Quote:
Originally Posted by plib
Actually I'd say the luddites are the ones who aren't using ad and tracking blocking software.
My personal recipe = Firefox + AdblockPlus + Adblock Plus Element Hider + Adblock Plus Popups + NoScript + Better Privacy + Ghostery + Cookie Monster
+ Customize Google
Can't remember the last time I saw an ad. Add the free Malwarebytes scanner and Comodo Firewall programs plus your choice of anti-virus and you can have a much more enjoyable and secure internet experience for zero dollars and about 10 minutes of your time to install.
Doesn't sound luddite to me.
I also have DD-WRT firmware, plus Optware The Right Way and most of frater's scripts, including the adblocking pixelserv script, on my router but that's a little more investment in time, though not dollars - and it does ensure that doubleclick.net is consigned to the ninth circle irretrievably! 
If anyone is reasonably computer literate and does have a compatible router, which includes most Linksys/Cisco home routers, Asus, D-Link and Netgear routers, then I would highly recommend looking at the DD-WRT firmware. However flashing third party firmware to your router does have the possibility of bricking it if you don't follow the instructions EXACTLY, so don't use it if you're not confident of your skills. That said, thousands of people do use it with no problem and with frater's OTRW it can turn your $50 router into something much, much more capable. Anyone interested should definitely read the support forums before installing, users with Broadcom chip based routers should probably start that reading with the Peacock Thread. It's a little bit of work to install, but it's well worth it, particularly if you're running a home network behind it. |
Another good little piece of software for those that do frequent torrent sites to download....*cough cough* open source software faster, that prevents certain IPs from accessing your pc is called
Peerblock. It even has lists for blocking spyware, bad p2p computers, and ads/data tracking sites.
I have been using a similar combination of plug-ins for FF for years and I have never seen an ad...makes browsing that much more enjoyable.
DD-WRT is great, but unless you know something about computers and flashing firmware I would suggest you read and re-read the instructions 3 or 4 times. It will not work on all routers either.