773
Ad blocking is alive and well, despite Chrome's attempts to make it harder
(www.theregister.com)
this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2026
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I see people who put zero effort into ad-blocking in a similar light as people who don't leave shitty partners. At some point they manage to convince themselves that it's not a problem.
Don't forget that most people don't know that blocking ads is possible. To most people, their browser is on an appliance, like a washing machine or fridge. They know how to do the basics, but that's about it.
Some even LIKE the ads.
I'm pretty sure I've clicked in like 3 ads in my life accidentally. But I saw people actively clicking in ads on purpose regularly and that shit shocked me completely. People don't look at it as malware and phishing links like I do and think it's a good thing. Internet was a mistake.
I use Ad Nausaem (probably butchered the spelling) Firefox plugin on my home PC for that. Instead of blocking ads, it hides them into a sandbox and "clicks" on all of them in the background. Won't use it on anything battery-powered though.
I've heard the phrase "I saw an ad on Instagram for..." way too many fucking times.
Hot single mom's in my area. Well...
I used to click on ads when they were hosted by Project Wonderful. :( Shit was amazing. I even uploaded some back in the day.
So I’m not trying to be contrary… but who is using their browser on an appliance?! Certainly not ‘most people’?
I would agree that there is a general ignorance of adblockers but there’s no way most people are using browsers on appliances..
I believe he meant "people use their browser like they use an appliance" as in they don't know any details about it, just open it and use it as is.
What? Nobody's using their browser on an appliance (except for a handful of masochists with Samsung fridges). I said to most people their browser is on an appliance, as in they treat computers, phones, and laptops like appliances, in that they're mysterious boxes that do a particular job.
Hardly anyone is trying to hack their appliances, and the majority of people just lump their computing devices into the same category - it does what it was designed for and nothing else
Haha, clearly a misunderstanding then.. I think the ‘on an appliance’ part did it! In any case we seem to agree!
I have got a mental picture of a Linux super nerd trying to browse through a text only browser on their oven's display now though 😁
A computer is an appliance. In the strictest sense of the word.
Just like I treat my car and for other that's offensive because a car is a passion project. I can imagine the parallels.
There definitely are. I've met a lot of people who really love their cars, and if I ever talked to them about how I (didn't) take care of my car they would look at me the same way I look at people who tell me they've never even seen the settings menu of their web browser.
Or who do so little cleaning at home that their appartment becomes almost unusable or outright dangerous to live in
Similar light? Go get some fresh air. It's just a bunch of ads, the worst are avoidable if you don't visit clickbait sites.
Found the person who needs to leave their partner.
rekt
All of them are avoidable if you block them.
Mainstream sites have been known to spread malware due to the lack of vetting process ads go through even on big ad networks.
But really, it's just a bit of ~~a black eye~~ malware, you slipped and ~~fell into a doorknob~~ clicked it yourself, your ~~partner~~ ads didn't do anything.