Re: Best cookie/popup/ad blocker...

From: Vanguardx (see_signature)
Date: 09/29/04

  • Next message: «bonehead;\): "Re: Cracking admin password on Win 2000; then putting it back?" 
    Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 23:02:25 -0500

    "Johnny Canuck" <Johnny_Canuck1@hotmail.com>
    wrote in news:hop6d.40$Yu3.18@clgrps12:
    > Hi, I did not buy a new version of Norton Internet Security for a
    > couple of years now ever since I switched to ZoneAlarm for firewall
    > protection since it is much easier to use then Norton, works just as
    > well, and FREE!
    > I am looking for a piece of software that does the following features
    > below like Norton Internet Security, but I DO NOT need a firewall or
    > antivirus software as I have 2 preffered choices already (Zonealarm
    > free for firewall, AVG for antivirus).
    >
    > QUESTION:
    > If anyone has recommendations on a software program(s) that can
    > fufill the needs below the way I specified please let me know. I
    > don't mind buying the software program as long as it fufills my needs:
    >
    > 1) PopUp Blocker (Except from trusted sites)
    > 2) Cookie blocker and cookie permissions for trusted sites.
    > 3) Adware blocker
    >
    > Norton Internet security did the above features.
    >
    > In particular, I loved 2 features of Norton Internet Security.
    > a) The way NIS prompted you if you want to always accept a
    > cookie from a certain site or block it.
    > That way I could choose which sites are the "trusted" sites and
    > which sites all cookies should be blocked from.
    > b) As well, Norton Internet Securirity allowed you to export or
    > import settings in case you do a reinstall or put in a new version,
    > etc., that way you don't have to redo any of your cookie overides.
    > Being able to do this import or export of settings is a bonus since
    > If I had to reinstall Windows it would be a bit of a chore to add the
    > "trusted sites" again and makes managing multiple computers a lot
    > easier.
    > I'd prefer a free program BUT my most important requirement is that
    > the program needs to work WELL (like the current software I use that
    > is listed below) so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I
    > thought about Norton Internet Security, but I prefer ZoneAlarm free
    > firewall to their own firewall software and I don't like the fact
    > that it is so hard to prevent Norton Internet Security from
    > installing the antivirus as well.
    > I use Spybot (search and destroy) and Ad-Aware to remove spyware
    > (after the fact).
    >
    > Thanks
    >
    > JC

    Still hunting, I see, by reposting your near-same prior inquiry of a
    week ago
    (http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=Hf04d.30513%24yW6.15965%40clgrps12,
    except #3 for AX and #4 for anonymous surfing changed to just #3 for
    malware but which is "ad blocker" in your Subject). Hopefully this
    doesn't become a weekly repost.

    The problems that I have with ad blockers is that they sometimes block
    non-ads. They also rely on substrings that may be perfectly legit
    (that's why you have a whole list of exceptions already pre-programmed
    when you first install the ad blocker program and you'll later have to
    add your own exceptions; I had to do that for Creative which had "ads"
    somewhere in the URL to review your trouble reports with them). Some
    sites will refuse to function (i.e., proffer any of their content) if
    you block the downloading of ALL the content of their web page since
    they use that revenue to offset the cost of the resources needed to
    present you with that web page you get to access for free. You might
    not realize this and wonder by you got a blank page with "Done" in the
    status line. Or you hit a page that uses Macromedia's Flash to paint
    the menues and other content of that page but which also includes the
    ads, so you could block Flash content but then you get a blank page if
    they don't offer an non-Flash version of the page.

    I refuse to let them dictate how the resources on MY computer get used
    (like popups, ActiveX or Java applet downloads, cookies, fonts, etc.)
    but similarly they should be able to dictate what is THEIR content. If
    you don't want that content, don't go there. You get their content for
    free so where are they going to generate revenue to pay for that web
    site? Yeah, I personally do not like seeing ads but I also see their
    viewpoint in compensation for their costs to provide that site. If you
    take the attitude that you shouldn't have to see part of their content
    (i.e., the ads) to see the rest then understand they have an equal right
    not to give you any of their content unless you see it all. If they
    wish to offer partial content with me blocking ads then that was their
    choice and you get to surf ad-free. If they wish to block all their
    content unless you see their ads (which is part of their content) then
    that's perfectly okay with me, too. Most users are ignorant of the
    repercussions of ad blocking. Good sites with helpful tools or
    information often disappear simply because they cannot afford to keep
    the site running because their users are blocking the ads they need to
    generate revenue to pay for the resources of that site. But then most
    end users are running web sites or having to pay for them. Most users
    have an exceedingly unrealistic view that everyone else should be
    altruistic to their visitors. So, how many days each week do you work
    for free for your employer? I'm still on the fence regarding ad
    blocking.

    In the prior thread of a week ago, Panicware was mentioned as including
    ad blocking. NIS has its web filtering for ad blocking but I'm close to
    disabling that feature since it interferes with the proper operation of
    many web sites. AdSubtract has been around for awhile. 

    -- 
_________________________________________________________________
********  Post replies to newsgroup - Share with others  ********
Email: lh_811newsATyahooDOTcom and append "=NEWS=" to Subject.
_________________________________________________________________
  • Next message: «bonehead;\): "Re: Cracking admin password on Win 2000; then putting it back?"

    Relevant Pages