Ad blocking - Security Discussion

Is there any good ad blocking software that runs at a browser level? I've used adblock but it runs as a proxy and can stop some apps from accessing the internet.
Sent from my SM-T705 using Tapatalk

try AdAway, it's block ad in every app.
or use ublock in firefox, to block only for the browser.

and Ghostery too, works well . Also try bluehell firewall addon <- Both firefox Andriod.

Thanks guys I'll give these suggestions a try
Sent from my SM-T705 using Tapatalk

Another AdAway fan...

Maybe Adblock Browser? https://adblockbrowser.org/
but I still love Chrome though
AdAway uses hosts file, so it's still a system level software

edison0354 said:
AdAway uses hosts file, so it's still a system level software
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Managing our own hosts file is the best solution IMO. You have no control over a proxy. #TrustOrPray
AdAway FTW!!!

There is no widely used Ad blocker other than AdAway ?

Emerald Core said:
There is no widely used Ad blocker other than AdAway ?
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uBlock, Adfree...

With AddAway some apps didn´t work anymore in my phone .

Nachtwesen2 said:
With AddAway some apps didn´t work anymore in my phone .
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AdAway is ONLY a user interface to manager your hosts file. This app doesn't block anything.
Check the XDA thread or Github to learn how to use it.

I use Adfree.
It blocks ads by adding the hosts to the local hosts file.
This method blocks the advertisements in all apps + browser

Sounds interesting. What host files do you need to implement to get add-free apps with adaway?

luetage said:
Sounds interesting. What host files do you need to implement to get add-free apps with adaway?
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You only need Adaway: it is an interface, which unlike the other apps, does not waste your battery. It gets host sources from 4 respectable internet sites that get updated regularly. It also lets you add your own sites. It is so effective that Google has expelled it from its app store. And it is open source: you don't want to give root access to a closed source app...

are there Apps to block just ads on selected sites? Because I don't want to block all ads from all sites. I just want to block these sites, wich opens 20x Tabs by one click.

[email protected] said:
I use Adfree.
It blocks ads by adding the hosts to the local hosts file.
This method blocks the advertisements in all apps + browser
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Click to collapse
I can't find Adfree on Google play. Is it allowed only for some countries?

Google Play removed all ad-blocking apps. You can search here at xda-developers for AdAway and AdFree.

EscapeMaster said:
are there Apps to block just ads on selected sites? Because I don't want to block all ads from all sites. I just want to block these sites, wich opens 20x Tabs by one click.
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A hosts file blocks domains so the ad/domain/IP "X" will be blocked on any website.

is there any app is better than AdAway ?!

Amer Alhusseini said:
is there any app is better than AdAway ?!
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Why do you need something else?

Related

Where can I find the latest hosts file?

After one day I am already sick of ads...
There are several in the market. Personally, I use AdFree.
AdAway or ROM Toolbox is your friend in the battle against annoying ads.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
AdFree, but you can manually do it, AdFree host file are composed of: http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt and http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?showintro=0;hostformat=hosts
[email protected] said:
AdAway or ROM Toolbox is your friend in the battle against annoying ads.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
Click to expand...
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I tried rom toolbox cause I had it already installed, but it does not work as good as my previous rom using adfree hosts files.
the worst is on this forum, with a huge white space always at the top, I never saw it in previous rom
cowst said:
I tried rom toolbox cause I had it already installed, but it does not work as good as my previous rom using adfree hosts files.
the worst is on this forum, with a huge white space always at the top, I never saw it in previous rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using XDA Premium so I have no idea the huge white space at the top. Regardless, you can give AdAway a try. It has an option to enable a loopback local server that can response to ads requests.
As far as white blocks or empty frames in place of ads, it all depends on how the apps handle loopback requests. Some apps just won't show the ads if the ads request is nullified, and some just show a big frame or empty space. Ad blocking apps just update the hosts file routing the requests to ad serving hosts to the loopback localhost 127.0.0.1. They cannot control how the apps handle ads.
[email protected] said:
I'm using XDA Premium so I have no idea the huge white space at the top. Regardless, you can give AdAway a try. It has an option to enable a loopback local server that can response to ads requests.
As far as white blocks or empty frames in place of ads, it all depends on how the apps handle loopback requests. Some apps just won't show the ads if the ads request is nullified, and some just show a big frame or empty space. Ad blocking apps just update the hosts file routing the requests to ad serving hosts to the loopback localhost 127.0.0.1. They cannot control how the apps handle ads.
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adaway did the trick, thanks!
Personally I do not support blocking ads. If an app do annoys me, I would not use it
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
GeoWatsons said:
Personally I do not support blocking ads. If an app do annoys me, I would not use it
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but I generally purchase apps I like anyway. The hosts file does more than just block ads.

Block all ads without root

If you want to block all ads without root use Adguard it blocks all browser ads for free. But for £6.95 you get 1 years licence which will block app ads. It's working perfectly for me I have not seen one ad and you don't need to be rooted
http://adguard.com/en/adguard-android/overview.html
Can anyone confirm please?
Sent from my SM-G920F
eSu.Matix said:
Can anyone confirm please?
Sent from my SM-G920F
Click to expand...
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Just try it you get 7 days free trial
I have just tried and it, and it's just as god as AdFree maybe a bit slower in loading Web pages ?
Hdfxsts said:
I have just tried and it, and it's just as god as AdFree maybe a bit slower in loading Web pages ?
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Does Adfree block app ads if it does I might try it . I only used to root to block ads
Don't worry Adfree needs root Adguard doesn't
Adfree needs Root but it also blocks most ads in apps and Adguard is about just as god.
I've been using it for a while, it's quite good. But obviously everything adds up and it has an impact on battery life.
Working great for me. Some pages seem to load a bit slower, other faster. Premium does work on blocking app ads (tested in SpeedTest app).
daewond3r said:
Working great for me. Some pages seem to load a bit slower, other faster. Premium does work on blocking app ads (tested in SpeedTest app).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a great app I only rooted my phone to block ads and now I don't have to
Adguard is a massive battery hog from what I can recall from my previous experience with it
Sent from my SM-G920I
Just root and do it free :silly:
adaway if free to and can filter ads without root but only on wifi; I use uc browser, it has a build in adblocker, firefox of course has some adblocking extensions but not all them work
godutch said:
adaway if free to and can filter ads without root but only on wifi; I use uc browser, it has a build in adblocker, firefox of course has some adblocking extensions but not all them work
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But adaway does not work on apps.Adguard is free if you just want to block browser ads
Adguard is hogging battery?
Any other alternative?
Rony Harianto said:
Adguard is hogging battery?
Any other alternative?
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Click to collapse
It doesn't even show on my battery list no battery drain here
Rony Harianto said:
Adguard is hogging battery?
Any other alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not seeing much battery drain here.
Adguard can block ads from apps?
Confused!
How can two apps do same thing and one requires root [which is prohibited by OEMs] while other does not require root. And how can both be same in quality. Can someone explain.
Links to paid apps are not permitted on XDA without a free version available to members as well.
I'll leave the thread open to discuss, but please... No links here.
Thanks,
Darth
Forum Moderator

Ad Blocking Options

I primarily rooted my phone to block ads. I am a long time user of AdFree, however, that app is no longer supported. I am curious what ad blocker does the community prefer. Google-ing options, it seems there is AdAway and AdBlock Plus. Are these good options, or are there others that are better? Also, with a systemless root, is it safe to manually change out the \system\etc\hosts file?
purplepizza said:
I primarily rooted my phone to block ads. I am a long time user of AdFree, however, that app is no longer supported. I am curious what ad blocker does the community prefer. Google-ing options, it seems there is AdAway and AdBlock Plus. Are these good options, or are there others that are better? Also, with a systemless root, is it safe to manually change out the \system\etc\hosts file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
install f-droid https://f-droid.org/
install ad-away from f-droid
mjrider said:
install f-droid https://f-droid.org/
install ad-away from f-droid
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Click to collapse
Adaway is the best :good:
I have been using Adaway for 3 years and it has worked great. A couple months ago I also added Adblock Plus.
pjc123 said:
I have been using Adaway for 3 years and it has worked great. A couple months ago I also added Adblock Plus.
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Why do you need both? Don't they both do the same?
i use adgaurd from many days its creates VPN and lets us browse through it .. better dont use any kind of vpn when you are doing any money transactions
Adaway is good, but use Firefox (with ABP), uc, Yolo, Yu etc. Browsers as ADAWAY doesn't work good with browsers without inbuilt adblock features
adaway works via host file (you don't even have to keep the app open). It blocks every ad in every app installed on the phone

Removing ads without root?

Hi guys
simple question, is there any way to remove ads without root and adaway? Especially on browsers like chrome and samsung browser.. I don't want to root my S7 because I need that warranty.
thanks
Silvers91 said:
Hi guys
simple question, is there any way to remove ads without root and adaway? Especially on browsers like chrome and samsung browser.. I don't want to root my S7 because I need that warranty.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
read about Block this
Silvers91 said:
Hi guys
simple question, is there any way to remove ads without root and adaway? Especially on browsers like chrome and samsung browser.. I don't want to root my S7 because I need that warranty.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adguard works wonders. I can't post a link because I don't have enough posts. But it's just adguard dot com.
I read about block-this but I don't understand how it works or if it secure. Has anyone done a deep dive into this app? I'm very concerned with security and data leakage.
Is Adguard the next best alternative?
blockthis works fine with unrooted MM, better then adguard, no probs in security
Any non-root adblocker uses a VPN to re-route traffic through via a custom hosts file that filters out the ads, Adguard uses a local VPN for http traffic, but for https I think they use a remote server (https blocking is disabled by default)
Samsung browser has extensions especially for ad block ?
exaflare said:
Samsung browser has extensions especially for ad block ?
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Click to collapse
Doesn't block ads in apps, only web
*Detection* said:
Doesn't block ads in apps, only web
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Click to collapse
Yes I know but I believed that is what the OP wants when he said "especially on browsers" and those extensions doesn't required root ?
exaflare said:
Yes I know but I believed that is what the OP wants when he said "especially on browsers" and those extensions doesn't required root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you both for the suggestions! blocking within apps would be great too! I was just worried about data leakage to third party servers etc... I don't quite understand how everything works in detail but the developer of Block-This has a thread going on XDA (https://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-edge/themes/block-ad-blocker-root-t3338098) and seems like a honest dev, but you can't be sure unless you understand how the system works. I'll try to get Steve Gibson from Security Now Podcast to get into it in detail, he understands it down to the base and explains it well for the slow among us such as I.
What about dns66
*Detection* said:
Any non-root adblocker uses a VPN to re-route traffic through via a custom hosts file that filters out the ads, Adguard uses a local VPN for http traffic, but for https I think they use a remote server (https blocking is disabled by default)
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Click to collapse
That's true. But obviously one can leave the https filtering option disabled if concerned about proxying through the remote server. And I would think that opting to use it should be relatively safe considering that all https traffic is encrypted. The destination site is the only party who should be able to decrypt it.

free ad blocker app for not rooted?

Hi guys I'm wondering if there is a free ad blocker that block apps in both apps and web for unrooted phone? Thanks.
theoryzz said:
Hi guys I'm wondering if there is a free ad blocker that block apps in both apps and web for unrooted phone? Thanks.
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Click to collapse
AdHell.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S8+ using Tapatalk
Katt50 said:
AdHell.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S8+ using Tapatalk
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I second this! Works better than the rest.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
I tend to disagree. Tried Adhell since I got my phone on launch day, this week went back to DNS66. Hate to go the VPN route, but Adhell did nothing for me browsing Chrome and in some other apps. And before it's said I do not plan on using some other browser.
Here's what I use, but the premium version. https://disconnect.me/mobile/disc
I have tried Adhell but for me it doesn't block the ads on apps only on the browser. Does Adhell block ads on apps for u guys? Well u used adblock on my s7 edge it's the best for me to block ads on both browser and apps but it's no longer a free service haha.
I tried adhell but it blocked a couple of sites I wanted to use... (gumtree)
I just use adblocker for samsung by betafish. Although that doesn't do apps, just browser.
I used BlockThis on my S7 occasionally. Haven't tried anything on the S8+ yet though.
Adhell is ok but it doesnt block everything. All it needs is the ability to import your own hosts file and it would effectively give us adfree/adaway for rooted devices but no sign of such a feature yet despite quite a few requests from people, maybe if enough people request it then he will add this. It does have the ability to change dns servers now so you can try using an ad blocking dns server with it too. Disconnect pro works in the exact same way using the knox firewall, but seems to let just as many ads through but comes with an extortionate price and is supposedly geared more towards blocking trackers than ads, and you cant change the dns.
Other than that you have the vpn based ones like adguard (not free), dns666 (free). I just spotted one called netguard (free with ads and option to buy pro version) https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-netguard-root-firewall-t3233012 which sounds good and lets you use your own hosts file but again its a vpn blocker.
I use Blokada and so far it's the best for me
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-blokada-fire-forget-root-ad-blocker-t3503374
y2k1ltd said:
Here's what I use, but the premium version. https://disconnect.me/mobile/disc
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Click to collapse
Does the pro or indeed the basic block ads on apps. I miss AdAway on my un-rooted new phone
is there anything that blocks youtube ads w/o rooting?
mrkoven said:
is there anything that blocks youtube ads w/o rooting?
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Youtube Red............................works for me. lol
Aid777 said:
Does the pro or indeed the basic block ads on apps. I miss AdAway on my un-rooted new phone
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Click to collapse
Yes it will, but you don't want to touch that thing with a barge pole. It isn't specifically made for ad blocking, its for tracking blocking. The price is a joke. You can't customise what its blocking at all. adhell is free, does the same thing, is specifically targeting blocking ads, and you can add/remove things from the list, which you cant do in disconnect pro. no contest. if only the dev of adhell would implement being able to import our own hosts files then we would have an adfree/adaway for rooted phones, but I dont know why he hasnt. most of the work to enable that is already done as it is obviously using some sort of hosts file anyway, just his own one instead of one we can customise ourselves.
my main issue is that nothing seems to block the ads that are in apps in your secure folder, regardless of whether it is a knox blocker or a vpn blocker, which i find ridiculous. trying to install the blocker into secure folder does not work and would double your battery drain even if it did work so that isnt an option.
ewokuk said:
Yes it will, but you don't want to touch that thing with a barge pole. It isn't specifically made for ad blocking, its for tracking blocking. The price is a joke. You can't customise what its blocking at all. adhell is free, does the same thing, is specifically targeting blocking ads, and you can add/remove things from the list, which you cant do in disconnect pro. no contest. if only the dev of adhell would implement being able to import our own hosts files then we would have an adfree/adaway for rooted phones, but I dont know why he hasnt. most of the work to enable that is already done as it is obviously using some sort of hosts file anyway, just his own one instead of one we can customise ourselves.
my main issue is that nothing seems to block the ads that are in apps in your secure folder, regardless of whether it is a knox blocker or a vpn blocker, which i find ridiculous. trying to install the blocker into secure folder does not work and would double your battery drain even if it did work so that isnt an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I find more info on adhell... The website or github does not give much at all... Also what is package disabler integration for?
Does it work if Knox is disabled in package disabler?
Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk
DNS66. Just make sure your select all the sources. Works great
While it's not free I use adgaurd. They had a sale and I think it was under 15 bucks for a life time license. it's a VPN app and I haven't found anything else be able to compete with it's protection from ads. I love it. Probably had it about 6 months now. The free stuff tends to not work well at all. I've tried them all.

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