The nonsense Google’s to remove uBlock Origin from the Google Store.

[Deleted member 155466]

uBlock Origin is the Most Popular Firefox Add-on

Firefox’s most popular top 10 add-ons are heavily dominated by ad blockers, revealing a strong user preference for ad-free browsing.

linuxiac.com

*(for Firefox and Firefox Browser Based)

 

[CaffeineAddict]

google will achieve nothing by removing ublock.

Websites are so ugly to see with ads that even users who use a computer for first time will complain and seek for a solution only to get rid of them.

 

[The Duck]

Google said they were gonna kick them to the curb a long time back and they are still available.

I just think Google is talking trash about getting rid of them and if not why ain't they already gone.

Use them until Google runs them into the ground.

 

[Condobloke]

LibreWolf browser with uBlock origin. and DDG search. What adds?....What's google?

 

[CaffeineAddict]

LibreWolf browser with uBlock origin. and DDG search. What adds?....What's google?

Agree with all except LibreWolf.

I tried out LibreWolf but in the end decided to remove it and return to FF because LibreWolf requires some crazy method of installing and updating it that is unlike the rest of software management on system.

 

[Condobloke]

I have found Librewolf to be an absolute dream. Simple to install and updates via the Update Manager, seamlessly.

Recently they removed the OLD repository (see this link to remove all traces of the old one:

LibreWolf Browser

A custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom.

librewolf.net

....and immediately below that set of commands, installs the NEW repository

Also run the 'update librewolf' below that

I have found it to be an absolute joy.

 

[Fanboi]

Agree with all except LibreWolf.

I tried out LibreWolf but in the end decided to remove it and return to FF because LibreWolf requires some crazy method of installing and updating it that is unlike the rest of software management on system.

Get the AppImage. I'm using that and it keeps the system clean. You can shove it in .local or /opt/ or whatever your scheme for AppImages is (I now use ./local/lib/<name of software>/software.AppImage with a symlink in .local/bin because I'm setting up -- gradually -- a portable user and it manke managing updates manually easier). Performance doesn't seem to take a hit at all.

uBlock Origin is the Most Popular Firefox Add-on

Firefox’s most popular top 10 add-ons are heavily dominated by ad blockers, revealing a strong user preference for ad-free browsing.

linuxiac.com

*(for Firefox and Firefox Browser Based)

There's always NoScript. It's not as fine-grained as UBO, but it passes the anti-fingerprinting test so I'm good.

On a general note, I never had an issue with ads when they sat in their place, didn't wobble/flash/flicker, didn't used a fixed-position CSS element, didn't pop up in front of me unexpectedly halfway through what I'm reading, did not contain fake/phishing/harvesting sites, did not contain porn or borderline porn (and it's not just dodge places I hangout, you see some Temu adds just skirting nipples and tights that leave little to imagination on any site), and most of all, did not track me.
If advertisers rewind the clock to less invasive stuff that does not track you and is properly moderated, I'd be surprised if people bothered much with adblockers. But they won't, so we'll continue to use adblockers. Each adblocker / script blocker you kill will see the rise of another, more resilient one.

 

[909mjolnir]

long live ad blockers!

 

[Deleted member 155466]

YouTube cracks down (again) on ad blockers, frustrating users

Some users are once again frustrated by YouTube's erratic behavior with ad blockers. The issue appears to affect various browsers and layout engines, suggesting that Google may...

www.techspot.com

 

[Condobloke]

"A sizable minority of users is fed up with invasive advertising and actively seek ways to block ads whenever possible"

In the past 12 months or perhaps longer I have run a number of browsers,

Brave, Chromium, Surf something, Midori, Librewolf, Firefox, and few others I really cannot remember the names of

My point?
In exactly NONE of these browsers have I encountered any problem/drama/hindrance when running anything on youtube.

Which then begs the question....what are the minority doing with their browsers to attract unwanted attention from Google ?

Google has a point. It costs real money to run and maintain such a site as Youtube.

Again, a minority see fit to screw with the site in some way that upsets the life out of Google.

The majority of members here on Linux.org more than likely access Youtube with an add blocker enabled without incurring their wrath. Myself included.

 

[Mike-BTU]

Yup! We have our ad blocker in our router.
And we can install ublock Origin in Firefox and other browsers, as you imply.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Google has a point. It costs real money to run and maintain such a site as Youtube.

If google is having trouble with YT site maintenance costs then they should consider turning YT into a paid platform instead of deceiving users it's free while it's clearly not.

It's not free because YT users pay heavily with their Personal Data and watching ugly adds that mislead users to buy products they would otherwise not buy.

 

[PuppyHome]

The majority of members here on Linux.org more than likely access Youtube with an add blocker enabled without incurring their wrath. Myself included.

Yeah, I used to be one of those just until 4 or 5 days ago. Didn't change anything in my browser (FF) with 2 ad blockers installed (UBO and AdBlocker for Youtube) Never gave me any problems and then YT started nagging about said blockers.

It would be great if someone could come up with the url's these blockers deny access and then compile a HOSTS file.

 

[Condobloke]

Does google make a secret of the fact that they collect user data?

Answer?...NO. They actually advertise the fact. It is a well know FACT

I did not state that google is having trouble with site maintenance costs.

It is well within googles right to object to the type of blockers that negate their ability to collect the data that they profit from.

Youtube is a business, not a 'softly softly take what you need from us and give zero in return operation'

 

[CaffeineAddict]

It is well within googles right to object to the type of blockers that negate their ability to collect the data that they profit from.

What they do by removing ublock from store is not respecting users' choice to opt out of ads.
And since they do this openly it's questionable how much they respect users' privacy despite openly advertising privacy policy.

In both cases it's an open act, in one case it's not respecting choices, in another case it follows they don't respect their privacy policy either.

 

[KGIII]

As I recall, it's not so much that they're killing uBlock so much as it is that they're killing the APIs used by uBlock, meaning multiple applications are going to be affected, not just uBlock. When I saw this news the first time, it mentioned that Google was closing those APIs for security reasons. I am not qualified to offer an opinion on that.

But, it's also Chrome. You can (probably) just download the release on GitHub (from Raymond Hill) and sideload it into Chrome.

There are also other browsers. I've been using Brave as my YouTube browser. It has uBlock built right into it.

 

[theLegionWithin]

google can easily fund youtube with just the proceeds of its normal ad revenue, they dont need to make youtube paid - but smart business is to attempt to generate revenue every possible way.

with my pihole and browser extensions I havent seen an advertisement on any site or in any stream in quite some time - and I use youtube heavily.

 

[Fanboi]

The solution has always been simple: non-personalised ads for Google. Just make ads relevant to content being viewed. For creators, in-video ads work better because people cannot skip them as easily and the product has far more credibility if a content creator you like is promoting it.
With regular YT ads, it doesn't matter if they block you blocking them because your engagement is zero: you are waiting for "Skip" to appear or the ad to end. When I do go on YT on my work machine, I keep getting ads for cough syrup and antacids -- with the ocassional fashion/cologne ad that never makes any sens (they really don't) -- so I'm disinterested. I'm sure most people are like this.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I keep getting ads for cough syrup and antacids -- with the ocassional fashion/cologne ad that never makes any sens (they really don't)

Also Axe promised me so many things with women dropping at my feet when using Axe but Axe never delivered, only gave false promises.

 

[KGIII]

Also Axe promised me so many things with women dropping at my feet when using Axe but Axe never delivered, only gave false promises.

60% of the time, it works every time.

(That should not be obscure!)