What do you think about blocking embedded cryptocurrency miners?

Mladen Jankovic

Lol :laugh: Malware, short for malicious software, is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of harmful or intrusive software,[1] including computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, and other malicious programs. You're trying really hard to avoid defending your position.

kmoorevs

Mladen Janković wrote:

Since blocking ads is stealing according to some, why blocking miners is any different, or even blocking malware?

Sorry, but this is a ridiculous question. :| IMHO it's all about intent...If the goal is to steal, extort, or install something without notification (with the exception of MS :laugh: ), then the authors of such content should go die in a fire. :fire: (isn't there a symbol for fire?) That said, I don't use adblocker or special hosts file, but I understand why others do. As others have asked, how is it stealing when the adblocking is done on the client?...the server doesn't know or care if the ad was blocked or viewed?...the website has done it's job and sent the ad. If you/they mean that the 'theft' is that the audience/user was denied the clever marketing blurb/video that some big name company paid money to produce and disseminate, then all I can do is laugh, since that is also a ridiculous argument as I just ignore them anyway! :laugh: (except of course those famous Carls Jr./Hardee's ads...I mean who doesn't like a good burger!)

"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

ZurdoDev

Mladen Janković wrote:

sed to refer to a variety of forms of harmful or intrusive software,[1] including computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, and other malicious programs.

Thanks. You proved yourself wrong.

Mladen Janković wrote:

You're trying really hard to avoid defending your position.

I didn't know it needed defending. I'm OK with you having a different opinion than me.

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

ZurdoDev

Marc Clifton wrote:

it requires the Federal Highway Administration to ensure that the State transportation departments maintain "effective control of the erection and maintenance" of signs, displays, or devices...

So yet again, I'm actually paying for ads through my tax dollars.

Those signs are not ads, they are street signs. :^)

Marc Clifton wrote:

My understanding is that ad blockers remove the ad after it's been downloaded

Some may work that way but others claim that sites are much faster using an adblocker which would tell me it prevents it from being processed by the browser altogether. Don't know really.

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

Mladen Jankovic

‭011111100010‬ wrote:

Thanks. You proved yourself wrong.

You're not good at this.

Mladen Jankovic

kmoorevs wrote:

goal is to steal, extort, or install something without notification

What miners do? They don't steal, extort and install anything? Same with trackers. Adware is malware as well, even though ad-ablocking-is-stealing-dude refuses to acknowledge this ;P btw. I'm not advocating that we should't block miners and malware, but that ads are in the same category, a category that is subject to user's will and judgment to let them run on his system.

kmoorevs wrote:

website has done it's job and sent the ad.

As I explained previously, ad blockers filter HTTP requests from browser that are sent to server to serve ads. [Example](https://i.imgur.com/xYkEVDF.png)

Daniel Pfeffer

‭011111100010‬ wrote:

Marc Clifton wrote:

My understanding is that ad blockers remove the ad after it's been downloaded

Some may work that way but others claim that sites are much faster using an adblocker which would tell me it prevents it from being processed by the browser altogether. Don't know really.

Even an ad blocker that downloaded (but did not render) the ad would speed up the display of the page. However, if it "knows" that a certain site is to be blocked, why bother downloading it in the first place?

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill

kmoorevs

Mladen Janković wrote:

What miners do?

What do I get if my processor is hijacked to perform cryptocurrency algorithms? Do they mail me a check? What I get is a warmer processor/office and higher electric bill. If this is done without my knowledge and approval, it amounts to stealing.

Mladen Janković wrote:

ad blockers filter HTTP requests from browser that are sent to server to serve ads.

I learn something new everyday! Thanks! :) So, being totally honest here, I can speak about this website (CP) that I spend probably too much time at. I have been a member here for about 10 years and have clicked on only one ad that I found relevant at the time. If click-throughs are a website's major revenue source, then I have been a bad member. :( Over time, I've become blind to them! That said, if CP and the hamsters ever started a 'save us' campaign, I would happily contribute. :laugh: ( :doh: oh crap, what have I started!) :laugh:

"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

Mladen Jankovic

kmoorevs wrote:

What do I get if my processor is hijacked to perform cryptocurrency algorithms?

What do I get from ads? I get higher internet bill on my metered connections*, less privacy and less security (and more CPU time wasted, knowing how the code for these ads is written). So you're not arguing the principle here. Proponents of #BlockingIsStealing would argue that you get the content. They are vocal when it comes to ads, but strangely silent on subject of CC miners, even though those are not different in principle. \* \- as you saw in the screenshot: 7% of request are blocked since installation. This does not include cosmetically blocked ads and it's percent after most of JavaScript code has already been blocked by NoScript, so I would say real number is greater than 10% or requests.

Roger Wright

Yes, it could be a case of mailbox envy... But I don't think that is relevant to the OP's question...

Will Rogers never met me.

Roger Wright

Mladen Janković wrote:

You're trying really hard to avoid defending your position.

Quite humourous, actually. Much like the entire Democratic party in the US. Hit them with facts, they respond with personal character attacks that have nothing to do with the issue. You can't win this one, Mladen - don't waste your time feeding trolls, unless you really enjoy it. But if you do, feed them with gusto, and have fun with it. :-D

Will Rogers never met me.

Roger Wright

To paraphrase, "When choosing between two evils, I prefer to try the one that's most likely to feel good."

Will Rogers never met me.

Roger Wright

Marc Clifton wrote:

it requires the Federal Highway Administration to ensure that the State transportation departments maintain "effective control of the erection

I had no idea that ADOT was in control of my erections. Should I complain about being shortchanged?

Will Rogers never met me.

Mladen Jankovic

I don't know if he's trolling or he's uncomfortable with logical conclusion of his argument :)

killbot5000

In my opinion, we should default to block all ads, miners, etc.. and only opt-in if it's meaningful to us. If sites go offline/broke.. so be it. In my experience, sites that don't thrive on ad revenue, for whatever reason, put out much higher quality content and are curated to a much higher degree. Quality is used attract people and generate profit. Sites that run on ad revenue are in the business of wasting my time for money. Money is far less valuable to me than time, so I hate those sites with a zealous passion.

MKJCP

:thumbsup: Block it all and let Adam Smith's invisible hand sort it out. WAY too much crap on the Net. Death to click-bait.

Member 4680593

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who think there are two kinds of people in the world and the others