InformAction Forums

Apologies on the vague subject line but I couldn't come up with a better wording.

I am using NoScript and AdblockPlus. Previously when I would visit a site NoScript would list all the various scripts running on the site and looking at ABP blockable items log would typically list some of the same sites in its log with some items being blocked and some not. The point being that the blockable items log would list things from sites that NoScript would show scripts of whether allowed or not.

To my question. I have just noticed what seems to me like something different in that regard. Using this url as an example.

Hovering over the NoScript icon shows, for me, the following sites on that page. Samsclub, wal.co, webcollage.net, walmart, richrelevance, sellpoint. If I allow the samsclub one, then it also lists easy2, flixfacts, bazaarvoice and googletagservices. I seem to think that typically the ABP blockable items log would list something from those other sites. Especially after allowing the samsclub script which would usually allow something else that would show up in the blockable items log. Yet, the blockable items log only shows samsclub.com originating items for me.

Faulty memory on my part or did something change recently with NoScript that might cause that? Hope I am not crazy for asking. Just stood at as abnormal from how I remember.

What you're seeing is always how it's been for me; that being said, I roll my own fork of ABP from an older base.
Also, it might just be that recently you're visiting sites where the 3rd-party sites are script-blocked but not loading anything that NS wouldn't block (e.g. images) that could show up in ABP blockable items.

Also note, ABP blockable items is not reliable because if a node that caused a blockable request is removed from the document, or if a node loading a blockable request is never added to the document, ABP's stored data about that request is obliterated or irretrievable, respectively. (This doesn't affect ABP's ability to actually block things.)

Thank you.

I hope you don't mind a follow-up on this. I wish I was more knowledgeable on these things so that I knew enough about what I was talking about so I could articulate it in case I am not wildly mistaken. Something feels different to me. I am not sure if it is a deliberate difference or not. ABP hasn't had an update version so noticing this so I believe NoScript is doing something different causing the change.

I am much more aware of how things typically appear when visiting Hulu. I watch the scripts and blockable items log listed on a daily basis and have for a long time so I feel fairly confident that something different is occurring. Specifically, when visiting the Hulu main page, 5 scripts other than Hulu and Huluium are listed by NoScript. The two Hulu ones have to be allowed for the site to function. The other 5, Twitter, Doubleclick, Facebook, Googleadservices and Maxymizer are the others which have remained fairly contast, in addition to a few others depending on what page one is on. When looking at the ABP blockable items log, it would always used to list the service.maxymiser.net/cdn/hulu/js/mmcore.js, connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js, platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and stats.g.doubleclick.net/dc.js in the ABP blockable items log as blocked. Now, those scripts aren't listed at all. Not just on that page, any of them. I have no idea if things are being run behind the scenes or not because the ABP blockable items log isn't even reflecting them when it has previously (and for well over a year that I have been watching that log when visiting Hulu on a near daily basis).

I guess I could be mistaken and those scripts, and a handful of others on Hulu depending in the page one is one, were never listed in ABP blockable items log but my memory is certainly telling me something has changed along those lines. I know NoScript has been making a bunch of changes recently with new versions coming over the past couple of weeks. Am I really way off in my memory of these or could there be something else different I am picking up on?

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already. My brain is just telling me something is different and trying to figure out what. Just today I noticed that the image galleries on some MSN pages are suddenly working also, the ones I mentioned in this thread viewtopic.php?f=26&t=8263&start=15. I never allowed that msads.net script to run so those image galleries would never work but suddenly they are even though I haven't changed anything (I have had msads.net as untrusted and the whitelist unchecked in ABP for it which is why it would never work). Almost like things that shouldn't be running or allowed are or some other change causing different results.

Before you read my answer, please update to latest development build 2.6.9.9rc1 if you haven't already and re-check, as many significant NoScript bugs were fixed between 2.6.9.7 and there. I don't think it's likely to help here, but worth a shot IMO. Anyway...

Guest wrote:I hope you don't mind a follow-up on this.

No problem, except that I'm exhausted and I gotta go to bed pretty much now.. 12 hours later would have been fine though
(don't worry about it, you're fine, I'm crazy to try answering this now and I really should let someone else get to it in a few hours)

Guest wrote:Now, those scripts aren't listed at all. Not just on that page, any of them. I have no idea if things are being run behind the scenes or not because the ABP blockable items log isn't even reflecting them when it has previously (and for well over a year that I have been watching that log when visiting Hulu on a near daily basis).

Probably it's not running but I'd suggest you don't take my word for it, if you want to check it you could grab HTTPFox and set it going while you go to those sites, see if those scripts are requested and those requests get a response from the server

Guest wrote:Am I really way off in my memory of these or could there be something else different I am picking up on?

This isn't a question anyone can answer who hasn't used your machine, sorry. The order in which each nsIContentPolicy (the thingies behind the scenes used by NS & ABP to block content from loading) runs is completely indeterminate, though NoScript is supposed to run last I'm thinking for me it's running first (before most other things) in script blocking and ABE runs last, after everything else.
I don't think it's unexpected for the order to change with addon updates, so I'd guess you're not seeing anything that's an issue. But again, check it with HTTPFox if you want to make sure.

Guest wrote:Apologies if this has been asked and answered already. My brain is just telling me something is different and trying to figure out what. Just today I noticed that the image galleries on some MSN pages are suddenly working also, the ones I mentioned in this thread viewtopic.php?f=26&t=8263&start=15

Erm.. wait, you have an account here but are posting as Guest?
We prefer that once you're registered, you keep using your account unless you really can't for some reason (can't login, are on a shared computer you don't trust, etc). If you're having trouble logging in, let us know what issues and we'll try to sort them out.

(Same thing I said above with HTTPFox can check the MSN site too)

Thank you. I will look into that HTTPFox as I am curious now.

Is there any harm in temporarily trying a previous build of NoScript? In terms of losing ones settings, white/block list or anything along those lines? I wouldn't mind seeing if there is a change regarding this with the latest releases compared to what I remember.

Is it as simple to downgrade as going to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... /versions/ and clicking on the add to Firefox button next to the desired version? I have tried that before and want to make sure I won't lose my settings and custom lists going down and then back up. I wasn't sure if that might cause a loss in settings or increase odds of a corrupted profile in Firefox or something like that.

Yeah, I created an account in order to post in one of the closed forums. I find it much easier to not have to remember more usernames and passwords though so prefer not having to log in if that is allowed. Other than the past couple of days, I have only visited and posted a few times. If not, I can probably have my password reset and sent to me (I don't know it otherwise).

Thanks for your help barbaz.

Guest wrote:Is there any harm in temporarily trying a previous build of NoScript? In terms of losing ones settings, white/block list or anything along those lines?

No, but if you want to be safe, first completely close Firefox and back up your entire profile folder to an external drive which you then remove from your system; then worst case scenario you can shut down Fx and replace the entire profile with that known working state you had backed up.

Guest wrote:Is it as simple to downgrade as going to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... /versions/ and clicking on the add to Firefox button next to the desired version?

Should be with NoScript
(note in general you may have to completely remove the addon first, then restart browser, then do that)

Guest wrote:I can probably have my password reset and sent to me (I don't know it otherwise)

(emphasis mine)
That is a legitimate reason for not logging in, and it's not like you're using Guest + your account to sock puppet or the like, so it's fine by me