VPN deals? Block Youtube Ads?

skellington

I am looking at a VPN just for general privacy and security, but as a user of Youtube (free) I wondered if any of them blocked the annoying Youtube ads that we see before a Youtube video, or even through a video!

This would be a double bonus if there was a secure VPN that did this for Youtube also?

Neil_Jones

If its on a desktop computer just stick uBlock (or ad block of your choice) on it as a browser extension.  Problem solved.

For other devices something like PiHole may help but IIRC the ad servers for YouTube adverts before, during and after videos are dynamically generated on the fly, so PiHole may not help here.

Not sure a VPN is really going to help either.

QrizB

Neil_Jones said:

If its on a desktop computer just stick uBlock (or ad block of your choice) on it as a browser extension.  Problem solved.

I can confirm that Adblock Plus works wonders for Firefox. It's always a disappointment when I use a work PC with Edge and get the ads

tallmansix

Both the above comments are the best bet for blocking adverts, uBlock Origin is my choice because it is open source but other adblockers are effective.

VPN - won't stop adverts at all, the only thing it does is encrypt your traffic from the source through to the point of presence of the VPN provider and then it continues unencrypted to the website to are accessing. Same in reverse when receiving traffic from the website, only encrypted when it reaches the VPN provider. (unless already encrypted and therefore VPN pointless)

Most of the web traffic is encrypted end to end already nowadays if you are using https so it doesn't really help to double encrypt it during its passage through the VPN.

In terms of privacy, your DNS provider knows exactly what websites you visit regardless of your VPN - which will probably be your ISP. Some VPN's will redirect to a different DNS provider and they will know exactly what websites you visit. The only way to avoid it is run your own fully recursive DNS server at home.

In terms of tracking through cookies etc, VPN doesn't change that.

In terms of security, not sure what you are trying to achieve but the traffic is only encrypted as far as the end of the VPN and then continues onwards as it was but same as I said above - unless already encrypted and therefore VPN pointless.

In terms of getting malware from the internet, a VPN doesn't reduce that risk.

In terms of banking securely, VPN doesn't make it any more secure.

VPN providers do have vulnerabilities and do get 'hacked'

Security starts with you - what you click on, complex and different passwords for all websites, 2 factor authentication on everything, fully patched and supported operating system, encrypted hard drive etc.

I'm not against VPN's, I have one and use it for specific purposes but for ultimate privacy the VPN provider I use doesn't even know my email address and I pay for it with bitcoin and it has been independently audited.

wongataa

Just install the uBlock origin add on for your browser of choice to banish ads in the internet.  That includes Youtube.

skellington

Thank you all for your help on this.

I did install a youtube ad blocker on my Mac and it seems to work, its built in as a chrome extension, so not sure if its the same as the ones you list here?

I am still looking at a VPN just for security so thats a slightly different thing, and looks pretty straight forward.

Can I ask if there is a Youtube blocker/app for the iPhone?
I use Youtube a lot on the iphone to the TV, and this again is plagued with ads, so some app or something similar to block the ads on the iPhone would be brilliant!

onomatopoeia99

skellington said:

I am still looking at a VPN just for security so thats a slightly different thing, and looks pretty straight forward.

Security against what/whom?  A VPN probably isn't the answer you think it is, unless "security" is  "security against film studios checking who is torrenting rips of their films".

csgohan4

onomatopoeia99 said:

skellington said:

I am still looking at a VPN just for security so thats a slightly different thing, and looks pretty straight forward.

Security against what/whom?  A VPN probably isn't the answer you think it is, unless "security" is  "security against film studios checking who is torrenting rips of their films".

Exactly why one considers VPNs, to hide IP address for people who use torrents for those purposes

Also I would add, getting good anti viral, not the free ones, i might add.