uBlock Origin is a content blocker. Content to be blocked can include advertising and malware. Content blockers are generally known as ad-blockers. Compared to other security software, content blockers are the best overall in optimizing 3 axes: security, annoyance, and system speed.

uBlock Origin is the best security software, ad blocker, and coin mining blocker for your web browser. Other features can be added as needed. It's installed as a web browser extension and improves the performance of your web browser (click here for android options). uBlock Origin was the first to greatly improve performance and system resource usage, after the original mainstay, Adblock Plus.

In my opinion, it's the only daily-driver security software anyone would need. With the exception of certain persons, that would press a button when a flashing light would tell them: “you are infected, and need to press this button to disinfect”. Even then, I still think it's good enough. Adding more security software will just drive anyone mad.

Can you trust uBlock Origin? From the Developer Wiki: “ First, uBlock Origin is completely developed in full public view. All the sources and all the changes to the sources are fully accessible on GitHub. Second, uBlock Origin does not have a dedicated server, it can't “phone home” with your browsing data, there is only GitHub, and GitHub is completely unrelated to uBlock Origin. Third, I have no intent to ever monetize uBlock Origin, it's started as a personal project, and it still is a personal project. So uBlock Origin has absolutely no interest in data mining you. ” Quote from this page of Developer Wiki

uBlock Origin is a web Browser extension compatible with Firefox, Pale Moon, Chrome, and Opera. It is also compatible with many Chromium and Firefox based browsers.

Click for details regarding uBlock on different browsers

Upon installing the Ublock Origin extension, you're done. You are using it on easy mode. Easy mode uses some filter lists that you're automatically subscribed to. They are updated regularly. If you look in Ublock Origin settings, the lists are in plain text. There's nothing secretive about them. While there are other lists to which you can subscribe, the default lists are the most user-friendly.

Basically, the lists are made of domains that provide advertising content. The list will also have domains with malicious content. Like all things monopoly, they centralize these things. Oops, did I just say that? Anyway, because they centralize, it makes it easier to block them. So, while you are visiting example.com, no data from ads-distribution.com or malwares-r-us.com will end up in your face.

That's it for easy mode. If you choose to use it on medium mode, your browser will be even more snappier and use even less system resources, but it will also take a lot more fiddling.

While running in easy mode or medium mode, you have the option to add filters from http://filterlists.com, but adding too many may keep web sites from working properly. The basic set of filters are chosen for their ease-of-use, and is a good starting point for everyone.

For the most part, most extra filters are not needed. Yuki2718, a maintainer of a list, describes how his list is 99% covered by EasyList (included in uBlock default lists).

The filterlists.com website does not have a search feature. You can sort by columns, but this is still a bit clumsy. One of the columns has icons showing all the different adblock software that a particular list is compatible with. The list is alphabetical, so if you are looking for Facebook filters, that would be around page 40. Here you can click on an individual filter on the left, and then click “subscribe”.

An example of a subscription that isn't covered by uBlock defaults, is one made to get around paywalls. There is a filter list titled “browse websites without logging in”. ← Right click and copy this URL.

Another way to add a custom filter list, aside from the “subscribe” button on filterlists.com, is to copy the URL and paste it into uBlock. Paste the URL as a new line in the bottom field of the “filter lists” tab of the “dashboard”. Click the “apply” button. You will notice that the new list now shows in the “custom” heading. You can select or deselect (enable or disable) the filter using its checkbox.

Medium mode is definitely not for everyone, but it makes pages more bearable for me. In essence, you are trying to load even less junk than with easy mode. The goal is to load only the content you are interested in reading/viewing. You'd be surprised how many scripts are loading even on easy mode. The scripts are programs, that, for example, watch every single thing you do on the site, and on other sites as well. I don't know what they're doing, but they certainly don't have to do with my reading the website. All I know, is that they are too much for my old laptop to handle. I'm trying to be practical.

To simplify web browsing in medium mode, I have added, over time, the following ruleset to bypass medium mode, and route any website's requests to the default “easy mode” filtering. This by trial and error upon visiting sites that don't work, because they need access to another domain. One line per rule, each allows the named 3rd party site to bypass medium mode. The list reads as “any-site-you're-at(*) asking-for-domain.com bypasses-to-easy-mode(* noop). The first two lines are different: they are, in essence, what it means to be on medium mode.

I actually don't have to be writing these rules as I go along. The Ublock-origin user interface allows me to set a rule by clicking a button. I do go back and manually clean up my rulesets every few months, using an ancient word-count program. Using the word count program, I may notice that 7 websites need the jquery.com domain to operate. I therefore assume this will be needed in future sites I visit, and set the line that reads:

* jquery.com * noop

I think jquery.com is a site that supplies javascript code, used in many websites, perhaps for things like website animation or menu operation. Well, I hope you get the idea. You can learn more detail on how to use medium mode in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIYcI2tEqo8. If you prefer written instructions: https://www.maketecheasier.com/ultimate-ublock-origin-superusers-guide

* * 3p-frame block
* * 3p-script block
* amazonaws.com * noop
* ampproject.org * noop
* aspnetcdn.com * noop
* azureedge.net * noop
* bazaarvoice.com * noop
* bigcommerce.com * noop
* bootstrapcdn.com * noop
* brightcove.com * noop
* cloudflare.com * noop
* cloudfront.net * noop
* discourse-cdn-sjc1.com * noop
* discourse-cdn-sjc2.com * noop
* discourse-cdn.com * noop
* disqus.com * noop
* disquscdn.com * noop
* dwcdn.net * noop
* evbstatic.com * noop
* eventbrite.com * noop
* fastly.net * noop
* futurecdn.net * noop
* google.com * noop
* googleapis.com * noop
* gstatic.com * noop
* hearstapps.com * noop
* highcharts.com * noop
* intercom.io * noop
* intercomcdn.com * noop
* jquery.com * noop
* jsdelivr.net * noop
* jwpcdn.com * noop
* jwplatform.com * noop
* jwplayer.com * noop
* jwpltx.com * noop
* jwpsrv.com * noop
* kinja-img.com * noop
* kinja-static.com * noop
* kinstacdn.com * noop
* livehelpnow.net * noop
* liveperson.net * noop
* lpsnmedia.net * noop
* medium.com * noop
* netdna-ssl.com * noop
* openstreetmap.org * noop
* parastorage.com * noop
* paypalobjects.com * noop
* pcdn.co * noop
* polyfill.io * noop
* recaptcha.net * noop
* salesforceliveagent.com * noop
* shopify.com * noop
* squarespace.com * noop
* ssl-images-amazon.com * noop
* stripe.com * noop
* stripe.network * noop
* tableau.com * noop
* translate.google.com * noop
* unpkg.com * noop
* ustclug.org * noop
* vimeo.com * noop
* vimeocdn.com * noop
* wix.com * noop
* wixstatic.com * noop
* wp.com * noop
* wsimg.com * noop
* youtube-nocookie.com * noop
* youtube.com * noop
* ytimg.com * noop
* zdassets.com * noop
* zendesk.com * noop

You can also add any from the following site specific ruleset, assuming you use any of the included sites:

10point.cmail20.com createsend1.com * noop
91-divoc.com d3js.org * noop
9gag.com 9cache.com * noop
abcnews.go.com abcnews.com * noop
academia.edu academia-assets.com * noop
acestream.org acestream.net * noop
acestream.org torrentstream.org * noop
admin.google.com google-analytics.com * noop
afterdawn.com afterdawn.fi * noop
airbnb.com muscache.com * noop
alibaba.com alicdn.com * noop
alibaba.com aliunicorn.com * noop
alibaba.com cnzz.com * noop
alibaba.com taobao.com * noop
aliexpress.com alibaba.com * noop
aliexpress.com alicdn.com * noop
aliexpress.com alipay.com * noop
aliexpress.com alipayobjects.com * noop
aliexpress.com aliyun.com * noop
aliexpress.com taobao.com * noop
alternativeto.net auth0.com * noop
amazon.co.uk media-amazon.com * noop
amazon.com akamaihd.net * noop
amazon.com media-amazon.com * noop
amazon.de amazon.com * noop
amazon.de media-amazon.com * noop
androidauthority.com androidauthority.net * noop
androidpolice.com gfycat.com * noop
animalhumanesociety.org digitaloceanspaces.com * noop
animals.howstuffworks.com hswstatic.com * noop
apple.com cdn-apple.com * noop
aspca.org wufoo.com * noop
aws.amazon.com awsstatic.com * noop
awscloud.com awsstatic.com * noop
babygearlab.com stackpathdns.com * noop
babylon-software.com babsft.com * noop
bbc.co.uk bbci.co.uk * noop
bbc.com bbc.co.uk * noop
bbc.com bbci.co.uk * noop
bbc.com bbcverticals.com * noop
bbc.com imrworldwide.com * noop
bestbuy.com bbystatic.com * noop
bigbytes.net cdnassets.com * noop
bikebling.com paypal.com * noop
bikeinn.com tradeinn.com * noop
biminicats.com tilda.ws * noop
biminicats.com tildacdn.com * noop
biotechwithoutborders.org squarespace.com * noop
biotechwithoutborders.org typekit.net * noop
bklynr.com mapbox.com * noop
bleepingcomputer.com bleepstatic.com * noop
bloomberg.com bwbx.io * noop
box.com boxcdn.net * noop
box.com boxcloud.com * noop
brit.co britcdn.com * noop
brooklynanimalaction.org adoptapet.com * noop
brooklyncatcafe.square.site editmysite.com * noop
brooklyncatcafe.square.site squareup.com * noop
cainiao.com alicdn.com * noop
cash.app cash-f.squarecdn.com * noop
catcafebk.com rescuegroups.org * noop
catcafebk.com sheltermanager.com * noop
cbssports.com cbsimg.net * noop
cbssports.com cbsinteractive.com * noop
cbssports.com cbsistatic.com * noop
cell.com crossref.org * noop
centerforhealthsecurity.org ctctcdn.com * noop
chase.com chasecdn.com * noop
cheezburger.com chzbgr.com * noop
chewy.com wistia.net * noop
chowhound.com cbsistatic.com * noop
citi.com eccmp.com * noop
citi.com liveperson.com * noop
clarin.com vodgc.net * noop
classicfm.com brightcove.net * noop
clickorlando.com arcpublishing.com * noop
cloudflare.com discourse-cdn-aws1.com * noop
cnbc.com cnbcfm.com * noop
cnet.com cbsistatic.com * noop
comptroller.nyc.gov comptrollernyc.com * noop
consumerreports.org consumerreportscdn.org * noop
consumerreports.org cr.org * noop
consumersearch.com amazon.com * noop
coronavirus.jhu.edu arcgis.com * noop
coronavirus.jhu.edu plot.ly * noop
cpanel.net cpanel.com * noop
crazydomains.com dreamscape.cloud * noop
createsend.ifixit.com createsend1.com * noop
cyberghostvpn.com cgvpn.info * noop
dailymotion.com dmcdn.net * noop
dengarden.com hubstatic.com * noop
deviantart.com deviantart.net * noop
dhgate.com dhresource.com * noop
discordapp.com discord.gg * noop
domesticshelters.org typekit.net * noop
download.cnet.com fdlstatic.com * noop
dropbox.com arkoselabs.com * noop
dropbox.com dropboxcaptcha.com * noop
dropbox.com dropboxstatic.com * noop
dx.com dxcdn.com * noop
ebay.ca ebay.com * noop
ebay.ca ebaydesc.com * noop
ebay.ca ebayimg.com * noop
ebay.ca ebaystatic.com * noop
ebay.co.uk ebay.com * noop
ebay.co.uk ebaydesc.com * noop
ebay.co.uk ebayimg.com * noop
ebay.co.uk ebayrtm.com * noop
ebay.co.uk ebaystatic.com * noop
ebay.com ebaydesc.com * noop
ebay.com ebayimg.com * noop
ebay.com ebayrtm.com * noop
ebay.com ebaystatic.com * noop
ebay.com geetest.com * noop
ebay.com paypal.com * noop
ebay.com.au ebaystatic.com * noop
ecowatch.com rbl.ms * noop
elitedaily.com bustle.com * noop
elitedaily.com embedly.com * noop
elitedaily.com redditmedia.com * noop
elitedaily.com redditstatic.com * noop
en.aptoide.com ravenjs.com * noop
eos-account-creator.com get-scatter.com * noop
eos-account-creator.com scattercdn.com * noop
ergobuyer.com bigcommerce.com * noop
espn.co.uk espn.com * noop
espn.co.uk espncdn.com * noop
etsy.com etsystatic.com * noop
euronews.com flourish.studio * noop
euronews.com ownpage.fr * noop
eventbrite.com evbstatic.com * noop
eventbrite.com evbuc.com * noop
everipedia.org firebaseio.com * noop
everipedia.org oreid.io * noop
examine.com examinecdn.com * noop
examine.com raxcdn.com * noop
expedia.com travel-assets.com * noop
facebook.com fbcdn.net * noop
fairwheelbikes.com bigcommerce.com * noop
fairwheelbikes.com jirafe.com * noop
fastoolnow.com yswcdn.com * noop
fearfreeshelters.com pressidium.com * noop
firefox.com mozilla.net * noop
fitbit.com lithium.com * noop
fiverr.com appboycdn.com * noop
fiverr.com fiverrcdn.com * noop
fiverr.com px-cdn.net * noop
foodtown.com freshop.com * noop
foodtown.com mapbox.com * noop
forbes.com forbesimg.com * noop
form.jotform.com jotfor.ms * noop
foxsports.com foxdcg.com * noop
foxtext.com kxcdn.com * noop
freefilefillableforms.com intuit.com * noop
freefilefillableforms.com intuitcdn.net * noop
gcemetery.co b-cdn.net * noop
genengnews.com eurekalert.org * noop
getintomylife.com amazon-adsystem.com * noop
github.com githubassets.com * noop
gitlab.com gitlab-static.net * noop
gmx.com ui-portal.de * noop
gogetssl.com cdn77.org * noop
google.com googleusercontent.com * noop
goshippo.com addressy.com * noop
goshippo.com mxpnl.com * noop
groupon.com grouponcdn.com * noop
hackmanhattan.slack.com slack-edge.com * noop
hallmark.com yottaa.net * noop
help.getadblock.com freshdesk.com * noop
homedepot.com homedepot-static.com * noop
hostinger.com gravatar.com * noop
hostsoch.in livechatinc.com * noop
huffingtonpost.co.uk vidible.tv * noop
ibm.com s81c.com * noop
icloud.com icloud-content.com * noop
iherb.com images-iherb.com * noop
imdb.com media-amazon.com * noop
imdb.com media-imdb.com * noop
indiegogo.com iggcdn.com * noop
inverse.com bustle.com * noop
irishmirror.ie tm-awx.com * noop
jellycomb.com ymcart.com * noop
jumocomputer.com extreme-ip-lookup.com * noop
kayak.com r9cdn.net * noop
khanacademy.org kastatic.org * noop
kikwear.com paypal.com * noop
kikwear.com volusion.com * noop
labdoor.com labdoor.io * noop
leafscience.org facebook.com * noop
leafscience.org fbcdn.net * noop
leafscience.org lifespan.io * noop
leetcode.com alicdn.com * noop
linkedin.com licdn.com * noop
live.com gfx.ms * noop
live.com msauth.net * noop
live.com office365.com * noop
lowes.com lowescdn.com * noop
luckystarbus.com thawte.com * noop
madebyradius.com payments-amazon.com * noop
madebyradius.com shopifycs.com * noop
madebyradius.com shopifysvc.com * noop
mailtribune.com sinclairstoryline.com * noop
maledefender.com sndcdn.com * noop
maledefender.com soundcloud.com * noop
meetup.com meetupstatic.com * noop
meetup.com nr-data.net * noop
mewe.com arkoselabs.com * noop
microsoft.com onestore.ms * noop
microsoft.com s-microsoft.com * noop
microsoftonline.com microsoftonline-p.com * noop
mobilefun.com mobilefun.co.uk * noop
moocloud.esy.es moocloud.esy.es * noop
mozilla.org mozilla-community.org * noop
mozilla.org mozilla.net * noop
mozilla.org mozillademos.org * noop
mycurvefit.com zencdn.net * noop
namecheap.com nc-img.com * noop
namesilo.com braintreegateway.com * noop
namesilo.com intercomassets.com * noop
nature.com readcube.com * noop
nerdondemand.com softaculous.com * noop
netdoctor.co.uk cdnds.net * noop
netflix.com nflxext.com * noop
netflix.com nflximg.net * noop
netflix.com nflxso.net * noop
newchapter.com bigcommerce.com * noop
newegg.com neweggimages.com * noop
newegg.com tiqcdn.com * noop
nih.gov pubmed.gov * noop
nist.gov kaltura.com * noop
noxzema.com turnto.com * noop
nutraingredients.com william-reed.com * noop
nypost.com instagram.com * noop
nytimes.com nyt.com * noop
okcupid.com okccdn.com * noop
one.com cdn-one.com * noop
outdoorgearlab.com stackpathdns.com * noop
pafcuonline.org fiservapps.com * noop
pafcuonline.org getbills.com * noop
pafcuonline.org payanyone2.com * noop
pawdiet.com mediavine.com * noop
pawspetboutique.com bigcommerce.com * noop
performancebike.com bikenashbar.com * noop
petdoors.com nexcesscdn.net * noop
petfinder.com vid.ly * noop
pethelpful.com hubstatic.com * noop
pinterest.ca pinimg.com * noop
pinterest.ch pinimg.com * noop
pinterest.com pinimg.com * noop
pipingrock.com zopim.com * noop
pirate-bay.net tpb.party * noop
planetx.co.uk veinteractive.com * noop
post-gazette.com rackcdn.com * noop
public.flourish.studio uri.sh * noop
quirktools.com mekineer.com * noop
quora.com quoracdn.net * noop
racefans.net f1fanatic.co.uk * noop
reddit.com gstatic.com * noop
reddit.com redditmedia.com * noop
reddit.com redditstatic.com * noop
researchgate.net rgstatic.net * noop
roomrs.co roomrs-backend.herokuapp.com * noop
roomster.com sentry-cdn.com * noop
routineexcellence.com giphy.com * noop
sadanduseless.com b-cdn.net * noop
sairariaz777.blogspot.com blogblog.com * noop
samsung.com tiqcdn.com * noop
saspatlas.com saspatlas.herokuapp.com * noop
sciencedirect.com mendeley.com * noop
sciencedirect.com sciencedirectassets.com * noop
scmp.com i-scmp.com * noop
scribd.com scribdassets.com * noop
seamless.com grubhub.com * noop
sendatext.co kxcdn.com * noop
serverfault.com sstatic.net * noop
serverfault.com stackexchange.com * noop
shimano.com wistia.net * noop
shipstation.com hs-analytics.net * noop
skype.com live.com * noop
skype.com skypeassets.com * noop
softonic.com sftcdn.net * noop
soundcloud.com sndcdn.com * noop
sourceforge.net fsdn.com * noop
southrivertech.com freshdesk.com * noop
speedtest.net cdnst.net * noop
spirehealth.com alveo.io * noop
spiritofhealthkc.com bigcommerce.com * noop
squareup.com ada.support * noop
squareup.com squarecdn.com * noop
stackexchange.com sstatic.net * noop
stackoverflow.com sstatic.net * noop
statista.com statcdn.com * noop
stephaniediamond.com virb.com * noop
stephaniediamond.com virbcdn.com * noop
stripe.com securesuite.net * noop
stripe.com stripe.network * noop
superuser.com sstatic.net * noop
swansonvitamins.com chasepaymentechhostedpay.com * noop
swansonvitamins.com nice-incontact.com * noop
t-mobile.com assetsadobe.com * noop
taobao.com alibaba.com * noop
taobao.com alicdn.com * noop
taobao.com tmall.com * noop
target.com targetimg1.com * noop
teamviewer.com lithium.com * noop
teamviewer.com tv-static.net * noop
techrepublic.com cbsistatic.com * noop
ted.com tedcdn.com * noop
tellform.com angular-ui.github.io * noop
the5krunner.com worldssl.net * noop
thebikesmiths.com shopifycs.com * noop
theguardian.com guim.co.uk * noop
thelocal.se ourworldindata.org * noop
themeforest.net envato-static.com * noop
therationalmale.com wordpress.com * noop
theverge.com vox-cdn.com * noop
tiktok.com ibytedtos.com * noop
tiktok.com tiktokcdn.com * noop
timewarnercable.com adobedtm.com * noop
timewarnercable.com nextit.com * noop
tmall.com aliapp.org * noop
tmall.com alibaba.com * noop
tmall.com alicdn.com * noop
tmall.com alipay.com * noop
tmall.com aliyun.com * noop
tmall.com mmstat.com * noop
tmall.com taobao.com * noop
tmall.com taobaocdn.com * noop
tmall.com tbcdn.cn * noop
tools.usps.com arcgisonline.com * noop
topbuzz.com ipstatp.com * noop
torrents.io torrentseeker.com * noop
traderjoes.com where2getit.com * noop
tribecoliving.com activehosted.com * noop
tripadvisor.com citymaps.io * noop
tripadvisor.com tacdn.com * noop
trulia.com trulia-cdn.com * noop
twitter.com twimg.com * noop
upnorthlive.com sinclairstoryline.com * noop
upwork.com paypal.com * noop
upwork.com static-upwork.com * noop
usps.com custhelp.com * noop
velobuildmall.com ly200-cdn.com * noop
verizonwireless.com vzw.com * noop
video.foxnews.com akamaihd.net * noop
video.foxnews.com fncstatic.com * noop
virusncov.com countryflags.io * noop
virustotal.com virustotalcloud.appspot.com * noop
vox.com vox-cdn.com * noop
walgreens.com wag-static.com * noop
walmart.com hlserve.com * noop
walmart.com wal.co * noop
walmart.com walmartimages.com * noop
wappass.baidu.com bdimg.com * noop
washingtonpost.com instagram.com * noop
weather.com w-x.co * noop
wellandgood.com typekit.net * noop
wiggle.com wigglestatic.com * noop
wikibuy.com ivaws.com * noop
wikipedia.org wikimedia.org * noop
wolframalpha.com wolframcdn.com * noop
womenshealthmag.com instagram.com * noop
xda-developers.com algolia.net * noop
xda-developers.com xda-cdn.com * noop
xoom.com s-xoom.com * noop
yacy.net searchlab.eu * noop
yadi.sk yandex.net * noop
yadi.sk yandex.ru * noop
yadi.sk yastatic.net * noop
yahoo.com yimg.com * noop
yandex.com vk.com * noop
yandex.com yastatic.net * noop
yippyinc.com hsforms.com * noop
youtube.com googleusercontent.com * noop
zdnet.com cbsistatic.com * noop
zensupplements.com bigcommerce.com * noop
zerowater.co.uk eoscity.com * noop
zillow.com zillowstatic.com * noop
zoetisus.com crownpeak.com * noop
zoetisus.com zoetis.com * noop