Your favourite AdBlocker in the year 2025

[Sampei.Nihira]

Please for MSFN members who will choose “Other” to give reasons for their choice.

Multiple choices are possible.

Thank you.

Enjoy.

 

 

Edited January 17 by Sampei.Nihira

[NotHereToPlayGames]

Other.

Router config + DNS hosts file + Proxomitron Reborn + uBlock Origin + uMatrix + Stylus + Tampermonkey

A couple of my YouTube extensions also "block ads", but the ads never make it past my other defenses for them to even perform a block (and the extension's ad-block functionality is too often broken by YouTube "updates").

They all work hand-in-hand to block ads.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

I would submit that the actual extension being used is less important than the combination of "lists" that are used.

Especially when several "lists" overlap multiple extensions.  Pick a list and there are DOZENS of extensions that "use" that list.

[Sampei.Nihira]

It is interesting to consider that we only need our own visual verification to consider the efficiency of our adblock for blocking ads,the same cannot be said for trackers.

With trackers you need to do the tests and use the browser development tools to improve the performance of your adblock.

To this end, using Firefox's developer tools makes life easier in the decision because it specifically lists which browser extension/DNS/blocker blocked a specific tracker.

In addition, with the development tools of the various browsers, it is possible to verify that the block number listed does not always correspond to all trackers blocked only by that specific extension.

I will give you an example with Privacy Badger.
In the image below it would appear that PB blocks 6 trackers:

Instead from a check with the browser development tools only 1 tracker in the considered website is blocked only by PB.

If I disable the extension the same tracker is blocked at the DNS level:

The 'usefulness of PB in the example website is equal to 0.

It may happen instead that PB blocks occasionally some tracker not blocked by anything else.
The user can decide whether or not to put that tracker in the My filters list of uBlock Origin or at the blacklist level DNS.

P.S.

This can be done by copying the link and creating a blocking rule:

Or by using the UBlock Origin Log, when used as an extension, which simplifies this:

 

Edited January 17 by Sampei.Nihira

[Klemper]

@Sampei.Nihira A grammar mistake in the title, it must be favourite, we aren't in the States.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

lol, oh good grief

[NotHereToPlayGames]

To me, an "ad" and a "tracker" is one in the same.

The problem with ad blockers is that the REQUEST for the ad has ALREADY BEEN MADE if your extension/list is blocking it, so that request is a "tracker".

The advertiser doesn't need for you to "see" the ad for them to compile databases and statistics and marketing and demographics and whatever else.

[Sampei.Nihira]

Have you changed your subscribed filter lists in Ublock Origin?

I remember in the last uBlock Origin image that you posted in the forum, you had subscribed to both ads filter lists, but also privacy filter lists.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

Not sure "where you're going" with the question.  I myself would rather have a "list" of 500,000 than a list of 100,000 even if my browsing habits only ever "triggers" 10,000 of the 100,000.

"To each their own."

[NotHereToPlayGames]

I should add that I have never witnessed a "speed decrease" by having 'too many' lists!

Here at work, I use 9 lists.  Our company firewall, for only God Knows, blocks any-and-all AdGuard lists!

At home, I add 5 lists (for a total of 14!), all five at home that can not be used here at work are AdGuard lists.

[Tripredacus]

I've basically switched over to using ublock origin for everything. Before I had just used Adblock and Adblock plus on Chrome browsers but those stopped working in some instances. Now for new chromium browser installs I don't even bother with them. Also use ublock origin in Mozilla based except for my home computer that still uses an old Pale Moon and Noscript.

[Sampei.Nihira]

2 hours ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

Not sure "where you're going" with the question.  I myself would rather have a "list" of 500,000 than a list of 100,000 even if my browsing habits only ever "triggers" 10,000 of the 100,000.

"To each their own."

The question arises from the fact that trackers and ads are not the same thing.
Otherwise there would be no separate ads/privacy filter lists.

Privacy Badger is a notable example of this.
PB blocks trackers and NOT all ads for what I call a side effect that you can read about here:

Quote

Why does Privacy Badger block ads?
Actually, nothing in the Privacy Badger code is specifically written to block ads. Rather, it focuses on disallowing any visible or invisible “third party” scripts or images that appear to be tracking you even though you specifically denied consent by sending Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signals. It just so happens that most (but not all) of these third party trackers are advertisements. When you see an ad, the ad sees you, and can track you. Privacy Badger is here to stop that.

Although often what is trackers or is not trackers differs tween extensions and dedicated privacy filter lists.

But of course as you wrote,to each his own.

 

Edited January 17 by Sampei.Nihira

[NotHereToPlayGames]

2 hours ago, Sampei.Nihira said:

Otherwise there would be no separate ads/privacy filter lists.

While "semantically" true, you may be surprised at just how much of an overlap there is between the two "classifications".

[Sampei.Nihira]

I finished,with a lot of effort due to the number of websites being checked,my personal test on trackers using browser development tools + uBlock Origin (and adGuard Adblocker) + Privacy Badger.

This test was necessary for two reasons.

• The first reason I have already written.
• The second reason is due to the fact that the most symbolic adblocker tests found on the internet have been disabled/archived,and the Cover You Tracks (EFF) test is too easy to pass successfully.

The result was:

• A rule to be enabled at the DNS level.
• 3 third-party rules to add to my filters.
• 1 classic rule.

I am very satisfied.

 

Edited January 20 by Sampei.Nihira

[NotHereToPlayGames]

On 1/17/2025 at 4:57 AM, NotHereToPlayGames said:

Router config + DNS hosts file + Proxomitron Reborn + uBlock Origin + uMatrix + Stylus + Tampermonkey

After a 22/23 Year Run, I think I will be abandoning Proxomitron/Proxomitron Reborn.  "It's been a good run."

While I still consider it to be THE Swiss Army Knife for every web browser because it DOES EVERYTHING in ONE PROGRAM, it's just become "easier" to not rely on ONE PROGRAM doing the job of uBlock, uMatrix, Stylus, and Tampermonkey!

But rather to rely on the GUIs of uBlock, uMatrix, Stylus, and Tampermonkey to all do "their thing" instead.

I'll call it a trial period for now, as there are a TON of things that I relied on Proxomitron "for" that I will miss big time, but that should also be able to ported over to uBlock, uMatrix, Stylus, or Tampermonkey.

 

I know that one thing I am going to miss MOST OF ALL is how I used Proxomitron to kill "timers".

When I am logged into my credit card or checking account and "reconciling" my statements, I will miss my Proxomitron allowing me to sit "idle" on a web page for an HOUR if I feel like it taking that long but the web site NOT LOGGING ME OUT, no matter how long I sit "idle".

Granted, I realize that "kids" nowadays don't even know what "reconciling" a bank statement even is, lol.