How to prevent ad blocker from blocking ads on an app

Question

One of my users let the cat out of the bag and told me they were using one of my free apps, which is monetized by ads, but they were blocking the ads with an ad blocker. The

Answer 1

Rather than checking for individual software installed or modified hosts file, my approach is using an AdListener like this and, if the ad fails to load due to NETWORK_ERROR, I just fetch some random always-online page (for the kicks, apple.com) and check if the pages loads successfully.

If so, boom goes the app.

To add some code, listener class would be something like:

public abstract class AdBlockerListener implements AdListener {

    @Override
    public void onFailedToReceiveAd(Ad arg0, ErrorCode arg1) {
        if (arg1.equals(ErrorCode.NETWORK_ERROR)) {
            try {
                URL url = new URL("http://www.apple.com/");
                URLConnection conn = url.openConnection();
                BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream()));
                reader.readLine();
                onAdBlocked();
            } catch (IOException e) {}
        }
    }

    public abstract void onAdBlocked();
}

And then each activity with an adView would do something like:

AdView adView = (AdView) findViewById(R.id.adView);
        adView.setAdListener(new AdBlockerListener() {
            @Override
            public void onAdBlocked() {
                AlertDialog ad = new AlertDialog.Builder(CalendarView.this)
                                    .setMessage("nono")
                                    .setCancelable(false)
                                    .setNegativeButton("OK", new OnClickListener() {
                                        public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                                            System.exit(1);
                                        }
                                    })
                                    .show();
            }
        });

Answer 2

My code for this issue is thusly: -

try {
    if (InetAddress.getByName("a.admob.com").getHostAddress().equals("127.0.0.1") ||
        InetAddress.getByName("mm.admob.com").getHostAddress().equals("127.0.0.1") ||
        InetAddress.getByName("p.admob.com").getHostAddress().equals("127.0.0.1") ||
        InetAddress.getByName("r.admob.com").getHostAddress().equals("127.0.0.1")) {
        //Naughty Boy - Punishing code goes here.
        // In my case its a dialog which goes to the pay-for version 
        // of my application in the market once the dialog is closed.
    }
} catch (UnknownHostException e) { } //no internet

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

First, let me say that I believe that Ad Blocking, when it comes to applications, is actually a form of piracy. These apps are supported by the ads, and sometimes, a "paid license" to turn off ads and/or add features. By blocking ads, users are stealing potential revenue from the developer that took the time to create the app that you are using.

Anyhow, I want to add a way to help prevent the use of Ad Blockers. I use this method and I do not allow users to use the app if I detect an ad blocker. People get very angry and will give you poor ratings for it. But I also state very clearly in my applications descriptions that you will not be able to use the app if you have an adblocker.

I use the package manager to check if a specific package is installed. While this will not get all of the adblockers, if you keep "up to date" on some of the popular ones, you can get most of them.

PackageManager pm = activity.getPackageManager ();
Intent intent = pm.getLaunchIntentForPackage ( "de.ub0r.android.adBlock" );
if ( Reflection.isPackageInstalled ( activity, intent ) ) {
  // they have adblock installed
}

Answer 4

As developers, we need to do the difficult job of empathizing with the users and find a middle ground between punishing the few who try to take advantage and the many who play by the rules. Mobile advertising is a reasonable way to allow someone to use a functional piece of software for free. The users who employ ad blocking techniques could be considered lost revenue, but if you take a look at the big picture, can also be those who spread the word about your application if they like it. A more gentle approach to running on systems with ads blocked is to display your own "house" ad. Create one or more banner images and display them in the same spot as your normal ad with an ImageView of the same height (e.g. 50dp). If you successfully receive an ad, then set your ImageView's visibility to View.GONE. You can even create a timer to cycle through several house ads to get the user's attention. Clicking on your ad can take the user to the market page to buy the full version.

Answer 5

As well as checking if admob can be resolved, what I do is present a page that basically advises that I have detected an adblocker, state that i understand the possible reasons why, then show some inbuilt ads of my own apps and ask for their kind support for continued development. :)

Answer 6

I think it depends on the content provider for the ads. I know the AdMob SDK provides a callback when an ad request fails. I suspect that you might be able to register for this, then check for a connection in the callback - if there is a connection and you did not receive an ad - take note, if it happens more than once or twice, chances are likely your ads are being blocked. I have not worked with the AdSense for Mobile toolset from Google but it wouldn't surprise me if there was a similar callback mechanism.