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Comment by kgwxd | Hacker News Reader

Don't want it. Tracker/Ad blocking should forever be an extension, maintained by someone with zero obligation to, or association with, the ad/tracking industry. A USER agent.

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One thing doesn't rule out the other. Just because a browser has a built-in adblocker doesn't mean you can't replace it with another one if it's not working well. Every browser should have at least a basic adblocker enabled by default. Anything else is a major security risk. In the context of web browsers ads are the main entry point for malware. Either through exploits delivered via ad banners or by tricking users into downloading something. Many search engines such as Google display fake search results that lead to infected versions of otherwise secure software. Additionally some sites offering downloads have ads disguised as download buttons that lead to something else. A browser manufacturer should try to protect its users from such things.

If browsers came with ad blocking that's enabled, it would just make those lists less effective since advertisers would have a serious incentive to work around them. I'd rather ad blocking only be used by people who care enough to install it.

I'll keep using uBlock Origin, but I don't see having a built-in content blocker as a bad thing, especially if the lists are the same (easylist, etc). It's no different from the (very old) option to block popups.

"https://easylist.to/easylist/easylist.txt",

"https://easylist.to/easylist/easyprivacy.txt",

"https://secure.fanboy.co.nz/fanboy-cookiemonster.txt",

"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/refs/..."

These are the lists you say you do not want being used.

Please explain how these lists and the people who maintain them are compromised by someone with an obligation or association with the ad/tracking industry. This would be revelatory.

The entirety of the web browser runs in userspace afaik. Whatever goes there and within is de facto a user agent.

The lists are maintained same as extensions.

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