what does "tracking blockers" mean? Problem with acorn.tv

Factual Questions
1

I’ve subscribed to acorn.tv for a couple of problem-free years. Now (after they changed their website and became an add-on for Amazon) I’m getting frequent screen freezes with the message “player_err_ timeout”. Sometimes after just a couple of seconds play.

I have done the first round of fix-its recommended by acorn. Cleared history; cleared cookies; tried another browser; restart computer. Without success.

I have another list from acorn, and the first step is to determine if I have any tracking blockers. What are they and how do I find them?

The rest of the instructions seem doable, if I can just get past step 1. I’m to go to brightcove.com and use its debugger, send e-mails, that sort of thing.

I have an HP Pavillion laptop, Windows 10, usually use Chrome but occasionally Edge, Malwarebytes, McAfee, and Saferweb.

Thanks in advance for helping me find the little gremlins.

2

Sounds like they need a tracker to control the authentication of video delivery. Anything from a simple cookie to some more sophisticated (and sometimes downright devious) mechanism. Normally you would know if you had a tracker blocker - you would have installed it. I use Ghostery. Some of the other tools - like Ad-block perform some level of tracker blocking.

I doubt a tracker blocker is your problem - I would imagine the video would not actually start if it couldn’t work out who you were via some for of tracker.

3

Thank you. I do have AdBlock Plus installed. I’ve checked Google Chrome privacy settings, and the privacy/tracking setting is “no”. I’ll just send this info the Acorn and let them explain it to me, talking to me like I’m 5.:rolleyes:

4

A “tracker” allows a website to determine if you have visited the site previously, or a related site. They are used for targeted advertising and partner programs.
It is usually a cross domain cookie or similar. Many people dislike trackers because they lose privacy and anonymity.

Adblocker tools often delete known tracking cookies, so this could impact correct website operation.

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