SIMPLE QUESTIONS

[estherm...@gmail.com]

Hi John!

Days ago I discovered your no-ads.pac (NAP).
First, thank you!
Second, NAP seems to be a little gem... congrats for your nice work!

I am using your NAP at Firefox Nightly latest version. It works like a charm. Please, if you allow me, I have simple questions:

1) Do you have updates/upgrades?

2) Is it possible to block not only ad-banners but also any type of ads and popups?

3) At NAP' webpage, is not clear to me if NAP blocks ad web requests. For example, the UMatrix add-on/extension claims to block not just the loading of ad images, but also it blocks the ad web request. I am not an expert, but it seems that blocking the ad image is just a cosmetic function (the ads are still there, just hidden), while blocking the ad web request save internet connection, improves browsing speed, reduces system resources impact, better privacy and security etc. Please, how NAP compares to ad blockers extensions that blocks both, ad web requests + loading ad images?

Thank you in advance!

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Hi Esther,

If you downloaded it from my web page, http://www.schooner.com/~loverso/no-ads then you have the current version.  The download link is almost always the current version that I am personally using.  There is a history display showing when the last change was made.

no-ads works by blocking specific browser requests that match certain patterns.  The patterns I use (which are visible if you open the no-ads.pac file in a text editor) are designed to match most advertisements, banner displays, and popups. Depending upon the website displaying the ad, this might block the image being displayed and/or it might block the JavaScript they are using to download and display/rotate the image. 

Thus, depending upon the website you visit, it might just block the ad image or it might also block the code used to display the ad.

I might suggest using the Google support forum for further questions.  That way other people see the answer.  In fact, if you post this question there, I'd respond there, too.

Enjoy,
John

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Hi again John!

Thanks for your answer!
OK, I am going to post at your Google Support Forum (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/no-ads) my previous question/your present answer.

Please, I still have some doubts, especially when comparing your NAP to ad blocker extensions/add-ons.
Yeah, at NAP' webpage there is a great comparison between NAP and ad-removing Proxy, or NAP and Host files.
But please, if possible, I am still interested to understand the comparison between NAP and ad-blocker extension/add-on (in terms of browser performance / system performance).

As I mentioned in my previous email, the UMatrix extension claims to block not just the loading of ad images/scripts, but also the ad web requests. As I said, I am not an expert, but from my ignorance seems that NAP blocks just the loading of ad images/scripts... not the ad web requests. Am I wrong?
What I really would like to know, please, is the difference between blocking ad-banners with NAP and UMatrix (for example), not in terms of blocking capabilities (I understand that blocker extensions are capable to block more different kind of ads), but in terms of browser performance, browser speed, system resources etc... this what real interest me to know about NAP... at the end, I want to understand what I gain with NAP compared for example to UMatrix. Do I gain browser speed improvement with NAP compared to UMatrix)? Less system impact? Etc?

With regards to your explanation about NAP limited to block ad-banners:
Yeah, I saw inside NAP that you use REGEX + a list of ad servers (I guess). And I confirm you again, it works like a charm.
I just wonder if the REGEX' list might be improved to cover more kind of ads. Same logic with the list of ad servers (for example, different countries might need different ad server lists).
I don't know about REGEX, neither about how to change the ad server list. But at least if you confirm me that this is doable, and that is possible to improve and customize NAP (more REGEX + more ad servers)... if you confirm me that, then I will look someone to help me with new REGEX + changing ad servers.

Again John, thank you in advance!