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Ad blockers

Shrek

Shrek

Joined
Mar 21, 2021
Messages
5,574 (3.61/day)
Location
Colorado, U.S.A.
System Specs
System Name CyberPowerPC ET8070
Processor Intel Core i5-10400F
Motherboard Gigabyte B460M DS3H AC-Y1
Memory 2 x Crucial Ballistix 8GB DDR4-3000
Video Card(s) MSI Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super
Storage Boot: Intel OPTANE SSD P1600X Series 118GB M.2 PCIE
Display(s) Dell P2416D (2560 x 1440)
Power Supply EVGA 500W1 (modified to have two bridge rectifiers)
Software Windows 11 Home
What are the best free Ad blockers for Windows?
 
For sure, none are perfect. It seems every couple years I switch to something else. But (for now) I use and really like AdGuard.

One problem is some sites recognize when an adblocker is being used and won't let you proceed until you disable it for that site. :(

In any case, it is always a cat & mouse thing, like malware badguys and scanner goodguys. One is always trying to stay one step in front of the other.
 
I use uBlock Origin on Firefox. Works good.
 
uBlock Origin is the best add-on level adblocker right now. You can also filter ads at the hosts file level, which will block them in every application on your system.

This is an excellent resource should you opt to go for that route:

github.com

GitHub - StevenBlack/hosts: Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories.

Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories. - StevenBlack/hosts
github.com github.com

Do note that at least on Windows, a very large hosts file might degrade performance if your PC is slow.
 
I've always been a ublock origin kinda guy.
 
Whatever you choose, you will have to use pre-configured hosts file in order to real block the ads.
Also, you can use Adguard DNS as follows:
94.140.14.14
94.140.15.15

in Androd phones, you can specify your custom dns as:

dns.adguard.com

ads are gone.

Also for additional protection use ublock origin + privacy badger + minerblock
 
uBlock Origin. Even if it wasn't my favorite, I'd still use the Element Picker to undo questionable Webdesign choices.
 
I use the Brave Browser with ad blocking set to Aggressive, no addons needed, works just as well as ublock origin

@Shrek

mclaren85 said:
in Androd phones, you can specify your custom dns as:

dns.adguard.com

ads are gone.
Click to expand...

I just did this to my phone and rebooted the phone, you are right. wow that's fucking awesome. thanks.
 
Sunny and 75 said:
aka the real chromium-based browser
Click to expand...

yeah, it needs a few settings to be changed, like I turn off TOR browser mode in private windows for example, and I make a few other changes as well. I recommend if you use Brave or switch to Brave, to make sure you go through all the settings and just customize it how you like/prefer. I turn off all the AI crap, luckily all the crypto options are off by default, i hate that crap, but it doesn't take long to setup, i have had 0 issues with brave so far.

i like firefox with ublock origin still too, but it was causing me some issues recently so i went back to brave.
 
Space Lynx said:
yeah, it needs a few settings to be changed
Click to expand...
More than few

Space Lynx said:
I turn off TOR browser mode in private windows
Click to expand...
Space Lynx said:
I turn off all the AI crap
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I did

Space Lynx said:
make sure you go through all the settings and just customize it how you like/prefer
Click to expand...
Not just Brave, I follow that process for each and every new app/game installation

Space Lynx said:
luckily all the crypto options are off by default, i hate that crap
Click to expand...
read crapto ;)

Space Lynx said:
i have had 0 issues with brave so far
Click to expand...
My experience as well

Brave is by far the most comprehensive of them all :peace:

Space Lynx said:
i like firefox with ublock origin still too
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've had a soft spot for that vixen too <3
 
+1 for ublock for stopping add abuse.
 
Don't forget to turn it off for TPU.. lol Ads help make our site better. :D I have used Pi-hole in the past but I have found out that my router has a pretty good adblocker. I also have ublock and Ghostery. I also have a lifetime AGuard that I picked up for 9 bucks. I do take my Pi-hole when I travel now.
 
Last edited:
Shrek said:
I thought AdGuard was not free.
Click to expand...
The AdGuard "app" cost money but it comes with all kinds of extra features most users don't need. The AdGuard "browser extension" is totally free.

I used to use uBlock Origin with FF, PM, and Chrome but when the new Edge came out, uBlock Origin did not support it. So I switched to AdGuard, liked it, and stuck with it.

IMO, you can't go wrong with either UBlock Origin, AdGuard, or Adblock Plus. Pick the one you like the look and feel of.
 
I use Ghostery AND Ublock Origin in FF, rarely have any issue with sites not loading and easy to disable on sites that have issues with adblockers but not necessarily displaying ads, usually secure, gov sites etc, nothing is perfect, even with both disabled the odd site I visit does not play well with FF and I just use Edge as it's installed by default and seems to have almost as good compatibility as old scholl IE which most sites were written for back in the day, so yea... don' t think there is a perfect solution regardless of what browser or extensions you use but you learn to adapt, was using opera before FF and prefer it though too many issues with certain sites not working or just strange quirks and have gone back to FF now for a good year or so
 
Ublock Origin. There are no ads... expect some annoying websites that make seem like ads are actual news in a very deceptive way and with no visual disclaimer, but hey standards am i right.

"deal"
 
I use uBlock Origin in Firefox. It seems to work. If websites find a way around it, the community usually fixes it within minutes.
 
All much appreciated; am now using uBlock Origin and am a lot happier as a result.
 
Loaded up uBlock Origin from everyone's tips and can say it's working flawlessly. So thanks.
 
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