Navigating AdBlockers: Pros and Cons

Posted on November 8, 2025 by ASD Author

Jump to:
• Why Block Ads
• Ad Block Options

Louis Rossmann does NOT authorize this page. It is my own page that I created to quickly link to him and the things he uses or suggests. It does not fully adhere to his suggestions or philosophy and incorporates some of my personal opinions and language, particularly in the sections below his links. This is not a recommendation from me, but rather a list allowing you to make your own decisions.

I am a fan of Louis Rossmann. He does well at staying apolitical, particularly when it comes to parties and traditional issues. He sticks to the right to repair, owning your own stuff, and right to privacy issues. These are issues that both sides hopefully can get behind.

He’s a self-hosting advocate of the anti-evil do the right thing policy scope of life. He’s pointed out that piracy is back because big corporations have not been doing the anti-evil do-the-right-thing thing.

i.e., you can do all these things with existing hardware and software; however, because these big brother companies want their hand permanently in your pocket and home, they have tried to limit both your rights and ability to use things you have purchased.

Things like 4k video. Serve me my media, don’t make me use a spyware-laden smart TV. I have to both pay more AND give up my rights?!

Part of what’s right is the right to cancel “Click-To-Cancel”, and the ability to opt out and have simple TOS agreements—especially regarding forced changes after you’ve made a purchase, whether it’s a service, software, or a physical/hardware product.

Basically, be clear and transparent; let us cancel; and let us own the things we’ve purchased. If we bought online, let us cancel online. If we signed up in your store, let us cancel in your store. None of this, mail a certified letter to X. A confirmation number/screen at the time of cancellation should be sufficient.

Significant issues include companies such as Adobe, Roku, Apple, Google, and John Deere, as well as products you own or use, including cameras, cars, home automation, memberships, media, etc. Additionally, there are traditional right-to-repair concerns, including gaming systems, printers, and your right to use any ink, among others.

Another significant issue is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act – Wikipedia, which essentially already covers most issues. However, as times have changed, it does not spell out some things clearly enough for today’s corporations and government officials. He has worked to propose this additional law for submission and inclusion in the state law books. 2025: 41 Bills in 20 states via PIRG (Not just 2025, recently, bills have been submitted to multiple states each year.)

A FOSS advocate (Free and Open Source Software) vs simply OSS, which is often better on its own vs strictly proprietary.

His sites:

Adblockers: Good, Bad, Ugly (My Words)

WARNING: Google has been slow loading for people it detects are using a YouTube AdBlocker.

  • Still trying to figure out what’s good vs not. Google has crippled ones that use Chromium. Good ones are generally not available on Chromium-based browsers. Otherwise, there are a lot of options. (NOTE: I can’t find Louis’s recommendations from 2 years ago.)
  • Google used to advocate for their use; now, they only partly do. They are now biased towards those they approve on their browser (s) (Plural, because it covers all Chromium-based browsers). These browsers include… Brave, DuckDuckGo, Samsung, MS Edge, Opera, and more (Over 20 in total)
  • The FBI advocates their use.
  • AdBlockers may be against a TOS, but they are NOT illegal.
  • Linus advocates their use, but also says they’re a form of piracy
  • Louis Rossmann advocates their use.
  • Web Browser Engines: Wikipedia list ; Geeks For Geeks 2025 discussion.
  • Ads [are]:
    • Annoying
    • Slow Browsers
    • Help sites make money (To the extreme?)
    • Spread Virus
    • Click-Bait Based
    • Leak Personal Information
    • Are irrelevant (Even when sharing Information/PI)
  • AdBlockers [are]:
    • Agents of Freedom
    • Speed Up Browsers
    • Allow users to see the actual information on a website
    • Protect Privacy
    • Prevent Viruses
    • Give Users their time back

Ad Block Options?

I have finally found the suggestion by Louis Rossmann and several other Privacy advocates.

They are suggesting uBlock Origin by Raymond Hill (oBO). As discussed, while Google has been pro-ad blocker, with it being both an ad company and a browser developer, it has recently been heavy-handed about how ad blockers are to behave. As such, to provide complete and essential benefits to users, uBlock Origin is no longer available in Chrome as of Chrome 139 (August 2025) and will most likely not work with other Chromium-based browsers at some point. As such, uBO is primarily available on the Firefox browser. {FYI: Browser Engines (Basic / Full List & Specifically Chromium Based Browsers}

That said, it does work with blocking lists compiled by the broader AdBlock community, i.e., those still on Chrome. It uses several of these lists by default, as well as its own lists.

Rossmann and other privacy professionals also recommend network & DNS-based services to better block ALL browsers, prevent data leaks, and run behind the scenes so the devices on the network need not be involved. This is especially important with IOT devices that like to “Call Home” and report data. Many of these devices are closed, and thus, you are unable to add blocking to the devices themselves.

IOT refers to Internet of Things Devices such as TVs, cameras, fridges, light switches & outlets, thermostats, etc.

My two main issues with DNS & Router-based solutions are:
A: That they are hard to override when you want/need to. i.e., when a site breaks due to blocking
B: They can slow rather than speed up browsing because when sites are requesting a connection, that gets blocked. This is because the connection needs to time out before the browser continues. Sure, some things happen simultaneously, but all too often, you sit there for over a minute while scripts wait before releasing the page, displaying content, or letting you click on things.

Below is from before I found Louis Rossman’s suggestions.

NOTE: I can’t find Louis’s recommendations. They are 2 years old by now anyway. Hence, I’m looking.

  • Privacy Badger (By EFF) Doesn’t specifically block ad’s, but if they track you, they’re probably blocked.
  • AdGuard (Independent from Chromium!) Offers other protection products too.
  • AdBlockLite (FireFox Centered/Anti-Chromium?)
    With several products targeted to protect against Google Products
  • Chromium/Android friendly: Potentially poor, but usable on Chromium-based browsers
    • AdBlocker Ultimate by Advoid: System app as well as browser app. Is available via the Android app store and Chromium-Based Apps, so ???
      4.8 stars (26,836 reviews) 1,343,478 Users (FireFox); 4.8 Stars 61.3K ratings / 2m users
    • AdBlock: The original, but it can not fully protect on any platform if they want Google’s permission to work with Chromium-based browsers. (FAST)
      4.2 3,501 reviews / 1,354,605 Users; 4.5 Stars 290.5K ratings / 62M users (Chrome)
    • AdAware (Plug-in and part of a suite; browser link scanning) Claims to block YouTube ads while whitelisting creators you want to support. The paid/pro version performs deep scans for identity breaches. Chromium Compatible (FAST)
      3.9 Stars 9,585 Users / 67 reviews (FireFox); 4.0 200,000 users / 403 ratings (Chrome)
    • AdBlock Plus (AdBlock Fork 2017): Claims to block YT Videos, but is available on Android and Chromium-based browsers. How True to ethics can they be given Alphabet’s new restrictions? (FAST)
      4.4 Stars 3,206,464 Users/11,333 reviews (FireFox) / 4.4 Stars 41M users / 187.5K ratings (Chrome)

Facebook Container : Not Ads, but removes and warns of Facebook trackers/Pixels on sites. Generally, they are relatively common and broadly present on sites across the internet (A Firefox plug-in

Other groups to watch (Not mentioned by Louis)

I’m not vetting. Some of these may be liberal, and others conservative, vs non-biased
In theory, both sides should be seeking freedom of speech, else they get the same restrictions in return when the tables are turned.

More things to consider

NetNeutrality

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