Filter out Flash objects?

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Corliss
  • Start date Start date
J

John Corliss

Does anybody know of a program that will filter out Flash objects from
a website you're viewing? I know that turning off Javascript will do
this, but some pages require Javascript for other things and at the
same time want you to view Flash advertisements.

Them things drive me batty!!!! The worst example I've seen is my free
Yahoo email account. They purposely design their site so that you have
to open several more pages than is necessary so you'll view the
maximum number of crappy flash advertisements for garbage in which I
have no interest.

Please note that I'm not looking for a new browser. And if anybody
knows how to do this in Mozilla, I'm all ears.
 
Does anybody know of a program that will filter out Flash objects
from a website you're viewing? I know that turning off Javascript
will do this, but some pages require Javascript for other things
and at the same time want you to view Flash advertisements.

Them things drive me batty!!!! The worst example I've seen is my
free Yahoo email account. They purposely design their site so that
you have to open several more pages than is necessary so you'll
view the maximum number of crappy flash advertisements for garbage
in which I have no interest.

Please note that I'm not looking for a new browser. And if anybody
knows how to do this in Mozilla, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...
Try this: http://extensionroom.mozdev.org/more-info/flashblock
 
John said:
Does anybody know of a program that will filter out Flash objects from a
website you're viewing? I know that turning off Javascript will do this,
but some pages require Javascript for other things and at the same time
want you to view Flash advertisements.

Them things drive me batty!!!! The worst example I've seen is my free
Yahoo email account. They purposely design their site so that you have
to open several more pages than is necessary so you'll view the maximum
number of crappy flash advertisements for garbage in which I have no
interest.

Please note that I'm not looking for a new browser. And if anybody knows
how to do this in Mozilla, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...

I just found a Mozilla extension named "Flashblock":

http://extensionroom.mozdev.org/more-info/flashblock

There are a lot of negative reviews on that page, but by following the
advice here:

http://extensionroom.mozdev.org/uninstalling.html

which is to back up the program and profile folders before installing
the extension, I should have no problems if the extension doesn't work.
 
Does SpywareBlaster
allow viewing of Flash objects when you want to?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Just open SpywareBlaster, click "Tools," then click the "Flash
Killer" tab and uncheck the enabling box.
 
John said:
Does anybody know of a program that will filter out Flash objects from
a website you're viewing? I know that turning off Javascript will do
this, but some pages require Javascript for other things and at the
same time want you to view Flash advertisements.

Them things drive me batty!!!! The worst example I've seen is my free
Yahoo email account. They purposely design their site so that you have
to open several more pages than is necessary so you'll view the
maximum number of crappy flash advertisements for garbage in which I
have no interest.

Please note that I'm not looking for a new browser. And if anybody
knows how to do this in Mozilla, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...

John,

you may have a look at this one I just came upon.

http://www.jtedley.com/jtflashmanager/index.php

jTFlashManager

Most browsers do not allow for the Flash plugin to be turned on and off.
Instead, you're asked to delete the plugin. jTFlashManager gives you the
capability to turn Flash on and off for all of your browsers. This makes
it perfect if you want to take control over what you see on the web. The
number of Flash ads on the web is rising, slowing the Internet down for
you. With jTFlashManager, you'll never see another Flash ad. Browse with
Flash turned off, and turn it on only for animations you wish to see.
Makes a good compliment to the mozilla browser's image/ad blocking
abilities, and it's an excellent tool for web development testing as well.

Zo
 
Tony said:
John Corliss" wrote

Absolutely. Just open SpywareBlaster, click "Tools," then click the "Flash
Killer" tab and uncheck the enabling box.
Click to expand...

Tony, thanks for the reply. I've already installed the Mozilla
extension and it's working for me (so far, and I'm using Moz 1.6
final), but I might check out SpywareBlaster too.
 
Zo said:
John,
you may have a look at this one I just came upon.

http://www.jtedley.com/jtflashmanager/index.php

jTFlashManager
Most browsers do not allow for the Flash plugin to be turned on and off.
Instead, you're asked to delete the plugin. jTFlashManager gives you the
capability to turn Flash on and off for all of your browsers. This makes
it perfect if you want to take control over what you see on the web. The
number of Flash ads on the web is rising, slowing the Internet down for
you. With jTFlashManager, you'll never see another Flash ad. Browse with
Flash turned off, and turn it on only for animations you wish to see.
Makes a good compliment to the mozilla browser's image/ad blocking
abilities, and it's an excellent tool for web development testing as well.
Click to expand...

Zo,
Now this looks exactly like what I was wanting. The Mozilla
extension blocks the Flashes, but puts a button there and thus still
wastes screen real estate. The SpywareBlaster feature (as far as I
know) requires that you install that program, and I really don't need
it the whole thing although I have nothing against the program.
However, this looks just like what I was wanting. Just downloaded (61
whole kb)it and I'll check it out. Thanks!
 
John Corliss said:
However, this looks just like what I was wanting. Just downloaded (61
whole kb)it and I'll check it out. Thanks!
Click to expand...
How did you deal with this part (copied from the support site)?
TFlashManager requires that your machine have Java 1.3 or higher. Most computers come with a Java JVM that will run the program. If yours doesn't, you can download it for free from java.sun.com
Click to expand...
I'm using the Kill Flash button in the prefsbar add-on which isn't
really satisfactory because it's after-the-fact AWA site-specific.
 
Derald said:
How did you deal with this part (copied from the support site)?

"TFlashManager requires that your machine have Java 1.3 or higher.
Most computers come with a Java JVM that will run the program.
If yours doesn't, you can download it for free from java.sun.com"
Click to expand...

Didn't see that portion and haven't tried the program yet, but you're
right. And I do hate Java totally, so I guess that one's out. What a
bummer.
I'm using the Kill Flash button in the prefsbar add-on which isn't
really satisfactory because it's after-the-fact AWA
?
site-specific.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I was doing too. However, it doesn't always work and
as you say, it's after the fact.
However, I do have another idea. Set up two batch files - one that
renames the plugin so it can't be found by Moz and another one that
names it back. OR, one that moves the file somewhere and one that
moves it back. Then create shortcuts to the batchfiles with Shortcut
Keystroke combinations that activate them.

Where there's a will, there's a way.
 
John said:
Does anybody know of a program that will filter out Flash objects from a
website you're viewing? I know that turning off Javascript will do this,
but some pages require Javascript for other things and at the same time
want you to view Flash advertisements.

Them things drive me batty!!!! The worst example I've seen is my free
Yahoo email account. They purposely design their site so that you have
to open several more pages than is necessary so you'll view the maximum
number of crappy flash advertisements for garbage in which I have no
interest.

Please note that I'm not looking for a new browser. And if anybody knows
how to do this in Mozilla, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen it mentioned, so here goes my solution-
In Mozilla, I use an extension called adblock
[http://adblock.mozdev.org/]. One of its features is it treats ALL
flash as a possible ad, and gives you the option to block it. The cool
thing about this, is that you can totally disable all .swf by adding the
simple filter *.swf, or you can selectively block them like this
/ads/*.swf (so it filters all .swf ojects with /ads/ in the url) OR you
can right click on a particular ad, and just block that one.

One thing I noticed (and like) about adblock is that it allows you a lot
of flexibility over what gets blocked. You can enter specific domains
manually, or just go on a right click > adblock frenzy the first few
days of using it. The longer you use it, you notice the lack of ads on
pages you frequent often. It becomes really apparent if for some reason
you reinstall mozilla without the extension and go to the pages you view
most.


Another extension I use is called nuke anything
[http://extensionroom.mozdev.org/list.php/Mozilla/pagedisplay#nukeanything].
Right click on objects on a webpage and select "Remove this" and its
gone. The downside is that it wont remember what you nuked, so if you
refresh the page, the object returns. Nevertheless, it still comes in
handy when you have to read a large webpage with annoying things in it.

A more extreme example would be to use Proxomitron and look around for a
filter for .swf

HTH
 
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