AdBlock and UBlock

[cryptomaniac_xxx]

Lately, we have seen a lot of cyber crooks using Google webstore as their attack vector and recently we have seen that they have removed at least 49 fake chrome extensions. Seen lots of threads here and senior members are suggesting to install an adblocker.

So what is an adblocker?

- Simply put, it prevents ads, malicious apps popping when you are browser the web. Usually these extensions work on the following browsers: Google Chrome, Apple Safari ), Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.

Two well known ad blockers:

1. Adblock - https://getadblock.com/ - started in 2009, and it is one of the most well-known ad blockers so far.

2. uBlock or uBlock origin - https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock - was first released in 2014 for Google Chrome only, but quickly expanded to include other browsers are well.

Installations are very easy, I have provided the official link above. So just like any beginners here, we need to learn. So if we wanted to prevent ourselves being trick by these spinless cyber crooks, our first defense is knowledge!!!

[xxjumperxx]

I recommend using UBlock Origin
It will use alot of less CPU/RAM and will absoulutely show no ads.

Adblock Plus however will show and allow certain ads.

I believe they demand money from "larger companies" to let ads through and declare them as non intrusive.
I am certainly not a fan of ads,  I dont like the wqy Ablock is promoting the non-intrusive portion of their Software. They are running an extortion scheme.


Their words:
Does that mean AdBlock makes money from advertisers?
No. AdBlock is not involved in running the Acceptable Ads program or deciding what advertisers are allowed in. We do not get a cut of the fees large advertisers pay to join. It's true that Adblock Plus earns revenue from large companies that pay to be included in the Acceptable Ads whitelist, however, the fees large companies pay subsidize smaller companies, which can join the whitelist for free. No company can pay to whitelist ads that don't meet the criteria.


Source:
https://help.getadblock.com/support/solutions/articles/6000092027-about-the-acceptable-ads-program-and-non-intrusive-ads

[NeuroticFish]

Seen lots of threads here and senior members are suggesting to install an adblocker.

More and more seniors are also recommending to get rid of Chrome completely.
I am in the process of doing that. Brave + Bitwarden combined seem to be a good replacement and .. interesting for this topic: Brave has in-built ad blocker (which you can also disable for the websites you want).
Just another choice to think on  

[xxjumperxx]

I believe they demand money from "larger companies" to let ads through and declare them as non intrusive.
I am certainly not a fan of ads,  I dont like the wqy Ablock is promoting the non-intrusive portion of their Software. They are running an extortion scheme.

I doubt it, most likely it's because Adblock extension bought by anonymous. AFAIK there's no info whether it's individual or company.

Source : https://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/10/02/trust-us-we-block-ads/

I didnt know about the sale, very interesting!
But it also says in there that companies can buy themselves onto the white list.. so its give them money so your ads dont get blocked or make no money on advertising, thats extortion.

[slackovic]

Seen lots of threads here and senior members are suggesting to install an adblocker.

More and more seniors are also recommending to get rid of Chrome completely.
I am in the process of doing that. Brave + Bitwarden combined seem to be a good replacement and .. interesting for this topic: Brave has in-built ad blocker (which you can also disable for the websites you want).
Just another choice to think on  

I have started using Brave browser couple months ago and I'm pretty satisfied. I used Chrome before but I deleted it completely. The only thing that's missing is sync option between several devices (for example between laptop and mobile phone). It was implemented but the developers disabled that option temporarily in February due to some problem. I'm not sure what's keeping them from re-enabling it.

Plus, there is an option to earn BAT while surfing. But that option is not available in all countries.

[NeuroticFish]

The only thing that's missing is sync option between several devices (for example between laptop and mobile phone).

What I needed badly to get synchronized was the passwords. Bitwarden does that.
Sync for the rest of the data would be nice too, indeed, but it's not that important for me.

[slackovic]

The only thing that's missing is sync option between several devices (for example between laptop and mobile phone).

What I needed badly to get synchronized was the passwords. Bitwarden does that.
Sync for the rest of the data would be nice too, indeed, but it's not that important for me.

I never use anything to save my passwords. It's not that there are no good software for keeping passwords. I just don't trust any of that software.

[NeuroticFish]

I just don't trust any of that software.

It's a legitimate thought.
Just make sure you use different passwords for the sites you use, else your habits will be your worse enemy (one hacked website will expose multiple/all your accounts).

[o_e_l_e_o]

2. uBlock or uBlock origin - https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock - was first released in 2014 for Google Chrome only, but quickly expanded to include other browsers are well.

uBlock and uBlock Origin are not the same thing. Thankfully, the link you have include is for uBlock Origin's github, which is the one you want to use. uBlock is essentially a rogue developer who has moved more and more away from being a good ad blocker and more and more towards pandering to business and advertisers to generate profit for himself. It steals the work of others and allows advertiser to pay for their ads to not be blocked.

uBlock Origin is the one which remains free of third party influence, and is the one you should choose.

I just don't trust any of that software.

KeePass and Bitwarden are open source. Presumably you trust your (probably closed source) operating system and your browser not to steal your passwords. Why not open source password managers?

[travwill]

I myself have long since moved from ADblock to Ublock Origin, because it is faster and less demanding, which sometimes made me inconvenient when opening a large number of tabs in the browser.
Most of all in functionality, I like blocking ads on YouTube. 

[juslesly]

Sometime I watch video on YouTube and it has lot of ads, it make me feel uncomfortable.
and I came across the app as you shared it was really great.

[Artemis3]

uBlock Origin and uMatrix (same author) is one of the best must have combos any browser should always have.

Adblock should not be used. You can pay the author to let some ads pass, that's quite absurd, it shouldn't even be mentioned.

uBlock is an ad blocker done right (and lighter). What is uMatrix? Freedom. I mean, you can either whitelist or blacklist "things" from pages, domains etc. What things? Things like cookies, css, images, media, script, XHR, frame, other. YOU are in control of your browser, not them.

The net isn't safe, and browsers shouldn't be naively used without these basic protections. Of course a secure OS and a secure browser are always recommended, in addition to these.

Browsers are basically divided in two families: Firefox and Chromium. For both families these addons/extensions exist.

Ungoogled-chromium and LibreWolf should be considered by privacy concerned people. Tor browser is also great but its on a whole new level.

[UserU]

Guys, there's ScriptBlock which is way more convenient to enable and disable elements than uBlock.

Can go check it out. Not sure if it's actively developed for other browsers but it works wonders on Chrome or any Chromium-based browser.

[xxjumperxx]

Guys, there's ScriptBlock which is way more convenient to enable and disable elements than uBlock.

Can go check it out. Not sure if it's actively developed for other browsers but it works wonders on Chrome or any Chromium-based browser.

I just looked at it in the Chrome Store.
Did Development stop?  ----> Updated June 13, 2018

uBlock Origin blocks everything and if something does come up I can use the element picker to disable that element. What benefit do I have?

[UserU]

Guys, there's ScriptBlock which is way more convenient to enable and disable elements than uBlock.

Can go check it out. Not sure if it's actively developed for other browsers but it works wonders on Chrome or any Chromium-based browser.

I just looked at it in the Chrome Store.
Did Development stop?  ----> Updated June 13, 2018

uBlock Origin blocks everything and if something does come up I can use the element picker to disable that element. What benefit do I have?

Yup, but it still does its job by blocking the root domain by default. You can enable it and further unblock additional elements.

It might not offer every inch of customization like uBlock but for most people like me, SB is pretty much adequate without being too annoying.

[Artemis3]

Guys, there's ScriptBlock which is way more convenient to enable and disable elements than uBlock.

Can go check it out. Not sure if it's actively developed for other browsers but it works wonders on Chrome or any Chromium-based browser.

I just looked at it in the Chrome Store.
Did Development stop?  ----> Updated June 13, 2018

uBlock Origin blocks everything and if something does come up I can use the element picker to disable that element. What benefit do I have?

Yup, but it still does its job by blocking the root domain by default. You can enable it and further unblock additional elements.

It might not offer every inch of customization like uBlock but for most people like me, SB is pretty much adequate without being too annoying.

Whats the point when i already said uMatrix does that? Did you even read my post? Gorhill wrote uBlock, Gorhill also wrote uMatrix they work fine together.

[UserU]

Whats the point when i already said uMatrix does that? Did you even read my post? Gorhill wrote uBlock, Gorhill also wrote uMatrix they work fine together.

Yes, but what I'm saying is that ScriptBlock is a more convenient way to block stuffs. In other words, less switches to tinker with and is more beginner-friendly. I have used SB for years and it serves me well. This is what it looks like by default; Allow, Temp or Block. Simple.



Then there's uMatrix. For the advanced users or those very particular with the elements rendered.



I'm not looking to argue here, just merely giving my opinion. If people want to get down to the nitty-gritty, let them go for uBlock/ Matrix. On the other hand, the ones that can't be bothered can just stick with SB.

[mk4]

How can there be fake extensions in the official Google store? Does Google really not care about its users that they skip viral extensions to their official store?

I'm pretty sure they have some solutions to catching the scams, but they have such a huge userbase with a huge number of extensions being submitted that it's going to be impossible to 100% filter scams.

Thanks for the adblock recommendation, though I'm already paranoid and I'm afraid to download it.

Or you could use the links on the official websites to remove the risk of downloading the fakes.

[UserU]

How can there be fake extensions in the official Google store? Does Google really not care about its users that they skip viral extensions to their official store? Thanks for the adblock recommendation, though I'm already paranoid and I'm afraid to download it.

Lack of automated resources. Imagine filtering through thousands and thousands of entries on a daily basis.