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Your privacy and the case for ad blocking
Marvinwhitehead
That's nice. I also read about this here https://www.bestvpnrating.com/news/internet-privacy-vs-information-sold-profit and other articles on the site that helped me a lot to get rid off all of this annoying stuff on internet.
Rhana Cassidy
Hi Marvin,
Thanks for the link to the article. As with all "how-to" articles, you have to consider whether the ones written by the people who make the product offered as the solution aren't at least a little self-serving. Paid VPNs are indeed one line of defense in the war on our privacy. There are other steps you can take to protect your privacy as much as it can be protected these days! And of course, never forget the power of picking up your phone. Calling on your elected representatives in Congress to defend our right to privacy online may be a quixotic act, but it's one worth taking.
Rhana
AdBlock Community Manager
Matthew Dovey (blastoise186)
Hi Rhana and Marvin,
I'd also like to add that in the UK, we have the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the various Data Protection Acts and the various "preference services" - Mail Preference Service (MPS), Baby Mail Preference Service (Baby MPS), Telephone Preference Service (TPS), and the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS).
While these aren't related to AdBlock or internet adverts, they can help reduce the "advertising" that comes through the post, phone calls and charity requests etc.
A word of advice: none of these services require any payment to use them via the official websites, however many "copycat" sites exist which try to charge users for a service that is actually free on the official sites.
Also, in relation to online advertising, it's quite common for ads to be "personalised" to the user - but you can "Opt-Out" of personalised adverts. This alone wouldn't block adverts completely, but would stop them being personalised and stops the Ad Networks tracking you - it's best used alongside an ad-blocker for maximum effect.
I can provide the official links to the opt-out services, and the ones I mentioned above. I just need to check with Rhana first.
Hi
Today I got a warning letter from my ISP and they told me that they found I was involved in torrenting. I am using adblock for a long time and I think they block the tracker then how come they tracked me?? I then looked into this blog post and found that I need to use a good torrent vpn. I don't understand how these works. Why I need to use VPN when the trackers are blocked???
Rhana Cassidy
Hi Mentorpid,
Blocking the cookies that track your browsing activity is not the same thing as using a VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is like a "tunnel" through the Internet that only you can see. Data passing through that tunnel is basically invisible to the rest of the Internet. A VPN is a vital part of keeping your browsing activity private.
Here's a bonus tip: If you really want to keep your activity private, use a paid VPN. With most "free" online services, if you're not paying for it with a subscription, you're paying for it with something else, and that's usually some or all of your personal data. Think Facebook and Google, and now "free" VPNs. Let the "buyer" beware!
Rhana
AdBlock Community Manager
Rhana Cassidy
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for that information! Since none of us lives in the UK, we aren't as in touch with the privacy protections available to UK citizens as our friends across the pond are.
If you wouldn't mind providing those links, I'm sure others would find them very helpful. Thank you!
:) Rhana
AdBlock Community Manager
Matthew Dovey (blastoise186)
Hi!
@Rhana here you go:
First the Personalised Ads Opt-Out tools, it's highly recommended to put CatBlock on "Paws mode" (lol) and close down any other tabs in your browser before using them, so that the tools can work properly - but of course make sure to bring CatBlock out of its Cat Nap when you're done. These tools WILL NOT block Ads completely, but will turn off the personalisation (if you clear out cookies you need to repeat this).
These four are "Meta" or "Super" opt-out tools - they basically let you set bulk opt-outs in a couple of clicks. TIP: Use the Opt-Out tools on ALL FOUR sites for the maximum coverage :) Don't worry, they don't tread on each others feet, and won't interfere with the Opt-Outs from the other three. If an Opt-Out is set by one of them, the other three will respect that. If you currently have "opt-in" status with an ad company, the tools will zap the "opt-in" cookies and toss them into a black hole. They then get replaced with freshly baked Opt-Out cookies. In the event that you don't have either way set yet, the tools will set an Opt-Out anyway.
Also, as promised, I do have the details I mentioned earlier, I am UK based, so it's easier for me to keep track of them.
Please note that these only apply if you are in the UK, your mileage may vary elsewhere.
Got a SPAM text or phone call on your phone? It's really easy to report it.
First things first, if it was a text message, forward the text message to 7726 (which spells SPAM), this is FREE from all UK mobiles. You'll get a reply within a few seconds asking you to reply back with the phone number that sent the message. Simply reply to that message with the phone number that sent the spam, wait for another reply and your report will be sent! ALL messages sent to 7726 from a UK mobile are FREE, even if your phone alerts you otherwise.
If it was a spam call, it's a similar process - firstly, text the work CALL to 7726, when you get a reply back, reply to that message with the phone number that called you, wait for confirmation and you're done.
Not sure how to forward text messages? No problem:
How to forward texts on Android
It's also useful to report these pests to the ICO here
It also helps to Register with the TPS
And the Other FPS
Matthew Dovey (blastoise186)
Hi Rhana, I think I posted the details, but the post isn't showing yet. Is it still in the Moderation Queue?
Don't worry if it vanished, I can grab them again easily :)
Rhana Cassidy
Hi Matthew,
Wow, you've basically written an entire Knowledge Base article for us. I'll get this up and posted ASAP. Thanks so much!!
Rhana
AdBlock Community Manager
Matthew Dovey (blastoise186)
Hey Rhana!
I've located one more Bulk Opt-Out Tool, this one's for the Australian Digital Advertising Alliance or ADAA
Not sure why I didn't mention it before! Again it's good to use this one alongside all the others.
Rhana Cassidy
Hi Matthew,
Great, thanks! I'll add that one to our Knowledge Base article, too, as soon as I get a chance to work on it. :)
Rhana
AdBlock Community Manager
Hi Rhana. Absolutely agree with every single word! The onlything which keep me far from spam, besides adblock, is https://spamguardapp.com/dashboard. It's an epitome of protection in a social network . Highly recommed!
Rhana Cassidy
Adblock or adblock plus is the answer to block unwanted ads in any browser. But before using these extensions you want to know which one perform and improve the user experience.
Rhana Cassidy
Online ads can do more than just annoy you. Today's online advertising is also the primary way advertisers identify, track, and target you across every website you visit. AdBlock CEO Matt Maier provides some background and discusses a few ways to protect your privacy online.
Your privacy and the case for ad blocking
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