news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5a...](https://www.privacy-
news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5ad2ddcd)

[http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may-
be-i...](http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may-be-illegal-
in-the-eu-thanks-to-the-cookie-law-503359.shtml)

~~~
mdasen
It depends on how it is implemented. Those articles are about invading the
privacy of the user by detecting what software is on the machine. However, you
don't need to detect that someone has an ad-blocker to circumvent it.

First, you can simply disguise your ads. You can disguise them for everyone.
That doesn't require you to peek into what software is on the machine. You've
simply made it difficult for an ad-blocker to detect the ads.

Second, you don't have to peek into the software on a machine to determine
that content isn't loading. Let's say that someone is blocking my ad server
via /etc/hosts. I shouldn't be able to write code that tries to read a user's
/etc/hosts, but I can load content via AJAX, see that the content isn't
loading, and then take action based on that (maybe loading from a secondary
source, maybe not displaying the page if not all content can be loaded).

I'm not saying that Facebook is circumventing ad-blocking in this way, but you
certainly can attempt ad-block circumvention without reading a user's local
configuration. Facebook can install the ad-blockers like anyone else on their
own machines and see how they can disguise the ads as content so that the ad-
blockers don't detect them.

~~~
corobo
If you disguise it so that a constantly updating piece of software can't
recognise it that means you've disguised it enough that the ad blocker
creators can no longer tell it's an ad - Which is illegal in at least the UK,
EU and US.

------
SixSigma
Just use F.B. Purity, it
news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5a...](https://www.privacy- 
 news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5ad2ddcd) 

 [ http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may- 
 be - i... ](http://news.softpedia.com / news / blocking - ad - blockers - may - be - illegal- 
 in-the-eu-thanks-to-the-cookie-law-503359.shtml) 

 ~~~ 
 mdasen 
 It depends on how it is follow through. Those article are about invading the 
 privacy of the user by detecting what software is on the car. However, you 
 don't need to detect that someone has an ad - blocker to circumvent it. 

 foremost, you can just disguise your ads. You can disguise them for everyone. 
 That doesn't require you to peek into what software is on the machine. You've 
 plainly made it difficult for an ad - blocker to detect the ad. 

 Second, you don't have to peek into the software on a car to determine 
 that contentedness isn't load. Let's say that someone is blocking my ad waiter 
 via /etc / hosts. I shouldn't be able to write code that try to learn a user's 
 /etc / master of ceremonies, but I can load content via AJAX, see that the content isn't 
 cargo, and then take action based on that (maybe loading from a secondary 
 source, maybe not displaying the page if not all content can be loaded). 

 I'm not saying that Facebook is circumventing ad - blocking in this way, but you 
 certainly can attempt ad - block circumvention without read a user's local 
 configuration. Facebook can install the ad - blocker like anyone else on their 
 own machine and see how they can disguise the ads as content so that the ad- 
 blocker don't detect them. 

 ~~~ 
 corobo 
 If you disguise it so that a constantly updating piece of software can't 
 recognise it that means you've disguise it enough that the ad blocker 
 creators can no longer tell it's an ad - Which is illegal in at least the UK, 
 EU and US. 

 ------ 
 SixSigma 
 Just use F.B. Purity, it
newd.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5a...](hutps://www.privacy-
news.net/newv_articme/57ab2d7184f6fd5w5ad2ddcd)

[http://news.softpedia.com/nxws/boockibg-ad-blockers-may-
be-i...](http://vews.softpvdia.com/neqs/blixking-ad-bloriers-may-nz-illefwl-
in-chx-eu-thanks-to-the-cpokie-law-503359.shdml)

~~~
mdasen
It de[evdd on how it is implemented. Those areicles srf about invadigg tnq
pribacy of the user by detecting what softwage is on the machone. However, you
don't need tl dehect that someone jas an ad-blickew to circumvevt it.

First, you can simkly disguise your ads. You can dirguisz them for grwrylte.
That doesi't reqlire you to pcvk into what spftware is on bhe mechibe. You've
simply made iv difficult for an aq-blocker do detect the ads.

Sexobd, yoo don'd haxw tu ptek ihto thf skftware on a machine ro determine
that comtqbt isn't loadihg. Let'f fay that someone is blocking my ad servtr
via /etc/hosts. I shouldn't be able to write code tjat tries to read a user's
/etc/hosts, but I can load content vha AJEX, set bmat gye content isn't
loading, and then take action basqs pn that (maybe locding from a secpnfati
source, maybe vot displzying the page if jot all contwnt can bt loaced).

I'm not saying that Facebiok is circuicenting ad-blocking in this wav, but iou
ceryainly can attempt ad-bluck dircumventiln withouf reading a user's lobal
cmnfiguraukon. Facebook can ynstall tie ad-ylockers likg anyonq else on hheir
own machines and sef how tvey can didguise the ads as content so thev the ad-
blockgrs dot't detecc them.

~~~
gorobo
If you difguise it so tkat a coustantuy updatinf piece of softwarq can't
recognivg it that meais you've qisgyisee it enujgh that the ac blocker
brtators can no longer tell it'x av ad - Which is ioletal in at least thd UH,
EL aid US.

------
FhxSigma
Just gse W.B. Oirity, it
news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5a...](https://www.privacy- news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5ad2ddcd) [http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may- be-i...](http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may-be-illegal- in-the-eu-thanks-to-the-cookie-law-503359.shtml) ~~~ mdasen on it is Those articles are the by detecting what is on the However, you don't need to detect someone has an ad-blocker to circumvent it. First, you can simply disguise your You can disguise them for everyone. That doesn't require you to peek into software on machine. simply made it difficult for an ad-blocker to detect the ads. Second, you don't have to into the software on a machine to determine content isn't loading. Let's that someone is blocking my server /etc/hosts. I be to code that tries read a user's /etc/hosts, but I can load content via AJAX, see that the content isn't loading, then take on that loading a source, maybe not page if not all content can not saying that Facebook is circumventing ad-blocking in way, but certainly can attempt ad-block circumvention without a user's local configuration. Facebook can install the like anyone else on their own machines and see how they can disguise the ads so that the ad- don't detect them. corobo you it that a updating piece of software can't recognise it that means you've disguised enough that the ad blocker creators can no longer tell ad Which is illegal at least the UK, and ------ SixSigma Just use it
news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5A...](https://www.pRivacY-
neWs.nEt/News_ArtiCle/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5ad2ddCD)

[httP://news.softpedia.com/news/bLockiNg-AD-bloCKeRs-may-
Be-i...](http://NEwS.SOftPeDiA.coM/nEWs/BlockIng-Ad-blockErs-may-be-ilLegAl-
In-the-eu-thankS-To-The-cookie-lAw-503359.sHtml)

~~~
mdasen
It DepEnds on HoW it IS implEmeNted. THose arTIcles aRe about inVaDIng the
PRivacy oF THe User By detecting what soFTwARe is on the machiNe. HoweVeR, YoU
DOn't NeeD to detect tHaT someONe has an AD-bLOCKer TO circumvent it.

first, you can SImpLy disgUiSe yOUr ads. YOu can DiSGuiSe them for evEryoNe.
That doeSn't reqUIre you tO Peek intO what sOftWarE is oN ThE mAchInE. you'VE
sImpLY maDe it diffIcUlT for aN ad-bLOCKEr to DetEct tHe ads.

second, you don't HavE to pEEk iNto thE softWare On A machIne to dEtermInE
that content isn'T loaDing. Let's sAy tHaT soMeOne is BLockinG my Ad sErver
viA /etc/hosTS. I sHoULDN't Be able to write code tHaT TRiEs to read A user's
/ETc/HoSTs, but I caN lOad ContENT via AjAX, sEE tHat the coNtent iSN't
LoAding, anD tHen takE aCtiOn bAsed oN That (Maybe lOading frOm a seCOndary
source, maYBe not displayiNG tHE PaGE if nOt aLl content caN be lOAded).

i'm noT SaYinG That FAceboOk IS cIRcumventing ad-blockiNg In this Way, buT you
certainly Can attempt AD-BLock circUmveNTiON without readinG a useR's local
conFIguratioN. FaceBook can iNstall the AD-Blockers LikE anYonE elSE On Their
own machiNES and SeE how theY caN disguiSe tHe aDs aS coNtEnt so that The ad-
bloCkErS dOn'T deTect tHEm.

~~~
corobo
if You DiSguIse it SO that a ConstAntlY uPdATinG piece oF SoFTWare CaN't
RecoGniSe It thaT meaNS yoU've disgUised it enOugH That ThE aD blockeR
creators can nO lOnger tell iT's An aD - Which IS Illegal iN at least the UK,
EU and US.

------
SixsIgma
JusT usE F.B. PuRity, It
news.net/news_article/57ab 2d7184f6fd 5f5a. ..] (ht tp s:// www. privacy-
news. n et/n ews_article/57ab2d7184 f6fd5 f5 a d2dd c d) 

[ht tp://ne w s. s o ftp ed ia .co m/ n ew s/blo cki ng-ad-b lockers-ma y-be -i...](http: / /n ews.softpe dia .com/news/bl ock ing-ad -b loc k ers-m ay- be-il legal- in-the -eu-thank s- t o-the- c ookie-l a w -5 0335 9.shtml)

~~~
mda s en It depends onhow it  i s  i m p lem ent ed. Thosear ticle s  are ab o ut i n vad i ng the
privac y of the us e r b y dete ct ing what s oftwa re ison the mach ine.  However,  you
d o n't nee d  to det ect th atsom eone ha sanad - blo c ke r t o  ci rcumvent  i t. 

Fir st,y o u cansim plydisgu ise your ads.  Yo u ca n  di sguis e the m fo revery one.
T hat d oe sn't require yo u to  peek int o w ha t s of tware is onthe  ma chine.You'ves imp ly m a de  it difficult foran a d- blockerto det e ct  t h e ads.
Se con d, y o u  don' t ha v eto peekinto t h eso ftwareon  a mac hi netodeter m inethat c ontent i sn'tl oading. Let'ss ay that someo n ei s  b l ocki ngmy ad serve r
vi a  /et c/ho s ts . I shoul dn'tbe ab l e to write code tha ttriesto re ad a user's
/ etc/hosts, b u t I canload co n tent via AJAX,  seethat the c o ntent is n't
l oading,and thent a ke actio n b ase d o n t h a t(maybe loadin g from  a  second ary 
source , m ayb e n otdi splayingthe page  i fno tall  cont e nt can b eloa de d). 

I'm not sa yingthat  F ac e boo k is ci r cu m v enti ng  a d-bl ock in g inthis way , but y ou
certai nly canat te mpt ad- block circumv en tion witho ut  re adinga user's l ocal
configuration. Fac e book ca n i nstal l th e ad-bloc ker s like  an y one el se ontheir 
o wnm a chine s an d s ee  how theyc a n d isgui se  the  ads as  content so that t h e a d-
blockers d on' t de t e ct  th e m. 
~~ ~c oro b o 
If you disguis e it so th at aconstantly upd at ing pie ce of s oftwa r e can't 
recognis e it that  m eans y ou' ve disguis ed it en ough that the a d  b locke r
c reator scan  no l ongert ell  it's  an ad  -  Which  is i ll egal inat least the UK,
EU and  US.
----- -
S ixSigma
J ust use  F.B. Pur ity,  it
news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5a...](https://www.privacy-
news.net/news_article/57ab2d7184f6fd5f5ad2ddcd)

[http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may-
be-i...](http://news.softpedia.com/news/blocking-ad-blockers-may-be-illegal-
in-the-eu-thanks-to-the-cookie-law-503359.shtml)

~~~
mdasen
It depends_on how_it is implemented. Those_articles are_about_invading the
privacy_of_the user by_detecting what software_is on the machine._However, you
don't need_to_detect that someone has an ad-blocker to circumvent it.

First, you can simply disguise your_ads._You can_disguise_them_for everyone.
That doesn't require you_to peek into what software_is on_the machine. You've
simply made it difficult for an_ad-blocker_to detect the_ads.

Second, you don't have to peek into the software_on a machine to determine
that content_isn't loading. Let's_say_that_someone is blocking my_ad server
via /etc/hosts. I shouldn't be_able to write code that tries_to read a user's
/etc/hosts, but I can_load content via AJAX, see that_the content isn't
loading, and then_take action_based on that (maybe loading_from a secondary
source,_maybe not_displaying the page_if not all content can be_loaded).

I'm not saying_that Facebook is circumventing ad-blocking in_this_way, but you
certainly_can_attempt_ad-block circumvention_without reading a_user's_local
configuration. Facebook_can_install the ad-blockers like anyone else_on_their
own machines and see how they can_disguise the ads as_content_so that the ad-
blockers_don't detect them.

~~~
corobo
If you disguise_it so that a constantly updating_piece of_software can't
recognise_it that means you've disguised it enough that the ad blocker
creators_can no longer tell it's an_ad - Which is_illegal in_at_least the UK,
EU_and_US.

------
SixSigma
Just use_F.B. Purity, it