# Those of you using uBlock Origin, what does your setup look like? **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/those-of-you-using-ublock-origin-what-does-your-setup-look-like/15298 **Category:** General **Created:** 2023-11-30T06:20:46Z **Posts:** 26 ## Post 1 by @xe3 — 2023-11-30T06:20:46Z 1. Do you use it in the default “easy mode”, or do you use one of the advanced modes (enhanced easy mode, medium mode, or hard mode) 2. Do you use any additional filterlists (beyond the default lists). 3. Do you use uBO in conjunction with another layer of blocking (such as a DNS/domain blocklist)? --- ## Post 2 by @xe3 — 2023-11-30T06:37:18Z To Start things off: 1. I use **medium mode** in my primary browser. On most other browsers and devices, I use **enhanced easy mode** 2. I do use some additional filterlists. I’m currently revising the lists I use which is what prompted this post. - Easylist Annoyances - uBlock Origin Annoyances - Block outside intrusion into LAN - Adguard URL tracking Protection - [I Am Py’s uBlock Combo List](https://github.com/iam-py-test/uBlock-combo) which includes both anti-malware and anti-URL tracking lists. 3. Yes, currently I use NextDNS (configured similar to [Yokoffing’s recommendations](https://github.com/yokoffing/NextDNS-Config)). I am currently debating whether it makes sense to limit NextDNS blocking to exclude the browser. --- ## Post 3 by @jonah — 2023-11-30T06:39:29Z Mine’s not too exciting. I use default settings, default lists plus… - AdGuard URL Tracking Protection - Block Outsider Intrusion into LAN …and no additional blocking :slight_smile: I have some custom rules but they’re mostly just exceptions for my own websites (like I have to bypass the _Block Outsider Intrusion into LAN_ list to access Plex for example) --- ## Post 4 by @xe3 — 2023-11-30T06:52:16Z Nothing wrong with simplicity :slight_smile: I’d like to pare down my lists somewhat. But personally I find the internet much more bearable with the “annoyances” list enabled, this isn’t really a privacy thing for the most part, just a cleaner less cluttered browsing experience. If you’d like just a little strong protection (without the burden/effort that comes with using “medium” or “hard” mode) the [“enhanced easy mode”](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Blocking-mode) is a nice middleground that is quite “low cost” (low cost in terms of it doesn’t require extra effort on your part, and it rarely breaks things). Essentially ‘enhanced easy mode’ is the same as uBO in its default configuration with a few small tweaks. (1) you also block [3rd party iFrames](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-Benefits-of-blocking-3rd-party-iframe-tags), and (2) you optionally add a [short blacklist](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-to-easily-reduce-privacy-exposure) of frequent privacy violators to your dynamic filters --- ## Post 5 by @exaCORE — 2023-11-30T07:26:55Z I used to use hard mode, but since i got a new computer i havent had time to set it up again. Currently im using the recommended filters by PrivacyGuides & also [bypass paywalls filters](https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-clean-filters) I also use Quad9 DNS for malware if thats at all useful, but i think ublock already covers all their filters. --- ## Post 6 by @xe3 — 2023-11-30T07:37:33Z > [@exaCORE](#): > > I also use Quad9 DNS for malware if thats at all useful, but i think ublock already covers all their filters. From what [what I’ve seen](https://forums.lawrencesystems.com/t/which-is-the-best-dns-for-secure-browsing-cloudflare-quad9-nextdns-and-adguard-dns-youtube-release/18910) Quad9 is extremely effective. Out of the tested configurations, the only DNS service that scored better than Quad9 in terms of malware blocking was [NextDNS](https://forums.lawrencesystems.com/t/which-is-the-best-dns-for-secure-browsing-cloudflare-quad9-nextdns-and-adguard-dns-youtube-release/18910/5) I’m not sure how uBO would compare as this test (and the corresponding test script you can use to test your own setup) only compares DNS level malware blocking. --- ## Post 7 by @exaCORE — 2023-11-30T12:50:59Z Huh, I didn’t know that. Thanks for letting me know! --- ## Post 8 by @redoomed1 — 2023-11-30T15:34:02Z 1. On Mullvad Browser, I don’t change any of the uBO settings for the reasons listed in Privacy Guides. (MB uses default **easy mode**.) On Firefox, I use **medium mode**. I also employ a short blacklist that you mention in [this comment](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/those-of-you-using-ublock-origin-what-does-your-setup-look-like/15298/4). 2. MB’s [uBO configuration](https://mullvad.net/en/browser/hard-facts#extension-ublock) comes with Adguard URL Tracking Protection and EasyList Cookie. On Firefox, I add the lists recommended by Privacy Guides. 3. Since I use Mullvad VPN, I use the DNS content blockers that come with the VPN’s GUI app. --- ## Post 9 by @Valynor — 2023-11-30T16:41:42Z Medium mode and these lists: ![Screenshot 2023-11-30 at 17.41.01](//forum-uploads.privacyguidesusercontent.com/original/2X/6/6da3c604a21f587b5a8643132ceda1f6913df5d5.png) I can recommend the Steven Black hosts list, it’s _very_ good. > **[GitHub - StevenBlack/hosts: 🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from...](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts)** > > 🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories. --- ## Post 10 by @quitet.gear — 2023-11-30T17:05:39Z I use default lists, no custom rules. I have hard mode enabled by default and I “downgrade” to medium or easy mode with a keyboard shortcut until the website I’m visiting is usable. My thinking, based on nothing other than intuition, is that I’d “blend in” more than if I used custom filters, as I’m using default setups. But I only allow as many “layers of trust” as needed for each site --- ## Post 11 by @xe3 — 2023-12-08T21:56:43Z > [@quitet.gear](#): > > I use default lists, no custom rules. I have hard mode enabled by default and I “downgrade” to medium or easy mode with a keyboard shortcut until the website I’m visiting is usable. I’d like to hear more about how you set up these keyboard shortcuts. It sounds like a smart approach. --- ## Post 12 by @redoomed1 — 2023-12-08T22:17:59Z > [@xe3](#): > > keyboard shortcuts I’m not the person to whom you responded, but here’s a link to a (slightly outdated and incomplete) guide on configuring keyboard shortcuts in uBO: [Keyboard shortcuts · gorhill/uBlock Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Keyboard-shortcuts#firefox) After following the steps in the link and clicking on `Manage Extension Shortcuts`, click on `Show 2 More`. The “Relax blocking mode” shortcut (sandwiched between `Open the dashboard` and `Toggle cosmetic filtering`) should be what you’re looking for. --- ## Post 13 by @yipii — 2023-12-09T16:35:33Z By default I only use the ads and tracker blocker built-in my browser vivaldi. I trust my vivaldi browser privacy as per their action and description on their blog (no feature tracking etc).Instead of having to trust both the browser and an extension, I only have to trust tje browser. It support some of the same list as ubo. I added easy cookie list, which remive known cookie acceptance popup. Its very useful!!! Sometimes I do need more power (youtube or otber website), so I enable ublock extension when needed, and disabke it afterward --- ## Post 14 by @anon90831229 — 2023-12-09T17:07:56Z Hard mode and NextDNS. Don’t really need to rely on lists that way, and I mostly only visit selected sites anyway. --- ## Post 15 by @anon63378630 — 2023-12-09T18:42:27Z > Instead of having to trust both the browser and the extremely well regarded open source [uBlock Origin] extension with a track record of doing the right thing, I only have to trust the proprietary [Vivaldi] browser. ftfy Meanwhile: [https://privacytests.org/](https://privacytests.org/) Why so much red? --- ## Post 16 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T19:21:47Z Yeah, while I do understand the appeal of trusting 1 entity, not 2. In this particular case it is a choice between: - Trusting 2 very well respected, well established, opens source projects with stellar reputations and long public track records - Or trusting 1 (and a half, if you count Google who make the browser that Vivaldi modifies) partially proprietary Chromium based browser that doesn’t have a particularly good (or particularly horrible) reputation within the privacy community as far as I am aware. I don’t have any particular issues with Vivaldi (I haven’t used it and have only done minimal research into it) so my intent is not to criticize or attack Vivaldi. But for me the ‘trusting 1 entity instead of 2’ argument doesn’t resonate in this particular case as I already have a lot of respect and accumulated trust built over many years in both uBO and Firefox. --- ## Post 17 by @anon49304593 — 2023-12-09T20:45:33Z From an interview I remember privacytests testing browsers with their default settings. Vivaldi prompts the user on the first launch about what amount of tracking and ad blocking they want, where privacytests choose the lowest option. --- ## Post 18 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T20:56:33Z > [@anon49304593](#): > > From an interview I remember privacytests testing browsers with their default settings. Vivaldi prompts the user on the first launch about what amount of tracking and ad blocking they want, where privacy tests choose the lowest option. While true (and a valid criticism of Privacy Tests methodology) the same is true for other Browsers on that list which score more highly than Vivaldi. (Unless they change their methodology that website should be understood to give you an indication of what Browser’s have the strongest _default settings_, but _NOT_ indicate the quality or privacy/security of a browser overall. I would like to see how a well configured Firefox+uBO would stack up in the comparison. It should be more or less on par with Librewolf I imagine, possibly a bit stronger in some areas. --- ## Post 19 by @anon49304593 — 2023-12-09T21:00:35Z Yeah, Vivaldi is just in a weird position since they provide various levels in the setup, so what do you call “out of the box” in that case. Just proves that you shouldn’t use privacytests as your only source I guess. --- ## Post 20 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T21:20:49Z Good point. That doesn’t cleanly fit into either category. However it is worth noting that–though the user is asked to make a choice–the _pre-selected_ option is no tracking protection, no adblocking (the worst of the 3 options from a privacy perspective), and if I just close my eyes and click enter on the keyboard with no other interaction I get no protection. Obviously nobody should go through an installer that way, but it is still a mild dark pattern that Vivaldi has built in to the installer, blocking trackers by default and leaving it up to the user to decide on adblocking would be a much more sensible default. In my mind, for a test like this, the test should assume the stronger option for any choice that is explicitly presented to the user, since the people who care about this type of test will virtually all choose the stronger option when given a choice --- ## Post 21 by @anon49304593 — 2023-12-09T21:22:43Z I absolutely agree! --- ## Post 22 by @yipii — 2023-12-10T05:43:11Z I dont target full privacy here. Vivaldi is full of features and these extras are worth more for me. Its still good enough on the privacy side of thing, at least for me. I did try in the past other browsers and could only get those features with a lot of extensions, that could break at any times. Recently I tried brave on mobile and I was not impressed. Lot of bloat of crypto money, other brave services and whatnot. Ive tried a lot of browser and its still the best for me. Its one of my favorite software. As for the cookie list, I also added my second language to it, as I do use non english websites. I try to keep the list as simple and default as possible, to not have to deal with breakage. --- ## Post 23 by @anon97654407 — 2023-12-10T09:57:36Z 1. I use Medium Mode. For me, it’s just a good balance for privacy, security and usability. I did have to unblock some domains though. 2. All the lists, except “Easylist - Annoyances” and its sub-filterlists and the “AdGuard - Mobile Ads” 3. No. --- ## Post 24 by @anon92357554 — 2025-09-12T05:33:46Z I just switched to _medium_ and have the built-in lists + 1-2 popups lists enabled but I’ve disabled mostly everything else since I run AGH on my router. I am used to the trial and error approach thanks to currently (or previously) running AGH/firejail/trackercontrol on devices, but _hard_ seems to be more effort than I’m willing to invest. --- ## Post 25 by @TsengGames — 2025-09-12T08:35:16Z I’m on the lite version because of stinky manifest v3, using optimal mode with click to remove element. --- ## Post 26 by @anon92357554 — 2025-11-18T17:48:06Z Upgraded to hard mode (and enabled a shortcut key to revert to medium mode quickly if something breaks)