11 votes

Topic deleted by author

9 comments

  1. cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    I use this extension and can vouch for the fact that it works for the sites it says it does (mostly, see issues)... but it really needs to be noted that about 6-ish months ago Mozilla cracked down...

    I use this extension and can vouch for the fact that it works for the sites it says it does (mostly, see issues)... but it really needs to be noted that about 6-ish months ago Mozilla cracked down on paywall bypassing extensions and this was amongst the ones removed from addons.mozilla as a result. So this is now an unauthorized third-party extension (hence why it needs an already compiled xpi file to install), which has its additional security/privacy risks, especially since it requires the "access your data for all websites" permission to function. As such, I only enable it when I need to actually get past a paywall and then immediately disable it again.

    10 votes
  2. [3]
    Octofox
    Link
    I hate installing extensions because of security reasons. I have been using https://outline.com to get around paywalls. It also displays a much more minimal ui that you can actually read.

    I hate installing extensions because of security reasons. I have been using https://outline.com to get around paywalls. It also displays a much more minimal ui that you can actually read.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. patience_limited
        Link Parent
        Likewise, Outline.com no longer works for Financial Times link-sharing. I have a subscription, but FT generated codes have made it impossible to share a story with more than three people -...

        Likewise, Outline.com no longer works for Financial Times link-sharing. I have a subscription, but FT generated codes have made it impossible to share a story with more than three people - additional readers are stopped by the paywall.

        I don't like installing unverified extensions for any reason, even for intermittent use as @cfabbro indicates. It's too cumbersome to see exactly what they're doing (do I really have to trace firewall logs and update PiHole?), track changes in every update, and remain aware of what the extension may be doing to browser performance.

        In the absence of an accepted per-article micropayment mechanism, though, I'm still seeking a way to share content intermittently, for those who would never be interested in a full subscription without encountering more material than a 7-day trial allows. Even that's presuming they'd be interested in getting spammed or tracked by entering trial subscription data.

        4 votes
      2. alyaza
        Link Parent
        does it not? i generated a wall street journal article on outline like a week and change ago without a problem.

        does it not? i generated a wall street journal article on outline like a week and change ago without a problem.

  3. [4]
    EightRoundsRapid
    Link
    I'm not sure I approve of bypassing paywalls. If a publication or organisation chooses to charge a fee or ask for registration before accessing it, that should be respected.

    I'm not sure I approve of bypassing paywalls. If a publication or organisation chooses to charge a fee or ask for registration before accessing it, that should be respected.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Octofox
      Link Parent
      Paywalls are a difficult thing. If I regularly read news from a website I don't mind paying some amount for it but I'm not paying a monthly fee to read some link that was posted on the internet...

      Paywalls are a difficult thing. If I regularly read news from a website I don't mind paying some amount for it but I'm not paying a monthly fee to read some link that was posted on the internet when it is most likely rubbish anyway.

      I think https://lwn.net/ did paywalls best. Their content is paywalled for 2 weeks and after that it goes public. But if you are a subscriber you can create a link that bypasses the paywall which you can use to share with friends. The bypass link includes a block in the header offering a discount on a full subscription. If you like the content and want to read more its well worth the subscription.

      12 votes
      1. jackson
        Link Parent
        Just checked this out and absolutely agree. Most news stories are "stale" after two weeks, so what is there to lose, anyways?

        Just checked this out and absolutely agree. Most news stories are "stale" after two weeks, so what is there to lose, anyways?

        2 votes
    2. TheInvaderZim
      Link Parent
      I agree. The hypocrisy on tildes about this is kind of crazy, too, because nost of the users are anti-advertisement, or at the very least, anti-effective-advertisement. The way paywalls have been...

      I agree. The hypocrisy on tildes about this is kind of crazy, too, because nost of the users are anti-advertisement, or at the very least, anti-effective-advertisement.

      The way paywalls have been implemented is clusmy, but I mean... Whats the third option? Crowdsourcing only goes so far.

      5 votes
  4. ali
    Link
    I had a paywall on an article the other day and I could bypass it by disabling javascript for that website (using umatrix). I just tried it on WSJ, it didn't work on there though it worked here:...

    I had a paywall on an article the other day and I could bypass it by disabling javascript for that website (using umatrix). I just tried it on WSJ, it didn't work on there though

    it worked here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/world/africa/durban-floods.html if someone wants to try it

    1 vote