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: #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.

[mcbaer]

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.

[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?

[RayOei]

@chrmod Oops.. sorry forgot to add it.
It is on FF 124.0 MacOS Sonoma 14.3.1 M2
Ghostery 8.12.7
What I noticed as well: video starts with an ad. When I refresh immediately the original video (re)starts without an ad. Although somewhere during it I may get an ad. But not consistently. Some videos don't serve ads (but I am not sure if that maybe controlled by the channel itself).

[GRadziejewski]

Report from our User:

Ads are visible when the video is playing.
Films are played at 2x speed.

Geoip: Texas, US.
MacOS 14.4
Firefox 124.0

[chrmod]

With the latest adblocker list update all youtube ads should be blocked again.

[philipp-classen]

Ads can be reproduced with the following steps:

1. Clear cookies
2. Go to a YouTube channel with a featured video. For example: https://www.youtube.com/@AnahataOfficial/featured

Affects all platforms that I tested (both Ghostery 8 and 10).

[Dimi-GE]

4 more reports from people across the world who see advertisements:

[Dimi-GE]

Another report with the following specifications:
macOS 12.7.6;
Safari 17.6;

Description from a user:
_"I just installed your Safari extension via the macOS App Store, and unfortunately it looks like there's an issue playing youtube videos with the extension enabled.

After opening a youtube video that starts with an ad, the add thumbnail will be displayed with a stuck loading animation. The video never starts playing unless the extension is paused.

I've tested it today, Monday October 28th. The Safari and macOS versions are included below. I've also attached a screenshot showing the stuck loading animation."_

Screenshot is attached:

[Dimi-GE]

There are few more reports on the issue from the Australian region.

OS: Windows 10 | Windows 11;
Browsers: Chrome | Edge;

Screenshots from the Edge browser:

[Dimi-GE]

OS: Windows 11 (26100.2161);
Browsers: Chrome (130.0.6723.117);

Screenshots from the browser:

[Dimi-GE]

The ads leftovers are visible.

Region: Portugal;
OS: Windows 10;
Browser: Chrome (130.0.6723.117);

Screenshot:

[Dimi-GE]

There is a potential workaround, that was provided by a user. But was not tested on our end yet — be carefully with the suggestion.

To achieve uninterrupted functionality while using YouTube, clear the browser cache and perform a disk clean-up before each session. This process can temporarily resolve issues with Ghostery's performance on the site, pending a more permanent solution.

[Dimi-GE]

OS: Windows 11 (23H2);
Browser: Chrome (130.0.6723.92 (Official Build) (64-bit));
Region: Australia;

Screenshot:

[chrmod]

Consent form is broken https://consent.youtube.com/m?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPL1MnbbnVn59HWiXyujx0qrgYqhCOUs7bB%26cbrd%3D1&gl=SE&m=0&pc=yt&cm=2&hl=en&src=1

[chrmod]

There are no known issues at the comment. Closing for now.

[philipp-classen]

Well, I idea of the ticket is to keep it open (see original description). So, people can comment if they run into new problems. If it is closed, it introduces a barrier.

[mdsandu]

reopening for the intended purpose @philipp-classen

[Dimi-GE]

Another report from a user on getting ads, — Incognito mode does not help.
OS: Windows 10;
Browser: Chrome 131.0.6778.140;
Extension version: 10.4.17;
Country: US;

Screenshot: