• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

rant: mobile pop-app ads getting out of control

QuantumPion

QuantumPion

Diamond Member
It used to happen rarely, but now it seems like a third or half of websites I visit on iOS, including anandtech, have resorted to advertisers which can force-close your browser to open the app store directly to some particular app. I mean pop-ups on a desktop browser are one thing, and got bad enough to spur a whole slew of people to adopt add-ons which block all advertising as the only solution. But there seems to be no fix for mobile devices and the hassle is far worse. It would be like watching a TV show and at any moment, not just for planned breaks, even in the middle of dialogue, your cable box force changes the channel to blast some ad at maximum volume. I find this extremely aggravating and completely unacceptable, and I can't be the only one.
 
QuantumPion said:
It used to happen rarely, but now it seems like a third or half of websites I visit on iOS, including anandtech, have resorted to advertisers which can force-close your browser to open the app store directly to some particular app. I mean pop-ups on a desktop browser are one thing, and got bad enough to spur a whole slew of people to adopt add-ons which block all advertising as the only solution. But there seems to be no fix for mobile devices and the hassle is far worse. It would be like watching a TV show and at any moment, not just for planned breaks, even in the middle of dialogue, your cable box force changes the channel to blast some ad at maximum volume. I find this extremely aggravating and completely unacceptable, and I can't be the only one.
Click to expand...

I just submitted this as a bug report to Apple.
 
I don't really browse the web on mobile, but are you talking about those javascript ads that block out the whole page? I imagine on mobile that would basically force you to restart the browser to get rid of it. Even on desktop no ad block solution as of yet seems to detect those. I think they're called "modals" or something like that. It pisses me off so much I just immediately leave the website, but it seems almost all websites have those now. Pisses me right off. I get frustrated trying to google for anything now because 90% of sites I land on while doing my search will have those. The worse are the delayed ones. You're half way through reading an article and BANG it hits you. Practically get anxiety from it because if I'm reading something or following a tutorial or something I know there's probably one coming.

I wish there was something to block that shit. I guess it would be hard to code that because it's not something consistent like a javascript call that opens a new window for a popup, it's basically some javascript controlled CSS stuff going on and every site probably does it differently.
 
Im glad there are adblock plugins for computer browsers.

I have my android phone rooted so I run an app that blocks all ads. Its pretty ridiculous. I also run ghostery on all my computers and phone.

I'm wondering if there is a app for ios thats available when jailbroken?
 
I probably just jinxed myself on ATOT, but for a few other sites I've reverted to restricted browsing to block variations of afftrx.com It stops the opening of the App Store, and I figure I am reducing a tracking "hit" ....but it still kicks me out of the web page I was trying to load 🙁

Sometimes, I can employ my meager "video game reflexes" and hit the X to cancel loading redirecting ads after the good web page data
 
Kneedragger said:
I'm wondering if there is a app for ios thats available when jailbroken?
Click to expand...

I'm running a few..

BaSic-AdBlocker8
NoAppStoreRedirect
Untrusted Hosts Blocker

The first and last block multiple known adservers, the middle prevents redirects to the App Store.
 
rh71 said:
once installed, I go into settings and on top it says "Adblock Plus can not change the proxy settings on your device, please configure it manually."

Is that required for it to work? I was hoping it would also block the small banner ads at the bottom of some apps like Facelite (FB).
Click to expand...
If you have root I would also try AdAway. Worked better for me.



For iOS I tried Weblock but for some reason her Pinterest app wouldnt refresh at all. So I deleted it. I should give it another try.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weblock-adblock-for-ios/id558818638?mt=8
 
Last edited:
Ugh, I kept running into this on a particular website. I was trying to read the latest information, andI was interrupted multiple times with the App Store popping up because of an ad. While it's not hard to switch back, I shouldn't have to. It's terribly obtrusive advertising.

I used to use Atomic Web Browser, which had ad blocking built in, but it isn't really being maintained anymore. I saw that there was some other popular third-party browser, but I don't know if it's any good.
 
I ran into one today! First time ever. I was checking The Weather Network on my phone (Android). BANG, freaking full screen ad! WTF? That's not cool at all. The issue with mobile is that apps are centrally controlled. Do you think companies like Apple or Google are going to allow people to publish an app that blocks ads? Probably not. The only thing you could do is block the hosts at the firewall so you'd get a blank popup but it would still be an annoyance.
 
I haven't used it in awhile but the Atomic Web Browser lets you change the user agent. Maybe that would get around the problem?

-KeithP
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top