In article <s9uh2b$udq$1@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> A hosts file is a very effective method of blocking not only ads but
> links to rogue content, it's one way to increase a device's security,
> whether a computer or a phone.

using a hosts file to block ads is not that effective and extremely
difficult to maintain since the sites to be blocked change very
frequently.

it's also a *huge* security hole just begging to be exploited.

using a supported method is much better, not just for the security
benefits, but because it's constantly kept up to date (at least the
better ones do).

In article <s9ugod$5lg$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Ken Hart
<kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:

> >> One Android apk that I do use is the non-Play Store version of Netguard.
> >> The Play Store version does not allow downloading or importing a hosts
> >> file to do ad blocking because Google doesn't want users blocking ads.
> >> The apk version does allow hosts files. Of course with iOS there is no
> >> option for editing the hosts file without jail-breaking.
> >
> > there are *significantly* more effective methods of content blocking
> > than by editing a hosts file, which is a *huge* security hole on any
> > platform and it doesn't even work that well anyway.
>
> Isn't NETGUARD intended to set each app to work only with wifi or data?

wifi *is* data.

did you mean cellular?

the ios version looks like it works systemwide for both.

it's also not the only option.

On 6/10/2021 10:23 PM, nospam wrote:
>>>> One Android apk that I do use is the non-Play Store version of Netguard.
>>>> The Play Store version does not allow downloading or importing a hosts
>>>> file to do ad blocking because Google doesn't want users blocking ads.
>>>> The apk version does allow hosts files. Of course with iOS there is no
>>>> option for editing the hosts file without jail-breaking.
>>>
>>> there are *significantly* more effective methods of content blocking
>>> than by editing a hosts file, which is a *huge* security hole on any
>>> platform and it doesn't even work that well anyway.
>>
>> Isn't NETGUARD intended to set each app to work only with wifi or data?
>
> wifi *is* data.
>
> did you mean cellular?
>
> the ios version looks like it works systemwide for both.
>
> it's also not the only option.

Is this it? https://netguard.me/
--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

In article <s9uici$prr$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Ken Hart
<kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:

> >> Isn't NETGUARD intended to set each app to work only with wifi or data?
> >
> > wifi *is* data.
> >
> > did you mean cellular?
> >
> > the ios version looks like it works systemwide for both.
> >
> > it's also not the only option.
>
> Is this it? https://netguard.me/

no.

one clue is there's no ios version.

On 6/10/2021 7:39 PM, Ken Hart wrote:

<snip>

> Is this it? https://netguard.me/

Yes, that's for Android. I'm not sure if the iOS version is actually the
same app, or just an app with the same name. There are other apps that
do the same thing, block specific apps from using data. The real value
of Netguard for Android is the hosts file capability since a host file
is one of the best ways to prevent ads, block rogue content, and stop
unwanted redirects.

In article <s9ujuv$o65$1@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> > Is this it? https://netguard.me/
>
> Yes, that's for Android. I'm not sure if the iOS version is actually the
> same app, or just an app with the same name.

it's quite obvious it's not the same, and there are many apps with the
same names.

> There are other apps that
> do the same thing, block specific apps from using data.

there are a wide variety of content blockers.

> The real value
> of Netguard for Android is the hosts file capability since a host file
> is one of the best ways to prevent ads, block rogue content, and stop
> unwanted redirects.

false, no matter how many times you say it.

the reality is that it's one of the best ways to pwn a device and one
of the worst ways to block ads.

it also does nothing for redirects.

you're trolling.

On 6/11/2021 1:6 AM, sms wrote:
> Yes, that's for Android. I'm not sure if the iOS version is actually the
> same app, or just an app with the same name.

Github confirms the correct web site for NETGUARD (and no iOS version).
https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard

The iOS app appears to be just copying the NETGUARD name and nothing else.

The Github NETGUARD says it's the first free open source firewall.
Low on the list of features they mention the optional ad blocking.

Simple to use
No root required
100% open source
No calling home
No tracking or analytics
Actively developed and supported
Android 5.1 and later supported
IPv4/IPv6 TCP/UDP supported
Tethering supported
Optionally allow when screen on
Optionally block when roaming
Optionally block system applications
Optionally forward ports, also to external addresses (not available if installed from the Play store)
Optionally notify when an application accesses the internet
Optionally record network usage per application per address
*Optionally block ads using a hosts file* (not available if installed from the Play store)
Material design theme with light and dark theme
Log all outgoing traffic; search and filter access attempts; export PCAP files to analyze traffic
Allow/block individual addresses per application
New application notifications; configure NetGuard directly from the notification
Display network speed graph in a status bar notification
Select from five additional themes in both light and dark version
--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

In article <s9vm9e$1ecv$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Ken Hart
<kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:

> > Yes, that's for Android. I'm not sure if the iOS version is actually the
> > same app, or just an app with the same name.
>
> Github confirms the correct web site for NETGUARD (and no iOS version).
> https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard

there is no 'correct' version.

> The iOS app appears to be just copying the NETGUARD name and nothing else.

baseless accusation.

the author of the ios app probably has never heard of the android-only
version.

> The Github NETGUARD says it's the first free open source firewall.

who cares.

what matters is how effective it is.

> Low on the list of features they mention the optional ad blocking.

in other words, it's not very effective for the task being discussed.

> Simple to use
> No root required
> 100% open source
> No calling home
> No tracking or analytics

see below.

> Actively developed and supported
> Android 5.1 and later supported
> IPv4/IPv6 TCP/UDP supported
> Tethering supported
> Optionally allow when screen on
> Optionally block when roaming
> Optionally block system applications
> Optionally forward ports, also to external addresses (not available if
> installed from the Play store)
> Optionally notify when an application accesses the internet
> Optionally record network usage per application per address
> *Optionally block ads using a hosts file* (not available if installed from
> the Play store)

in other words, it *doesn't* have the very feature he claimed is so
important, except if the app is sideloaded, which itself is a security
risk, in addition to the host file issue.

the reason the play store version doesn't support that is because
allowing apps to modify the hosts file is a huge, huge security hole,
which both google and apple correctly prohibit, and because are *much*
better and vastly more effective ways for content blocking.

> Material design theme with light and dark theme
> Log all outgoing traffic; search and filter access attempts; export PCAP
> files to analyze traffic

no tracking or analytics, except for the feature that is designed
specifically for tracking and analytics.

you can't make this stuff up.

> Allow/block individual addresses per application
> New application notifications; configure NetGuard directly from the
> notification
> Display network speed graph in a status bar notification
> Select from five additional themes in both light and dark version

because 5 themes for an app that runs in the background is important.

On 6/11/2021 9:19 AM, nospam wrote:
>> Github confirms the correct web site for NETGUARD (and no iOS version).
>> https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard
>
> there is no 'correct' version.

The iOS NETGUARD apps aren't the open source firewall sms referred to.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netguard/id446320156
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netguard-for-secure-wifi-proxy/id1251263383

This might work though.
https://nextdns.io/

--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

In article <s9vrbu$1o70$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Ken Hart
<kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:

> >> Github confirms the correct web site for NETGUARD (and no iOS version).
> >> https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard
> >
> > there is no 'correct' version.
>
> The iOS NETGUARD apps aren't the open source firewall sms referred to.

further demonstrating how little he knows.

> https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netguard/id446320156
> https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netguard-for-secure-wifi-proxy/id1251263383

you're blindly searching for things you do not understand.

the first one is quite obviously unrelated to content blocking. why
even mention it?

the second one is a content blocker. there are many others.

> This might work though.
> https://nextdns.io/

it does work.

stop pretending to know things you clearly do not.

On 6/11/2021 10:27 AM, nospam wrote:
>> This might work though.
>> https://nextdns.io/
>
> it does work.

I signed up for nextdns but then found out it sends everything to them.
That means blocked requests don't stay only on the phone like with NETGUARD.

> stop pretending to know things you clearly do not.

The real NETGUARD doesn't send anything anywhere outside the phone.

> the second one is a content blocker. there are many others.

Tell us something useful instead of blandly saying there are "many others."
What similar free firewall/adblock app works within only the iPhone/iPad?
--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

On 6/11/2021 7:18 AM, Ken Hart wrote:
> On 6/11/2021 9:19 AM, nospam wrote:
>>> Github confirms the correct web site for NETGUARD (and no iOS version).
>>> https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard
>>
>> there is no 'correct' version.
>
> The iOS NETGUARD apps aren't the open source firewall sms referred to.
> https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netguard/id446320156
> https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netguard-for-secure-wifi-proxy/id1251263383
>
> This might work though.
> https://nextdns.io/

Yes, that does essentially the same thing, with the hosts file
maintained externally by the DNS provider. On Netguard you can actually
choose to use the hosts file in the Android device or link to an
external hosts file so you don't have to keep updating the internal
hosts file. Or you can forget about Netguard and just modify the Android
hosts file directly but you would want to update it every couple of
months. Unfortunately iOS doesn't allow modification of the hosts file
because they don't want you blocking ads or tracking sites.

Since apparently some people (or at least one person!) doesn't
understand the benefits of a hosts file, he can learn about it here:
<https://www.loginradius.com/blog/async/hosts-file/>.

A good hosts file will also speed up the loading of web content because
you no longer will have to load ads, banners, etc.. The other big
benefit of a good hosts file is that it will block tracking sites.
Obviously, a lot of companies would prefer that you not have hosts file!

In article <s9vstq$fo5$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Ken Hart
<kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:

> >> This might work though.
> >> https://nextdns.io/
> >
> > it does work.
>
> I signed up for nextdns but then found out it sends everything to them.

no it doesn't.

> That means blocked requests don't stay only on the phone like with NETGUARD.

no, it means you don't understand what it does and how it works.

> > stop pretending to know things you clearly do not.
>
> The real NETGUARD doesn't send anything anywhere outside the phone.

why don't you go tell the authors of the other netguard apps you found
that they aren't real.

be sure to post the un-redacted responses.

> > the second one is a content blocker. there are many others.
>
> Tell us something useful instead of blandly saying there are "many others."
> What similar free firewall/adblock app works within only the iPhone/iPad?

search engines not working for you anymore?

and who said anything about free?

if an author of a content blocker app wants to charge for their work,
then that's their choice.

there are both free and paid solutions. users can choose whatever works
best for them.

the original claim was that apple prohibits content blocking, that
claim is utterly false.

google on the other hand is not thrilled with ad-blocking since it
directly impacts their revenue and unlike apple, *does* limit how much
blocking can be done for apps in the play store and within android
itself.

another option is for those with the knowledge and skills (i.e., not
you), who can write their own content blocker if they so choose. apple
has extensive documentation along with tutorial videos.

In article <s9vtgc$9ps$1@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> Or you can forget about Netguard and just modify the Android
> hosts file directly but you would want to update it every couple of
> months.

months is *much* too long.

the list of sites is constantly changing. there are new sites now that
didn't exist a few hours ago.

some people update their block list daily, but most people find that
weekly updates is a good tradeoff.

> Unfortunately iOS doesn't allow modification of the hosts file
> because they don't want you blocking ads or tracking sites.

nope. that's entirely wrong.

both google and apple block modification of the hosts file because it's
a huge, huge security hole.

apple not only allows blocking ads and trackers and much more, but
*encourages* it, and with ios 15, even does some of it as part of the
os itself. they offer extensive and thorough documentation on how to
write content blockers.

> Since apparently some people (or at least one person!) doesn't
> understand the benefits of a hosts file,

talking about yourself again?

you're obviously trolling, but the disinformation must be corrected so
that others are not misled by your babble.

On 6/11/2021 7:45 AM, Ken Hart wrote:
> On 6/11/2021 10:27 AM, nospam wrote:
>>> This might work though.
>>> https://nextdns.io/
>>
>> it does work.
>
> I signed up for nextdns but then found out it sends everything to them.
> That means blocked requests don't stay only on the phone like with
> NETGUARD.

There is also AdGuard which appears to do the same thing, but they don't
go into a lot of detail about how it works.
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adguard-adblock-privacy/id1047223162#?platform=iphone>

In article <sa00bt$rd$1@dont-email.me>, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

>
> There is also AdGuard which appears to do the same thing, but they don't
> go into a lot of detail about how it works.

yes they do.

In message <s9uh2b$udq$1@dont-email.me> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 6/10/2021 7:11 PM, Ken Hart wrote:

> <snip>

>> Isn't NETGUARD intended to set each app to work only with wifi or data?

> That's one thing it does. But the Android apk version also allows you to
> set a hosts file, either on the phone or a link to a hosts file.

> A hosts file is a very effective method of blocking not only ads but
> links to rogue content, it's one way to increase a device's security,
> whether a computer or a phone.

> There's one workaround, somewhat, detailed here:
> <https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/17077/add-a-hosts-file-entry-without-jailbreaking>.

Local VPN works. I believe a profile also works, which doesn’t require
suing third party software.

--
The world is made of four elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. This
is a fact well known even to Corporal Nobbs. It's also wrong.
There's a fifth element, and generally it's called Surprise.
--The Truth

In article <slrnsc725b.2ds9.g.kreme@m1mini.local>, Lewis
<g.kreme@kreme.dont-email.me> wrote:

>
> Local VPN works. I believe a profile also works, which doesn¹t require
> suing third party software.

don't go suing third party software :)

On 6/11/2021 11:58 AM, nospam wrote:
>> There is also AdGuard which appears to do the same thing, but they don't
>> go into a lot of detail about how it works.
>
> yes they do.

Does iOS ADGUARD work for (firewall & ads) the same as the real NETGUARD?
--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

On 6/11/2021 11:22 AM, nospam wrote:
> apple not only allows blocking ads and trackers and much more, but
> *encourages* it, and with ios 15, even does some of it as part of the
> os itself. they offer extensive and thorough documentation on how to
> write content blockers.

The reason I download existing apps is I don't want to write my own apps.
There should be an iOS content blocker for all apps, not just for Safari.

> the disinformation must be corrected so
> that others are not misled by your babble.

Which existing App Store global content blocker app do you suggest that will
work for all apps on the phone, not just only on the one Safari web browser?
--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

On 6/11/2021 12:38 PM, Ken Hart wrote:

<snip>

> Does iOS ADGUARD work for (firewall & ads) the same as the real NETGUARD?

The issue with Adguard is that it is only for Safari.

For what you want to do you'll have to Jailbreak. You're trying to do
things that Apple explicitly doesn't allow to be done on iOS, for
obvious reasons.

From <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18076621>
"Jailbreak it, install openssh, ssh in and edit /etc/hosts. There's also
packages in Cydia that add adblock lists to your hosts for you."

On 6/11/2021 12:46 PM, Ken Hart wrote:

<snip>

> Which existing App Store global content blocker app do you suggest that
> will
> work for all apps on the phone, not just only on the one Safari web
> browser?

LOL, you'll never get an answer to that question from nospam (or more
accurately, "allspam."

On 2021-06-11, Ken Hart <kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:
>
> Which existing App Store global content blocker app do you suggest that will
> work for all apps on the phone, not just only on the one Safari web browser?

AdBlock by FutureMind blocks advertising DNS requests in all apps across
the entire operating system, and works fairly well.

<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adblock/id691121579?uo=4&at=11l6hc&app=itunes&ct=fnd>

I've used it for years. It does occasionally become inactive, requiring
you to visit the app to re-enable it, But that's a relatively small
issue.

The bigger issue is since it's based on DNS requests, it naturally can't
block things that require deeper content inspection. But for what it
does do, it does it well enough.

--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

In message <sa0glr$kf5$1@dont-email.me> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 6/11/2021 12:38 PM, Ken Hart wrote:

> <snip>

>> Does iOS ADGUARD work for (firewall & ads) the same as the real NETGUARD?

> The issue with Adguard is that it is only for Safari.

> For what you want to do you'll have to Jailbreak. You're trying to do
> things that Apple explicitly doesn't allow to be done on iOS, for
> obvious reasons.

As usual, you have no clue what you are talking about.

> From <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18076621>
> "Jailbreak it, install openssh, ssh in and edit /etc/hosts. There's also

That's is a typical Androol solution, "I am incapable of thinking or
researching, so I shall break everything instead of actually learning
anything."

--
I was good and deleted the "You *&;#$ing moron" before posting aren't
you proud of me?

In message <sa0eji$i86$1@gioia.aioe.org> Ken Hart <kwhart1@frontier.com> wrote:
> On 6/11/2021 11:22 AM, nospam wrote:
>> apple not only allows blocking ads and trackers and much more, but
>> *encourages* it, and with ios 15, even does some of it as part of the
>> os itself. they offer extensive and thorough documentation on how to
>> write content blockers.

> The reason I download existing apps is I don't want to write my own apps.
> There should be an iOS content blocker for all apps, not just for Safari.

There is in iOS 15. Sort of.

A lot of malicious shit is already blocked in iOS starting back in iOS
12, at least, if not earlier.

> Which existing App Store global content blocker app do you suggest that will
> work for all apps on the phone, not just only on the one Safari web browser?

1Blocker says "Block in-app trackers" but no Androoler will ever discover
that feature as it requires a subscription.

--
So now you know the words to our song, pretty soon you'll all be
singing along, when you're sad, when you're lonely and it all
turns out wrong...