How to block ISP injected advertisements in webpages
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Wait, wait, wait.
I showed two versions of the same webpage. The right one is what I'd usually see, the left one is what I am served when the ISP injects the ads.
They show me a completely different webpage, one that has ads and their own scripts. They just include an iframe for the webpage that I wanted.
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Do you have third party cookies and javascript disabled in the browser?
Adblock Plus has that option.
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Is everyone 100% sure this isn't a DNS problem?
I'd try this with a fresh install of ubuntu or live CD and stipulate google dns servers to see what happens.
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pfSense is configured to use Google DNS servers and nothing else. ISP DNS servers are unreliable and have high latency.
Derelict: The certificates are signed by DigiCert. I don't think I've ever seen an ad on facebook or another https site to confirm if they are able inject ads in them.
Moreover, I have seen those advertisements across multiple devices. Ubuntu, WinXP, Win7, Win8.1, Android.
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Are you using Comcast??
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/10/comcast_using_javascript_to_inject_advertising_from_wifi_hotspots/
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I'd bet its something running on your end causing this because what ISP would want to alienate customers by doing such a thing unless they are the only ISP around to chose from?
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Why would some malware or ad producing junkware on his client promote his ISP packages? How would that show up on his phones, etc..
@OP you mention "by blocking the domain the ads reside on in AdBlock Plus"
So just do that at pfsense dns over rides, and point all your clients to pfsense dns forwarder. From you image looks that the script is loaded from adtech.de - so as I already mentioned over ride this via pfsense dns forwarder host over rides.
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I get adds on lots of pages, but they are not "injected". Most websites have advertisements.
I'm just saying, its in the ISPs interest to do this?
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Clearly they think it is.. did you see the to copies of the page he showed. The left side clearly has been altered, while the right side shows not such modifications.
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I agree something is up, for sure.
I just don't think the ISP has that much control to be able to inject whatever they want into whatever web page they like easily.
Nor do I feel its in their interest to do so.
Thats why I'm wondering about other explanations.
Normally I suspect a hijacked browser when I see stuff like this.
He says its across a variety of devices, so then I start thinking maybe its a DNS issue.
If its really as bad as the ISP screwing with their own customers, then VPN is the way to go I think.
Or dump the ISP and try another?
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Did you follow Supermule's link to the report that Comcast are doing this. The OP is using MTNL so I'm guessing they're in India, not Comcast anyway. Technically it's not difficult at all if they are running any sort of proxy. For example:
http://www.ex-parrot.com/pete/upside-down-ternet.htmlSteve
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I just don't think the ISP has that much control to be able to inject whatever they want into whatever web page they like easily.
It is trivially easy for an ISP to do this. Why? The universal answer to all questions: money. Same reason why some ISPs are hijacking NXDOMAIN DNS responses and feeding people loaded ad pages in their place?
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I can confirm that this is something that the ISP is doing. The ads are provided by adphonso (something that I forgot to mention earlier.) They very proudly talk about their "solutions" to make communication between ISPs and customers easier. (wtf?)
There are records of MTNL customers complaining about adphonso ads all over the internet. Never became a hype though.
The ISP is government controlled so I doubt if they really care whether or not they lose customers (I mean they've never behaved like it.) I don't have a choice here; I'd have switched to a different ISP long ago, if I could have.EDIT: I have blocked both adphonso and adtech. Purpose of this message was to check if there was a way for it to not spoil my layout either.
EDIT2: Removed link. -
That's really unfortunate. Tunnel all your traffic through a VPN I guess.
(suppress desire to rant libertarian.)
I set up vpnbook.com last night to test something. They have free OpenVPN servers on UDP 53, UDP 25000, TCP 80, TCP 443. Three of those will be pretty hard to block with a generic rule. TCP/80 is probably going to be worthless to you. Depends on how locked down/proxied your outbound traffic is.
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"EDIT: I have blocked both adphonso and adtech. Purpose of this message was to check if there was a way for it to not spoil my layout either."
You would have to tunnel so they can not inject for that to happen, or have something that removed the injected code - proxy could do something like that. But easy solution is to just tunnel past them so they can not inject.
To me the best vpn solution for something like this is a low end vps, CHEAP – I have a couple of them, one on west cost other on east coast I use for testing - they cost $15 a year each. 500GB a month bandwidth so make great little vpn exit points.
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What is going on there is incredibly stupid on the part of the ISP. Sorry to seem so unbelieving before. It just seems crazy.
Thats the sort of crap I'd maybe expect on free wifi in a mall or something.
I'd almost say move!
The weather is quit nice tonight in manila… And.... No ads.
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@KOM:
It is trivially easy for an ISP to do this. Why? The universal answer to all questions: money. Same reason why some ISPs are hijacking NXDOMAIN DNS responses and feeding people loaded ad pages in their place?
I know TWC does this. Other then redirecting you to a search page if the domain can't be found; the main reason is for them to direct your traffic is if you account is flagged. Example would be lack of payment (happen at a friends house, they had to acknowledge that they were over due before being routed to the internet), secuity reasons…
If an ISP is going to inject ads, there service should be free then! This kinda reminds me of the Juno email....
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You might also want to make sure tunneling your internet around the government network won't land you in jail.
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Is this China? North Korea? Iran?
Who else is making a huge fuss about VPNs?
I've used VPNs is and around china and the middle east.
Didn't go to jail… But then again, I wasn't leading an insurrection either.
Haven't tried North Korea. They lock people away for taking a deep breath.
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Looks like Mumbai, India. I was just sayin… Aren't they the ones that made Blackberry give them the ability to MITM?