What ad blocker do you prefer?

TidBITS Talk
81

file:// works on iOS?

82

I have no idea. I assume it will work, but figuring out the correct URL for a file stored locally (e.g. for something in the “On My iPhone” location in the Files app) might require some experimentation, since it will require knowing the actual file path, which iOS hides from users.

After some web searching, it appears that there’s a shareddocuments:// URL domain that is used to reference the contents of the Files app, but I haven’t been able to find any articles about how to construct a URL for opening a specific file. Everything I’ve found so far is talking about how an app can let a user select a file from there, generating a URL from the selection. But that doesn’t help if you’re not writing an application.

83

RE: Blocking “Sign in with Google” prompts, I use some filter additions to uBlock Origin. I found them in a Linux forum somewhere (see code below), but here is a recent article that discusses this topic and uses a variation on one of my filters:

https://www.technicalexplore.com/tech/how-to-disable-google-sign-in-prompts-a-comprehensive-guide-for-2025

The filters I use: With uBO installed, click its toolbar icon, then click the little gears (lower, right) to open uBO Settings.

Click “My filters” tab at top.

Paste the following into the code area (where line numbers show at left side):

|id.google.com^

||accounts.google.com/gsi/$3p

||smartlock.google.com^

! Block "Sign in with Google" iframe in top right corner of websites
||accounts.google.com/gsi/iframe

Click “Apply changes” and the filters should be active. You can always disable uBlock Origin for a given web site if you need Google authentication for specific places.

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84

This MacStories article seems to explain how to construct a shareddocuments:// URL:

… a PDF document named ‘Expenses.pdf’ stored in your iCloud Drive Downloads folder should have this kind of filesystem path:

/private/var/mobile/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Downloads/Expenses.pdf

By themselves, these paths are useless as you cannot launch them in any way. However, I’ve recently discovered that if you combine the Files app’s shareddocuments://URL scheme with an encoded version of the filesystem path, the file or folder can be reopened directly in the Files app. The launcher URL looks something like this:

shareddocuments:///private/var/mobile/Library/Mobile%20Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Downloads/Expenses.pdf

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85

I had been using Adlock (which comes with Setapp) but I tried Ghostery, and I much prefer it. Thanks for the recommendation.

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86

I’ve been using it for about a week and it’s very good. However YouTube stopped playing videos after a couple of days and I’ve had to disable the blocker for the site. Ublock provides a lengthy protocol for working through the problem but it involves a complicated series of steps that looks like it may be more trouble than it’s worth. There’s a very long thread on Reddit about it and some company FAQs. Otherwise, seems like a very good blocker.

87

You mean videos stopped entirely? I never had that problem so I never looked at the workaround. One time I started getting ads again, but then that stopped and hasn’t happened since. It’s a David and Goliath battle of sorts…

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More or less. The video doesn’t load and there is a notice posted below about “Slow videos?” that you can click for further info. There’s a line or two about disabling any ad blockers.

89

I use Orion as primary browser and apply its built in blocking features. Have no Extensions installed and see very few ads.

In Firefox, I set Strict for Tracking and have Ghostery and uBlock Origin installed and active, and also see very few ads.

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90

I have gotten those notices about “slow video” or whatever it is, which I just ignore. Occasionally
videos will load slowly, or the whole page loads wrong, but I’ve never had not playing at all. It’s
hard to say what is youtube trying to manipulate us, and what is just normal internet whackiness.

91

My experience is the same, perhaps a few seconds lag to load but I prefer that over 30 or 60 seconds of ads. Once the video is running I have no issues (I assume it’s also blocking mid-video ads)
The only time it doesn’t simply run is when there is an ad which requires a user intervention - ‘click here to continue’ - or similar. Fortunately they’re not too common.

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Yes, but I didn’t want to wait for YouTube to decide to load the video. I think it’s simply Google messing with the blocker.

93

For dealing with YouTube I highly recommend SponsorBlock. It’s excellent and kept updated.

94

NextDNS at network/device level

uBlock Origin in all browsers for general web ad blocking

Vinegar in Safari for YouTube pre-/post-/mid-roll ads

SponsorBlock in all browsers for YouTube in-video host read ads/segues/etc.

95

You’d have this concern with every ad blocker as they all require sensitive access. I disable it on things like work or email or bank sites that don’t have ads anyway.

Also they have gone out of their way to address this around the time Russia invaded Crimea (the first time) by making sure everyone knows (it’s on their website somewhere) that they are headquartered in Cyprus and have no legal connection to Russia.

I’ve used it for many years and never noticed any problems.

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96

Maybe I spoke too soon because uBlock has been working well with YouTube. Sometimes there’s a slight inital delay but otherwise it’s been fine.

97

If you are using Tailscale, you might be interested in this approach:

98

Fascinating details on the origin of ad blockers; apparently, all use the same rules.

Do you use an ad blocker??

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99

Thanks. Good article.

They don’t all use the same list, but the EasyList/Fanboy collection of block-lists are very robust. So I’m not surprised that they’re so popular.

FWIW, I run a lot more on my ad blocker (uBlock Origin on Firefox):

  • All of the built-in uBlock filters: Ads, Badware risks, Privacy, Quick fixes, Unbreak
  • Ads - EasyList
  • Privacy
    • EasyPrivacy
    • Block Outsider Intrusion into LAN
  • Malware protection
    • Online Malicious URL Blocklist
    • Phishing URL Blocklist
  • Multipurpose - Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list
  • Cookie notices (block popups asking you to approve cookies)
    • EasyList - Cookie Notices
    • uBlock filters - Cookie Notices
  • Annoyances
    • All EasyList annoyances, including AI widgets, chat widgets, newsletter notices, notifications and “other” annoyances
    • uBlock filters - Annoyances
  • Custom ones that I added:

Amazingly, this doesn’t have a significant impact on browser performance. But it keeps my experience sane.

4 Likes
100

I have been using uBlock Origin on Firefox and Orion for a couple of years, and much of its settings are way over my head so I stick with basics until I read about something specific I’d like then go into it for that.

I see very few, if any, ads in my current browsing with Firefox 157 and for the previous few years. So much so that when I read complaints about targeted ads and browser annoyances, I can’t relate to it. Possibly the ad blocker is only part of the story but I’m happy with it.

I think I used to use something called Ghostery and Privacy Badger but uBlock seemed more effective (in a broad sort of non-technical-analysis way) so have stuck with it.

1 Like