youtube.com

[GRadziejewski]

This issue is intended to collect information about YouTube ads that Ghostery fails to block. Since it is often hard to reproduce, feel free to comment with any observation that you think might help us. Since YouTube is a moving target, this ticket is intended to stay open.

Since Ghostery uses community block lists, it is also worth checking the discussion ticket that uBlock Origin maintains. It is possible that you see the same problem discussed there, since Ghostery also the block lists from the uBlock Origin project. If so, please let us know. If the same problem can be reproduced on both extension, the solution may be to improve the shared rules in the community lists.

Thanks for your help!

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Description: Ads are visible.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Open https://www.youtube.com/

Expected Results:

Versions:

[philipp-classen]

Open Safari related issue: https://github.com/ghostery/broken-page-reports/issues/304

[philipp-classen]

In the last days, we had multiple issues with YouTube ad blocking. We released an update to the block lists now that should fix them.

[philipp-classen]

We identified another issue (not in the block lists as before, but we'll include the fix in the next extension release).

[chrmod]

This should be fixed by upcoming Ghostery 8.10.3

[philipp-classen]

Happens very rarely (I got it only twice over maybe two or three weeks), but I got ads on YouTube with Ghostery on Firefox on Android.

Both times, it happens on the first load (opening the browser and on the first visit to YouTube). After that, I did not see any ads.

I have no way to reproduce though.

[philipp-classen]

Update for YouTube ads on Android (Ghostery on Firefox): Recently, I got ads more often. Also, between videos, not only on the first visit.

[GRadziejewski]

I've just got an ad on the first video. After restart of the browser, I've open Ghostery Private Browser with Ghostery Browser Extension in version 8.11.1, open YouTube and select any video. Just like that there was an ad. After website reload I cannot see any other ads.

[GRadziejewski]

There are ads visible during opening or watching videos. I can reproduce the issue on Chrome and Edge, both on Windows 10.

For example Chrome:

[philipp-classen]

When testing with a Windows 10 VM, I could also reproduce on Edge and Chrome. But not on Firefox (on Windows).

Also, not on Linux (with either of these browsers). Update: Later, I also got it on Linux

[GRadziejewski]

The same problem occurs on Opera / Windows 10.

[philipp-classen]

An important update of the block lists has been released now. It should restore the ability to block ads (across various affected browsers).

[mdsandu]

user feedback via Zendesk - cannot reproduce though "receiving youtube adblock notification" Ghostery 8.11.1 Firefox browser 118.0.1 (64-bit)

[philipp-classen]

Looks like YouTube shows an anti-adblocker notice to some users now.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghostery/comments/1747ahh/ghostery_hit_with_ad_blockers_violate_youtubes/

[philipp-classen]

YouTube is a moving target, but to sum up the current state:

• You need to be signed in
• You need to have either an adblocker installed or use a browser with builtin content blocking
• After watching a few videos, you get the anti-adblocker notice

It has been reported to work if the video is opened in private mode instead (effectively, logging you out).

When disabling adblockers, note that Browser specific settings (e.g. "Enhanced Tracking Protection" on Firefox) must also be disabled. Opera, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi, and others are also known to cause breakage (depending on their settings). For more details, see https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/178yasm/youtube_antiadblock_and_ads_october_16_2023/

If you were not affected so far: In some countries, Google rolled the changes out earlier than others. It started in the US, while Germany was only rolled out recently

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Be aware that weakening builtin browser settings and disabling all content blocker extensions is a trade-off: it will likely fix the concrete problems on YouTube, but also removes privacy protections for all other sites that you visit. Depending on your individual use case, creating a separate browser profile could be an option for the moment.

[mB-PiBox]

Ghostery Continues to fail to block ads on Youtube.

I've never received the warning from Youtube to disable AdBlocker. Instead the ad just plays without any video, but audio can be heard.

[GRadziejewski]

The website stops working when Ghostery Browser Extension is running. All the page is blank, no videos are loaded, user cannot do anything.

Setting up website as a "Site Trusted" helps at the moment.

[philipp-classen]

With the latest update of the block lists, it should be working again. (It may take up to 24 hours until clients update)

We are still testing internally. But videos should at least play again. If we find any problems, we will also share them here.

[mB-PiBox]

The website stops working when Ghostery Browser Extension is running. All the page is blank, no videos are loaded, user cannot do anything.

Setting up website as a "Site Trusted" helps at the moment.

Adding a site as "Trusted" defeats the purpose of having this extension installed. Especially when the site in question (Youtube - Google in General) should never be trusted.

[KrzesloSzatan]

With ghostery turned on youtube stopped responding. With ghostery turned off youtube works fine.

[Sutorcen]

Same here. Started today.

[obazaei]

Same as above. Same screen. Ghostery not working over 24 hours after the last hotfix.

[Gizmoblue1981]

not ideal guys im having the same problem with ghostry browser; including edge and fire fox with the exstention. only way at the moment is to use brave and do not log in block all ads, not ideal but works atm. you could use a vpn and set country to Armenia they dont allow you tube ads in their country.

[mB-PiBox]

not ideal guys im having the same problem with ghostry browser; including edge and fire fox with the exstention. only way at the moment is to use brave and do not log in block all ads, not ideal but works atm. you could use a vpn and set country to Armenia they dont allow you tube ads in their country.

If you're using Edge or Firefox; can just use uBlock Origin to block YouTube ads (it's never failed for me.. just unfortunately not available for Safari)

[Gizmoblue1981]

@mB-PiBox Have tried that on brave and edge and i sadly get the ad block pop up message.

[mB-PiBox]

@mB-PiBox Have tried that on brave and edge and i sadly get the ad block pop up message.

Strange; as I use it on my Gaming PC in Edge - haven't seen an issue yet to date. (also for the time being I installed crappy Chrome on my MacBook; and only use it to watch YouTube w/ uBlock extension enabled - no ads there either or message to disable adblocker)

[Gizmoblue1981]

@mB-PiBox strange are you logged into youtube with ad block on, ill give it a try with chrome, dont like mult browsers as i like a lean clean pc.

[mB-PiBox]

@mB-PiBox strange are you logged into youtube with ad block on, ill give it a try with chrome, dont like mult browsers as i like a lean clean pc.

Yeah; I'm logged in to an account on YouTube - to ensure I get the content recommended to my preferred video content. Otherwise all the content it tries to recommend, when logged out, is terrible crap I would never watch..

Same here; which is why on PC I just have Edge installed, and on Mac/MacBook is strickly use Safari. Will use Chrome for the moment, just to watch YouTube Instructional/Tech videos w/o ads. Until I can find an Extension for Safari that actually works...

[mB-PiBox]

Should note that I'm in the US; so I'm not sure if that accounts for the lack of "Disable Adblock" pop up on YouTube..

And should be sure that you don't have any other AdBlockers installed/enabled at the same time as uBlock - as the other one might take priority and alert YouTube that ads are blocked before uBlock can do it's thing..

Also there are 2 uBlock extensions.. "uBlock" which is a clone containing spyware.. then "uBlock Origin" which is the good one.

[Gizmoblue1981]

@mB-PiBox im in uk ive disabled ghostry ext and installed u block origin. logged in atm and all seems ok, will give it a go. ta in adv.

[Gizmoblue1981]

appears Ghostry browser is working again atm uk time 14:42

[mB-PiBox]

Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case for Ghostry in Safari - Still plays the Ads; just hides the video while audio is heard.

Never had the "disable ad blocker" issue on Youtube.. just not actually blocking the ad.

[philipp-classen]

Thanks for the feedback. We found some problems, which we will hope to solve in the next update. Some can be fixed by changes in the filter list (most likely tomorrow, but other parts may require extension releases. I'll leave a comment here when I have more information.

Regarding Safari: it always requires an extension release to update the block lists. That is why it takes a bit longer to react. From the reports, it still looks like the breakage from Friday. If the changes that we are currently working on go well, we can push a new version with updated lists and include the fixes to the adblocker engine. Again, once I know more, I'll share here.

[philipp-classen]

We released an update of the filter lists today. It fixes multiple issues around scriptlet injections, also on YouTube. Clients will automatically update (no releases are required).

For Safari: we can reproduce the problem, but are still working on a fix.

[KrzesloSzatan]

We released an update of the filter lists today. It fixes multiple issues around scriptlet injections, also on YouTube. Clients will automatically update (no releases are required).

For Safari: we can reproduce the problem, but are still working on a fix.

Seems to work on my side now. Thank you :)

[philipp-classen]

Today Safari release (10.2.3) shipped a fix of the adblocker and an update to the block lists.

[mB-PiBox]

Today Safari release (10.2.3) shipped a fix of the adblocker and an update to the block lists.

Is there something special that needs to be done to update the "block list?"

I reinstalled the extension; but's not blocking ads fully still. In fact it stopped working on Rumble.com ..

[GRadziejewski]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased

User noticed when he/she has Ghostery installed, on normal account there is the YouTube block on videos, however when switching to another account, the ad blocker works.

Ghostery 8.12.4 Chrome 119

[GRadziejewski]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased

To get without opening YT video in incognito, and to keep in mind that YT doesn't show blocked player on embedded videos, we can add an option to modify the video urls. With that we could open a new tab with the embedded video. Example: Before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfKfPfyJRdk After: https://www.youtube.com/embed/jfKfPfyJRdk

[yokoffing]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased:

I've seen the YouTube anti-adblock notice before. However, since yesterday, the anti-adblock notice persists when using Ghostery, preventing me from watching videos. Previously, refreshing the page allowed me to access videos despite the notice.

[yokoffing]

Update: User stated they had to re-sign to YT. No issues afterwards.

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased: YouTube is stopping me from watching videos completely because of Ghostery. Using Ghostery in Private Windows doesn't help. Firefox doesn't remember my history and I still see sponsored ads.

Firefox 120.0.1 macOS 11.6.4

[mdsandu]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased:

User reports on 22.12.23 that ad blockers are only disabled when signed in to Google Chrome. To get around the user simply copies the URL, signs out of Google and then pastes the URL and all works This means that there is no access to own history, but YouTube's algorithm still works, so one soon starts to see pretty much the same sort of stuff pop up as before.

Chrome Windows 11

[GRadziejewski]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased:

A temporary solution for the YouTube video pop-up interference involves accessing the Inspector and deleting the "tp-yt-paper-dialog" node when it appears. This action allows normal video playback.

Update: to automate the above in user's custom extension for Mozilla, he moves mouse to remove the element when YT loads a video. User tried tried to wait for the page to load, and load this particular element, but with no luck in deleting it.

[GRadziejewski]

Reproducible on Chrome.

When you open YT, the message "Your YouTube history is off" appears.

After clicking "Update setting", another website opens up [link].

If I turn off the history and then click "Reject All" it takes me to the main YT website with the same information. Never-Consent works well here and this consent is closed automatically.

In both cases, when Never-Consent is turned off and turned on, I see ads before the video.

Never-Consent turned off:

Never-Consent turned on:

[GRadziejewski]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased

It was functional in private windows initially, but over time, Google restricted user from blocking ads through this method.

MacOS 14.1.2 Ghostery 8.12.5 Firefox 121.0.1

[GRadziejewski]

Feedback from a user via Zendesk, rephrased

The user saw a pop-up window stating that there was a limit of 3 films.

Location: Colorado, USA Windows 10 Home 22H2 Firefox 121.0

[GRadziejewski]

We have had several reports of ads before the film in both normal and private mode. Reports are from Safari, Firefox and Chrome.

I could reproduce it on Safari and Opera.

[StevenTory]

In the last 24 hours, EVERY video I watch on YouTube, with Ghostery enabled as always, has been preceded by 1 or 2 short (5-10 secs) ads. Some can be bypassed, some not. They seem unrelated to the subject of the video or anything I have been doing on this computer. (Win10, Chrome) At this time, I am NOT getting any "Ad blockers not allowed..." messages.

[chrmod]

We can confirm the breakage. Working on a fix.

[RayOei]

Since the last two days ads are no longer blocked. I had a lot of YT's "You are not connected to the internet" errors the last week but now they do not appear anymore but ads do. I suspect YT found another way to bypass Ghostery... :-( Refreshing the page sometimes helps.

[chrmod]

Hi @RayOei. Thank you for reporting.

Can you please share affected browser, browser version and extension version?