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One of the minor little tweaks sneaked out as part of Google’s recent Android 4.2.2 release and the 4.1.2 update has nuked a popular mobile ad-blocking solution, with Android Adblock Plus now pretty much useless by default on phones and tablets.
Those using the tool to block banner ads on Android hardware now see an error message asking them to manually configure the proxy, thanks to Google’s updates stopping apps from being able to automatically manage their own proxy settings. Which is an easy enough thing to change manually if you don’t mind exploring some of Android’s deeper menu pages, but one that’s also bound to put off a few users from using the app at all.
What really annoys the Adblock maker is the way Google seems to have deliberately broken existing Android functionality in order to make ad removal tougher. Speaking over on its blog, Adblock said: “As a short-term remedy we are working on making manual setup as easy as possible, and we’ll release a new version once we’re happy with that. In the long term, we hope that Android will allow apps to configure the proxy automatically again.” [ABP via The Register]
i uninstalled adblock as it wouldn’t allow catchup tv to work as it said i was outside the uk
Don’t suppose it told you where it thought you WERE? That might be handy,
no it didn’t
Seeing that this is Google’s revenue model for Android, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner.
but gizmodo….. google is free and open and for them its all about helping people… not the money…
Google may be open for now but they will end up like Apple.
Sadly, it always happens.
Sure they will. It is the idea behind cheap tablets like the Nexus 7 after all.
Ubuntu Phone, here I go!
Not sure this is strictly accurate. 4.2.2 fixed a pretty glaring security issue that allowed any App to change your proxy server. This could be very easily exploited to allow anyone to collect all your web traffic. Not a good thing.
The fact that Adblock exploited this loophole, and is now broken is really just a side effect.
^This.
The bug was reported after AdBlock started using it as an exploit, Google fixed the bug – AdBlock’s exploit no longer works.
If you base your app on a security flaw, you shouldn’t expect it to remain unchanged. This is on AdBlock, not Google.
the only proper way to block ads is using the hosts file.
I use adfree (rooted phones only)
Even with manual proxy, I’ve been getting errors now. I uninstalled because I had a lot of “Unable to contact proxy” errors.
What? You can’t contact localhost?
I only want to use adblock for you tube, i spend at-least 6 hours or more on YouTube every day and adverts take up quite a huge margin of that time. I just wish adblock allowed you to unblock certain channels or block certain type of adverts, a banner advert i’m fine with but the 30 second advert at the beaning when you watch over 50-100 videos a day it can become quite a huge portion of your viewing experience.
6 hours on YouTube…?
Is that work or ‘pleasure’?
I can’t imagine having to do that either way.
Still working on my rooted N4 (is that because it’s rooted?).