The problem with adblockers…

  • Resolved catmaniax

    (@catmaniax)


    8 years ago

    Hello everyone!

    I think this post concerns all of you interested in analytics.
    This may not be news for everyone but it sure is for me.

    I’ve been testing for a while now and I can say for sure that adblockers block analytics.
    I’ve made my tests using uBlock Origin and various browsers (Chrome/Firefox/Opera).
    Both Google Analytics and Clicky Analytics stop working when the adblocker is active.

    Thankfully Slim Stat which is my favorite tracking plugin still tracks successfully but ONLY if the tracking mode is set to SERVER.

    This would be fine, but since I want to use a caching plugin I can’t have the Server option since it does not track cached pages/posts. So I have to use Client mode which is not working at all with adblockers.

    I also noticed another strange thing. By having the adblocker off, Slim Stat tracks my current IP as an IPv6. When I enabled the adblocker and refreshed the page, the old traditional/common non-IPv6 IP appeared. This happens ONLY in Firefox. Chrome and Opera still showed the IPv6 no matter if the adblocker was on or off. Strange huh?

    So, I’d like to ask Jason and the Slim Stat team if there’s any solution to this for the plugin (for a future update) and everyone else if you have found any solutions to bypass the adblockers and still be able to track visitors with Google Analytics or Clicky, since this is a big deal.

    I hope you shed some light!
    Thanks!

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Plugin Author Jason Crouse

    (@coolmann)

    Hi,

    as you’ve observed, all analytics tools are affected. Of course, if there were a workaround, all the tools would use it and render those extensions useless. Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do, as those extensions are meant to do their job and they are pretty effective at it.

    As for the IPv6 issue, I’m not sure why that might be happening. Are you using a VPN service in Firefox?

    Best,
    Jason

    Thread Starter catmaniax

    (@catmaniax)

    I see, yeah some adblockers are really aggressive.
    Do you think I could use Slim Stat on Server mode and a caching plugin enabled then?

    I’m not using a any VPN services, no.

    Plugin Author Jason Crouse

    (@coolmann)

    The issue with using Slimstat in Server Mode with a caching plugin enabled can be summarized as follows: the purpose of caching pages is to PREVENT WordPress from dynamically generating the page every time it is requested. On the other hand, in order to track the page view, WordPress NEEDS to be called at each page view. As you understand, the two goals are antithetic ?? And results will be affected, either in terms of performance, or in terms of accuracy.

    Jason.

    Thread Starter catmaniax

    (@catmaniax)

    That’s kinda what I thought, thanks for clarifying once again Jason!

    Plugin Author Jason Crouse

    (@coolmann)

    You’re very welcome, my friend.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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