Who uses ad blocking browser extensions? What do you recommend?

Question

I like ad blocking browser extensions because they're easy to install and configure. However it looks like they're becoming more and more unreliable.- websites ask you to disable ad blockers, or refuse to work when ads aren't shown (YouTube won't play a video unless I disable uBlock Origin in my desktop Firefox).- extensions either become unmaintained, or start allowing ads; e.g. uBlock (not Origin), AdBlock and AdBlock Plus all permit "acceptable ads".Are ad blocking browser plugins still relevant in 2022? Is there any new development that brings them up to date? Is there an alternative that is similarly easy to install and configure?

ananiochita · Accepted Answer

Use alternative safe front-ends if they exist ( Piped or Invidious for searching YT combined with yt-dlp for instance ) and take uBlock Origin as a tool that gives you info on what to avoid.
Sites that use and abuse malvertising, tracking and analytics deserve zero visits or engagement. Find alternative sites and services whenever possible.
Paying for things is perfectly fine, too. "Free" is rarely free.

jethronethro · Answer

I use a combination of uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger. I haven't run into, say, YouTube not playing videos. Every so often chunks of certain pages won't load because Privacy Badger blocks them. I don't visit those pages/sites much so that's not a huge problem for me.

nebukadnet · Answer

Once ad-blockers get big enough they get bought out by google/others. You just need to switch to a new one once that happens.

jeffreygoesto · Answer

Sure they are. More than ever. For me Youtube works just fine with uBlock Origin (plus Privacy badger) on Firefox for Android.

runjake · Answer

uBlock Origin. It hasn't been tainted/acquired (yet).
YouTube works just fine with uBlock Origin on Firefox and Brave. You have something wrong with your UO config (perhaps you have an over-aggressive, non-default list selected?) if you are having issues.
Yeah OK, the original uBlock fiasco happened, but since then.

gpas · Answer

Nextdns on every device + ublock origin with chromium on linux and vivaldi on android. All working fine.

heresaPizza · Answer

uBlock origin on firefox is just fine for me. Have you ever tried to change some settings? because there&rsquo;s a lot of them and it&rsquo;s easy to mess up things. just try uninstall and reinstall.

Anthonyblick · Answer

Try Brave (the browser).