Apple Cracking Down on VPN-Based Ad Blockers That Work in Third-Party Apps - What will AdGuard do ?

vasily_bagirov

vasily_bagirov

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Livycorn said:
Doesn't it just provide an option to change DNS servers system wide or did I miss something that it also blocks Ads directly on the device via the VPN?
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Yes, Adguard and some other adblockers use the VPN profile to be able to block ads across the device. Apple suddenly decides that it is 'a not intended use of the VPN technology' or something along these lines, read the article for the exact quote.

Livycorn said:
So, sell it to Apple (and users if it gets through review) with something like "In fact, Adguard Pro just simplifies your networking experience and enhances iOS by features left out by Apple: adding the OPTION (it's not even restricted to that) for system wide DNS settings."
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That's about what we will have to do, probably. But I fear that the system-wide ad blocking will have to go, only the DNS functionality will remain.
 
T

Tanith

New Member
vasily_bagirov said:
Livycorn said:
So, just in Case you get tied up by Apple, you could make this the Pro-feature: just simply provide the function to change DNS servers on cellular data or EVERY wifi network instead of having to set it for every single on every time you connect to a new network.
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That's about what we will have to do, probably.
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That sounds like a good plan. Love the Adguard DNS feature in Adguard Pro. You should focus on implementing some enhanced settings for the DNS function, e. g. changing DNS servers on cellular data and every wifi network automatically. Or black- and whitelists especially for the DNS function like e. g. it is possible with OpenDNS.
If you find a way implementing that options they would be some good Pro-features and a compensation for loosing the virtual VPN feature.

What's about the Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) (=fake DNS) like it is e. g. used by the Weblock app? Could this be also a solution for Adguard?
 
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Tanith said:
What's about the Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) (=fake DNS) like it is e. g. used by the Weblock app? Could this be also a solution for Adguard?
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Weblock will be removed from the App Store in a week.
 
T

Tanith

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avatar said:
Weblock will be removed from the App Store in a week.
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Thanks for the info. I didn't know that. So it seems that Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) is also not allowed by Apple.

But implementing some enhanced settings for the DNS option in Adguard Pro still seems a pretty good idea. There is an App called DNSOverride that does exactly the job (and more) that Adguard Pro could also be able to do.
 
M

max2

Beta Tester
avatar so what do you recommend we do if we have the current version of Adguard Pro on our iPhone and iPad ? Keep it on the device ? Will Apple disable it somehow or remove the Adguard pro app somehow or will it still work ?
 
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max2 said:
avatar so what do you recommend we do if we have the current version of Adguard Pro on our iPhone and iPad ? Keep it on the device ? Will Apple disable it somehow or remove the Adguard pro app somehow or will it still work ?
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Let's wait a bit until we understand what part of the functionality we'll have to remove.
 
Bastet

Bastet

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It'll be a shame if AG has to remove the ad blocking in apps feature as it's the reason I bought the app.
 
T

Tanith

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avatar said:
Here is a Github issue with the description of the new build we'd like to try:
https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdguardForiOS/issues/445
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The new App Store description and feature list sounds great. Can not wait to see if Apple will except the new Adguard Pro. But one concern remains: Adguard Pro will still use a fake VPN profile to change the DNS server dynamically for different wifi- and mobile-connections. I am not sure if this is okay for Apple even if the app cannot block ads or other content in a third-party app out of the box. It might be enough for Apple that in theory Adguard Pro still gives the user the ability to block ads or other content in a third-party app.
This is also the reason why VPN-providers are not allowed to implement such a DNS-feature with black- and white-lists directly into there iOS apps. But on macOS many of the VPN-providers combine their VPN-connection with a DNS-based black- and white-list.
 
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D

Deleted member 14012

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Wow, seems like I'm really running low on luck with Adguard already from the start..
Bought Adguard Pro for iOS last Thursday, so just two days before Apples "announcement" and Adguard for Mac on Friday, just half a week before yesterday, when StackSocial offers an even lower priced special deal for Adguard's desktop app with a 10$ discount even to what I paid... AWESOME!
 
Gass

Gass

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Boo Berry said:
Yikes. For me this reaffirms my decision to never get any iOS devices again.
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This may be another-
https://bestmvno.com/featured/apple-reason-cell-phone-bill-higher/

(Updated: 7/20/2017)- A recent comment left by someone who says that they are an employee of another AT&T MVNO, has stated that Apple wanted them to purchase a large number of iPhones priced in the low seven figure range in exchange for providing the correct APN settings to the MVNO’s iPhone using customer base. Even with the agreement in place, iPhone users on iOS 9 or below would still be unable to receive MMS!

What makes this whole thing even more ridiculous if true, is that this happens with UNLOCKED iPhones!! How is it even legal to sell a device as being “unlocked” when it can’t really be used on all carriers because it is in fact partially locked down?
Gass
 
B

Bruno

Member
FYI NordVPN brings a new ads/phishing/malware protection in their VPN called Cybersec
Code: 
https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-feature-cybersec/
"It's an adblock feature that works on the network level, with no parameters available at the moment. It would be enough to use CyberSec only – even better actually since it applies to all of your apps, not just the web browser."

They do not seem to be worried about new rule.
 
T

Tanith

New Member
Bruno said:
FYI NordVPN brings a new ads/phishing/malware protection in their VPN called Cybersec
Code: 
https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-feature-cybersec/
"It's an adblock feature that works on the network level, with no parameters available at the moment. It would be enough to use CyberSec only – even better actually since it applies to all of your apps, not just the web browser."

They do not seem to be worried about new rule.
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This is for the macOS-version of NordVPN, not the iOS-version.
I use CyberGhost VPN since a few years now. At the beginning, the iOS-App (and their macOS-App) also had a combined adblocking-feature via the VPN-server connection. But for some time now the feature was removed in their iOS-App (the macOS-App still has this feature).
After asking them to bring back that feature they answed me that unfortunatly they had to remove it because Apple does not allow a combined VPN-/Adblocking-connection any longer.

So it would be the best to offer only the enhanced DNS-feature in Adguard Pro with support on mobile connections (auto-IP-change) and maybe auto-IP-update for DNS-services like OpenDNS, that need that feature for some options.
But Adguard Pro should not come with the Adguard DNS-server-IPs listed and preinstalled in the DNS-provider-list, because Apple could also not allow this. The user can still add and configure this server by hisself after installing Adguard Pro.
 
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