uBlock/README.md

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Important note: This is a fork of the new official repo. Although both projects are essentially the same as of 0.9.3.0, they will probably start to diverge as time goes (update: they already started to diverge feature-wise).

I consider uBlock₀ here to be mature feature-wise.

To stop adding features at a fast pace does not make a software automatically obsolete. If you believe so, find out how many features were added to Adblock Plus in the last months. New features were added almost every week for months to uBlock.

I will keep maintaining the project here though so as to ensure it works just fine, i.e. bug fixing for the most part. Stability and reliability has priority at this point.

I may add features whenever I feel the need to do so -- I use the extension myself, so if I feel it definitely needs something more, I will just go ahead and add it.

The filter lists will continue to update themselves at regular interval, as usual.

To the recurring question: "Why did you handover the original project?", answer is here.


uBlock Origin

pronounced you-block origin (/ˈjuːˌblɒk/) — you decide what enters your browser.
English, Chinese (中文), Korean (한국어)

An efficient blocker add-on for various browsers. Fast, potent, and lean.  

Philosophy

uBlock Origin (or uBlock₀) is not an ad blocker; it's a general-purpose blocker. uBlock₀ blocks ads through its support of the Adblock Plus filter syntax. uBlock₀ extends the syntax and is designed to work with custom rules and filters.

That said, it's important to note that using a blocker is NOT theft. Don't fall for this creepy idea. The ultimate logical consequence of blocking = theft is the criminalisation of the inalienable right to privacy.

Ads, "unintrusive" or not, are just the visible portions of privacy-invading apparatus entering your browser when you visit most sites nowadays. uBlock₀'s main goal is to help users neutralize such privacy-invading apparatus — in a way that welcomes those users who don't wish to use more technical, involved means (such as µMatrix).

EasyList, Peter Lowe's Adservers, EasyPrivacy and Malware domains are enabled by default when you install uBlock₀. Many more lists are readily available to block trackers, analytics, and more. Hosts files are also supported.

Once you install uBlock₀, you may easily un-select any of the pre-selected filter lists if you think uBlock₀ blocks too much. For reference, Adblock Plus installs with only EasyList enabled by default.

Documentation

Quick guide: popup user interface

For advanced usage, read about dynamic filtering and more on uBlock₀'s wiki.

Performance

Memory

On average, uBlock₀ really does make your browser run leaner. [1]

Chromium [2]


Firefox


Safari


[1] Details of the benchmark available at Firefox version: benchmarking memory footprint.

[2] Important note: There is currently a bug in Chromium 39+ which causes a new memory leak each time the popup UI of an extension is opened. This affects all extensions. Keep this in mind when measuring Chromium's memory usage. In the benchmarks, I avoided opening the popups completely.

CPU

uBlock₀ is also easy on the CPU

Details of the benchmark available in this LibreOffice spreadsheet.

Blocking

Being lean and efficient doesn't mean blocking less

For details of benchmark, see uBlock₀ and others: Blocking ads, trackers, malwares.

Quick tests

Installation

Feel free to read about the extension's required permissions.

Chromium

You can install the latest version manually, from the Chrome Web Store, or from the Opera store.

Firefox

Firefox Add-ons web site, or install manually by downloading the latest uBlock0.firefox.xpi file, and by dragging the downloaded xpi file to your add-on page.

Alternatively, you can install chrisaljoudi/uBlock (different feature set) from Firefox Add-ons homepage.

Safari

There is no support for Safari for uBlock Origin.

Best is that you install chrisaljoudi/uBlock, which has official support for Safari.

Note for all browsers

To benefit from uBlock Origin's higher efficiency, it's advised that you don't use other inefficient blockers at the same time (such as AdBlock or Adblock Plus). uBlock₀ will do as well or better than most popular ad blockers.

Release History

See the releases pages for a history of releases and highlights for each release.

About

uBlock Origin's manifesto.

Free. Open source. For users by users. No donations sought.

Without the preset lists of filters, this extension is nothing. So if ever you really do want to contribute something, think about the people working hard to maintain the filter lists you are using, which were made available to use by all for free.

You can contribute by helping translate uBlock₀ on Crowdin.

License

GPLv3.