YouTube... WTF

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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,048
10,537
126
Fair warning, NoScript was a hassle when I tried to use it, some sites it was like a guessing game trying to figure out which scripts I had to enable if I wanted it to work right.
Yea, it can be a PITA blacklisting stuff from the start. A lazy, less effective, but better than nothing approach is to allow everything, then start forbidding scripts as you research them. Some are obviously named, others require research, but it's not a bad way to waste time when you're stuck somewhere with your phone.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
136
I don't know what you want out of a browser anyways. What is so good about Crome that is not in any of the Chromium based browsers, other than the extensive tracking that is.

You nailed it .... carrying a smartphone I more or less have accepted that I'm being tracked every second like it or not and Chrome coordinates it most effectively!

;)
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,579
13,805
126
www.anyf.ca
Yea, it can be a PITA blacklisting stuff from the start. A lazy, less effective, but better than nothing approach is to allow everything, then start forbidding scripts as you research them. Some are obviously named, others require research, but it's not a bad way to waste time when you're stuck somewhere with your phone.

I wish there was a public database of bad scripts, kinda like AV definitions. That way you don't need to actually do the white/black list on a per browser basis every time. For example it would be great to block all modals on all sites, and if it was community driven it would self update. If you run into one that is not being blocked you block it and it auto shares. (obviously there would need to be some logic to ensure people don't screw with the database). The definitions could have different categories so you can choose what to block/allow. Another one would be all those annoying cookie notices on so many sites now.
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,579
13,805
126
www.anyf.ca
You nailed it .... carrying a smartphone I more or less have accepted that I'm being tracked every second like it or not and Chrome coordinates it most effectively!

;)

You don't have to accept it though. That's why I run a custom rom. Can still be tracked by the ISP/government via GPS though but that's why I leave my phone home half the time. The idea is to try to minimize tracking as much as you can. There are some steps that are easier than others, may as well do the easy ones.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,048
10,537
126
I wish there was a public database of bad scripts, kinda like AV definitions. That way you don't need to actually do the white/black list on a per browser basis every time. For example it would be great to block all modals on all sites, and if it was community driven it would self update. If you run into one that is not being blocked you block it and it auto shares. (obviously there would need to be some logic to ensure people don't screw with the database). The definitions could have different categories so you can choose what to block/allow. Another one would be all those annoying cookie notices on so many sites now.
This is my blocked list. It's pretty light cause I block everything by default, but it's something. YMMV on content. You could lose something you want...

Code:
"untrusted": [
        "doubleclick.net",
        "google-analytics.com",
        "servebom.com",
        "scorecardresearch.com",
        "qualtrics.com",
        "googletagmanager.com",
        "perfdrive.com",
        "googleadservices.com",
        "adlightning.com",
        "googletagservices.com",
        "facebook.net",
        "ads-twitter.com",
        "aaxads.com",
        "adsrvr.org",
        "moatads.com",
        "cookielaw.org",
        "tpdads.com",
        "onesignal.com",
        "chartbeat.com",
        "facebook.com",
        "alexametrics.com",
        "adnxs.com",
        "quantserve.com",
        "outbrainimg.com",
        "outbrain.com",
        "hs-analytics.net",
        "deployads.com",
        "advertising.com",
        "matheranalytics.com",
        "amazon-adsystem.com",
        "go-mpulse.net",
        "fbcdn.net",
        "adsafeprotected.com",
        "dotmetrics.net",
        "privacy-mgmt.com"
      ],
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
15,142
10,040
136
I wish there was a public database of bad scripts, kinda like AV definitions. That way you don't need to actually do the white/black list on a per browser basis every time. For example it would be great to block all modals on all sites, and if it was community driven it would self update. If you run into one that is not being blocked you block it and it auto shares. (obviously there would need to be some logic to ensure people don't screw with the database). The definitions could have different categories so you can choose what to block/allow. Another one would be all those annoying cookie notices on so many sites now.

I found blocking scripts far more trouble than it was worth. Sites seem to have hundreds of the things, with meaningless names, and as you enable or disable some of them other ones become visible.

Would be so much easier if sites gave them meaningful names, like "Stupid unncessary script that doesn't seem to do anything noticable" or "evil tracking script - you really don't want this one" or "critically-important script to actually allow the page to load at all - do not block", and so on...
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
17,374
16,647
146
I found blocking scripts far more trouble than it was worth. Sites seem to have hundreds of the things, with meaningless names, and as you enable or disable some of them other ones become visible.

Would be so much easier if sites gave them meaningful names, like "Stupid unncessary script that doesn't seem to do anything noticable" or "evil tracking script - you really don't want this one" or "critically-important script to actually allow the page to load at all - do not block", and so on...
If it wouldn't affect Google's bottom line/if they were still not evil, they'd kick off a script signing standard... At which point we could just revoke the CAs at the system level.
 
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IBMJunkman

Senior member
May 7, 2015
926
401
136
If one pays for Premium you don’t get ads. I pay for it and don’t get inserted ads on my Smart TV. No AdBlocker in use.

Needless to say you can’t get rid of the ads the creator inserts/reads.
 
Dec 10, 2005
28,740
13,904
136
I found blocking scripts far more trouble than it was worth. Sites seem to have hundreds of the things, with meaningless names, and as you enable or disable some of them other ones become visible.

Would be so much easier if sites gave them meaningful names, like "Stupid unncessary script that doesn't seem to do anything noticable" or "evil tracking script - you really don't want this one" or "critically-important script to actually allow the page to load at all - do not block", and so on...
This. It was especially annoying with shopping websites, where it might need to have MC send you a code to approve a purchase - the redirect would get blocked and make checkout a pain in the ass.
 
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Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
136
You don't have to accept it though. That's why I run a custom rom. Can still be tracked by the ISP/government via GPS though but that's why I leave my phone home half the time. The idea is to try to minimize tracking as much as you can. There are some steps that are easier than others, may as well do the easy ones.

The only untraceable cell phone is the one you don't use.... every single device that bounces signals off a repeater is 100% trackable via IMEI and using an insecure, unpatched "amateur-night" ROM only makes matters worse.

GPS tracking that can't be turned off is just the icing on the cake.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,579
13,805
126
www.anyf.ca
The only untraceable cell phone is the one you don't use.... every single device that bounces signals off a repeater is 100% trackable via IMEI and using an insecure, unpatched "amateur-night" ROM only makes matters worse.

GPS tracking that can't be turned off is just the icing on the cake.

All they know is the location of the phone and that's it. Not any different than debit/credit cards or even modern cars. Unfortunately not much you can do about that. But at least with a custom rom it blocks all the tracking done at a more granular level, like your actual conversations inside the room, or even what you're typing on the computer near the phone. (there are ways to do that via the different sound signatures keys make depending which ones you're typing on)

Custom roms are generally more secure too as they have privacy as a priorty while the stock roms are designed out of the box to spy on you. It's not just the OS but the apps too. Avoid any apps that are in the play store. The only reason every fast food place is trying to shove apps down our throat now is so they can spy on us. That kind of data is lucrative and companies sell it to each other all the time in real time. That's why if you talk about something you then start seeing ads about that very thing everywhere you go. I don't have that happen anymore since I switched to a custom rom.

In general I just don't always carry my phone with me so that's how I mostly get around the GPS based tracking. Especially during covid, I left it at home all the time as they were activly tracking us to make sure we're not visiting anyone. I keep location turned off all the time too, though I don't know what good that really does for that. I think that only affects apps.

Honestly if they made a dumb phone that has a full keyboard, and a good camera that's the phone I would get. Don't really care much for apps or any of that stuff. Although there is a GIS app I use on my off grid property but I could easily just get a dedicated phone or tablet for that which is not connected to any carrier.
 

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
8,146
3,584
136
I don’t mind ads ( I like a lot of smaller channels) what bothers me are ads that are longer than the video itself! I have been seeing a lot of ads that are 15 minutes or longer lately. I want to support content creators but hit the skip ads button when those come on.
Nothing like clicking on a "how to pronounce [word]" video that is 10 seconds long only to be required to watch 60 seconds of ads.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,579
13,805
126
www.anyf.ca
Did they totally give up with this or is it still giving anyone issues? Other than a few warnings originally, I have zero issues now. Wonder if ublock is just keeping up or if Youtube realized it's a losing battle. Or maybe I'm no longer in the "test group" for now...
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,789
18,982
136
But at least with a custom rom it blocks all the tracking done at a more granular level, like your actual conversations inside the room, or even what you're typing on the computer near the phone. (there are ways to do that via the different sound signatures keys make depending which ones you're typing on)
giphy.gif
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,867
33,934
136
All they know is the location of the phone and that's it. Not any different than debit/credit cards or even modern cars. Unfortunately not much you can do about that. But at least with a custom rom it blocks all the tracking done at a more granular level, like your actual conversations inside the room, or even what you're typing on the computer near the phone. (there are ways to do that via the different sound signatures keys make depending which ones you're typing on)

Custom roms are generally more secure too as they have privacy as a priorty while the stock roms are designed out of the box to spy on you. It's not just the OS but the apps too. Avoid any apps that are in the play store. The only reason every fast food place is trying to shove apps down our throat now is so they can spy on us. That kind of data is lucrative and companies sell it to each other all the time in real time. That's why if you talk about something you then start seeing ads about that very thing everywhere you go. I don't have that happen anymore since I switched to a custom rom.

In general I just don't always carry my phone with me so that's how I mostly get around the GPS based tracking. Especially during covid, I left it at home all the time as they were activly tracking us to make sure we're not visiting anyone. I keep location turned off all the time too, though I don't know what good that really does for that. I think that only affects apps.

Honestly if they made a dumb phone that has a full keyboard, and a good camera that's the phone I would get. Don't really care much for apps or any of that stuff. Although there is a GIS app I use on my off grid property but I could easily just get a dedicated phone or tablet for that which is not connected to any carrier.
How do you know that the custom rom isn’t listening to your conversations and watching you masturbate?
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,579
13,805
126
www.anyf.ca
I spoke too soon lol.


Screenshot from 2023-11-08 20-07-28.png


Screenshot from 2023-11-08 20-18-46.png

I should be installing drywall right now instead of watching youtube, so thanks for forcing me to get back to work. :p
 
Last edited:

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,579
13,805
126
www.anyf.ca
It looks like simply logging out of your account lets you watch videos again lol. I feel this is going to continue being a cat and mouse game.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,625
6,011
136
i gave in and subscribed, and found out that youtube music is worth the cost for me

so many more songs available than amazon music
 

Leeea

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2020
3,799
5,566
136
I subscribed a long time ago, family plan.

Mainly for the TV. I like the TV ui. I know. It was also nice for the youtube app on the phone.

Youtube music is amazing on long drives, hooks right into the UI on the car infotainment system.


I just accepted I used youtube more then any other streaming service and was willing to pay for it.
 

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
32,679
52,115
136
ublock is keeping up for now
Actually :) uhm i think i spoke too soon.....i was trying to watch it last night and was getting blocked, restarted browser, still blocked, cleared ublock cache and updated and it went away again.