this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
197 points (95.4% liked)

Privacy

31175 readers
437 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
 

The article is AdGuard centric but it sheds light on the whole process where Google suddenly decided to ban ad blockers.

all 47 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 111 points 1 year ago

Let me summarize it for you: Because Google is an advertising company

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Look elsewhere, got it.

I'm glad we have that ability on Android.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (6 children)

For now. Google is locking down certificates in Android 14 which absolutely cannot be changed even by devs (barring exploits, which will be patched because this is Alphabet’s bread and butter on the line).

Google has put into place infrastructure to lock apps down as well with its App Bundles to replace APKs. And, wouldn’t you know it, they just so happen to rely on Google to be functional and even built! Custom made for your device and configuration and account. What a coincidence that you can’t rip that off your device and widely share it without massive workarounds. And even then, with Google clamping down on CAs….

People best become acquainted with ROMs again. Providing, of course, that Android doesn’t start employing anti-root tactics like Apple does which essentially eliminates the possibility of almost everybody actually owning their devices.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Guess I'll get a Linux-based phone(please don't make me argue about semantics on Android being Linux or not when we both know what I mean). By the time it matters, they'll be decent enough. I don't really live with the same sort of technological necessity as most people.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah that's what really needs to ramp up now is the alternative mobile operating systems that are and have been around for quite a while actually but just never managed to stick it to the man so to speak.

But yeah Linux actually had an official build Ubuntu touch or it was maybe not cononical possibly but if it wasn't it was as close to I condone this as you can get from the Linux world and Ubuntu (cononical) etc.

The issue is it never took off it was called Ubuntu Touch and it still remains although unofficial to the original dev team although likely some of the team kept the dream alive for the minority as it is really limited as to the device list it can be installed on.

But it is quite literally a mobile version of Ubuntu, it released initially though on select devices not too expensive but not cheap they were borderline middling level handsets to reasonably higher middling handset's there may have been some high end units with it, the problem was it just wasn't what the public saw as a necessity in its day, it wasnt then but it could be more a lot lot more giving back some choice to users regarding their personal data not being shared or read via app installations demanding set permissions and so on.

Despite that going for it not against it where it will have to expand really quickly is in the software and apps department it will need to have a humongous instant library of apps and programs yeah real Linux software or ports of those that run like full Linux software to really get people talking and joining in as a developer and or an end user buying a phone, as well as growing the existing compatability list of devices to degree far far exceeding it's current compatibility levels, as they do cater for a fair few devices yes, but nowhere near the hundreds to a thousand or thousands plural it would have to rapidly introduce to that list to encompass a larger userbase overnight which is the only sort of guaranteed adoption it's going to need adoption to encourage investors I should imagine..

Then the store with these apps and programs would need to be less FDroid (no offense intended) basic quality of apps, it would require a far more premium grade of apps and full software programs that give a mobile chipset the abilities to eg. Fully compose music using an opensource plethora of DAW's (digital audio workstation's) and eg.inbuilt usb drivers for externally attached dvdrw drives working like plugging them into a desktop not a mobile OS, and going further future wise, they'd need to be leaning into higher chipsets to eventually be running the steam software and playing games for real as a Linux steam install on mobile chipsets as they improve they are getting just on the borderline edge right now they could maybe run a game or two low end stuff on a mobile desktop is build.

Believe it or not the current processors well SOC chips from rockchip namely the rk3588 is now able to run some amazing emulation PS2 and switch and more it's apparently around 2 to 2.5x the power of the Nvidia Shield TV's X1 SOC chip is it X1? Basically the Nintendo Switch is the same SOC chip a Nvidia Tegra X1 super up a bit overclocked I presume with 1gb extra ram I think it is. But the RK3588 by Rockchip obliterates its power CPU and graphically.

But if you give those SOC chip production advancements a further say 8-10yrs and you spend it readying for steam playing off these SOC's software architectures and you couple it into the Ubuntu Touch build advances then pretty soon your talking these SOC's are replacing some computer hardware of certain ages but reasonably capable of steam and your then getting closer to a full desktop utilising it with a mobile operating system rather than going mainstream mobile OS's that are going the opposite way they are heading downhill with the proprietary nature of the current mobile OS's whicc are lets face it is seemingly heading towards completely disbanding bit by bit the whole pay once (premium one-time purchase) app payment m.odel for the IAP and subscription based IAP models, it's going to be IAP and subscription only and Ubuntu Touch should seek heavier investment and development immediately like right now so should other open source mobile operating systems they should be thinking go big or go broke though all in or nothing at all.

One thing I quite favour the idea may not be practically possible though, is the cluster computing method these science guys build out of say lots of PS3 consoles or old laptops all linked together to perform computing tasks faster.

I looked at this a number of times over the years I know nothing much really can't remember hardly anything at all on it, but I think it is asked many times in forums on this well can you parallel the graphics as well but they said it's only CPU tasks its for not gaming, but if somehow a device link ribbon could do all the joining work and bins anything mobile phones for eg. And laptops and desktops to use them as a cluster for not just CPU tasks and maths answers turbo fast but for regular computer use and gaming then this would be a major milestone, you could have say 5 old galaxies a s7 a S8 as9 and S10 say and combine them all running in some mobile chipset compatible Linux distro and be able to run proper steam gaming adding more and more TV boxes or old phones etc to the cluster to basically modularly build a super computer with super computing graphics running phones and TV boxes would be about 7-15watts electric each way way more economical and green than gaming pcs on average have been.

I did see there is apparently a distro or Linux desktop software that does allow paralleling phones CPU combined with the desktops and laptops CPU but forgot what it's called, but any way a Ubuntu Touch build incorporating what I say CPU and GPU cluster computing and gaming spec would be incredible imagine rk3588 clusters

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

This is a good thing. Or, can be. Android exists due to the lacks that existed/exists in iOS. With those same limitations coming to android, something new, something better will come. Maybe something like the current Linux phones, but with increased support that will come from the exodus. Like Lemmy stagnating for a while, then suddenly becoming close to amazing due to the Reddit enshitification, so will come this new generation of smartphones due to the enshitification of Android and iOS. It could be good. It could be much worse. Time will tell.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Google is locking down certificates in Android 14 which absolutely cannot be changed even by devs

Hopefully Firefox adds an easy way to add a certificate. They had it already, never understood why they removed it.

Google has put into place infrastructure to lock apps down as well with its App Bundles to replace APKs

I don't think they can replace APKs with AABs as the only solution - EU wants them to have support for alternative stores. In theory they could do separate Android for EU and the rest of the world, but I don't think they will.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Can you use an adblocking DNS provider to circumvent this?

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


At the time, there were a number of apps on Google Play that offered content filtering functionality, such as AdAway, AdFree, Ad Blocker, and AdBlock Plus.

In 2016, Google tweaked its developer policy to clarify what actions are prohibited, and for the first time directly named ad blockers as a target.

After AdGuard for Android, which filters traffic for all apps on your device, could no longer be distributed through the Google Play Store, we had to find another way to reach our users and provide them with updates.

The increased visibility this store provides would allow us to introduce the app to more people who can block ad-based tracking, thereby protecting their privacy.

The reality is that most casual users install apps exclusively from the Google Play Store, and that means they are currently missing out on a chance to protect themselves from trackers and ads.

We hope that Google will change its stance and give people the choice and tools to protect themselves from pervasive tracking technology and invasive advertising.


The original article contains 1,019 words, the summary contains 172 words. Saved 83%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because google is an ad company... they are literally trying to make chrome where its not possible to block ads.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Anyone have a reco for a good FOSS android adblocker?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Was using DNS66 and switched to Rethink DNS. At home I just run Infoblox with RPZ feeds to block ads.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

Adguard DNS is my go to, but it's mostly because it's easy to recommend

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There is no need for an actual installed adblocker. You can simply change system wide DNS to black ads. You can really use any DNS you choose, but I'd suggest mullvads DNS.

https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls/

Look for "private DNS" on your phone, or switch it on your browser if on desktop.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've been using Mullvad for 2 years and only just now realized I could turns ads off on my phone with a literal click of a button.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

IIRC the ad blocker toggles for Mullvad VPN on android were added this year.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Pi-Hole + VPN. Connect to the VPN via the phone, having all the data that hits your phone passing through your Pi-Hole first.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Look forward to the replies on this one.

On my desktop, I haven't seen an ad in ages, they really piss me off. But on my phone I just seem to suffer through them.

At home I really should set up a pi hole I guess. But that doesn't solve it when out and about.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

ive got ublock on ff for web, then instander on IG which is the only app I use with ads

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Install PiVPN on the same Pi running Pi-hole and you can use your Pi-hole anywhere you go (plus you can also access any device on your home LAN).

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Netguard has network filtering as a paid feature. It has a pretty steep learning curve, but very full featured.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

€ 0.10 or more

yes, it's "paid" 👉 10 cents

if you read the faq once, you have all your responses. It's not fair to call it a steep learning curve

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I've been using Dns66 since 2017. I tried blokada (from GitHub) and didn't like it. Haven't tried others, so I'm also curious what other folks are using.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Blokada on Android is the best. Get it from the website, though, not Google Play. Even though it is there, the website version is better.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

blokada 4? 5? 6? blokada is not the best but it can be enough. i have 4 on an old machine, 5 on another. Too opaque for me.

all of these are open source:

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

That’s no surprise to me. Ads are Google’s core business. Why should they support technologies that potentially limit their profits?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's about selling your data to third parties so they can sell you sh@t and also about preventing you blocking ads playing in video content they provide or are associated with, it's 100% to do with making money and ad blockers lower their income, for that reason they'd rather ad blockers not exist nor third party alternatives to their streaming services that do not carry the ads they're trying to block those apps continuously.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

DNS blocking isn't proper ad blocking but it's certainly better than nothing!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

F_Droid InviZible Pro also blocks, among others, ads (DNScrypt Proxie, I2P and TOR network), also in Google Play, but there only the "descaffeinate" version.

Vivaldi browser has an inbuild and customizable ad- and trackerblocker.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Why not rename the app to Adguard DNS and provide the adblocking functionality. ?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Because Google is an advertising firm hiding in "technology oriented"

[–] possiblylinux127 1 points 1 year ago

This is why F-droid is so important