How to disable annoying browser ad extensions using Javascript

Is there a way to prevent browser add-ons from injecting HTML code?

My website built in angularjs is experiencing routing issues due to certain browser add-ons. The following HTML snippet is causing errors in my angularjs:

<script async="" src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" async="" src="http://in1.perfectnavigator.com/d.php?id=57573&amp;eid=&amp;vdisp=0&amp;u=http://www.domain.com/app/#/users&amp;r=http://www.domain.com/site/profile/view/&amp;vdisplayEn=0&amp;vsliderEn=1&amp;bannerAds=1&amp;usadservEx=Oj45JDs7PTUiNg&amp;lrc=0&amp;curatedSite=0"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://api.jollywallet.com/affiliate/client?dist=111&amp;sub=1&amp;name=Browser%20Extensions"></script>
...

Due to this issue, the original URL:

www.domain.com/app/#/users

gets changed to

www.domain.com/users

This change is causing URL-related errors like:

TypeError: Cannot read property 'charAt' of undefined

The website functions perfectly on browsers without any add-ons, but encounters errors with the mentioned add-ons.

One of our website's users is experiencing this problem. Is there a solution to resolve this?

Answer №1

My exploration led me to intercepting the <script> element injection into the document in an attempt to prevent the code from loading. I must clarify that my understanding of this topic is limited, but I wanted to share my experiment.

Initially, I experimented with MutationObserver, observing the DOM for the creation of a <script> element and removing it. Below is the code snippet I added at the beginning of my HTML page:

// Creating the observer and setting up our callback function
var obs = new MutationObserver(function (mutations, obs) {
    mutations.forEach(function (mutation) {
        if (mutation.type !== 'childList') return;

        for (var i=0; i < mutation.addedNodes.length; i++) {
            var node = mutation.addedNodes[i];
            if (node.nodeName !== 'SCRIPT') return;
            node.parentNode.removeChild(node);
            console.log(node.nodeName);
        }
    });
});
// Starting the observer
obs.observe(document, {subtree: true, childList: true});

However, this approach proved unsuccessful. Attempting to remove a node already added to the DOM was ineffective.

To address this issue earlier in the process, I tried overriding document.createElement to create <div> elements instead of <script> elements:

document.createElementOriginal = document.createElement;
document.createElement = function (tagName) {
    if (tagName.toLowerCase() == 'script') {
        console.log('Intercepting script creation');
        tagName = 'div';
    }

    return document.createElementOriginal(tagName);
};

Unfortunately, this modification did not yield the desired results. No interception notifications were logged in the console.

It seems that either the extension data is injected before any scripts on my page are executed, or the element injection process occurs independently of my code's reach.

If you have any suggestions on how I can further investigate this issue, please feel free to provide some guidance.

Answer №2

Advise the user to remove any browser add-ons causing issues.

If you are determined to ensure your website functions with the user's specific set of add-ons, identify the exact line of code where errors occur and set a breakpoint there. Follow the call stack to investigate further for clues. For detailed instructions on using Chrome Developer Tools for debugging, visit this link.

If troubleshooting within the code does not resolve the issue, try disabling certain scripts one by one to pinpoint which one is causing problems. Once identified, determine which add-on injected the problematic script and advise the user to uninstall it in order to access your website smoothly.

In cases where working around the script seems necessary, consider analyzing the code to understand its impact. Tools like jsnice can help deobfuscate minified scripts, although this process may be time-consuming.

As a last resort to accommodate the add-ons, employ coding hacks such as using try catch blocks or setTimeout functions to handle errors temporarily. However, the most straightforward solution remains uninstalling the add-ons to ensure seamless website interaction.

Answer №3

While it may not be possible to completely disable addons, you do have the option to modify their behavior. Since all JavaScript code operates within the window context, you can manipulate the addons variable to suit your needs. By conducting some research and experimenting with different addons, you can override functions before your script is executed.

Answer №4

When a third-party addon interferes with a website's URL, it can cause the site to malfunction. This responsibility lies with the addon developer rather than the website creator, unless the addons were intentionally integrated by the website owner. If an addon is altering your URL format from hash to html5mode pushstate, there may be a miscommunication or oversight.

To pinpoint which addon is causing issues, advise the user to disable each addon individually until the problem resolves. It is crucial to have sufficient information available before troubleshooting further and considering closing the inquiry if details are lacking.

Upon identifying the problematic addon, reach out to the developer to inquire about the reason behind altering URLs on various sites without consent.

If a user has an addon that changes www.google.com to www.giggle.com, it's reasonable to anticipate disruptions in website functionality. In such cases, the onus is on the addon developer rather than the affected website to address the issue.

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