Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin • Hacker News Board

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#171

Post by seabrookmx » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:36 AM UTC

windowliker wrote: post #154

I often forget how browsing the web looks for most people. Can't understand why they put up with it, or do they just think that it's part and parcel of the internet to have every page look like a slot machine from hell?

> every page

That's a bit hyperbolic. The areas of the internet I frequent do not have egregious ads (for example, this page). Areas where I really would like good ad-blocking (youtube) are often not covered by these ad blockers. Thankfully Youtube Premium isn't too expensive and solves that issue.

Maybe it's better these days but I always found browser extensions (including uBlock) had a pretty big performance hit, so I've always shied away from them (with the exception of a password manager).

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#172

Post by WorldMaker » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:40 AM UTC

swed420 wrote: post #58

GeekyBear wrote: post #21

Firefox is also the only browser that vets uBlock's code on every update to make sure the developer hasn't inserted spyware or malware into the extension. They don't do it for every extension, but they do so for a wide selection of popular options. > Recommended extensions differ from other extensions that are regularly reviewed by Firefox staff in that they are curated extensions that meet the highest standards of s…

> Firefox is also the only browser that vets uBlock's code on every update to make sure the developer hasn't inserted spyware or malware into the extension. They could save themselves the trouble if Firefox simply baked in its own ad-blocking, but since Google basically owns them, we all know that will never happen. Ladybird browser is going to be awesome.

Admiral and several other of the more obnoxious ad networks already claim that Firefox is an ad blocker simply because of its out-of-the-box blocking support for third-party cookies and those ad networks nag you to use another browser. If Firefox added actual ad blocking out of the box I can't imagine the havoc that would cause and how many more websites would claim that they don't work at all in Firefox.

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#173

Post by Madmallard » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:40 AM UTC

downrightmike wrote: post #89

Madmallard wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't they just modify the browser itself with an injection into the executable surely there is a way around that

Operative work there is 'just'

okay and AI makes that easier than ever?

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#174

Post by 0dayz » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:52 AM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #130

Too bad Firefox isn't a major browser. And it shouldn't be. It's now full of ads for Mozilla VPN and stuff. We need the engine, but not the browser.

And who is going to finance that?

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#175

Post by firefax » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:56 AM UTC

You can have my ad blocker when you take it from my cold dead fingers. I will literally move to a shack in the woods rather than go back to late 90s level of bullshit advertising.

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#176

Post by firefax » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:58 AM UTC

swed420 wrote: post #58

GeekyBear wrote: post #21

Firefox is also the only browser that vets uBlock's code on every update to make sure the developer hasn't inserted spyware or malware into the extension. They don't do it for every extension, but they do so for a wide selection of popular options. > Recommended extensions differ from other extensions that are regularly reviewed by Firefox staff in that they are curated extensions that meet the highest standards of s…

> Firefox is also the only browser that vets uBlock's code on every update to make sure the developer hasn't inserted spyware or malware into the extension. They could save themselves the trouble if Firefox simply baked in its own ad-blocking, but since Google basically owns them, we all know that will never happen. Ladybird browser is going to be awesome.

>since Google basically owns them

Google has been trying to kill them since they moved the Chrome team into the same building as the now defunct SF office.

(Apparently they offered people a lot of money? There are some words I could use to describe people who do things they think are unethical for cash I'll leave unsaid.)

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#177

Post by superkuh » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 2:02 AM UTC

phyzome wrote: post #121

DavidPiper wrote: post #108

Remember when Firefox was the first browser to have "tabbed browsing"? Obviously UBO isn't a first party feature - but if only Firefox could generate as much traction about ad blocking as they did with tabs.

I'm fairly sure Opera introduced it first.

Yes. Opera (original, not what is called Opera now) introduced tabs first. I believe in the 5.0 version with presto engine.

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#178

Post by Izkata » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 2:03 AM UTC

BeetleB wrote: post #31

timetraveller26 wrote: post #11

Firefox, after 20 years, once again has an advantage over the other browsers. Let's hope for new generations to get tired of so many ads to finally ditch chrome.

It's funny. Over 20 years ago, I got people to switch to Firefox because of the AdBlock extension. In case people don't know, Firefox was the first major browser to even have extensions.

Also, Firebug showed what was possible with developer tools. Inspecting elements or network requests or whatever else wasn't really a thing before that extension.

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#179

Post by Izkata » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 2:05 AM UTC

BeetleB wrote: post #35

kulahan wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you think doesn’t work on Firefox? Aside from Google products purposely crippled, everything works just fine in my experience. It’s fast and stable. If there’s a bunch of AI stuff in it, I’ve not seen it. Of course I believe it exists, I just don’t ever read popups anyways. To be fair, I probably use 5% of the browser’s capability (I imagine many are like me). I browse websites and I have UBO installed.

In the last few months, I've seen a huge upsurge of sites that simply won't work for me in Firefox. Not sure if it's the FF + Linux combination. Should probably try with a fresh profile to confirm. It sucks, but I'm in on FF all the way. If much of the web stops working for me, it just means I have more time on my hands!

Slack "huddles" (video chat) work on everything except Firefox+Linux. Haven't tried changing my user agent yet, only just got onto Slack for work.

Re: Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin

#180

Post by Marsymars » Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 2:12 AM UTC

ivraatiems wrote: post #69

For those who use uBlock Origin Lite, have you noticed any issues/deficiencies in what ads are blocked? I haven't.

I’ve found uBlock Origin Lite (and every other non-uBlock Origin blocker) to struggle with websites using Ad-Shield. (i.e. the entire website breaks.)