uAdBlock

MarkG_108 · 6 Dec 2019, 01:52

I installed Sailbook, but started seeing a load of ads when using it. So, I then installed uAdBlock, but when, in setting it up, it demanded to know my password, I cancelled and removed it. What is the deal with that? Is it normal for an app that filters ads to demand to know a user's password?

Marathon2422 · 6 Dec 2019, 02:53

@MarkG_108
It needs your permission to access R/W .
It is normal setup for this , some other apps do this also like UT-Tweak tool

Marathon2422 · 6 Dec 2019, 02:56

I find with sailbook ,i start it and get a blank page ,I hit the refresh at the bottom of the page then ,ok from there, I don't get much in the way of adverts

AppLee · 6 Dec 2019, 08:29

@MarkG_108 Hi,
It's common for apps dealing with the system to ask for your password.
Yes this is not the usual behavior for apps, hence the confinement.
But there are also apps that allows you to tweak your system and you have to trust them enough to grant them your sesame...

That's what is great with UT, you have the power to trust an app or to ban it, nothing is hidden.

Mic_ · 12 Dec 2019, 14:24

There are so many lists - which blocklist-combination is recommended?

3T_Ed · 29 Sept 2020, 10:43

Push notifications are visible, when tapping them they simply 'disappear'. Currently 14 blocking lists are available (and have been unchanged for at least a fee months) and none have been added since last update.

Where to find the new ones and how to add them to the overview? Can we have the option to include/customize uAdBlock by adding specific lists ourselves?

domubpkm · 29 Sept 2020, 13:47

@3T_Ed Isn't it the same question that you already asked here ?

3T_Ed · 29 Sept 2020, 14:09

@domubpkm said in uAdBlock:

@3T_Ed Isn't it the same question that you already asked here ?

Not exactly, at least it wasn't intended as such. Posted this comment as I'm getting these notifications now which just disappear. I did not receive them before. Could it be because I switched to stable channel?

domubpkm · 29 Sept 2020, 14:51

@3T_Ed I'm on the stable channel and the push notification system informs me every time the lists have been updated on a server and in order for uAdBlock to be up to date on the smartphone, it is necessary to open uAdBlock and update the lists. The push notification has, in my opinion, a single informational purpose and disappears every time I click on it, nothing more. This is my understanding in any case.
For own custom lists to choose from, given the recent developer's comment on Gitlab, this seems difficult to implement. But maybe @beli3ver, if he wants to, will be able to enlighten you and us.

3T_Ed · 29 Sept 2020, 15:59

@domubpkm
Thanks for the reply and for confirming it just serves the informational purpose and I don't have to look further into it. Good to know the lists are being updated. I guess we'll have to wait and see for the extra features to come.

domubpkm · 4 Oct 2020, 07:28

5 minutes ago

3T_Ed · 4 Oct 2020, 07:28

@domubpkm
I got the hang of it now. With every notification I'm updating the UAdBlock now. I noticed there is no feedback option when doing so, no confirmation 'Your update was succesful'. It's a blackbox and as a user I have to trust the update/app is implementing the blocking of hosts I would block when given the individual choice.

Besides I have no clue to what I have updated, no logging of included blockings. Which blocklist is updated with what host? It would be great if we could make suggestions to a repository in order to collect hosts we want to block (immediately). In the way UAdBlock is organized I simply have no overview or any control what is blocked

domubpkm · 4 Oct 2020, 08:37

https://gitlab.com/uadblock/uadblock/-/issues

AppLee · 4 Oct 2020, 09:02

@3T_Ed said in uAdBlock:

I noticed there is no feedback option when doing so, no confirmation 'Your update was succesful'.

Actually there is an information right above the update button with the timestamp of the latest update.
Yes few features are still missing in order to control more closely the blacklists.
And opening the app from the notification will be a cool shortcut.

domubpkm · 4 Oct 2020, 15:14

@3T_Ed said in uAdBlock:

no confirmation 'Your update was succesful'

A 'homemade' way of partial control and not in detail: I think that, generally speaking, it's the hosts file on the smartphone that has to evolve between each update of uAdBlock lists : if the update date and the size of this file doesn't change, it's because the update is not a success I think. By curiosity, it is possible to see its content with a text editor

3T_Ed · 4 Oct 2020, 16:31

@domubpkm said in uAdBlock:

... it's the hosts file on the smartphone that has to evolve between each update of uAdBlock lists : if the update date and the size of this file doesn't change, it's because the update is not a success I think. By curiosity, it is possible to see its content with a text editor

This would be very useful. I did not find a folder containing that host file. It should be in the unlocked directory right? Thank you for being patient with me, any pointers to that file would be appreciated

AppLee · 4 Oct 2020, 17:14

@3T_Ed
As shown in the screenshot, it's located at /etc/hosts

domubpkm · 4 Oct 2020, 17:15

@3T_Ed

Then etc folder
Then the file after the folders.

3T_Ed · 4 Oct 2020, 17:47

@AppLee , @domubpkm

Thank you very much! @domubpkm your screenshots were very helpful, thank you for taking the time.

domubpkm · 5 Oct 2020, 11:55

I doubt very strongly that the hosts file on the smartphone is updated by the simple fact of activating 'update uAdBlock' in the uAdBlock app : indeed, in the uAdBlock app, the date and time change, but the hosts file of the smartphone always mentions the date and time of the previous day, which doesn't seem coherent to me.
To be sure that the smartphone's hosts file is updated, I deactivate uAdBlock then I reactivate it for the lists concerned: there I can see that the host file has changed on the smartphone.