The El Capitan/Safari 9 Content Blocker Thread

[KALLT]

Tried that, didn't change anything.


Here are the results from the element tab:

Interesting, the install button doesn’t appear to be blocked by anything, it just isn’t there. And you’re using Safari 9 on El Capitan? And safari-extensions.apple.com opens when you click on “Safari > Safari Extensions…” in the menu bar (instead of extensions.apple.com)?

Edit: I also noticed that in one the screenshots above, this line appears:

I don’t see that anywhere when I view that page.

 

[Bbeelzebub]

Interesting, the install button doesn’t appear to be blocked by anything, it just isn’t there. And you’re using Safari 9 on El Capitan? And safari-extensions.apple.com opens when you click on “Safari > Safari Extensions…” in the menu bar (instead of extensions.apple.com)?

Yup. It makes zero sense to me. I'm contemplating another clean install and not installing any software, setting the firewall, etc. to see if this makes any difference on these things or my beachball situation in Safari. I've actually already done two clean installs because of really strange Safari behaviors (before it wasn't allowing me to install plug ins and if I clicked install, it downloaded instead. the clean install fixed that.) It just seems like a lot of work for something so minor, but if this doesn't just annoy me.

 

[Bbeelzebub]

Okay, did another clear cache and deleted history and this time added a reboot. The Safari extensions is taking me to safari-extensions.apple.com, but this time all the content blockers show up and are installable.

Now, uBlock and Shutup do not show at that address. I have to go to extensions.apple.com to see those. I already have them installed, so whatever is going on, I can live with that. Now off to try for out a content blocker!

 

[pcfacts]

Adguard works the best for me out of these new content blockers. Lots of options within the app, too.

 

[Wheelie4]

Adguard works the best for me out of these new content blockers. Lots of options within the app, too.

Actually Adguard is still the old extension type. It is not using the new Safari content blocking API. It's been my favorite so far of all the old type extensions. I tried some of the new content blocking extensions and right now I'm trying "Roadblock" and it seems to be performing better than "Adament, Wipr and K-block" the only new type I've tested. Wipr being the best out of those three from my experience. But, Roadblock seems to run slightly faster than Wipr. But that's just from my experience after trying them. Results may vary between users which is usually the case with any software.

 

[UKFan643]

Regarding content blockers, is it a good idea to use more than 1 at a time? Or is that even an option? I am torn between a couple blockers, specifically Wipr and Adamant, and don't know if I have to or should pick just 1 or if I can use both.

 

[Wheelie4]

Okay deleted "Roadblock". It was doing fine until I tried View the program listings on TVGuide dot com. It completely blocked the whole guide. I'm back to Adguard.

 

[Mr.Chow]

Okay, did another clear cache and deleted history and this time added a reboot. The Safari extensions is taking me to safari-extensions.apple.com, but this time all the content blockers show up and are installable.

Now, uBlock and Shutup do not show at that address. I have to go to extensions.apple.com to see those. I already have them installed, so whatever is going on, I can live with that. Now off to try for out a content blocker!

huh? I've never seen uBlock in the safari extension gallery... even when I look for it with the URL you provided. Afaik the did never distribute it within the extension gallery.

Edit: that's strange... when I'm browsing for the extension it doesn't show up. Now I clicked the extension gallery link within the Github repository and was able to install it. So never mind, Bbeelzebub.

 

[Bbeelzebub]

I found the problem. Avast. I kept having the issue over and over. Since I disabled it, all extensions show normal and as they should on both sites. (I know "antivirus" is kind a bad word for a lot of people around these parts.)

 

[Weaselboy]

huh? I've never seen uBlock in the safari extension gallery... even when I look for it with the URL you provided. Afaik the did never distribute it within the extension gallery.

Edit: that's strange... when I'm browsing for the extension it doesn't show up. Now I clicked the extension gallery link within the Github repository and was able to install it. So never mind, Bbeelzebub.

Speaking of uBlock for Safari... that same dev. has a iOS content blocker called Purify, and I noticed a Reddit comment that he is working on an OS X version of the same content blocker. Hopefully he brings the iOS Purify features over to the OS X version since it does allow whitelisting.

 

[nmeed]

I was using uBlock but it broke my "Top Sites" page in Safari. I tried wipr, adamant, roadblock, AB, and ABP. Nothing came close to uBlock for me. I just stumbled on AdGuard AdBlocker. So far so good... we may have a winner. Adguard AdBlocker

 

[qwerty2k]

Is there an easy way to see if an adblocker uses the new method or the old method of blocking stuff?

 

[Sonnto]

Sorry for a dumb question but what's the different with traditional ad blockers and content blockers? For example, uBlock vs Content Blockers (let's say Crystal, should they come out with one soon), and why are they different? Which one is more efficient and why? o_o" And is one inherently better in terms of it's relationship with Safari/how it functions with/within Safari? Again, sorry for the dumb question...

 

[golfnut1982]

I use uBlock and played around with some of these new content blockers a little yesterday, and went back to uBlock. My problem with them is there are no configuration options at all to control what is blocked and I have no idea what criteria they are using to block. I suspect they are just taking something like EasyList and popping it into the json download.

I like to whitelist most sites I frequent, or on some sites I just block the most annoying ads. With the content blockers it is either all or nothing it seems.

I noticed with Wipr it broke some of the functionality of MacRumors forums. With Wipr on it breaks the quote of text selection feature in my screenshot.

View attachment 589544

Gotta second this Weaselboy. I'm using Purify on my phone and uBlock on Safari, Chrome and Firefox. I couldn't be happier. Nice and fast!

 

[Narcaz]

The missing install button phenomena on https://safari-extensions.apple.com puzzles me. The old machine in my household (13'' MBP 09, fresh El Cap install) has two user accounts (both admin). I was able to install Roadblock on one of them, while the other doesn't show the install button from the safari gallery. I can only install "old" type extensions from https://extensions.apple.com. User agent is identical (checked via developer menu). No avast installation. Even tried to copy the file from working account (Library/Safari/Extensions), but it presented me an error: this extensions has to be installed from the safari gallery ... Does anybody have a solution?

 

[Antoni Nygaard]

I have uBlock installed and i have the install button visible on both those sites, i haven't cleared cache og deleted anything.

 

[Weaselboy]

Gotta second this Weaselboy. I'm using Purify on my phone and uBlock on Safari, Chrome and Firefox. I couldn't be happier. Nice and fast!

I've been testing Purify also on iOS and it seems to work well. It has a whitelist feature I have not seen on other content blockers. The dev is the same fellow who maintains uBlock (not original) and has mentioned he is working on a OS X version, so I'm looking forward to trying that.

 

[apple_power_user]

Regarding content blockers, is it a good idea to use more than 1 at a time? Or is that even an option? I am torn between a couple blockers, specifically Wipr and Adamant, and don't know if I have to or should pick just 1 or if I can use both.

I can't get YouTube videos to run with Wipr. Went back to uBlock and no problem, and seems to be faster.

 

[Wheelie4]

I can't get YouTube videos to run with Wipr. Went back to uBlock and no problem, and seems to be faster.

Odd. I don't have any problem with YouTube videos using Wipr. I've been using it in the past for five days. I did have a problem with Roadblock though, it completely blocked the program guide on TVGuide website. Someone else mentioned Roadblock blocked their iCloud photos. I don't use iCloud so I can't confirm that.

 

[jazz1]

No, but don't use AdBlock Plus, use uBlock. It's significantly faster and more efficient.

Where do you get uBlock?

 

[CoastalOR]

Where do you get uBlock?

Check here:
https://www.ublock.org

 

[jazz1]

Check here:
https://www.ublock.org

Many Thanks! I did Google it, and the 12" Macbook is a rocket! I killed all my other ad blockers except Ghostery. uBlock is finding more things to block per page than Ghostery. Still using them in tandem though. I am definitely going to fund uBlock. Thanks again. I can wait to use it on my iMac and late 2008 Macbook Pro. I'm already using Purify on my iOS9 devices.

 

[hpman247]

Is there a way to block before video ads on sites like CNN for instance?

 

[UKFan643]

I can't get YouTube videos to run with Wipr. Went back to uBlock and no problem, and seems to be faster.

Yeah, I actually had the same problem with Wipr. Luckily, I don't watch YouTube too much so I can deal with it.

 

[Queen6]

Still with uBlock yet to find anything better. Also bear in mind that uBlock is much more than just an Ad blocker, it`s primary purpose it maintain privacy, a point well worth considering.

Q-6