rant: mobile pop-app ads getting out of control

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QuantumPion

QuantumPion

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2005
6,010
1
76
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.
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Yeah, it's brutal. I'm waiting for an effective mobile adblock solution to arise.
 
Obsy

Obsy

Senior member
Apr 28, 2009
389
0
0
Never had that happen with AnandTech. You shouldn't have visited that pr0n site.
 
Rakehellion

Rakehellion

Lifer
Jan 15, 2013
12,181
35
91
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.
 
OverVolt

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
I stopped using my tablet as much because of it. Not for AT but I completely cut the freemium games.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,176
13,576
126
www.anyf.ca
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.
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
This almost never happens to me and I almost always browse on mobile. I just don't go to crappy websites.
 
Kneedragger

Kneedragger

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2013
1,187
43
91
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?
 
N

NoTine42

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2013
1,387
78
91
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
 
effowe

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
6,012
18
81
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.
 
Kneedragger

Kneedragger

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2013
1,187
43
91
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:
Aikouka

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
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.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,176
13,576
126
www.anyf.ca
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.
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
I have not really noticed any. I only go to a few sites though.

KT
 
KeithP

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
5,664
202
106
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
 
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