Yahoo’s email service is refusing service to some US users of ad blocking software like AdBlock Plus as part of a test. When users disable the software, they will not be able to use the e-mail service.
The change at Yahoo Mail was noticed by multiple users of the AdBlock Plus forum. However, they do mention ways around the block. The company confirms to The Verge that it is a test with a limited group of American users. The spokesperson did not provide further comment.
Because the service itself is free, Yahoo has to get its revenue from other sources, such as advertising and selling certain usage data for analytics. The company is “still struggling with revenue from its core business,” Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said in a recent review of its quarterly earnings. Recently, The Washington Post also conducted a test in which visitors who blocked ads were denied access to the website. At the moment, however, that block does not appear to be in effect.