Allowing desired advertisers only at Freerice

[Tom T.]

(Split as being O/T and ABE-specific from NS Development, "Option allow all for WOT" - Tom T.)

Thanks for your response, you were very helpful! I probably just unblock them the sites that they usually use for starters.

Yes, that's a good start, and you're quite welcome.

Just a little question for my own: where can I ask about what to do with site http://freerice.com (very good site, but shows such message: "If you can see this text, you may have an ad blocker or software enabled that is preventing us from displaying the sponsored ads that are paying for the grains that you are earning. Please disable the ad blocker or software?"). And I don't really want to allow all those scripts (they are from tracking companies) - maybe I should allow them on this page only? The problem is that I allowed them all once and the text message didn't go away... (I have AdBlockPlus but without any blacklist. I also have ghostery now, and it's blocking Rubicon).

Should I post it elsewhere?

It's already been posted. (Hint: That "Search" box in the upper right is for exactly that. Enter "freerice" in it. )

Short version: The site requires you to run them to get the grains or whatever.

Workarounds: Many tracking scripts have a Surrogate Script provided by default in NoScript, that runs so long as you keep the actual script blocked, and it makes the page happy. See List of scripts for which NS runs surrogate.

For the ads themselves, you can use Firefox's built-in image blocker to prevent the images from being displayed.

To allow those scripts at only that one site, please see Site-Specific-Permission Questions? PLEASE READ THIS FIRST! and the FAQ linked there. If you have questions after reading those materials, then post the list of scripts involved, and we'll help you with the rule. But it shouldn't be difficult -- give it a try.

(Which forum is not a big deal. Normally, such questions go to NS Support, but as you'll see, this ends up being in "ABE" territory. We can always split the topic and move it if it becomes appropriate to do so, so feel free to reply here for now.)

[Roc]

Thanks, I didn't even thought that freerice might be asked before, my bad.

I tried this rule as said in FAQ in ABE:
Site freerice.com
Accept from freerice.com
Deny

But it didn't work.
When I allowed Rubicon (cookie of sort I think) in Ghostery addon, NS started to "see" rubicon and blocked it.

[Tom T.]

Thanks, I didn't even thought that freerice might be asked before, my bad.

I tried this rule as said in FAQ in ABE:
Site freerice.com
Accept from freerice.com
Deny

But it didn't work.
When I allowed Rubicon (cookie of sort I think) in Ghostery addon, NS started to "see" rubicon and blocked it.

This rule allows only the site's own script, not third-party advertisers.

After "Site", you need to list all of the script sources to which you wish to control requests (access).

Separate each with exactly one blank space. Use a leading dot before each, as a "wildcard" for the sub-domains etc. And also for the site you are on, freerice, to include its sub-domains, which I assume you want to do.

Example:

Code: Select all

Site .adsite1.com .adsite2.com  .adsite3.com .adsite4.com
Accept from .freerice.com
Deny

This rule allows script from adsites 1, 2, 3, and 4 at freerice.com, or any sub-domain of it, while blocking them everywhere else.

Note that you must *whitelist* the desired ad scripts in NoScript, either via the menu or by NS Options | Whitelist, or else NoScript will default-block them before ABE gets a chance to see them and apply its rules.

Does this now work?

I will indeed split this off to forum NoScript > ABE, because the issues are now ABE-specific, and could help others to use ABE if they follow that forum.

[Roc]

I have decided to not allow it after reading in Web of Trust about those scripts: https://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/yieldmanager.com for exemple.

[Thrawn]

I have decided to not allow it after reading in Web of Trust about those scripts: https://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/yieldmanager.com for exemple.

Well, that's fair enough. Of course, these sites would be expected to have poor reputations, since they're advertising networks...the assumption was that you're willing to let them collect data, display ads, etc, on selected sites, but block them in general.

Personally I like Freerice & wouldn't want to give up on supporting it, so I would use ABE rules like the ones suggested (or RequestPolicy), but I won't fault you for wanting to avoid trackers altogether. It's a reasonable thing to do, much better than the opposite extreme of leaving everything wide open.

[Tom T.]

May I suggest taking a glance at SOME SITES YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO ALLOW? Someone (cough) compiled a list of more than 100 advertisers, plus data-mining sites, with a link to a source at which you can click on any advertiser's link and be taken to their *actual* site --- the one that they show to prospective customers of their service.

This is a *really* revealing way to find out just how intrusive -- or non-intrusive -- are their practices.

Feedback on that sticky, as on all others, is always welcome.