Technology @beehaw.org Pete Hahnloser @beehaw.org 1 yr. ago

YouTube once again ahead of uBO on Firefox; fiddling with the extension settings not working this time and DDG search is useless ... anyone got ideas?

Pretty much the subject line. uBO has successfully blocked the nag screen enough times that I can't play anything at this point. No preview loads, and the play button serves no function. I'd really prefer not to have to find content on YT, copy the URL and use Piped/Invidious, but this ongoing escalation is steeling my resolve to screw Google.

72 comments

I usually do this:

refresh uBo caches

delete all site data of youtube (in the shield thingy left of address bar)

close the browser

Mostly always worked
- Yep I've had to do this a couple of times. I'd rather go through this dance than watch a single ad.
  
  I'm to the point where I have a container tab for yt I delete and recreate.
- delete all site data of youtube (in the shield thingy left of address bar)
  
  For me that step alone has always worked. No need to touch UBO or restart the browser. Just clear data and refresh.
-No issues on Firefox+ubo on desktop. -Revanced for mobile (android) -Snarttubenext for tv. Amazon fire TV and any android box.
- So... They've been A/B testing this the whole time and will continue to do so. Do you think OP is lying or could it be that you're having the B variant until it flips for you too?
  
  OP didn't say if they use Firefox. If they're using Chrome, then I'd find this result rather unremarkable and unsurprising.
  
  OP most likely is not following the instructions laid out at the uBlock subreddit. Probably a conflict with another adblocker.
Youtube is not ahead as of now, you can check on this website: https://drhyperion451.github.io/does-uBO-bypass-yt/ It also links to a guide.
- And make sure to read the guide. I think they recommend setting the extension to defaults. As fiddling with the settings and enabling additional filter lists can cause this.
Been using Freetube, and I even get watch history on it without needing to enable a "use my watch history for advertising" setting. No issues so far, but I don't watch in higher resolutions so no idea if that would cause any issues.

Someone else already mentioned LibRedirect, I have that setup to link to Freetube.
- Freetube is so amazing, I'm never going back.
- I always watch in 1080p and there have been no issues for me so far at all. I love Freetube.
Permanently Deleted
Revanced hasn't had any issues throughout this. I only watch YouTube on Android anyway.

(doesn't help for desktop use, but it's an option and maintains all of YouTubes native functionality + premium features)
- desktop use
  
  May be time to explore Android emulators. I know some linux distros incorporate them, and there are some options for Win and Mac.
  
  Or look into FreeTube, it works really well on desktop
You could pay for the service with cash instead of ad views. Works on all devices without having to set up an adblocking VPN or Pi-Hole.
- I don't think you can be sure they're not profiling you for advertising on other sites just because they're not showing ads on YouTube. The purpose of uBO is security. Plus I wouldn't give money to a shady company like Google anyway.
  
  I hope you are contributing to the content creators in other ways, then.
  
  YouTube doesn't stop you from using uBO if you're paying.
- Lol
- For everyone who feels righteous by paying YouTube for content, here are some things to consider:
  
  A part of your payment goes to Google - who is involved in unethical and often illegal subversion of privacy and user rights on the internet by corruption of the very foundations of the web.
  
  They're coming up with their 'content is not free' argument after they've killed off all their competitors. They're in a position to demand because they played a bait-and-switch and succeeded in it.
  
  I'm not against paid services, and especially not against paying the content creators. But when you pay a crook for their services, you bear responsibility for their actions.
- That’s what I do. Works great. Or don’t pay and don’t use it. Crazy talk, I know!
  
  Congratulations on doing your part in helping a filthy spyware company ruin the web for everyone with their corruption of browsers and the web standards.
- Family plan split three ways comes out to about $7 a person per month, if I'm remembering right.
No problems yet with Firefox + uBO
https://libredirect.github.io/download.html works great for automating link redirects to alternative sites.
- This looks promising. Just the fact that it autopings the list of servers on demand solves much of my Invidious frustration.
- Also untrack me on android
I'm using FreeTube and NewPipe to view now. Yewt.ube is working on iOS devices in Safari with 1Blocker. Firefox and uBO is my last option if I happen to click a link that opens automatically.
I've had on and off problems with YT. On days where uBO is behind, I right click and open in private window. It's a shitty workaround, but it works.
If you don't mind the impossibility to login, check out Freetube.

For Android, you may use NewPipe, LibreTube or Youtube Vanced.
I've noticed that the nag screen never shows up in a private tab. In the last week I've gotten in the habit of right-clicking a video and choosing Open Link in New Private Window. It's not very convenient, but it has been working.
- Isn't that because all extensions are disabled unless you explicitly turn them on for private windows? uBO is off so you obviously won't see the nag screen.
  
  I just checked and I do have uBO enabled for private windows, so I'm not sure why it isn't getting caught. I started doing it because I noticed that YouTube was giving one "free" view per day, and then your second view would get the nag screen. So I figured the private window might make you show up as a new person each time, so you always get the initial nag-free video.
  
  But it seems like the nag screen shows up even on the first view now, so I'm not sure why this private tab trick is still working.
This ad blocking tug-of-war game is absolutely fascinating in so many ways. One cannot help but be entertained by the two sets of opposing engineers fighting each other for technological dominance

I love it
No problems with YouTube Premium.
- Its just not that you want to pay a company that sold your data and stuffed ads down your throat. Like, at all. Will they still track you using Premium? I am totally certain.
  
  Google doesn't sell user data. They sell advertising space and use that data for targeted advertising.
  
  I've bought genuinely useful stuff from targeted ads. I'm the problem.
Use Brave Browser instead. I haven't had any issues at all watching YT using Brave.
- There are a multitude of reasons to recommend against using Brave.
  
  Personally I refuse to install it because the CEO and creator, Brendan Eich, unapologetically donates to right wing and anti-gay establishments. Many people refuse to use it because it games the users and advertisers with a proprietary cryptocurrency that isn't actually useful for anything except making money for Brave. Others refuse to use it because in 2020 Brave was caught adding their own affiliate codes and tracking data to websites in the url bar, even ones that were typed in by hand. That was eventually rolled back but it didn't help me trust them any.
  
  Vivaldi is a better browser option, in my opinion.
  
  Pretty much every CEO of every company is right wing. Several prominent Democrats are right-wing in their politics, and will still get the backing of the party regardless. That's what happens when all you elect are capitalists.
  
  I do not care about shitcoins either way.
  
  I've never heard of Vivaldi. Does the adblock work?
Freetube pointing to a local instance of Invidious.
Never yet had problems with paid AdGuard
- Same! I'm really hoping it stays that way. This seems wildly annoying to combat. I've been fine so far with adguard premium on Windows, iOS, and Android tho.
You could create a Playlist of videos to watch on piped
screw google, just use invidious, add subscriptions and check what came from time to time, I'm using it already!

You've viewed 72 comments.