Three UK To Block Ads Across Its Mobile Network: The Independent

[6Foot2]

Link: Three UK to block ads across its mobile network | News | Lifestyle | The Independent

 

Three is going to block ads for everyone that uses its network in the UK, in a move that it claims is going to make life better for its customers.

 

For one day next month, Three users won’t see ads on any pages they visit because of the change.

 

The company will trial the block for 24-hours. But it has previously signalled that it could roll out the blocks more widely in an attempt to change what it claims is a “broken” ad model...

[3s-gtech]

Cue providers like Youtube and Facebook putting in restriction on Three traffic.

[abillybob]

I dont understand why there so many companies are experimenting with ad blocking at the moment. Nothing is free, even EduGeek.. the internet needs to be funded somehow and the vast majority of websites use adverts. If ISP's and mobile operators start blocking ads by default websites will start either closing down or charging you for a subscription based service that you'll need to pay for. This is really not a good thing in my books, I'd much rather watch a 20 Second advert and get the content I'm trying to view for free than to have no adverts and have to pay to use the services.

[sted]

I dont understand why there so many companies are experimenting with ad blocking at the moment. Nothing is free, even EduGeek.. the internet needs to be funded somehow and the vast majority of websites use adverts. If ISP's and mobile operators start blocking ads by default websites will start either closing down or charging you for a subscription based service that you'll need to pay for. This is really not a good thing in my books, I'd much rather watch a 20 Second advert and get the content I'm trying to view for free than to have no adverts and have to pay to use the services.

because people are stupid. though ads that suddenly blare out sounds need killing with fire

[DJ-1701]

...though ads that suddenly blare out sounds need killing with fire

 

That there is the reason I believe Ad Blocking has become all so popular. I don't care about the images, if they are animated or anything, but when they are interactive (i.e. you casually move your mouse over them, not even on purpose, and they do something like cover the full screen, or they have sound... grrrrrr. Those waste my bandwidth as well.

 

Of course, always allow the ones on EduGeek :nerd:as obviously it supports the site and I know no one here would dream of using annoying ads.

[Arthur]

Those waste my bandwidth as well.

The bandwidth saved by blocking ads on mobile devices can be quite substantial.

 

 

Edugeek is whitelisted btw.

[ZeroHour]

I blame the daily mail . That site is one of the worst sites for loading huge amounts of ads especially on mobile. We don't actually have ads for mobile right now primarily because the majority of them are absolutely awful and a complete waste of bandwidth. Edited May 27, 2016 by ZeroHour

[IrritableTech]

How do we feel about networks adjusting our traffic? Three could start replacing ads with their own promotions for example.

[ZeroHour]

How do we feel about networks adjusting our traffic? Three could start replacing ads with their own promotions for example.

 

Yeah also it could easily break a lot of freemuim apps who use ads as they detect blocking generally.

Edited May 27, 2016 by ZeroHour

[jmak]

What ad blockers do people use for android? I can't find adguard as per @Arthur's post above - his recommendations are usually top notch

 

I use adblock browser, which I find a bit clunky. Apart from the noisy ads and the ones that cover the whole screen (especially on "non-responsive" websites, which are sometimes so poorly designed that you can't access the website you want to at all) it's the fact that the same advertisers won't give up that have driven me to block. Example: I searched for the care home that my Nan lives in so that I could find the number to call her. In November! If I use chrome on my phone, almost every page is still covered in ads for that care home. She already lives there for crying out loud! And if she didn't, it would be too late for one reason or another. [End rant.]

[Arthur]

I can't find adguard

Adguard isn't in the Play Store (since Google doesn't like adblockers). You have to download it from their website.

[pete]

I block adverts mostly for malware prevention (same reason Flash and other plugins are set as click-to-run). That and the whole "popover advert that can't be closed without zooming out on a mobile device because the close button is off-screen".

 

If you're running a website and using an outsourced ad bureau that doesn't vet content for appropriateness (hello Outbrain*) or whether it contains malware (adtech.de, for a recent example), expect to be blocked.

 

*and anecdotally, even when you do tell Outbrain "stop running inappropriate adverts on our site" they do a terrible job of it.

[Dos_Box]

because people are stupid. though ads that suddenly blare out sounds need killing with fire

 

A special hell is reserved for the delayed start AV ad. The ones where if you have a dozen or more tabs open one will suddenly start playing a video ad in the background leading to much faffing around to find it. Usually after about 10 mins or so.

Especially bad when you are on a Skype call.

Edited May 27, 2016 by Dos_Box

[sted]

A special hell is reserved for the delayed start AV ad. The ones where if you have a dozen or more tabs open one will suddenly start playing a video ad in the background leading to much faffing around to find it. Usually after about 10 mins or so.

Especially bad when you are on a Skype call.

or sites with multiple of the same video playing out of sync

[elsiegee40]

I had an email from 3 inviting me to take part in their trial day on June 15

[Norphy]

I dont understand why there so many companies are experimenting with ad blocking at the moment. Nothing is free, even EduGeek.. the internet needs to be funded somehow and the vast majority of websites use adverts. If ISP's and mobile operators start blocking ads by default websites will start either closing down or charging you for a subscription based service that you'll need to pay for. This is really not a good thing in my books, I'd much rather watch a 20 Second advert and get the content I'm trying to view for free than to have no adverts and have to pay to use the services.

 

I see what you're saying and you're right. However, there are far too many websites that utterly extract the urine. When all I want to do is read an article that has maybe 50kb of text and 500kb of images, I object to having to download 3mb of adverts, tracking cookies, videos and god knows what else besides on what is a metered internet connection. Stop extracting the urine with your ads and I'll stop blocking them.

 

(In case it's not clear, that 'your' above isn't pointed at either abillybob or Edugeek, neither of whom , extract the urine with their ads!)

Edited May 27, 2016 by Norphy

[asc]

I wonder how this will work with SSL traffic... Surely they can't do SSL interception (like RM Safety Net does).

I agree that if they can adjust our [secure] traffic this way, what's to stop mobile operators from using those powers maliciously.

[DJ-1701]

True, but I guess they would block the name resolution for some of the more known advert hosting addresses though. Edited May 28, 2016 by DJ-1701

[Norphy]

Surely they can't do SSL interception

 

Don't know that it'd be that hard to be honest, at least for phones supplied by them. All they'd need to do is put in a trust for a root certificate into the phone's certificate store and 90% of people would be none the wiser.

[Arthur]

DAll they'd need to do is put in a trust for a root certificate into the phone's certificate store and 90% of people would be none the wiser.

That seems like a lot more effort compared to simply doing it at the DNS level.

[ZeroHour]

Don't know that it'd be that hard to be honest, at least for phones supplied by them. All they'd need to do is put in a trust for a root certificate into the phone's certificate store and 90% of people would be none the wiser.

 

That would work until someone uses tethering and spots it.

[DJ-1701]

Don't know that it'd be that hard to be honest, at least for phones supplied by them. All they'd need to do is put in a trust for a root certificate into the phone's certificate store and 90% of people would be none the wiser.

 

That would work until someone uses tethering and spots it.

 

Or, if you are like me, purchased your phone and have a sim only deal with 3.

Or, possibly if you reset your phone.

Also I don't believe Apple allow you to manipulate their default settings, one thing they have been proud of in the past is no bundled Apps or items pushed into their phones from the network provider.