Post Sat Sep 10, 2011 4:23 pm

[Tutorial] Blocking Advertisements/Ads on websites.

Note :
Ads help the site raise funds to keep providing you information. So why block ads then?
A) If you do not click on them, there is no point as websites only get funds if a user clicks on an ad.
B) Pop-ups.
C) Tracking cookies. I consider them an invasion of piracy as they can [even if it's limited] have access to what I view.

Mozilla Firefox
You'll need to simply install an addon in firefox in order to get the start blocking ads. To install this addon visit the Adblock Plus Installation page. and click on add to firefox.

Image

After you click on add to firefox button you will get an popup for installing Adblock Plus. Click install and after installing it, restart firefox.

Image

Firefox should startup with a page asking you which filter to select. Select "Fanboy's list" from the drop down options. [Or EasyList, I prefer Fanboy's though]

Image

Now you should be able to browse the internet ad-free. It would be a good idea to clear your browsing history to remove any tracking cookies that are already present.

Google Chrome
If you are using google chrome then you can install it in almost the same way as firefox. Simply visit Adblock Plus Installation page and click on Add to chrome.

Image

Now you'll get a pop up for installing AdBlock Plus. Click on Install/

Image

Now Restart Chrome and you should be able to browse the internet ad-free. It would be a good idea to clear your browsing history to remove any tracking cookies that are already present.

Optional :
Click on the wrench, then select tools, then extensions. Now under Adblock Plus for Google Chrome™ (Beta) click on Options.

Image

Uncheck Easy list and check Fanboy's list.

Image

Opera
For Opera, things are a bit advanced. Not hard but a bit advanced.

Open Fanboy's Opera Page in Opera. Right-Click "Main List+Tracking List" and select "Save Linked Content As.." and save it to the folder depending on your OS ;

(XP/W2K) C:\Documents and Settings\"your username"\Application Data\Opera\Opera\
(Vista/7) C:\Users\"your username"\AppData\Roaming\Opera\Opera\
(OSX) /Users/"your username"/Library/Preferences/Opera Preferences/
(Linux/BSD) /home/"your username"/.opera/

Image

Now Restart Opera and you should be able to browse the internet ad-free. It would be a good idea to clear your browsing history to remove any tracking cookies that are already present.


Optional :
Open Fanboy's Opera Page in Opera. Scroll to the right, and Right-Click "CSS Element Filter" and select "Save Linked Content As.." and save it to any folder you want. (Remember where you saved it though).

Image

Now To load the CSS Filter in Opera, Click on the following
Tools -> Preferences -> Advanced Tab -> Content -> Style Options Button, Browse and select "fanboy-adblocklist-elements-v4.css" (From where you saved it to)

Image

Internet Explorer 9
Extremely easy to apply as Internet Explorer 9 comes with an internal Ad-Block feature called "Tracking Protection. The final look isn't as good as the browsers above but it's alright.

Start off by clicking on the options [screw icon] button.

Image

Then choose "safety" and then "Tracking Protection..."

Image

Now a new window will pop up. Click on "Get a Tracking Protection List online..."

Image

It should load a new page. Now scroll down till you see "Fanboy - Adblock Tracking Protection List" and then click on add.

Image

A new window will pop up and click on "Add list".

Image

I would suggest you restart Windows and not just internet explorer so that it works properly.

Feel Free to drop by a post below.

[Edit 1 - Changed the title]
[Edit 2 - Added Pictures, Added a way for IE9]
[Edit 3 - Fixed a link]
-Formerly DCM
Image
Image