Term of the Moment
gadget
Definition: ad blocker
Software that eliminates advertising and other annoyances from Web pages. It detects banner ads by size (typically 60 pixels high) and by the URLs of major advertising sites where the images come from. Such utilities may also be able to eliminate cookies, referrers and animated GIFs, which are time consuming to download. See cookie, referrer, popup blocker and animated GIF.
Ad Blocker Backlash
Search engines and websites make money on ads and not fond of ad blockers. In some cases, the page will not render entirely until the user turns off the ad blocker for that site.
Blocking Annoyances
Ad Blocker Backlash
Search engines and websites make money on ads and not fond of ad blockers. In some cases, the page will not render entirely until the user turns off the ad blocker for that site.
This earlier interMute utility lists the annoyances that can be eliminated from downloaded Web pages. Programs such as this act as an intermediary between the user's browser and the Web.