Multiple Adblockers in a row - does it make sense or is it even harmful?

Zerush, 7 months ago

It don’t make sense, most adblocker use the same sources, if not enough, most of them perm`ts to ad own filters, even from other adblockers. Aditional extensions can be other privacy tols, like script nlocker or fingerprint spoofer, like Privacy Badger, Canvas Blocker, JShelter, etc., and others like Link Unshortener, URL Cleaner, things like this, complementary to the adblocker. Use several adblocker only slow down browsing or even can breaksome pages.

Saki, 7 months ago

Just fyi: recently EFF is creating Privacy Badger browser add-on and GNU also has LibreJS. They’re technically not ad-blockers, though; apparently a tracker-blocker and a non-free-script-blocker, respectively.

IphtashuFitz, 7 months ago

Different tools for different things…

Unlock etc are browser plugins and only block ads in browsers.

pi-hole blocks DNS requests to advertising domains. It blocks ads, tracking data, etc. not only on my browser-based systems, but on other connected devices like smart TVs, media players, etc.

digdilem, 7 months ago

One problem is… when you want to allow a blocked domain. It can be time consuming and confusing trying to track down which one of those things is actually stopping you.

ChaoticEntropy, 7 months ago

How to Geek basically wants to whitelist the internet in order to get to their bloody site. Which is a shame as I like their content.

Vexz, 7 months ago

True. I recommend a DNS based adblocker like Pi-hole and an extra adblocker like uBO in your browser. If you can't access a website you'll immediately know who is the culprit blocking the site you're trying to access.

SHITPOSTING_ACCOUNT, 7 months ago

uBlock Origin explicitly advises against this. If it’s the only content blocker it doesn’t currently have issues with YouTube, if you have multiple you’ll probably hit the “disable your adblocker” warning.

The first three are using identical techniques so combining them is of very limited benefit. They’re mostly there to cover software that doesn’t have an ad blocker.

I’d stick with just ublock origin.

pound_heap, 7 months ago

I’m using pi-hole + uBlock origin.

Adblock DNS, Pi-Hole, hBlock - these three do essentially same thing but at different layers - blocking DNS requests based on blacklists. I’m not familiar with hBlock, but I assume blacklists on each of these 3 are very similar. Using all three doesn’t slow down your internet connection much, unless your pihole server is underpowered. You can drop pi-hole from the mix if you are not using it’s other features (statistics, local DNS, etc). hBlock looks nice, and should add zero latency, but works only for local machine. So you still need network-wide blocker. Make sure you set your DNS on router, so all devices would get protection.

uBlock Origin is smarter than simple DNS blocking, but protects only your browser sessions.

MigratingtoLemmy, 7 months ago

I’d do DNS filter + uBlock

auf, 7 months ago

deleted_by_author

amio, 7 months ago

Not really. Depending on how it works, it can slow down the browser itself due to needing to inspect and change content. Simple URL filters will, if anything, speed it up by blocking you from even trying to download unnecessary or malicious stuff.

atomWood, 7 months ago

Your solution isn’t going to hurt anything. It might be overkill, but it will definitely work.

Ultimately, I think you only really need 2 of the solutions you mentioned.

1. A network wide DNS blocker, such as Pi-hole, to catch the majority of ads.
2. A browser ad blocker, such as uBlock Origin, for the rest.

shreddy_scientist, 7 months ago

I use a few of these and I have no issues with internet speed. I can stream HD video while uploading large files no problem. So I’d bet you’d be just fine, probably won’t even notice unless it’s faster. But I wasn’t aware of hBlock, I’ll have to look into it.

stifle867, 7 months ago

If anything it will make things load faster as you’re blocking a massive steaming pile of ads, trackers, etc

possiblylinux127, 7 months ago

Couldn’t you just use unlock origin? If it doesn’t work for you out of the box you can add blocklists

ShittyKopper, 7 months ago

the rule of thumb here is that you should really just use one browser ad blocker. having multiple will conflict especially regarding anti-adblocker prevention (as uBO will try to hide itself and redirect to a “defused” version of an ad script and whatever other ad blocker you have will think that’s an ad and block it)

not entirely sure how well DNS ad blockers fit into this. there is a chance they could make your ad blocking detectable by blocking a request uBO intentionally lets through (possibly in a modified state), but as far as i’m aware there haven’t been too many issues stemming from combining DNS blockers with uBO and the likes.

GrappleHat, 7 months ago

Multiple browser adblockers will also make your browser fingerprint more unique, which is undesirable for privacy reasons.

krigo666, 7 months ago

PiHole blocks DNS resolutions, the crap sites won’t even open in the browser, etc. AdNauseam and uBlock Origin use the same engine and lists, so they overlap.

BrikoX, 7 months ago

DNS blocking doesn’t affect speed, but anything that blocks elements inside a page or a script running in the background does. But it shouldn’t really be noticeable from the internet perspective.