#umatrix

[testinggreatlakes]

The Pandora's box of deception

If you saw who was watching you all day, following you and writing everything down, you'd have to call the police every 2 minutes….

Die Mogelbüchse der Pandora

Wenn Du sehen würdest, wer Dich den ganzen Tag beobachtet, Dir folgt und alles mitschreibt, Du müsstest alle 2 Minuten die Polizei rufen….

SELA

[mu-qingfang-stan-account]

btw if you ever can't find an epub/pdf/downloadable danmei english fan translation, my advice is to check libgen first (and annas archive if that doesnt work) but if you STILL cant find it:

dm me and if i have the epub in my personal danmei gdrive folder i can send you a link (this also applies to my typeset pdfs of misvil and devil venerable and any danmei i typeset in the future, but the price is that if you find an error in those you have to tell me about it). or if it's in my ficbinding git repo i can send it to you but it may be in a weird format

if it's a non-downloadable google doc you can usually still download it as html if you disable js (on firefox you can use browser extensions like noscript or umatrix for this but im not sure what's available on chrome), change the end of the link from /edit to /mobilebasic, and refresh the doc (then use your browser to save as html). or if that doesnt work try this script. once you have html you can use pandoc to convert it to whatever format you like, including plaintext (although i've had issues with pandoc unicode handling so chinese characters may get mangled).

fan translators often post their work on like wordpress websites or whatever with more or less static html; you can use either your browser or the command-line tool curl to save individual chapters as html or (if the url has a friendly format) a simple bash+curl one-liner (e.g. for i in {1..30}; do curl -L https://foobartranslates.wordpress.com/workname-chapter-$i -o workname_$i.html; done) to bulk download (and then convert from html if you like, as above)

some translation websites (e.g. chrysanthemum garden) are somewhat more complicated and use js to load in the chapter text, so the browser save button will work (if you have js turned on) but curl won't. if you want to write a bulk download script you'll probably need to use webdriver. i wrote a chrysanthemum-garden-specific download script a while back which i can send you over DMs (if the work is password locked you'll need to join the discord for the password, which updates weekly) or, if that's too technically intimidating, i can run the script myself and send you the output

remember: anything on the internet can vanish at any time; downloading things for your personal archive is always morally right 👍

[protoindoeuropean]

with the recent yt ad-block crackdown, uMatrix reigns supreme again (and it has proven once more that having it in combination with uBlock is not an overkill) – just took me a min to figure out how to block out yt ads with it ...or rather how to let the actual video through 😌

unfortunately idk enough abt how these things work to automate the process, but it just means i have to reload the page once, which is def preferrable to having to sit through unskippable ads

[snail-speed]

Hey guys, heads up if anyone here uses Soap2Day. Recently (this week) this script has been causing the site to try and open up pop-ups in soap2day.to

DO NOT GO TO POGOTHERE, and if you frequent Soap2Day (specifically the .to domain) preferrably go in using Firefox equipped with an ad blocker and uMatrix as I'm doing in this screenshot.

The reason I'm telling you to use Firefox specifically is because that pogothere website is a well-known malvertising vector that targets Chrome and Chromium browsers. Running into that website's pop-ups unprotected will render your Chrome unusable due to the malware it installs. It's not the end of the world if you get infected, but the removal method is a bit unorthodox (see here).

[bitternanami]

sometime id like to write down what ive learned about uMatrix bc the more i fiddle with it the more i feel like the unstoppable god of my internet experience

[mysmorgasbordoffantabulosa]

Scooter is a highly manipulative person who is also an enabler of sorts when it suits him. I think to characterize him as only someone who wronged Taylor Swift by buying her masters doesn’t fully take into account what he’s done with many of his clients even the ones he still has a relationship with such as Justin Bieber. There is a great article encapsulating some of his good and bad points in the Business Insider but it’s behind a paywall. Here is a recap in case people want to know what is said. https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/122854380.html

I think this might set people off... OKAY here goes...

Firstly, I'm going to add something to part of your ask because I've read that Business Insider article, and unlike it I prefer a more balanced approach...

"According to some, Scooter is a highly manipulative person who is also an enabler of sorts when it suits him."

The whole Swift/Braun situation is very nuanced, which VOX covered quite impartially back in 2019...

As a side note, they have a fab quote from one of Taylor's then friends (not sure if they still are but considering recent controversy, I find the quote very humourous) ...

I think today, many people are thinking the same of Todrick.

One could argue that all Braun did was make a savvy business deal that benefited him. A deal that Taylor didn't like and started a PR campaign (with the support of friends) against him despite many people backing Braun. Now what she claimed about him might have been true, but I don't think what he did (when buying her old record company) was a terrible thing. She (in her own words) had the opportunity to purchase said masters, but obviously she wanted to keep going on about Braun, so the deal didn't happen and he sold them off to someone else.

My guess, Braun is merely a ruthless but talented businessman, who was quicker to the punch than Taylor.

OH and here's the original Business Insider Article (my uMatrix extension helps be bypass the paywall):

The article tries to be balanced, but clearly is an article intended to paint Scooter in a poor light, which is even more interesting when you consider the writer of the piece has written several articles about Swift, mostly in a positive light and terms... and why might you ask may that be the case, well it seems she's a big ole Swiftie...

"SILMAN: ...As for my hopes, well, I guess I'd just say that Salon has had so many entertainment writers who I admire hugely come through its doors over the years, so I just hope to be able to uphold that legacy of quality, and to contribute my own voice as well (and of course, by “my own voice” I mean lots of coverage of Taylor Swift and her cats)." - Source

[noticiassincensura]

Google Chrome has followed through on its threat against ad blockers: how other browsers will react

Google Chrome has followed through on its threat against ad blockers: how other browsers will react

The benefits of having a variety of options

The browser extension landscape is undergoing a major transformation as the transition from the Manifest V2 (MV2) extension format to Manifest V3 (MV3), led by Google Chrome, has sparked controversy, particularly due to its impact on ad blockers.

Although Google is spearheading this shift — seen by some as an attack on ad blockers, given the company’s dominance in online advertising — the fact that many browsers are built on its Chromium engine or support the Manifest format has forced the browser industry to take a stance.

Brave

The Brave browser, known for its strong focus on privacy, has taken a firm stance against the limitations imposed by MV3, ensuring that this update will not weaken its flagship feature, Brave Shields, which natively blocks ads and trackers.

According to its official statement, Brave will continue to support some privacy extensions based on MV2, such as AdGuard, NoScript, uBlock Origin, and uMatrix, even when Chromium phases out MV2 support entirely by June 2025. This will be possible thanks to modifications Brave applies to Chromium’s open-source code, allowing it to continue providing protection through these extensions as much as possible.

Brave emphasized that, unlike other browsers, it does not rely on MV2 or MV3 to implement its ad and tracker blocking since these features are integrated directly into the browser’s core.

In fact, Brave expects its native protection features to remain superior to what any MV3 extension could offer, highlighting that its privacy development goes beyond what extensions can provide, thanks to technologies like fingerprinting randomization and ephemeral storage.

In summary, the transition to MV3 will not significantly impact Brave users’ experience — not because ad blockers will continue to function (which they will), but due to the browser’s own built-in privacy features.

Vivaldi

In its official statement, Vivaldi’s development team noted that many MV2-based extensions can burden performance and pose security risks, so they welcome some changes introduced by MV3, such as the removal of the ability to execute remote code.

However, Vivaldi has also assured that it will maintain MV2 support for as long as possible, likely until June 2025, though it may extend or shorten this timeline depending on Chromium’s evolution. The shift from MV2 to MV3 will not affect its ability to block ads and trackers, as this feature is integrated directly into the browser and customizable, allowing users to add specific blocklists.

In summary, like Brave, Vivaldi has developed its own ad and tracker blocking system within the browser, minimizing the need for external extensions.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge, which has also been Chromium-based for several years, is fully aligned with Google regarding MV3: Edge no longer accepts new MV2-based extensions in its Partner Center but still allows updates to migrate extensions from MV2 to MV3.

Edge will be slightly more flexible with enterprise users who rely on specific extensions for daily work compared to individual users in the same situation, similar to Chrome.

In summary, Microsoft Edge’s policy in this regard will mirror Google Chrome’s.

Firefox

Firefox, one of the few major browsers not based on Chromium, has chosen to retain support for MV2, distancing itself from the approach taken by Google and other Chromium-based browsers. Although Firefox has begun implementing MV3, it has done so with significant differences, such as keeping DOM event pages and the webRequest API blocking feature, which are key tools that allow extensions like uBlock Origin to work more effectively.

Firefox has no immediate plans to remove MV2 support and has stated that any future decisions will be communicated at least 12 months in advance. This approach has been well-received by the extension developer community and privacy-conscious users.

In summary, Firefox is diverging from Chrome by guaranteeing MV2 support for now and implementing a more nuanced version of MV3.

[redfishiaven]

How to Protect Yourself from Online Shopping Security Threats

Here are easy actions which will reduce your risks during online shopping.

☑️ Update Your Browser and OS. These updates protect devices from vulnerabilities and online attacks.

☑️ Use Powerful Antivirus/Anti-Malware Software. Built with an advanced algorithm, the software detects malicious activities. It even prevents you from unknowingly logging into a malicious website.

☑️ Avoid Using Debit Cards. Using a credit 💳 to shop online is much safer than using a debit 💳. That's because a credit card has more consumer protection.

☑️ Implement Script Blockers (an extension that provides an extra layer of security for browsers). It blocks unnecessary and harmful scripts like JavaScript and iframes on retail stores you visit. You can use this free script blocker (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/umatrix/ogfcmafjalglgifnmanfmnieipoejdcf?hl=en).

☑️ Use secured Websites. Avoid websites that don't have HTTPS in their URL or a padlock icon 🔒 beside the URL. 🔒 means your personal information is encrypted.

☑️ Use a VPN.

[waystatus]

Instead of or in addition to uBlock Origin, I would suggest uMatrix (especially if you would also use NoScript or a similar extension). It lets you block individual components of sites that are all organized in this nice matrix format.

If you're not that technically savvy, or prone to forgetting about it, I suggest starting out with fairly permissive settings. But you can still block, for example, Google Analytics. Across the whole internet.

slides im sharing w my family this week bc it pains me to see how they manage their passwords. and also easy steps they can take to protect their privacy (firefox mainly). if u have any questions let me know.

also. uBlock origin is better than adblock plus bc: it allows NO ADS (ABP will allow certain ads and let bigger companies thru - its "acceptable ads" program) + is more lightweight and easier on your computer's resources than ABP.

[anactorprepares47]

Path2

AuthorsSOM Umatrix

Fuyu and MuseumSOM Umatrix

SP classical theatre frameSOM Umatrix

[ac-bonus-posts]

i browsed on tumblr a bit and i've blocked 86 ads (actual adblock) + 63 assets (uMatrix) and made 99+ requests back to the tumblr server dungeon.

i am glad we have these extensions. if i had to see all the ads, i would just get off the internet.

[unevenprankster]

The hell this? Thank God I can make it unexist with ublock origin/umatrix

[aroclan]

i accidentally turned up my privacy so high (installed uMatrix) i can't vote in tumblr polls. otoh, live is also broken. that's a bigger win

[horatiovonbecker]

For reference, I don't have a VPN but I do have uMatrix, and Asks, Reblogs, and Replies work for me but only if I post them twice in a row - the first consistently gets an error message (asks and reblogs) or eaten outright (replies). Similar thing for likes; I have to push the button twice and do so lightly enough that it doesn't count it twice the second time.

A couple days ago, I saw a post going around about how one should be careful to not post on tumblr from behind a VPN, because apparently this is Distinctive Spambot Behavior which will get one's blog shadowbanned.

This afternoon, I discovered that the replies I'd made on two different posts in the last ~week hadn't actually gone through. On further examination, this happened because I made them from behind my usual VPN; when I disabled the VPN and pasted the replies back in (having, fortunately, backed up their text at the original times-of-posting, thanks @brin-bellway for getting me into that habit), they went through without issue that time.

So, apparently, it's advisable to turn off one's VPN on tumblr even when not posting, if one is replying, for fear that the replies might otherwise not go through. In retrospect I suppose this makes sense and my failure to read it into the post-a-couple-days-ago was probably a mistake on my end; but I hereby declare it explicitly, for the benefit of those who share my not-having-made-that-connection.

[anactorprepares47]

Path1

GroupSOM Umatrix

SubtitleSOM Umatrix