Is there another way to access articles and bypass the paywall?

[DinahMoeHum]

I've used "Archive-dot-ph" in the past without trouble. Lately, though, I'm having problems getting the site.

If anyone has alternatives, please feel free to share. Thanks.

[underpants]

1. Cut and paste the direct link

https://archive.is/

[usonian]

2. Those archive.XX sites are similar if not the same.

They have intermittent downtimes. That's all.
I have no idea why.

For that matter, Google/YT sometimes blocks access when "your computer is on a network with lots of suspect traffic"
They are all suspicious about bots and hacked home systems that are sending out bursts of requests (and you're on the same range of IP addresses)

And even DU has intermittent problems due to whatever cloud flare is doing besides defending against DDOS attacks (distributed denial of service)

I don't think it's more than this. Some sites are blocked for DMCA requests. But they bounce back after a while. with different domains.

[erronis]

3. Try to open the link in a private window (or whatever it's called in your browser)

Frequently sites will store information so they can see you've already read content before and want to block repeat readers.

[canetoad]

4. This is not perfect

But it works for many sites.

Install NoScript browser add-on for Mozilla and Waterfox. I'm not sure if there is a version or equivalent for Chrome based browsers.

Then you need to start experimenting. For most of the paywalled news sites you can get away with just not allowing the top-level domain ie https://www.nytimes.com/. Sometimes you will see photos, sometimes not but the text is still there.

I can view most of the 'big' news sites - NTY, WaPo, Vanity Fair, NY Mag etc I back up the NoScript settings regularly - it takes a long time to 'train' it they way you want.

Strangely, I've never been able to get around the Murdoch paywall. No tears are shed!

[usonian]

5. Good one.

Turning off javascript often kills the nags.
Some “reader” extensions work. In particular the reader mode in Safari kills a lot of nag screens.

[canetoad]

6. Ya know what I'd really like?

A way to bypass the No Hotlinking on news sites pages. Drives me mad.

[usonian]

7. On Firefox, I use "Bypass Paywalls Clean"

It helps. Mostly, I think it clears cookies. Other stuff, I don’t know.

Seems that every Chrome extension I’ve used on Opera works.
Too much to remember.
I abandoned Safari when all my systems were out of date. Safari updates are tied to the OS, unlike other browsers.

Now that I am up to date on my main machines, it seems to work well. But hazy memory says that the bypass paywalls extension worked best.

Unlike with the phone, I can keep a safari “preferences” window open with the javascript toggle.

But I am not using the phone today. Stuck in a reboot loop. I’ll figure out a fix. Or visit the nearest Apple store.

[canetoad]

8. Sounds good, but

It doesn't seem to be listed in Firefox extensions. I guess it's not a huge deal - more and more sites are using a hotlinking ban.

[usonian]

9. It might have been withdrawn and I have a legacy copy.

If I find it somewhere, I’ll post a link.
Stuff comes and goes.

[canetoad]

10. Thank you

I've checked the NoScript settings and believe the culprit to be static.ffx.io but there is no option to disable it.

[usonian]

11. Mister Internet Says:

Why Mozilla's decision to remove Bypass Paywalls Clean extension is a wake-up call for internet users everywhere
Updated • Apr 20, 2023 Added Mozilla's statement and information about installing the extension directly from its GitLab project page.
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/04/20/mozilla-removes-bypass-paywalls-clean-extension-from-its-add-repository/

A Mozilla spokesperson provided the following comment:

“Mozilla received a copyright takedown notice regarding this addon and forwarded it to the developer, along with instructions about how to submit a counter-notice. We haven’t received a counter-notice from this developer.”

The developer also speculated that it may be because the extension had too many users. You may refer to the developer's Twitter, Gitlab page to read the above statement.

So let's go there:
https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-chrome-clean
https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-firefox-clean

Installation
You can install the add-on from GitLab releases
Download the xpi-file (from latest release), go to downloads and install the add-on (or drag it from your file-manager anywhere on a page/tab in Firefox).
Or go to Tools > Add-ons (about:addons) > Extensions > Settings/Cogwheel - Install Add-on from File
You can add/pin the add-on icon to the toolbar with the toolbar extensions menu (jigsaw puzzle shaped icon).
Custom xpi-file has host permissions for all sites.
Minumum browser requirement: Firefox 86+.

Good luck!

This is interesting.
5 Best Chrome extensions to bypass a paywall
https://www.bardeen.ai/posts/extensions-to-bypass-paywall

iOS/iPadOS
Use adblocker with custom (content)filter: https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-clean-filters

[hunter]

12. Just don't. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

If somebody doesn't want me to look at their stuff without paying then I'll pay or I won't look at their stuff.

This is true for software too, which is why I'm a Linux user.

That said, a quick search will sometimes find an article that's paywalled in one place posted elsewhere on a legal site where it is not paywalled. Occasionally this will be the author's own web site and you might find a way to support that author's writing directly without the middlemen.

I do use an ad blocker, uBlock origin to protect me from advertising that moves or makes noise, which I have zero tolerance for.

If I regularly visit a site I'll turn the ad blocking off when there is no option to subscribe. Most of the sites I visit are technical and the advertising doesn't tend to be obnoxious.

My wife and I subscribe to several newspapers. We don't have satellite or cable television so that's where we get most of our news.

[douglas9]

13. Disable javascript

Use add ons or extensions

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/disable-javascript/jfpdlihdedhlmhlbgooailmfhahieoem

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/disable-javascript/

https://www.impressivewebs.com/how-to-disable-javascript-in-almost-any-browser/