleclick or adclick or wherever, it just sits there waiting. Meanwhile, it''s got all of my content ready to display! But I have to wait until the ad content comes through. That's just wrong.

SafariBlock has always worked great for me (until it stopped working). And it's free. And it's easy and effective.

One last note: You talk about clicking on ads to support websites... how about being a little more understanding of busy, generous developers who offer gems like SafariBlock to you for free? What do you think he's got there at home? A receptionist? Sheesh.

It looks like the developer of this software also codes many keyloggers and the like, and is also very rude to people who ask polite questions about SafariBlock:

http://www.macupdate.com/reviews.php?id=19202&pid=163696

After seeing this I'm not going to use SafariBlock anymore. I only wish PithHelmet worked with Safari 3.0!!

SafariBlock is excellent... I've been using it for a couple of years now, and I'm glad to see I can now give Safari 3 a try without feeling naked!

As for the arguments about ad revenue... tough. I'm sorry to be harsh, but thrusting unsolicited information in people's faces is not a great way of making money. If things are good, I'm happy to pay for them, but not via the back door.

Yo, tuaw is owned by aol.

PS: I rarely read hard print newspapers anymore because of all the ads in them. Plus the fact that you can't read through one whole article without having to turn one or more pages and find where it finishes.

Am I lazy? Let's just say my time is worth something and if I have a better way that is less irritating to learn about something, I take that route. Three irritating features about a newspaper, magazine, or web site and they are out (unless there is a utility that I can use to make it so it isn't irritating.

"Ad revenue is all well and good, and I don't mind ads on sites -- but when the ads are animated and/or Flash that make it difficult to actually read the page, that's where the line is drawn. Then they get blocked with extreme prejudice. This very page has a Flash ad on it. No way, no how am I going to put up with that; it dies."

I can't agree with this statement more. And PithHelmet works great.

I do not blocks ads on websites that do NOT have animated (including flash) ads. If they are static ads and don't distract or take up too much room, then I allow ads on that website.

Animated ads are WORSE than SPAM. I have an easier time making it so that I see only a tiny amount of spam. Just use a very good spam filter with the ability to create good rules for as what to block.

Hosts files, people! I use Privoxy, but every ad server and tracking site I've found is still in my hosts file, pointing to good old 127.0.0.1. And I add every new site I find; the string sudo pico /etc/hosts rolls right off my fingers. If you're OK with a swat at this fly, one method's sufficient, but two or more methods is really necessary if you're the least bit serious.

Jacqui - But ads certainly can be (and often are) just as annoying to me as spam. Installing adblock (especially on windows pcs) could even be a security feature, as it prevents people from clicking through to a possibly unsafe website.

A site's business model is their business, not mine. A long history of irresponsible websites have led a large group of people to say "yep, not worth it for me to view these". If TUAW wants to switch to a pre-paid registration system, and can make good money at it and keep viewers, than great for them.

If I want to view the web with ads, without ads, without images, from lynx, or read aloud to me from text-to-speech, that's my business :) View the web you want!

David,

Why are you promoting ad blockers? Aren't ads what keep you in business?