Web beacons on websites and in e-mail

By Anna Larkina, Roman Dedenok - February 7, 2023

 

Thunderbird blocks remote content of e-mails to protect privacy.
I prefer to use an e-mail client over web-mails.

For web sites, it is preferable to block API Beacons with a simple rule in the adblocker.

 

And it's not just the big companies like Google and Facebook that are using trackers on their users. Even the small-time websites and services use trackers to get info on their users. The thing is, some of these smaller companies might not have the same protection and security measures as the big companies presumably have, and that could spell trouble for our sensitive data in any website we visit. So ya, definitely agree that ad blockers can go along way

 

Indeed, and you can test your bowser on: https://apps.armin.dev/ping-spotter/#
Of course you already know this, but perhaps some people don't.

 

Yes, like me. Thanks for your reply on here. Added the extension, checked via your link, and now Blocked.

 

Which is?

 

With Edge you can use:

Code:

||*$beacon

in other browsers (when not effective)

Code:

||*$object

 

The uBO syntax *$object is the same as the ABP syntax, which is described as:
object - content handled by browser plug-ins, e.g. Flash or Java

View https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Static-filter-syntax and https://help.adblockplus.org/hc/en-us/articles/360062733293#options

The rule *$object doesn't work on https://apps.armin.dev/ping-spotter/#

 

Why can't the websites like many do just quit with all the snoop and web tracking crap.

 

You are right,I have not checked recently.
Currently,it does not work individually even if I have the ping blocked at the browser level.
Therefore, it is necessary to insert a double rule:

Code:

||*$ping,object

 

i am using Ping Blocker extension in Chrome- It works

 

Did the test https://apps.armin.dev/ping-spotter/#

firefox with 2 addons JShelter uBlock Origin

Ping Spotter
Beacon API
Status
Request blocked

Ping
Status
Request blocked

CSP report
Status
Request blocked

Do anyone use custom links in uBlock Origin for phishing, malware, tracking,
or is the default listed all that is needed.

 

Thanks for suggesting JShelter, works better than Noscript.
No problems.

 

Interesting case.
Ping + Beacon
blocked without any adblocker extension:

 

What kind of setup do you have, if you don't mind my asking?

 

The ping is blocked at the browser level (I use Edge).
In my opinion (but I could be wrong) it is thanks to JsHelter that beacon results on the test blocked.

 

You don't need to add any extension to FireFox to stop beacon's. Beacon's are enabled by default in FireFox.

Open about:config. Search for "beacon." Set the setting to "false."

 

Only the CSP report isn't blocked on my system and I did add the code from Sampei Nihira to my uBlock filters. Any ideas?

 

uBO has an option to block csp reports. Just enable it.

 

Cool, didn't know about this. I've done the test again and now everything is blocked.

 

Perfect. Thank you.

 

Hmmm. I disabled Ping Blocker extension and retested by engaging the CSP Report slider in uBlockOrigin, and according to the above URL-Ping Spotter.......

Of the 3 Beacon API wasn't blocked - Turned Ping Blocker back on and ALL 3 were blocked as usual. This was with Chrome.