[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for sites blocked by paywalls or remove-ad-blockers

Mon Nov 13 13:32:59 PST 2023

Oftentimes the textual content actually has been downloaded into the 
browser but Javascript is blocking display.

You can use a browser plug-in extension or similar tool as Steve 
suggested to just show the text without images and other clutter. Before 
complex multi-media content, people used to use the legacy Lynx text web 
browser [1] which probably still works.

Alternatively I've used the Textise Bookmarklet [2] tool. You add the 
special bookmark to your browser by following the instructions. A page 
is redisplayed as text when you click on the bookmark.

Newspapers, magazine, and other periodicals are often available at your 
local library both as hardcopy or online to patrons. The Lexington Cary 
Library gets a good deal on online subscriptions because they often pay 
on a town population basis but the library is the second busiest in the 
state.

Support your local library...

-- Mitch

On 2023-11-13 15:36, Steve Isenberg via LCTG wrote:

> The ad-blocker works to detect and block advertisements on the pages 
> you are viewing.  It does not check the content for anything, doesn't 
> block any malware or viruses (that's the job of antivirus software).
> 
> Site owners don't like ad-blockers because the site owners earn money 
> when advertisements are displayed on the page (and especially when/if 
> you click on the advertisement) and by blocking advertisements on a 
> page they are not getting any of this potential money.
> 
> My issue/concern/complaint is not that I want to prevent the site from 
> displaying advertisements, as really I do try to disable all 
> advertisement-preventing plugins (that is, ad-blockers) to let the site 
> display advertisements.  But while I think I've disabled all of them, 
> the site complains that I still have some open and active.
> 
> Now if the site were to be specific and tell me that I still have the 
> XYZ ad-blocking software active, I could then get this XYZ turned off.
> 
> But it's a guessing game as the site is saying to me "you haven't 
> turned them all off.  I know this in ways I'm not going to tell you and 
> I may even know which one(s) you haven't turned off, but it is up to 
> you to figure out which one(s) and turn it or them off."
> 
> Tip: I have had some measure of success seeing content using the Reader 
> mode on my iPhone and the Tranquility! extension on my MacOS systems 
> Firefox browser.
> 
> Regards,
> -steve
> 
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 3:10 PM Richard Wagner via LCTG 
> <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
> 
> Oops! I meant the malware, viruses, etc. in the content I am trying to 
> access, not necessarily that exists in an ad that may be present. 
> Sorry!
> 
> Dick
> 
> On 11/13/2023 2:53 PM, Richard Wagner via LCTG wrote:
> 
> To me, circumventing ads and gaining access to web content that the web 
> site spent resources to establish are two different "beasts". I want 
> access to the web content, so paying for it has an ethical and, likely, 
> a copyright aspect to it. I DID NOT request a popup ad that requires 
> that I must disable my ad-blocker in order to gain access to the 
> information I am seeking. My assumption has been that the ad-blocker is 
> present to eliminate malware, viruses, etc. that may exist in the ad 
> (am I incorrect in this assumption?). Thus, I would like to learn how 
> to circumvent such ad-blocker turnoff requests without turning my 
> ad-blocker off! Incidentally, I have no (or maybe a little) problem 
> with ads that accompany the content I am wishing to peruse. I have 
> lived with this annoyance my whole life: radio, TV, newspapers, 
> magazines, web-site content, etc.
> 
> Dick
> 
> On 11/13/2023 2:23 PM, David Lees via LCTG wrote:
> 
> George,
> Perhaps micropayments and whatever the software infrastructure for them 
> would be a good topic for an LCTG talk?  Maybe you have already had one 
> of those in the past, but hopefully, it is an area that is changing, 
> because I know they (the payment processing costs) used to be 
> expensive.  But, agreed it would be great if you could pay a small 
> amount by the article rather than a subscription.  I know for technical 
> articles, the cost per article is rather high for an individual, but 
> given the potential volume for news and mass distribution material, why 
> not have 25 or 50 cents per article?
> 
> David Lees
> 
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 2:10 PM George Gamota <ggamota at stma-llc.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> I understand the ethics if you access a website a lot bypassing paying, 
> but what I find an issue, is when you have one article that might be of 
> interest, say published by Kansas City Tribune. You don't want to pay 
> and read  articles published by them daily. So maybe there could a 
> payment say of $.50 to read that one article.
> 
> Just a thought
> 
> George
> 
> From: LCTG <lctg-bounces+ggamota=stma-llc.com at lists.toku.us> On Behalf 
> Of carllazarus--- via LCTG
> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2023 1:17 PM
> To: 'David Lees' <joeoptics at gmail.com>; 'Robert Primak' 
> <bobprimak at yahoo.com>
> Cc: 'Lex Computer Group' <lctg at lists.toku.us>; 'Steve Isenberg' 
> <smisenberg at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for sites blocked 
> by paywalls or remove-ad-blockers
> 
> Exactly my thought.  We may be talking about large entities such as the 
> NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc. but if we want 
> them to continue to exist they need to be able to pay their expenses 
> and make some money.
> 
> -- Carl
> 
> From: LCTG <lctg-bounces+carllazarus=comcast.net at lists.toku.us> On 
> Behalf Of David Lees via LCTG
> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2023 1:12 PM
> To: Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com>
> Cc: Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>; Steve Isenberg 
> <smisenberg at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for sites blocked 
> by paywalls or remove-ad-blockers
> 
> You could also discuss the ethical issues of not paying for things that 
> people trying to make a living are doing?
> 
> David Lees
> From Pixel 6 Pro
> 
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023, 1:00 PM Robert Primak via LCTG 
> <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
> 
> You are NOT committing any crime by using most evasion techniques 
> available to the general public (not tech-savvy hackers).
> 
> I don't know what Steve has or had in mind, but no one can take any 
> legal actions against anyone for publicly discussing these tactics.
> 
> Please refer to You Tube's Terms of Use and Zoom's code of user conduct 
> if in any further doubt. Other sites also have terms of use.
> 
> -- Bob Primak
> 
> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 12:52:44 PM EST, Steve Isenberg via 
> LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
> 
> Gentlepeople,
> 
> After much consideration, discussing with several people, and 
> consulting with ChatGPT, I've decided not to demonstrate this.  We can 
> discuss the situation on Wednesday's Potpourri but I no longer feel 
> comfortable giving a demonstration for legal reasons.  My apologies.
> 
> I'm open to comments.
> 
> -steve
> 
> Here's what I've learned from ChatGPT:
> 
> Steve asks ChatGPT:
> 
> suppose I have found a way to get around a paywall without paying or 
> subscribing, or to get around a site's requirement to disable all ad 
> blockers without disabling ad blockers, and I can do this only on my 
> computer and without accessing or tampering with the website. Am I 
> committing a crime or doing something that would subject me to a 
> lawsuit or other legal action by the website owner?
> 
> ChatGPT responds (edited):
> 
> Circumventing paywalls or other access restrictions without 
> authorization may be a violation of the website's terms of service, 
> which could potentially lead to legal consequences. Additionally, in 
> some jurisdictions, such actions could be considered unauthorized 
> access, hacking, or a violation of computer security laws.
> If you find a way to bypass paywalls and other measures that protect 
> the website content without permission, it may be seen as a violation 
> of the website's rights and could result in legal action.
> 
> I asked Aria the same question and it responds (edited):
> 
> It's important to note that bypassing paywalls or circumventing a 
> website's requirements without permission may be considered unethical 
> or even illegal in some jurisdictions. Here are a few points to 
> consider:
> Websites have the right to protect their content and enforce their 
> terms of service.
> Unauthorized access to paid content or finding ways to bypass paywalls 
> may violate copyright laws or terms of service agreements.
> Engaging in such activities could potentially subject you to legal 
> action by the website owner, such as a lawsuit or other legal 
> consequences.
> 
> Harry asked a similar question addressing only circumventing paywalls, 
> and got the response (edited):
> 
> Bypassing a paywall of a website without a subscription could 
> potentially be considered a violation of the website's terms of service 
> or terms of use. It may also infringe upon copyright laws or other 
> applicable laws, depending on the jurisdiction. Engaging in such 
> activities could potentially have legal consequences, including the 
> possibility of facing legal action from the website owner. It is always 
> advisable to respect the terms and conditions set by website owners and 
> to seek proper legal means to access content.
> 
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 12:01 PM Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> The Boston Globe and the New York Times hide a lot of their content.
> 
> Then there's the somewhat more problematic case of You Tube.
> 
> -- Bob Primak
> 
> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 08:25:34 AM EST, Steve Isenberg via 
> LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
> 
> Gentlepeople,
> 
> This Wednesday as part of the presentation I plan to show how to 
> proceed to web sites that prevent you from accessing their content 
> unless you (a) remove all of your ad-blockers, or (b) subscribe or pay 
> to see the content (paywalls).
> 
> Could you send me (and not the list) the URL of sites you have run into 
> that block your access, and I'll add them to the list I'll use as 
> demonstrations.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -steve
> 
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Links:
------
[1] https://lynx.invisible-island.net/
[2] https://www.textise.net/Bookmarklet.aspx
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