A(d)sorber blocks ads by 'absorbing' and dumbing them into void. Technically speaking, it adds ad domains to the hosts file /etc/hosts with a redirection to a non-existent ip 0.0.0.0.

• Block advertisements system-wide, not only in the browser.
• Prevents annoying anti-adblockers from triggering.
• Installation and remove built-in.
• Update hosts from external hosts-servers (like https://adaway.org/hosts.txt).
• Automatically update the hosts file with cron or systemd.timer.
• White- and blacklist.
• Temporary disable the adblocking.
• Filter dangerous hosts redirections.

Also it saves data, speeds up loading time and prevents some tracking of your browsing habits. For extensive privacy, I recommend using the script along browser add-ons like NoScript (for Firefox 56 and below), Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere.

Currently we are using the following hosts lists:

• adaway.org
• yoyo.org
• & more to come.

To add your own hosts lists, just add them to the sources.list file.

Usage: ./adsorber.sh [OPERATION] {options}

A(d)sorber blocks ads by 'absorbing' and dumbing them into void.
           (with the help of the hosts file)

Operations:
  install - setup necessary things needed for adsorber
              e.g., create backup file of hosts file,
                    create scheduler which updates the host file once a week.
  update  - update hosts file with newest ad servers
  revert  - revert hosts file to its original state
            (it does not remove the schedule, so this should be used temporary)
  remove  - completely remove changes made by adsorber
              e.g., remove scheduler (if set)
                    revert hosts file (if not already done)
  version - show version of this shell script
  help    - show this help

Options: (not required)
  -s,  --systemd           - use systemd ...
  -c,  --cron              - use cron as scheduler (use with 'install')
  -ns, --no-scheduler      - set no scheduler (use with 'install')
  -y,  --yes, --assume-yes - answer all prompts with 'yes'
  -f,  --force             - force the update if no /etc/hosts backup
                             has been created (dangerous)"

Documentation: https://github.com/stablestud/adsorber
If you encounter any issues please report them to the Github repository.

You should run this command first. The command will:

• backup your /etc/hosts file to /etc/hosts.original (if not other specified in adsorber.sh)
• install a scheduler which updates your hosts file with ad-server domains once a week. (either systemd, cronjob or none)
• install the newest ad-server domains in your hosts file.

Possible options are:

• -s, --systemd
• -c, --cronjob
• -ns, --no-scheduler
• -y, --yes, --assume-yes

To keep the hosts file up-to-date. The command will:

• install the newest ad-server domains in your hosts file.

Possible option:

• -f, --force

To restore the hosts file temporary. The command will:

• copy /etc/hosts.original to /etc/hosts, overwriting the modified /etc/hosts by adsorber.

Important: If you have a scheduler installed, it'll reapply ad-server domains to your hosts file after a while.
For this reason this command is used to temporary disable Adsorber (if it's blocking some sites you need access for a short period of time).
To reapply run asdorber.sh update

To completely remove changes made by Adsorber. The command will:

• remove all schedulers (systemd, cronjob)
• restore the hosts file to it's original state
• remove all leftovers

Possible options are:

• -y, --yes, --assume-yes
• -f, --force

Used with install.
It installs the systemd.timer scheduler, skipping the scheduler prompt. Files are placed into /etc/systemd/system by default.

Used with install.
It installs the cron scheduler, skipping the scheduler prompt. File is placed into /etc/cron.weekly/ by default.

Used with install It will skip the installation of a scheduler. You'll need to update adsorber manually.

Answers all prompts with yes e.g.,

• Do you really want to install Adsorber?
• Do you really want to remove Adsorber?

It'll not answer prompts which may harm your system. But --force will do it.

This will force the script to continue (dangerous) the update e.g.,

• Continue if no backup has been created, overwriting the existing hosts file.

To add or remove sources edit the soures.list file which is created after the installation of Adsorber.
You can edit e.g., the path of the crontab installation etc, in adsorber.sh
To change the content of placed files go to:

• bin/systemd to edit the systemd files which are installed then as a service.
  You may want to run adsorber.sh install --systemd afterwards.
• bin/cron to edit the crontab. Run adsorber.sh install --cron afterwards to apply the changes.
• bin/components to edit the header and the 'title' of the hosts file modified by Adsorber.

• Add testing framework (travis etc.)
• Make script shell independent
• Create .deb
• Integrate into package managers

MIT License
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.