ublockorigin.com/
Nobody likes ads. They are annoying and disruptive, and they're becoming more invasive every day. It's no secret that many of the ads we see online are the result of another entity selling our personal data. Ads and commercials have always been one of the things we can (and often do) grouse about when it comes to media, but that doesn't mean we like them any less.
There has been a recent pushback to ads and commercials. This is partly because of the increased use of technology, but also because companies have become too aggressive in their advertising tactics. advertising has become an extremely profitable business model on its own, rather than being used as a way for media companies to make extra money.
Ads are now the primary way companies make money. This is how media content and many online services have become "free." In other words, users get to watch videos on YouTube, for instance, without having to pay a monthly fee. Anyone who is willing to put up with the aggressive advertising tactics of YouTube does not have to pay with their dollar; they just have to pay with their time in viewing ads.
Many social media sites sell our personal data to advertisers. This is where the real money lies, in the big data business. Sites like Facebook and Instagram shamelessly sell our personal interests and browsing history to a number of companies that, then, use this information to sell us products that, statistically speaking, we are likely to want.
Sometimes this can be perceived as convenient - I see quite a few Instagram ads for products that I would, in fact, enjoy. However, as a matter of principle, it is, in my opinion, a gross invasion of privacy and unethical.
There are a few answers to avoiding advertising online, such as not using social media. However, for many of us, that is not a realistic alternative - so much depends on having a social media profile these days. So when we zoom out and see the full scope of how ad-ridden the internet is as a whole, this solution would quickly turn into saying, "well, I guess you just have to quit the internet altogether if you don't want to see ads." Luckily, though, there is another way of evading the ever-expanding role of ads on the internet that doesn't necessitate going off the grid and abandoning your favorite streaming services - and that is to find yourself a high-quality, powerful ad blocker.
Maybe you have an ad blocker of some sort. For a long time, I used the standard extensions that are offered by most major web browsers. These, however, proved not to be strong enough - especially when put up against the extremely ad-heavy free streaming sites that I like to use. Eventually, I figured out that if I wanted to continue using these free streaming sites (and enjoy them), I was going to have to find something better.
Which is how I eventually came across the ad blocking software known as uBlock Origin. Unlike most other ad blocking plugins and apps, uBlock Origin's claim to fame is that it does not allow "acceptable ads," which are nothing more than ads for which an advertiser pays extra money in order to bypass ad blockers. The other standout quality of uBlock Origin is the fact that it is 100% free and open sourced - profit has never been and will never be the goal for uBlock Origin - an ad blocker that can be trusted.
History
This was not always the case for uBlock, which originally used a for-profit model. The whole reason that uBlock Origin came to be (as an evolution of the original software, uBlock) was as a way to return to form, a way to recapture the origins of what uBlock was originally meant to be: a fully free and open source ad-block software.
The original developer of uBlock, Raymond Hill, transferred the official repository for uBlock project to Chris Aijoudi in April of 2015. Hill made this transfer because of frustration that came from dealing with requests. Immediately, however, upon this transfer, Hill forked uBlock himself, continuing his anti-advertising efforts under his newly forked software. This software would later become known as uBlock Origin. It is now 100% separate from the uBlock of Aijoudi.
Although uBlock has ceased development since 2015, it still occasionally updates. In July of 2018, uBlock was acquired by AdBlock. As of February of 2019, uBlock began allowing "acceptable ads," which, as I mentioned before, are ads that the software allows through based on payments received.
Although uBlock Origin does not charge for its services, it is one of the last ad blockers that still maintains its independence. It allows ads without compromising its integrity.
Design
There isn't a whole lot to say about the design of uBlock Origin, seeing as it's a browser extension. Nonetheless, the extension is user-friendly, lightweight, and quick to install. Upon adding the extension to Google Chrome, I was immediately able to make use of it - like many VPNs, the add-on appears with a large power button at the top of its dropdown interface - quickly turn uBlock Origin on or off according to your needs.
Below the power button is additional features, as well as some data about what uBlock Origin has accomplished- such as how many ads have been blocked on a given page, number of domains connected, and number of ads blocked since installation. The design is sparse, making it as clear as possible how to use uBlock Origin, as well as how effective the extension has been.
Content and Features
uBlock Origin allows users to be in control over the types of ads they see, as well as how they are being seen. It is easily the most features-rich ad blocker that I have used.
You can choose to block all popups on a specific page, or you can make these preferences permanent. The same is true of blocking Large Media Elements, cosmetic filtering, and Javascript. uBlock Origin does more than just block ads- it puts you in full control of your online experience.
Do you like to eliminate pesky content from web pages? Element Zapper Mode is perfect for you! Just click on anything on a page and watch it disappear. This feature is incredibly powerful, so use it often!
Mobile and Desktop Experience
It doesn't seem as if there is a mobile version of uBlock Origin. This is a bummer, because there aren't many solid ad blockers for mobile devices. That means mobile web browsing usually has the most ads - it's a wild jungle of commercialism. Sure, if you're a tech wiz, you can figure out a workaround for Android? But if you use iOS, you're kind of SOL.
Pricings and Plans
As I mentioned earlier, uBlock Origin is a free and open-source software with code available on Git Hub. That being said, uBlock Origin does survive on donations. So, if you have the means and you find yourself enjoying uBlock Origin, I highly recommend considering a donation - whatever you can afford to give to show your appreciation and help ensure that Hill and uBlock Origin continue to be able to stay afloat and provide everyone with the best ad blocking service on the web today.
Suggestions that I have for uBlock Origin
Honestly, I don't have many complaints. The one thing I would love is if it were easier to undo individual actions committed with the extension. For instance, if I am using Element Zapper and I accidentally zap the wrong element, I should be able to undo that action without too much trouble. However, I struggled to figure out how to un-zap (if it is possible at all).
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