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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 8, 2015 10:42:27 GMT -5
Lately, each time I do anything on this forum, I get an annoying pop-up that says: "The page at ads.proboards.com says: Do you want to allow the red bordered <canvas>?" My only options are OK and Cancel.  I've been hitting Cancel, since I have no idea what the red-bordered <canvas> is nor what it will do. I suppose I should just say OK, but I thought I'd see first if I can find out what the heck the red bordered canvas is. Anyone know? [See my last message in this thread for the solution to the mystery] |
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Post by Jack Teems on Jan 8, 2015 11:01:29 GMT -5
I've never encountered the popup that you describe. I've posted your comments on the ProBoards support forum and should have some response shortly.
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 8, 2015 12:52:39 GMT -5
Thanks very much, Jack. It's interesting that you never encountered that pop-up. I've been getting it a lot lately (though, to my surprise, not when I went to write this message). I'll be interested in what, if anything, you learn from the proboards forum. (Well, when I actually posted this message, the pop-up appeared again. I was hoping perhaps we had scared it away  ) |
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Post by Jack Teems on Jan 8, 2015 12:59:06 GMT -5
ProBoards Support needs to know what browser you're using when you get the popup (include V #)
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 8, 2015 16:39:11 GMT -5
I'm using Pale Moon (32-bit) 25.1.0, which is the most recent version.
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 8, 2015 16:56:49 GMT -5
I've now tried the other three browsers on my computer (I did so in the Sandbox section), and I didn't get any popups. But I have never gotten any such popup on Pale Moon anywhere else....
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Post by Jack Teems on Jan 8, 2015 18:04:11 GMT -5
While awaiting your response as to the browser you were using, ProBoard support responded:
Have them
1. Clear their cache and cookies
2. Check their browser extensions
3. Try in a different browser
If after all that was done and nothing, try Incognito mode (Chrome) or start a Private Browsing Session (Firefox). I think in IE it's called a Private Window, but I'm not sure.
I've advised them that you were using Pale Moon and will let you know what they say. I think so few use Pale Moon that they may be stumped.
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Post by Jack Teems on Jan 9, 2015 8:02:25 GMT -5
ProBoards Support advised:
>>Even though that is a Firefox-based browser it is not one we officially support as things of this nature can occur. Does the user experience the same problem in a major browser? (Internet Explorer 9+, Firefox, Chrome)<<
I told them you had tried the others and experienced no popup. I can only surmise this is a peculiarity with Pale Moon, sorry.
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 9, 2015 9:27:20 GMT -5
OK, thanks, Jack. If this pop-up continues, I'll try the Pale Moon forum, since none of the other browsers experience it. I very much appreciate your asking on the ProBoards forum. The strange thing is that the pop-up is a rather recent occurrence, so perhaps it will disappear as mysteriously as it appeared.
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 9, 2015 10:44:36 GMT -5
Well, the mystery is solved. Not that long ago, after reading about a new tracking system called Canvas Fingerprinting, I installed on Pale Moon an add-on called CanvasBlocker. Since I rarely use Firefox these days, I didn't bother adding it to Firefox. And it is the CanvasBlocker that is causing the pop-up, since I set it to ask me when a site tries to use this technique. So the add-on was doing what I told it to. Duh.... Wikipedia has a useful article about Canvas Fingerprinting at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canvas_fingerprinting. It begins by explaining that "Canvas fingerprinting is one of a number of browser fingerprinting techniques of tracking online users that allow websites to uniquely identify and track visitors using HTML5 canvas element instead of browser cookies or other similar means.." It goes on to explain that "Canvas fingerprinting works by exploiting the HTML5 canvas element. When a user visits a website with canvas fingerprinting, their browser is instructed to "draw" a hidden line of text or 3D graphic that is then converted to a digital token. Variations in which GPU is installed or the graphics driver cause the variations in the rendered digital token. The token can be stored and shared with advertising partners to identify users when they visit affiliated websites. A profile can be created from the user's browsing activity allowing advertisers to target advertising to the user's inferred demographics and preferences." It's not clear that I needed to install this add-on, since according to the Wikipedia article " Browser add-on Adblock Plus [which I have] has Easy Privacy list turned on by default, which blocks the scripts that try to place tracker cookies or try to read the canvas code sent by the server for fingerprinting the visitor." Here are a few of the sources Wikipedia cites: Knibbs, Kate (July 21, 2014). "What You Need to Know About the Sneakiest New Online Tracking Tool". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 21, 2014. Joseph Steinberg (July 23, 2014). "You Are Being Tracked Online By A Sneaky New Technology -- Here's What You Need To Know". Forbes. Retrieved November 15, 2014. Angwin, Julia (July 21, 2014). "Meet the Online Tracking Device That is Virtually Impossible to Block". Pro Publica. Retrieved July 21, 2014. Kirk, Jeremy (July 21, 2014). "Stealthy Web tracking tools pose increasing privacy risks to users". PC World. Retrieved July 21, 2014. The fact that I installed Canvas Blocker fairly recently explains why I only recently started to get the pop-ups. I guess I can either reconfigure this add-on's settings or get rid of it, if indeed Adblock Plus will do the job. |
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Post by Jack Teems on Jan 9, 2015 13:36:56 GMT -5
I guess I can either reconfigure this add-on's settings or get rid of it, if indeed Adblock Plus will do the job. Nope. Use of Ad-Blocker is a Violation of the TOS on any ProBoard forum. Why? Because ProBoards depends on ad revenue to keep all the forums free. Using an ad blocker removes the ads and, in turn, the revenue. |
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 9, 2015 17:25:44 GMT -5
Hmmm...interesting. Lots of people use AB+. Does everyone voluntarily turn off AdBlock Plus when they come to a ProBoard forum? Does ProBoards manage to disable it? I don't recall ever being told I shouldn't use it.
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thai
Full Member
Posts: 164
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Post by thai on Jan 9, 2015 17:50:39 GMT -5
I use it...never knew I wasn't supposed to!
Thai
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Post by Jack Teems on Jan 10, 2015 8:14:18 GMT -5
Everyone who first registers for any forum on Proboards is asked to read the TOS (Terms of Service) and agree to them. The TOS bans the use of any ad blocker, for the reasons stated. There is a mechanism to remove ads from all pages of a forum for a period of time for a small fee, during which I assume adblockers could be used (but of course, not needed for the forum on which payment was made).
Frankly, I don't know how strict ProBoards is in enforcing the policy against adblockers I suppose they could remove the offender, or, with enough violations, remove the forum entirely.
I, for one, don't object to a few small ads as a "price" to pay for a useful forum that is otherwise free. Unlike elsewhere on the Web, ProBoards insists that their ads maintain high standards (no scams, vulgarity, etc.) and I do know that when one of those get through they are quick to deal with the offending advertiser.
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Post by cyberdiva on Jan 10, 2015 11:07:46 GMT -5
Jack, I agree that tasteful ads are not a problem. What prompted me to use Canvas Blocker is that apparently some sites, including, I guess, ProBoards, track you and can share the information with advertising partners. That seems to me a bit unsavory. However, I've disabled Canvas Blocker and may indeed remove it, since it may be adversely affecting some other things.
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I've been hitting Cancel, since I have no idea what the red-bordered <canvas> is nor what it will do. I suppose I should just say OK, but I thought I'd see first if I can find out what the heck the red bordered canvas is. Anyone know?
)
