Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Terri218
   Member

   I think somehow I've lost my ad blocker. How can I check to see if I have one on my computer and if I don't, what's a good one?

   Thanks.

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   ChrisS
   Administrator

   The ad-blocker will be listed under "extensions" or "add-ons" for most browsers.

   For Firefox, click "Tools | Add-ons and Themes" then select "Extensions" from the left. You should then see a list of the extensions and their status. If you have an ad-blocker installed it might just be disabled for some reason.

   I use Adblock Plus which is available for a number of browsers.

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   Terri218
   Member

   Thanks, I get a pop-up saying it can read and change my data on all ebsites. Should I be concerned about that?

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   ChrisS
   Administrator

   I'd be concerned about that and I'd run spyware/malware and virus scans to see if anything is amiss.

   I'd start with the free versions of SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes (link goes to BleepingComputer), your anti-virus and see if AdwClearner (link goes to BleepingComputer) says anything after those.

   You might consider adding the "No Script" extension if you're using Firefox (I don't know if it's available for other browsers) as it will limit what websites can load by default. Also, if you're using AdBlock Plus you might check the settings for it since it started allowed what it calls "whitelisted" or "acceptable" ads some time ago and turn that off. Click the red stop sign with AGP, click the gear, then uncheck "Show Acceptable Ads".

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   FWIW, plugged: "I get a pop-up saying it can read and change my data on all [w]ebsites" into Google, & got this: howtogeek[.]com/291095/why-do-chrome-extensions-need-all-your-data-on-the-websites-you-visit/

   Many extensions in the Chrome Web Store want to “read and change all your data on the websites you visit”. That sounds a little dangerous—and it can be—but many extensions just need that permission to do their jobs.

   Chrome Has a Permission System, But Firefox and Internet Explorer Don’t

   Note: This piece was originally written in 2017. Since then, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge have gained permission systems.

   This may seem alarming, especially coming from something like Firefox. But you only see this warning because Chrome has a permission system for its extensions, while Firefox and Internet Explorer don’t. Every Firefox and Internet Explorer extension has full access to the entire browser, and can do anything it wants.

   If you are using the Chrome browser, there was a dustup last year when Google changed the way Chrome extensions can work -- theverge[.]com/2022/6/10/23131029/mozilla-ad-blocking-firefox-google-chrome-privacy-manifest-v3-web-request

   I'd guess it's possible that ad blocker extensions just don't work as well since, or maybe your current one needs updating? There are browsers with ad blocking built in, like Opera & Brave etc., if you don't want to hassle with extensions.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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