ANNOYING WEB ADS...

I posted a few years ago about how to block most ads from messing up the pages you were browsing..

Time moves on, the advertisers find new ways of annoying us. So, it's time to take a refreshed look at the best sites and methods to get the most out of the web without being tempted to spend on your credit card...

Let's make one thing clear - there are two aspects to protecting yourself from adverts. Turning off the ads is one thing, but some like to be sold everything connected to where they've been. So, the second aspect is managing cookies. Ads very rarely appear when you are browsing these days without a knowledge of what else you have been doing on the web. This information they get from cookies stored silently on your browser hardware (phone, pad or PC etc).

In what follows I will take you through blocking ads. But turning off various cookies is a more powerful way of browsing and for that you need to review my earlier post - which I have summarised in the dark box at the bottom..

1. AD BLOCKING

GOOGLE CHROME
Ad blocking is free if you know where to go and what browser settings to look for.. I mainly use Google Chrome for every day web browsing. It has a third party extension called AdBlock Plus - when loaded you can make it as complicated as you want with subscriptions to 'ad blocking lists' that others have put together.. The link for that library of useful content is here. If you go to the Spanner / Tools / Extensions menu in Chrome you will see AdBlock Plus there once installed. Click Options and you can set which AdBlock list to use - the default will be English ads and some basic setup blocks. If you browse Italian, French or other language sites regularly that's where to use the drop down list and add the regional filter for your language.

AdBlock is also available to install for Firefox and Safari (for you Mac and iPhone users).

The best feature of AdBlock is that if it ever misses an Ad and it creeps onto your browser, you can right-click on the ad and select "AdBlock Plus: Block image"; this will allow you to create a custom filter blocking that ad and ads similar to it.

FIREFOX
Firefox is the easiest browser to block ads in because of its massive support for add-ons. The only setting up you need to do with AdBlock Plus is select the adblocking filter you want to use - these are pre-defined lists according to where the browser is being used - or technically where it's being pointed at. English ad blocking won't block Chinese ads for example.

You need to select one of the filters to use. Unless you know what you are doing, just leave it at "EasyList" and click "Add subscription". You do this by following the menu list: "Tools" -> "AdBlock Plus Preferences..." -> "Filters" -> "Add Filter Subscription..."  It should install with EasyList and English subscriptions. Leave it like that unless you really do browse a lot of other language sites.

Right clicking is available in Firefox as already covered in the Chrome section above.

Some Firefox users install a plug in called NoScript. This is not really the correct way to block ads - it blocks all java and scripts running in the browser window. That's not good as a lot of websites still use javascript code to make your experience better. I use it on some sites I've done to generate fading images for example. If you switch it off, you'll only ever see the first one!  Lot's of sites use it to generate games boards, user feedback and things to play with whilst on site. You will only be getting a half of what they thought you might like by blocking their scripts..

INTERNET EXPLORER
If you have Internet Explorer then blocking ads is a bit more complicated as Explorer has no AdBlock Plus-like plugin.Plug-ins do exist for IE but the free ones are nowhere near as good as in other browser technologies.


Internet Explorer's InPrivate Browsing - the mode that makes sure no browsing data is stored on your computer - has a feature that allows users to filter content. This filter can be used to block ads. A user on DSLReports forum created an XML file out of AdBlock Plus's list of ads to block and this XML file can be imported into InPrivate Browsing's content filter.

This filter uses AdBlock Plus's filter list so you will be blocking the same ads as people using other browsers with AdBlock Plusd installed. Neither do you have to be in InPrivate Browsing mode for the ads to be blocked. Ads will be blocked like normal as long as you have "InPrivate Filtering" enabled ("Safety" -> "InPrivate Filtering").

The biggest hassle is that you must turn on "InPrivate Filtering" every time you run Internet Explorer. For me, it's just too much hassle and you are likely to forget. If you insist on this route there is a registry hack to enable InPrivate every time IE is run - google it and you'll find, it's much too complicated for this blog and the sapace I have here..

OPERA

Opera is a bit like IE. Blocking ads has up to now been quite complicated.

Before Opera 11 the best way to block ads was to use the browser's built in content blocker (similar to IE's InPrivate Filter) and an add-on to block Flash ads specifically. However, ever since Opera introduced extensions (Opera 11 onwards) third party developers have started making add-ons available. Opera Adblock is one of the most popular.

Opera Adblock makes it extremely easy to block ads. Similar to Adblock Plus for Firefox and Adblock for Chrome, Opera Adblock uses ad filter lists to block the ads. In fact, it uses Fanboy and EasyList which are the same as AdBlock Plus. The best part is it is extremely easy to setup and use - just install Opera Adblock from Opera's extensions website and you are automatically covered.

That's about it. Hope you find this guide useful.

2. COOKIE CUTTING

The DART cookie used by Google is the widest used cookie you'll probably want to switch off - so check the link in the dark section below (towards the bottom).
____
Here's the original anti advertising links if you can't find them:

Ads on the web are served to your browser based on a number of settings and your location, history of other websites you've visited etc.  Basically, tailoring ads to your preference.

Or that's how the advertisers like to market their tracking tactics, always watching where you've been and which sites you use.

Now I'm not paranoid and I'm happy to share my recent web history with everyone (on most days at least!) but the use of tracking cookies to tailor ads - or make more money for the advertisers - sits a little uneasy with me.

There is a light at the end of the ad tunnel.  You can frustrate their efforts!

Most (reputable) ad serving businesses allow you to opt out of the tracking cookie and therefore of targeted ads that are much more likely to lure you in.  No matter how web experienced you are, and how many browser add-ons you install ads will still get through and you will click on one at some point. It's just the way of the web.

So, here's where the main ad-tracking opt out sites are for (mainly my) info..

Doubleclick's DART cookie opt out page

   this is the one owned by Google and therefore the most widely used on the web.

   Go there, have a read, click the bottom link if you want to cookie-block.

24/7 Real Media Opt Out page

   A large network, useful to opt out of this one.

Network Advertising Initiative Opt Out page

   One of the larger opt out networks, a network of networks really.

   From here you can opt out of many many different ad networks.

   After Google, the most useful opt out page on the web.

Problem with all this activity though is that you need to re-do all the opting out if you clear your browser's cookie/history files.. bah!

If you use Firefox (and if you don't see an earlier post!) or IE (why?) then life is easier to block the DART cookie at least - go to the Google Permanent Opt Out download.

Unfortunately, Google Chrome users cannot use this opt-out for obvious reasons that Google don't want you ruining their commercial value.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE..

Everybody is aware of personal security when they approach a cash machine these days, perhaps less so when loading the car with groceries at the supermarket or returning to your vehicle in a car park after hours.

But most people use common sense and are prompted by the environment (dark corners, late night car parks) and remain safe. In the cosy surroundings of your home or bed though, things are a little different.

Once you logon to facebook and chat away with friends you loosen up a little. Everybody does. It's natural. So the helpful Veracode blog came up with this brilliant web security infographic..



Infographic by Veracode Application Security

WHAT A DIFFERENCE..

  

..a day makes?

I have set up my Google home page with a widget that tells me on this day plenty of events happened in history..

1791:     Bill of Rights adopted

1890:     Sitting Bull killed while being arrested

1891:     Canadian J. Naismith invents basketball

1892:     Oil magnate and author, J Paul Getty born in Minneapolis, Minnesota

1994:     Netscape Navigator 1.0 released

Anyone remember Netscape Navigator 1.0?  I do, it revolutionised my life at the time, massive improvement in graphics rendering for the few pictures that were out there on the web.  Great search box. Oh those days....

The other stuff is, as usual, very USA-centric.  If anybody knows of a good widget that reports 'on this day in history..' global info drop me a line.  There's also a lot of USA based ones for Android devices and, I am sure, for the Apple iPhone too.

I should, of course, go out and write the app!

15 minutes of fame and all that.

But I probably won't.

 

THE GREAT AMAZON ASSOCIATES SWINDLE

  

Today I received an email telling me that various parts of my agreement between Amazon and myself have changed.

I have a few links on websites to books that I have read and think others might like. Just makes for a slightly better, more interactive experience etc

For this I would receive a small (and it really is small) % of the selling price of the book. This works well. I've probably made about £50-£100 in total since 1998 when I first used this system. It's not a business empire!

But today's slight amendments to their operating agreement include this little gem hidden away in the legal speak and small type..

"If you have not earned any advertising fees in the 3 years prior to any given calendar month, then on the first day of that calendar month we may charge you an account maintenance fee that will be deducted from your unpaid accrued advertising fees. That account maintenance fee will be (i) £10 if your advertising fees were earned from Qualifying Purchases occurring on the Amazon UK Site or €10 if your advertising fees were earned from Qualifying Purchases occurring on each of the Amazon DE Site, Amazon FR Site or Amazon IT Site; and (ii) the amount of unpaid accrued advertising fees in your account. We may also in this case close your account and terminate this agreement."

What?!

So, if your account isn't used for a while and you decide to go back in and help Amazon make more sales you'd better make sure you have earned something from the referral system in the past 3 years.

If not, the way I read it, your referral income better be more than £25 in total (they hold fees until they reach this limit to pay direct your bank). If it falls under £25 and you have not earned any fees on your account for 3 years then they will charge you £10 off your fees earned (the text in green) PLUS take all your fees earned to date (the sky blue text).  Then they say they 'may' - presumably if they are feeling particularly miserly that day -close your account and terminate the agreement.

Nice one Amazon.

I've been sat here thinking I'm doing you a favour all the time and now you're about to kick me in the face and chuck me off the programme.

Not before I've terminated 'my' agreement with you you're not.

Suffice to say, my websites won't feature book recommendations with links to Amazon on them any longer. Amazon should remember one thing. There are other booksellers on the web. And some of the household web names of today didn't exist only a few years ago.

Good business strategy Amazon.

 

NOBODY'S BITCH...

David Droga is an ad executive who jumped out of his fat salary partner position in New York some time ago.  He now runs a very successful 120+ strong advertising agency in New York and has a client list that includes Puma, Unilever and Microsoft.

David's advice to anyone who seeks him out to ask such is, "not all the stars will line up at once, you don't need a wacky point of view, get yourself a strong business partner and don't pitch unless you get paid."

In other words, "You're nobody's bitch."

Times are harder than usual to come by work for anyone involved in the pressing of palms, listening to clients problems, dreaming up of creative solutions.  But I fully agree with this adage.  There's absolutely no reason to go and prostitute yourself on the streets at the lowest common denominator price.  You only end up working harder for less.

This is relevant. In the UK right now we are facing a veritable tsunami of ex-public sector employees deluging into the one-man band world of 'consultancy'. They are clutching a little black book of former colleagues and contacts at local authorities and regional agencies across the land.

The main culprits have probably resurrected their LinkedIn profile lately and addded a whole heap of similar concubines to make themselves feel warm and cosy (LinkedIn UK had 3m members in late 2009 and had added a further 1m by June 2010 for example).  A few are already taking the leap, taking the money (correction taking the taxpayers money) and setting up on their own.  Cheekier ones amongst them have secured three month handover contracts and are contracted back to the place that let them go - typically to train more junior staff how they did their job (because it was so difficult you know).

And so, just like the chart of public sector employment that runs sharply uphill between
1998 and 2008 (see my previous blog) one should expect a sharp increase in self employment in the next decade.  And if these people don't set up so called consultancy businesses they will probably start to bake cupcakes and sell them given what I've seen on facebook and elsewhere?

Thing is for most of these people, they were not very, how shall we put it, efficient at their job - we know that now - by 2008 it took 30% more public sector employees to keep the machine oiled as it did in 1997.  I know this from first hand and can show you examples of people taking a month-plus to write reports that would have taken me a matter of days - and they had whole departments of research support too!

Anyway.. To my opening point..  I had a meeting with a prominent property agent last week at which he was moaning about the fact that work is getting harder to find, contracts to secure etc etc.. The reaction of his company - one of the top four commercial agents in the world - is to start to drop day rates, commission fee percentages and fight it out with everyone else in the market.  Now I think this is false and promptly told him so.  There's nothing wrong with becoming more competitive - and any consultant's client should force this as much as possible - but I think by simply competing on price in such a naked way sends out (at least) three very unprofessional and poor signals:

• the first is a statement that we can do it for less but in the past
  ten years when times were good we were taking more money
  out of your pocket than we should have been.
  Not a great statement to make?

• the second is saying we are desperate enough now to undercut
  our rivals just to secure your business - hence you the client are the
  most important factor in the equation and wield all the power.  This
  of course should be something that a good consultant makes a client feel
  whilst very firmly retaining the control in the relationship.  I tend to try
  and make the client see the benefits of hiring our firm or buying our products
  and they then feel grateful for you pointing out their competitors are already
  doing this so they might just lose out if they don't etc etc - regain control.

• Lastly, by dropping fees in an all-out battle with competitors you say, "we are
  no different to anyone else." I firmly believe my business to be unique.  We do
  things others don't.  Our services stand above the crowd.  Why would I want
  to line up on the Mac-menu with everybody else? Conviction and stamina have
  got me to where I am today in my business.

One thing is for certain then, our day rates will not be dropping now times are a little harder.  Our product prices are now lower it must be said, but clients are being told how we have achieved this - economies of scale, knowledge of their geography, not quite as much background research going into the final product unless they pay the old, higher price.

I am nobody's bitch!

Interesting links:
Social networking stats for 2010 summary
10 surprising facts about LinkedIn membership in the uK

SPAM SCAMS..

  
I received an odd email in my inbox today.  Someone from the other side of the world was looking out for my interests and protecting my company name from being trademark registered in China!  How cool, a stranger is helping me for free!

As Milton Friedman once said though, there's no such thing as a free lunch..

So, I investigated a little further.

Turns out to be another scam email - effectively drumming up trade for a chinese domain name registration business.  Along the lines of, "hey! someone is trying to register the following domain name endings with your existing domain name..."

.jp

.net

.eu

.cn

.tw

.cc

.biz

You get the idea.

All very alarming.  If only they were using correct English grammar and it didn't simply read like some joke.  I guess someone somewhere falls for this as it's been going round the internet for at least 2 years now - for e.g.

In case it happens to you, look out for an email that goes something like this..

Dear  Principal,                                      

We are an organization specified at dealing with domain name dispute and
registration in Asia. We have something important on intellectual
property right need to confirm with your company.

Today we received a formal application from a company called Emarketplace
International, who applied to register "[insert your domain here - Polko]"
as their domain name in some countries and internet keyword.
During our preliminary investigation, we found that these domain names'
keyword is identical with your trademark. I wonder whether you consigned
Emarketplace International to register these domain names with us? Or is
Emarketplace International your business partner or distributor in Asia?

Currently, we have already postponed this application of this company
temporarily. Therefore please let the relevant person make a confirmation
with me by telephone or email ASAP.

Best Regards
Henry Luo
Auditing Department(HK Office)