Startpage silently tracking adblocker usage?
Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:54 am
Some users here have previously recommended the Startpage search engine for privacy. Because Startpage doesn't store search terms or IP addresses, and they ensure their links won't leak search terms through the referer. For these reasons, I had also used it myself.
But is there now a catch? - https://forums.lanik.us/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=35960
I not only can confirm what the OP of that thread says, I tried to see what they do with the adblock detection. And I found this -
Ok, before reaching for the inhalers, please note that there could be legitimate reasons to track adblocker usage. For example, if you were a webmaster, you might want to know what percentage of your site's users block ads, in order to decide if it's worth having ads on your site.
But I would rather not speculate about Startpage's motivations.
So I checked their privacy policy, and...wait, no mention whatsoever of adblock detection?
Not cool.
So what can you, as a user, do about this?
But is there now a catch? - https://forums.lanik.us/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=35960
I not only can confirm what the OP of that thread says, I tried to see what they do with the adblock detection. And I found this -
Code: Select all
if (typeof jQuery === 'function') { jQuery(document).ready(function() {if(abp){load_img('https://www.startpage.com/do/avt?a=5274&g=911&l=english');} else {load_img('https://www.startpage.com/do/avt?a=5274&g=912&l=english');} }); } But I would rather not speculate about Startpage's motivations.
So I checked their privacy policy, and...wait, no mention whatsoever of adblock detection?
Not cool.
So what can you, as a user, do about this?
- Just be aware of it, hope for the best, and continue business as usual.
- Disable active content on Startpage, e.g. by using NoScript. This will prevent the adblock detection from occurring.
- Temporarily use another search engine, such as DuckDuckGo, until there is some certainty on this matter.