This article, Apple no longer accepting VPN-based ad blockers to App Store implies that Apple will no longer support apps like AdBlock. This is over my head. Can someone explain what it means?

Since add-ons such as AdBlock Plus are integrated into one's browser, how would Apple's treatment via the App Store affect such?

You are confusing the Safari Ad-Block extension with the Ad-Block app.

The Safari Ad-Block extension is installed in Safari and effects ONLY Safari. The Ad-Block app is installed in the applications folder, resides in the menu bar, and effects all internet browsers and apps on the system. The app is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that forces all internet communications to go through the Ad-Block servers and the advertising is blocked there and not in the computer. From the description in the article… …Apple's decision seems straight forward and supportable based on their published standards.

I would also point out that features built into Safari 11, the current version of Safari Technology Preview for Sierra and Safari Technology Preview for High Sierra offer far more control and precision for Safari extensions such as Ad-Block. On a website by website basis these new browsers permit...

• activating content blocking extensions
• Using Reader if available
• Page Zoom
• Controlling autoplay audio and video
• camera access
• microphone access
• location information

That cannot be done with an app so even though I use the Ad-Block app I doubt I will miss it when it is gone.

My question is whether or not this will effect the multitude of non-ad-blocking VPN apps in the App Store.

Thank you for a very clear explanation. I, too, had confused the app with the extension.

I didn't even know there was an app (vs the extension).
And I second Jon's appreciation for the elucidation.

Thanks for the clarification, but I'm totally confused about which piece of software this thread deals with.

A search for "future mind ad block", the subject of Jon's linked article, comes up with an iOS app, but not the macOS app you've implied, and a search for "ad block" (various spellings) doesn't seem to come up with it either, so would you please post a link to it?

This thread deals with the application, not the extension.

The AdBlock application blocked ads in every program on your computer, because it modified your computer's settings to route 100% of all your Internet activity through AdBlock's servers. Essentially, every Internet request you made through any browser or any other application was directed through servers run by AdBlock, which would inspect all your traffic (potentially giving them access to FTP passwords, lists of Web sites you visited, games you played, you name it) and stripping out any ads it recognized.

I am a bit surprised AdBlock did this, and think it should be obvious why doing this is a very very very bad idea.

Thanks for clarifying AdBlock's functionality, tacit. (Now that I understand how it works, I'm surprised that joemike is running it.)

I know that this thread deals with the app, not the extension, but I can only find an iOS app, whereas joemike seems to have referenced a macOS app, thus my request for a link.