Zhen-Xjell
Prolific Bunny
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-10-08
Bordentown, NJ
clubs: 
|  Ad/Cookie Blocking App Reviews
Recently I purchased TDS-3 and ran it in demo mode for approximately 1.5 weeks. The product impressed me so much, I could not do anything else except purchase a license to use it. Maybe TDS-3 is a trojan itself (;)), it pulls at your mind and soul to purchase a copy because of the functionality it provides. IMO, it is a must have software in your personal security toolkit.
In corresponding with other TDS-3 registered members, I have learned additional information on a category of security products that encompasses Ad and Cookie blocking applications. It was their information that has brought me to this topic.
Many of you may know I have supported the WebWasher application. It is like a one-stop shopping experience. However, due to recent events with the application and the support team (click me for a more detailed review), I am looking for an alternative application. The information I was able to access for this category includes the following applications (abridged):•Proxomitron
•Naviscope
•AdSubtract
•JUNKBUSTER Now, I have not downloaded any of these applications yet, however I do have their websites open and my initial summarized (quoted) findings are:
Proxomitron (Features)•System Tray-ability!
•New and improved web filters
•URL match added to HTTP header filters
•Connection Killer replacement code
•Matching Expression Test window
•Webpage source debug Info
•Config file merge option
•Automatic launching of URLs when config files are loaded
•Resizeable dialogs
•Customized edit window context menus
•Automatic file URL creation
•MIME Base64 encode/decode
•External proxy comments
•Proxy rotation
•"Promiscuous" mode
•The Proxomitron is, in fact, ShonenWare This application is highly customizable as seen from the features page, and one which I certainly will be testing. If anyone has tested this or has any comments, please do share.
Naviscope (Features)•Prefetching
•DNS resolution caching
•persistent connections
•MTU/RWIN optimizations
•advertisement blocking
•block cookies, backgrounds, blinking text, Javascript, and sounds
•has a popular SiteMapper that allows you to navigate a web page before your browser even displays it
•keep your computer clock adjusted to the NIST atomic clock and shows you how fast your Internet connection really is
•Best of all, as a limited time offer, Naviscope is completely FREE For a slightly more detailed look at the features click me. IMO, this is yet another application worth testing, and one which I certainly will. If anyone has a review for this application, please share it with us.
AdSubtract Pro (Features)•Blocks: Ads, cookies, pop up windows, animated GIF images, background music, Java & JavaScript, Background Images, Referrers
•Advanced Cookie Manager: Reveals what cookies are already on your computer, Highlights Ad Server and online Profiling cookies, Cookie cleanup lets you get rid of unwanted cookies
•Plus: An unlimited number of custom site filtering profiles can be created, A customizable ad database. Quickly block any new ads we missed, Sortable and printable statistics showing what has been filtered, An event log window, to view what AdSubtract has filtered, for the technically curious
•$29.95 for the PRO, yet their is a free version. Link provided up top to the main page. This product IMO also looks promising. I believe some members here discussed this product very recently, yet I still want to test this personally. Again, any of those members who have this or tried it, please share your results.
JunkBuster (Features)•blocks requests for URLs (typically banner ads) that match its blockfile
•deletes unauthorized cookies and other unwanted identifying header information
•You decide what's junk
•Many people publish their blockfiles to help others get started
•Freely distributed under the GNU GPL This one sounds interesting, and is not on my priority to test. It will reside on page 700 of my things to do. However, anyone use this? ... please share your thoughts with us on this product.
Which brings me to the close of this particular post, but hopefully not the thread. Over the course of the following week I intend to test each of these and report back.
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Skipdawg
The Original
Premium,ExMod 2001-03
join:2001-04-19
The Void | Very nice job Zhen-Xjell  Time for a moment of detailed reading.
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Never give up! |
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CabMonk
Gold Fish Boy
Premium
join:2001-03-09
Toronto
|  reply to Zhen-Xjell
Wow Z-X. thanks for all the info and links.
I have been evaluating some anti-trojan and ad blocking apps the past few weeks. Now you gave me more to check out.:):)
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You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
[text was edited by author 2001-05-27 20:48:48] |
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Zhen-Xjell
Prolific Bunny
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-10-08
Bordentown, NJ
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| reply to Zhen-Xjell
I omitted the hosts file, not on purpose. To be fair, here is the link to a thread that talks about hosts and wildcards. About the fifth post down or so is another link to a six page discussion on the hosts file.
The hosts file works well for me on my *nix boxen; however, it just does not do it for me in the MS OS world. That is why I am testing the above apps.
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All your Smurf are belong to Smurf! |
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ethics$
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Brooklyn, NY
| AWESOME STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks man!
Edit: Weird, I voted for you but my thumb didn't get counted... Still says 2. 
[text was edited by author 2001-05-27 21:40:57] |
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ethics$
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Brooklyn, NY | reply to Zhen-Xjell
Quick scan shows me that none of those filter web bugs.  |
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Zhen-Xjell
Prolific Bunny
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-10-08
Bordentown, NJ
clubs: | Nice catch Ethics, that is why I want to test the first three this week. They seem to be highly customizable, so they may yet be able to filter web bugs, even though they are not mentioned. |
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nmop$
join:2001-05-05
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
ASP review
I've been using AdSubtract Pro for about 4 months and their free version AdSubtract SE for a month before that. And lemme say this: their adblocking is fantastic! Any site that get's ads from a different source other than the main site get's edited out. There is not even an outline of the spot where the ad used to be and sites look extremely clean! I kept it while I had 56K because sites loaded much much faster. After getting RR i keep it, because, well it's nice to see the web without tasteless campaigns to get ur attnetion. The stats function is fantastic.
My second objective was to find a popup stopper and I tried several free ones but I didn't like the fact that javascript was completely disabled when using them. I upgraded to ASP and I'm not sure exactly how ASP stops popups but it works damn well. Hoever for some sites with javascript, i have to quit ASP and refresh the site to view the content. It's a mild annoyance but worth it, for the 90% of the time when it's not necessary.
I tried some porn and warez sites (only to test, really =) ) and I never got a single popup. Not all the porn ads were removed but that's because they must have been stored on the site. ASP captures all incoming ads not directly stored on the site. As this is the majority of how ads are posted, it's extremely effective and much more so than any other ad removing product like Adsoff and etc.
I cannot reccomend ASP enough assuming you have the 15MB of memory or so that it uses while running. I really feel pretty naked surfing without it. lol
I have also used webwasher before and have not been pleased with it. It's inferior to ASP. I have tried Proxomitron and have found it to be too customizable. Maybe it was an old version but there were too many options to configure and the interface was confusing. I haven't used Naviscope as I heard it might be tracking your internet usage. I'm not sure how reliable that rumor is but I haven't needed any other program other than ASP.
[text was edited by author 2001-05-27 22:22:43] |
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Doctor Four
My other vehicle is a TARDIS
Premium
join:2000-09-05
Dallas, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
Re: Ad/Cookie Blocking App Reviews
Good listings. I'm currently using Ad Subtract Pro,
which works fine for me. One of its best features
is the logging of HTTP headers. You can get the
URL of new adservers to block by looking at them,
as well as determine the source of new pop-ups. The
ability to erase cookies, temporary internet files,
and browsing history is also a nice feature. The free
version (SE) only filters ads. There's also an edition
that filters cookies (CE); it's shareware at $14.95.
The SE version has been accused of being spyware - it's
listed as "suspect" on the ACF list at
»www.voiceofthepublic.com/
This may be because of the function called the
"Counter Club" Here's what Intermute (the creator
of Ad Subtract) says about it:
»www.adsubtract.com/se/whycount.html
BTW, there's one other ad/cookie filtering
program you missed: that's Webwasher
»www.webwasher.com/
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Computers will always do what you tell them
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nmop$
join:2001-05-05
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
jeffrey, as i'm sure you know you can turn out the counter club feature. so ASP isn't spyware. I like being in control of everything even tho it ends being more work to manually update programs so I don't have to worry about apps phoning home without me knowing |
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Zhen-Xjell
Prolific Bunny
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-10-08
Bordentown, NJ
clubs:
|  reply to nmop$
Re: ASP review
said by nmopepisdn:
I haven't used Naviscope as I heard it might be tracking your internet usage. I'm not sure how reliable that rumor is but I haven't needed any other program other than ASP.
Thanks for your assessment of the applications. One thing, this post by Alex is very long, and goes into minute detail about this very issue. It proves Naviscope is not "spyware". Please read it, it dispels the rumors.
Jeffrey, thanks for your comments. About WW, please re-read the first post. The third paragraph mentions WebWasher and leads the reader to a thread that contains a more detailed editorial.
Warm Regards.
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»All your Smurf are belong to Smurf!
»Ad/Cookie Blocking App Reviews
[text was edited by author 2001-05-27 22:46:26] |
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nmop$
join:2001-05-05 | reply to Zhen-Xjell
Re: Ad/Cookie Blocking App Reviews
zhen, that was long but interesting. thanks for the info. Maybe I will give naviscope a shot. or wait for someone else who has also tried ASP to post a review =) |
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ethics$
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to nmop$
Re: ASP review
Excellent review, nmopepisdn, precisely what I was looking for.
I concur that AS LOOKED superior to others but lacked web bugs filtering. I've written the creators asking them this specific question but to this day no one responded so I assume they do not block it.
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Folding can save a life!
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ethics$
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to nmop$
Re: Ad/Cookie Blocking App Reviews
nmopepisdn,
One quick question.
Webwasher seems to miss more than just pop ups but it happens VERY rarely.
I am not 100% confident with it and I need that type of application to be 100%.
Is AS 100% with at least cookies?
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Folding can save a life!
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nmop$
join:2001-05-05
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
ethics, ASP is 100% effective with popups. Assuming it installed properly and is working right, and there's no reason why it shouldn't be, I have never had one popup while using it. Not even one! For example iT blocks out everything from tripod.com banner popups and ads, to the one on geocities, to even adbanners built into webpages such as the ones hosted on namezero.com. Truly fantastic.
ASP is less than 100% effective with ads as explained earlier but I have yet to find a program that blocks anything ad related as well as ASP does. Except for maybe proxomitron but i have had problems getting that to work properly. Nowhere near as easy to use as ASP.
I do believe your correct about ASP not blocking web bugs...unless they are in an ad or popup =)
ASP is very very good with cookies...maybe too good because I was kinda surprised how many sites dont' work right without them. I can't say 100% because i allow cookies so I can't help you out there but it can be configured manually if your so inclined.
Oh I forgot to add, it also works just as well with other broswers such as mozilla and opera, so u don't have to limit yourself to IE.
Hope this helps.
[text was edited by author 2001-05-27 23:34:48] |
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bangaroo
Premium
join:2000-08-13
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
I second the motion (to ethics)we need something to block web bugs. I am looking/waiting for a single (low resource) program that just blocks web bugs. Webwasher claims to block them but there is no logs, notification or proof it is catching/stopping them. A good web bug program should operate like a firewall.
While I am only looking for a one solution product/program, I am interested to see if any of the programs you will be reviewing can do the job. |
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ethics$
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to nmop$
nmopepisdn,
See this thread: »AdSubtract Test
Perhaps I am doing something wrong? I've configured it to what I THOUGHT would be correct but it's as useless as Web Washer.
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Folding can save a life!
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Zhen-Xjell
Prolific Bunny
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-10-08
Bordentown, NJ
clubs:
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
Browsing sites #1 and #2, I found that Proxomitron does have a filter for web bugs. Click here for information. One can see other new filters at their website.
Around the net, I have found a couple reports that claim Proxomitron rates number 1. Although since it is highly configurable, it appears to have the highest learning curve.
Naviscope, #2, per their support forum pages reveal no support for Web Bugs.
Well, enough of browsing sites. Time to begin testing.
Cross your fingers.
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»All your Smurf are belong to Smurf!
»Ad/Cookie Blocking App Reviews
[text was edited by author 2001-05-28 01:34:23] |
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ethics$
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Brooklyn, NY
| said by Zhen-Xjell:
Well, enough of browsing sites. Time to begin testing.
Cross your fingers.
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OK! Good stuff!!!!!!
Now, when do we sleep?!?!?
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Folding can save a life!
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gwion
wild colonial boy
Premium,ExMod 2001-08
join:2000-12-28
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to Zhen-Xjell
JunkBuster (Features)
blocks requests for URLs (typically banner ads) that match its blockfile - VERY powerful. This is a ported Unix proxy server, and uses highly configurable .ini files to set up its filters. No GUI to speak of.
deletes unauthorized cookies and other unwanted identifying header information - actually, it blocks them based on patterns, again, from an ini file
You decide what's junk - I suppose my previous remarks demonstrate, this. You can either just copy a blockfile, and make it fairly plug and play, or you can configure all sorts of filters in the ini files, if you have some experience writing filters for unix servers, or are willing to endure the learning curve (help is commented directly into the default files, for convenience)
Many people publish their blockfiles to help others get started - noted above.
Freely distributed under the GNU GPL - always cool.
I like it, although it can slow you down just a little. If you've never configured a server that traces its heritage to a 'nix OS, you may be a bit intimidated by the .ini files that have to be text edited to set up the filters, but, using a public blockfile is an option, and it's really not hard at all, once you get the feel. It has a lot of versatility, and it can do some neat stuff. It's a very good product, too, if your filters are set up right... the only problem I ever had was that it sometimes worked TOO well, and blocked things wholesale... very good, steeper learning curve than a GUI'ed app, doesn't block activeX or java, specifically, although you can run a filter to block, for example, all "*.ocx" or all "*.vbs" files from any site.
Only downside, I guess, is that it's not GUI'ed, unless they've updated recently, and customizing filters is a little like a rules based firewall... but it does the job (and more, since it's a fullblown filtering proxy server).
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