Which ad blocker are you using on Safari?

[bingefeller]

I had been using Chrome for a long time and I noticed that Youtube ads are come through. I was using Privacy Badger and uBlock and this was a good combo for many years, but no longer it seems!

I've decided to switch back to Safari and am wondering what ad block is popular? So far I've been reading about Wipr, Ghostery, AdGuard, Adblock Plus, Adblock for Safari, 1Blocker and I just don't know anymore! Wipr seems to get bad reviews on the App store, but I'm using it on iPad and iPhone and it works ok, but it doesn't seem to get good reviews on the MacOS App store.

I spend a lot of time on Youtube, so something that even manages to block the Youtube ads would be great (hopefully without making the video playback quality lower).

I couldn't use Safari without an ad blocker, it would drive me crazy.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Get the full version of AdGuard for macOS vs just the Safari extension. You can find solid deals for a lifetime license and it’s totally worth. You can use the license on iOS and iPadOS as well.

 

[russell_314]

Firefox and uBlock origin. YouTube ads will still make it through because they are now integrated with the video. YouTube premium is the fix for that.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Firefox and uBlock origin. YouTube ads will still make it through because they are now integrated with the video. YouTube premium is the fix for that.

Doesn’t make it through with my setup above. Blocks Twitch ads as well, I’m telling y’all extensions are not as good as dedicated software.

 

[russell_314]

Doesn’t make it through with my setup above. Blocks Twitch ads as well, I’m telling y’all extensions are not as good as dedicated software.

Is there any security issues with the software? Is your browsing data being sent to a remote server? I’m not sure about adblock software, but antivirus software is notorious for selling your data.

 

[vjl323]

I use AdGuard plus AdGuard Extras which keeps YouTube 100% ad free and with sponsor block, sponsor free too. Plus I have a raspberry pi running AdGuard Home. All these are free and keep ads out of nearly every app even Apple News. For Safari to use AdGuard Extras I have the free extension User Scripts

 

[vjl323]

Doesn’t make it through with my setup above. Blocks Twitch ads as well, I’m telling y’all extensions are not as good as dedicated software.

I use the free versions of AdGuard and the free User Script AdGuard Extras and it keeps me 100% ad free plus running the free AdGuard Home service on an always on device helps keep ads out of apps like News and Twitch and games. Didn’t have to pay for any premium. Just have to manually update AdGuard Extras from time to time.

 

[vjl323]

Firefox and uBlock origin. YouTube ads will still make it through because they are now integrated with the video. YouTube premium is the fix for that.

You may want to give AdGuard and AdGuard Extras a try [use the free User Scripts Safari extension in order to use AdGuard Extras]. I've not seen a YouTube ad in 18+ months. The Extras gets rid of that, and SponsorBlock gets rid of content creator in video sponsors [it is crowd sourced]. I got fed up with the amount of ads YouTube does and how little the content creators get, so I went full block and support the creators I follow with Patreon as that's the platform that gives the most to them [even more so then the Join feature in YouTube].

 

[gilby101]

Didn’t have to pay for any premium.

I agree, no need to pay for 'premium' for Safari to block most ads. But paid AdGuard for Mac is more capable with trackers and malware as well as having broader scope - potentially all apps.

With AdGuard we have the choice and some will do as you and be satisfied with free product. Others will be prepared to pay for a better solution. Choice is good!

Either way, the AdGuard products are arguable the best at present.

Plus I have a raspberry pi running AdGuard Home.

I have that too! Relatively straight forward, but not for the networking neophyte.

 

[gilby101]

I spend a lot of time on Youtube, so something that even manages to block the Youtube ads would be great (hopefully without making the video playback quality lower).

Increasingly YouTube is using in video stream ads. Requires something to intercept the video stream, understand which bits of a video look like adverts and remove them. Not easy, but AdGuard say they are working on it https://adguard.com/en/blog/youtube-server-side-ad-insertion.html It would require something beyond what is possible in the free AdGuard for Safari. The free adblockers are better than nothing but can't block all ads.

 

[ajr123]

Is there any security issues with the software? Is your browsing data being sent to a remote server? I’m not sure about adblock software, but antivirus software is notorious for selling your data.

I also worry a bit about how much access to user data is being given to the software owner in situations like this. Are we sharing our browsing usage?

 

[bingefeller]

Thanks for the replies. @Sheepish-Lord, @gilby101 - you both would recommend AdGuard then? I have read that some of these ad blockers apparently can slow down your computer, have you found any performance issues?

Increasingly YouTube is using in video stream ads. Requires something to intercept the video stream, understand which bits of a video look like adverts and remove them. Not easy, but AdGuard say they are working on it https://adguard.com/en/blog/youtube-server-side-ad-insertion.html It would require something beyond what is possible in the free AdGuard for Safari. The free adblockers are better than nothing but can't block all ads.

Are you seeing any YouTube ads when using the paid AdGuard? I read about an extension called Vinegar, which makes YouTube run a html5 player, but I'm not sure if this would show ads, or even if the videos would play at the same resolution as the regular YouTube player.

 

[Seamaster]

NextDNS (using HaGeZi Multi PRO) + 1Blocker.

 

[bingefeller]

NextDNS (using HaGeZi Multi PRO) + 1Blocker.

is that using pihole? I remember looking into that and it is way over my head - it looks very complex! I like the convenience of just buying an ad blocker, or using extensions.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Thanks for the replies. @Sheepish-Lord, @gilby101 - you both would recommend AdGuard then? I have read that some of these ad blockers apparently can slow down your computer, have you found any performance issues?


Are you seeing any YouTube ads when using the paid AdGuard? I read about an extension called Vinegar, which makes YouTube run a html5 player, but I'm not sure if this would show ads, or even if the videos would play at the same resolution as the regular YouTube player.

Full desktop version of AdGuard is like 200-300 MB in my activity monitor soooo I'm good ha

 

[Seamaster]

is that using pihole? I remember looking into that and it is way over my head - it looks very complex! I like the convenience of just buying an ad blocker, or using extensions.

No pihole, just register for NextDNS, install their app from the Mac App Store and you're in business. It's free (for me, at any rate, I never come close to their chargeable usage level). Great service.

 

[bingefeller]

No pihole, just register for NextDNS, install their app from the Mac App Store and you're in business. It's free (for me, at any rate, I never come close to their chargeable usage level). Great service.

does that mean your IP address will change, like when you're on a VPN? Or does it just mean that your traffic is routed through a different server, which blocks the ads?

 

[gilby101]

I also worry a bit about how much access to user data is being given to the software owner in situations like this. Are we sharing our browsing usage?

Absolutely! Potentially! In return for the benefits (blocking malware, trackers and ads) you need to trust the vendor to not collect your browsing. Just as you have to trust the supplier of your browser and operating system.

Two things I do:
1) Attempt to keep abreast of reports regarding vendor infidelity (e.g. Apple breaking/deleting promises about OCSP) for products I use.
2) Ask myself, does a supplier of free software have a viable business model with products that do collect revenue?

It is not easy choosing where to place trust.

 

[Basic75]

does that mean your IP address will change, like when you're on a VPN? Or does it just mean that your traffic is routed through a different server, which blocks the ads?

No, it's DNS based, so it should only configure your device to use a different DNS server, one that is configured to not resolve the names of the servers used for ads etc.

 

[bingefeller]

No, it's DNS based, so it should only configure your device to use a different DNS server, one that is configured to not resolve the names of the servers used for ads etc.

That's good to know - thanks.

I still haven't decided on what to go for, I'm kind of leaning towards AdGuard (paid version) and possibly NextDNS, but I'll have to read up on both of them.

I use AdGuard plus AdGuard Extras which keeps YouTube 100% ad free and with sponsor block, sponsor free too. Plus I have a raspberry pi running AdGuard Home. All these are free and keep ads out of nearly every app even Apple News. For Safari to use AdGuard Extras I have the free extension User Scripts

Do you need to use AdGuard Extras with the AdGuard app? Do the extras work on their own via your scripting extension?

 

[antiprotest]

Can vouch for AdGuard. Free version is good enough for my use on Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, on Mac, iOS, and iPad.

 

[bingefeller]

Can vouch for AdGuard. Free version is good enough for my use on Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, on Mac, iOS, and iPad.

Do you use the AdGuard Extras script too?

 

[Pecka]

1Blocker but with actions and scripts disabled.

 

[ignatius345]

I'm using 1Blocker. I rarely think about it and actually had to click the icon above to remember which one I had -- which to me means it's doing its job.

 

[bingefeller]

1Blocker but with actions and scripts disabled.

hi @Pecka, what does it mean when you have actions and scripts disabled? I'm guessing you're using Safari.