Requesting More Powerful Inbuilt AdBlocking Functionality (equivalent to uBlock Origin or AdGuard Safari)

jimmysofat6864

The adblocking functionality isn’t as good as Adguard for Safari for iOS or uBlock origin in Firefox. Because of that some ads tend to leak through or lead to redirects when AdGuard for iOS would prevent it. Same with uBlock origin on Firefox desktop even if I have the same filters enabled on all of them. It would be nice if the built in adblocking was better.

For reference, it’s not as good as AdGuard for iOS because it can pass all the tests listed here but in Orion it only passes some even with the same filter lists.

App version: 1.3.27 (7) (WebKit 8613.7.1.0.15)
System version: 15.8.3
Device type: iPhone 7 Plus
Native bounds: (1080.0, 1920.0)
Scale: 3.0
Regular tabs: 1/https://adblock-tester.com/
Private tabs: 0/(

By having this, it would negate the use of needing Safari at all as there are some websites I need to use safari and AdGuard with because when using Orion the ads don’t get blocked and I get pop ups and redirects when it doesn’t happen in Safari and AdGuard for iOS.

Echng

jimmysofat6864 I agree the built in ad blocker is not at strong as I would like and Ublock origin has never worked properly on Orion iOS. However, I have never had an issue with getting 100 points on that test even with just the default lists on Orion. On a fresh install do you still not get 100? I am wondering if it is an extension conflicting or perhaps custom filters you have added that have not yet updated. I found this an issue not with Orion but Vivaldi when I used it. It would be updating filters in the background and basically be turned off until complete.

RoxyRoxyRoxy

Hi, have you tried installing uBlock Origin on Orion?

jimmysofat6864

RoxyRoxyRoxy

I found that using uBlock Origin on iOS at least doesn't seem to work correctly as I shared here.

https://orionfeedback.org/d/11387-ublock-origin-crashing-ios

jimmysofat6864

RoxyRoxyRoxy

I would also like to share that when using the same device, if I attempt to install uBlock Origin from the Firefox store, all it does is show a white screen and it does not work and I am not able to change any settings.

If I install a slightly older version, the configurator page opens up and I can select filters but the ad blocking does not actually work. When I go to ad blocking testing sites, all the tests fail and I still get pop ups and advertisements so it is clear that the extension does not work in Orion.

jimmysofat6864

RoxyRoxyRoxy

Here is what happens when I try to install uBlock origin inside of Orion when I try it now and with the latest version.

https://orionfeedback.org/d/11882-ublock-origin-not-functioning-at-all-on-ios

InternetChunk

RoxyRoxyRoxy What’s the point of having a built in ad blocker if you need a 3rd party one because it’s better.
And won’t 2 ad/tracker blockers or more be conflicting with each other?

RoxyRoxyRoxy

Ok, thank you for the reports. I believe there's been some discussion internally about how far we want to take our default blockers. I'll check in again and update you.

Joo

RoxyRoxyRoxy my 2 cents but there's no point of having an Adblock if it isn't as good as the best alternative on the market.

jimmysofat6864

Echng

For me, on a fresh install, I still do not get 100 points and yes, I tried all possible combinations of filter lists but still do not get that score.

Orion also doesn't seem to handle anti adblock lists as well as I would like such as AdGuard Annoyances or Anti Adblock Killer where adblocking would be detected but using AdGuard Safari or uBlock Origin on Desktop would bypass that issue entirely.

Xytronix

I recommend adding filter lists into the built in content blocker.

Its limited in filtering by default and you can enable and add the filter lists which you would like.

Please look into this if you would like to make it easier to subscribe to filter lists.
https://orionfeedback.org/d/10054-filterlists-api

jimmysofat6864

Xytronix

I already enabled multiple filter lists such as AdGuard Annoyances and Anti AdBlock Killer but no matter what combination of filters I enable I never get the full 100 score whereas the same filter combination set would get 100 score either in AdGuard Safari or uBlock Origin on desktop.

Xytronix

jimmysofat6864 It appears to be not every syntax is supported.
@dino would have to explain that. WebKit is limited in support, I am not sure how far Orion changed that.

Those adblock testers aren't really grounded and Adblockers set certain flags on purpose to achieve a higher score.

jimmysofat6864

Xytronix

Not sure how much of it is a webkit limitation or an orion limitation as using AdGuard Safai doesn't have this issue and can bypass lots of Anti Adblock websites and get full scores on the adblock testing websites.

Echng

jimmysofat6864

https://github.com/List-KR/tinyShield

https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardExtra

just curious if you try these does it help? Not necessarily with the test sites as I have read it isn’t actually that accurate of a measurements in effectiveness. But perhaps in whatever sites you are still having issues with ads, popups and redirects? I found aside from Brave and Safari with AdGuard I would still see ads on slashdot for example but after using the above userscripts I did not in Orion or Edge in my testing.

jimmysofat6864

Echng

Mainly my problem is on mobile and my main ad problem isn't quite popups and redirects as that's gotten better it's mainly the anti AdBlock detection not working as it should.

Echng

jimmysofat6864 The userscripts I linked to should work in Orion on iOS if you use an extension like violentmonkey. I can't guarantee they will solve your issue but may be worth a shot.

jimmysofat6864

Echng

Installed violentmonkey and at first it seemed to make things worse until I updated the Orion AdBlock filters and now the performance is about the same so it looks like it didn't help with the popups and redirects it only threw a pop up saying that Orion or something has blocked this website.

As for the anti adblock detection that still isn't bypassed where uBlock Origin in Firefox or AdGuard Safari can bypass that no problem.

Echng

jimmysofat6864 shoot, I had a feeling it was a long shot but still hoped it might do something for you. For my own curiosity, what sites are giving you issues if you don’t mind sharing? I’d like to just test myself and play around with settings.