Rec: Ghostery Content Blocker

[promethia_tenk]

Ghostery is like a next-level adblocker. It's an extension for your browser that can block not just visible ads, but all of the trackers and plug-ins that litter modern websites. Why would you want to do this?

1) Privacy: Pretty much every website on the internet is spying on you, often in sophisticated networks that follow you around the web. Ghostry helps shield you from these tracker networks.

2) Security: Some website plugins carry malware that can do you active harm.

3) Speed: A major portion of the data load of a lot of websites is in trackers and plugins. It's amazing how fast some of these sites load when you cut that crap out.

4) Clutter: Ghostery removes a lot of the extra cruft from websites that can distract from the content. Not just ads, but things like those social media sharing buttons, media players, and buggy, slow-loading comment sections. Now, some of these things are useful, but Ghostery lets you turn them on and off at will. Maybe you want the Facebook share buttons but not the Twitter or Linked in ones--you can do that. Maybe most of the time you just want to read a site's articles but sometimes you want to comment--you can load them only when you want to.

5) And it blocks ads too.




I actually run Ghostery and AdBlock Plus at the same time. Sometimes AdBlock picks up something that Ghostery misses.

Ghostery does take a little more active tending than something like AdBlock Plus. As I mention above, some of these plugins are things you actually want. Ghostery breaks the various trackers and plugins into categories like advertising, analytics, media players, etc., to help you figure out which. During the setup process you're also able to search for particular items if you already know you want them enabled (I rely a lot on Google services, for example, and much of the value they provide depends on them knowing that I'm doing, so I enabled their trackers out of the box).

If you're on a particular web page and something seems broken, you can click on Ghostery's drop-down menu to see what content it's blocking and selectively re-enable what you need. It looks like this:



The thing I end up needing to re-enable most often are video players. For certain page elements like comment sections, Ghostery will also leave a little ghost icon to mark what it blocked and you can click on the icon to re-enable the plugin.

Amusingly/of note, if you still use LiveJournal, you will need to enable the LiveJournal 'site analytics' plugin, as major portions of the system pages like comments, flist filtering, and many settings now seem to be tied to it. I'm not entirely sure what I think about this.

Before you install, it's also worth reading about Ghostery's business model so you can make an informed decision about whether and how you use it. Personally, it tend to put more trust in companies that are up-front about how they make their money like this.

Comments

[elisi]

Well, it's very pretty. How do you add a banner? (If this is easily explained. I'm sure there are tutorials, I just haven't bothered to go look for any...)

[promethia_tenk]

Thank you! Yes, I'm liking it.

There should be an 'images' tab on your page to customize your journal style. Different styles can support images in different places. Like, mine I could put a header truly up top, above the navigation strip and behind my name, but what I've done is chosen to have my modules at top and bottom (instead of a side column) and put in an image as the background for the module.

If your style doesn't support a header, you can probably add one with CSS, but that obviously involves some research.

[elisi]

There should be an 'images' tab on your page to customize your journal style.
Iiinterdasting. Ta!

but what I've done is chosen to have my modules at top and bottom (instead of a side column) and put in an image as the background for the module.
I think we currently have the same style, so I shall have a play.

[promethia_tenk]

I think we currently have the same style, so I shall have a play.
I don't think so. My style is 'crisped,' if you're interested.

Useful tip: DW will save any modifications you make to a particular base style, even if you move to a different base style. Which was how I was able to show you the librarian's dream with the rounded corners without screwing up my journal. When I was done, I just went back, applied crisped again, and everything was back to normal. I don't think LiveJournal does that?

[elisi]

Useful tip: DW will save any modifications you make to a particular base style, even if you move to a different base style.
Neat!

I don't think LiveJournal does that?
I have no idea. /has had same layout for 10+ years

[elisi]

There should be an 'images' tab on your page to customize your journal style. Different styles can support images in different places.
Here, yes? http://www.dreamwidth.org/customize/options?group=images

But how do I add the actual image? I tried putting in the URL but nothing showed up?

/clueless

ETA: I should probably go look at some FAQs or tutorials.

[promethia_tenk]

You're in the right spot. You're going to need the 'direct link' from wherever you've got the thing hosted. And then you'll probably need to play with the pixel height field there--though even if you don't put anything in, you should be at least able to see some of your header.

[elisi]

That's what I've been doing. And all I have is a gap. :(

Boo.

[promethia_tenk]

Hmmm. Stand by . . .

[elisi]

Happily.

ETA: I have also set it to 'don't tile' and 'top centre', and my layout is '2 Column (sidebar on the left)'

ETA2: Oh. You are very busy... It keeps changing!

[elisi]

It looks pretty perfect, except for one of the modules covering part of the header, but otherwise, yes. That's what I would like!!

Frickin' sidebar . . .

[promethia_tenk]

Ok, well, I don't think this is an ideal solution, but it seems like a decent stop-gap until I or the all-knowing css modders can come up with something better:

#secondary { padding-top: 330px !important;}

You'll see that the modules do move down, but the background stays stubbornly in place.

Then go to: customize your theme --> colors --> module --> sidebar background color and delete the value, which will make that column transparent.

Re: Frickin' sidebar . . .

[elisi]

I adjusted the px number for my banner and well, it works! That's rather wizard. :D

HOLD THE PHONE

[promethia_tenk]

Real solution:

Replace what I just gave you with this:

.multiple-columns #secondary, .three-columns-left #tertiary, .three-columns-right #tertiary, .three-columns-sides #tertiary {
top: 350px !important;
}

And then you can set the sidebar background color back to what it was.


VICTORY

Re: HOLD THE PHONE

[elisi]

[promethia_tenk]

I'm having the same problem that you were, which I find weird. But I found some custom css before I found answers.

Would what I have up right now be generally acceptable? (we can tweak from there)

Can I ask why you want your sidebar on the left instead of right like on lj?

[elisi]

I'm having the same problem that you were, which I find weird.
Glad it wasn't just me. I'm not brilliant with these things, but I am capable on inputting a link and the height in pixels...

But I found some custom css before I found answers.
And that's where i tend to get lost. (I should probably learn it, but I get bored.)

Would what I have up right now be generally acceptable? (we can tweak from there)
Pretty much, apart from the top (right) module covering part of the banner. I guess that might be part of the basic layout?

Can I ask why you want your sidebar on the left instead of right like on lj?
I was just playing around, I prefer it on the right. Although I wish the default icon was as big as on LJ.

Incidentally love your 'About'. That could go back up top (although I know I can input text in the modules, so no worries).

[promethia_tenk]

This is where I am so far, if you want to apply:

#canvas {
background-image: url(https://s20.postimg.org/r3spht7y5/japanese_cliff_city_banner.png);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: top center;
padding-top: 350px;
}

#canvas {
margin-top: 10px;
}

[promethia_tenk]

Adjust the 'padding-top' as appropriate for your image. But for the love of somebody who has been pulling her hair out for years about the way your headers always get cut off by the navigation bar on LJ, leave the margin-top: 10px. Please.

[elisi]

I disabled the navigation bar on LJ the second it appeared. It's ugly and pointless. I don't think disabling is an option on DW, so I shall do as you bid. ETA: No, wait, it is an option, and one I have already opted out of! (Except when viewing other people's journals.) Anyway, does it look OK to you>

[elisi]

Do I just add it underneath the other stuff in the Custom CSS box?

[promethia_tenk]

Yup. As far as I know, order doesn't matter. I'd just give yourself a space under the code for the rounded corners so they don't get mixed up together.

[promethia_tenk]

Glad it wasn't just me. I'm not brilliant with these things, but I am capable on inputting a link and the height in pixels...
I figured, but you always have to ask. . .. Yeah, it's weird. The only image field I can seem to make have any effect is the 'background' one. But usually if you can't use a particular image in a layout, they don't give you an option for it.

And that's where i tend to get lost. (I should probably learn it, but I get bored.)
It's kinda fun, but time-consuming. I by no means know what I'm doing, but if someone gives me some code I can poke at it and figure out what it's doing?

Pretty much, apart from the top (right) module covering part of the banner. I guess that might be part of the basic layout?
I think we can push it down like we did with the main column, but I have to figure out what it's called in the formatting.

I was just playing around, I prefer it on the right.
Cool, cool.

Although I wish the default icon was as big as on LJ.
Yeah, the tiny profile link is just stupid. I'm sure you can change it, but one problem at a time.

Incidentally love your 'About'. That could go back up top (although I know I can input text in the modules, so no worries).
What, the Class quote? I just pulled it from your LJ to help you see the possibilities.

[elisi]

But usually if you can't use a particular image in a layout, they don't give you an option for it.
*nods*

It's kinda fun, but time-consuming. I by no means know what I'm doing, but if someone gives me some code I can poke at it and figure out what it's doing?
It's funny, because Miss M did Computing for one of her GCSEs, and got an A*. And she claims that she didn't really know what she was doing, she was just good at writing. :)

I think we can push it down like we did with the main column, but I have to figure out what it's called in the formatting.
If I ever move to DW, it'll be because of you. <3

Yeah, the tiny profile link is just stupid. I'm sure you can change it, but one problem at a time.
Oh yes, and there is no rush!

What, the Class quote? I just pulled it from your LJ to help you see the possibilities.
Well, I thought that might be the case, but it amused me muchly. <3

[promethia_tenk]

Still no luck, and have to go to work very soon. You can see what my current state is: basically can figure out how to move down the modules themselves, but then you're left with this column that borders the modules that I can't seem to budge down.

It's funny, because Miss M did Computing for one of her GCSEs, and got an A*. And she claims that she didn't really know what she was doing, she was just good at writing. :)
Good for her! Well, good writing, like good code, is all about structure?

If I ever move to DW, it'll be because of you. <3
*grinch grin*

Well, I thought that might be the case, but it amused me muchly. <3
Am not above dirty tricks . . .