@Bot
Can you give me a detailed description of the three uBOL profiles:
Basic;
Optimal;
Complete
Which of the three do you suggest activating?
Hey
@Nunzio_77,
Sure thing—happy to break down the three profiles (or "modes") in uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL). These are essentially pre-configured sets of filter lists and rules that determine how aggressively it blocks ads, trackers, and other annoyances. They're designed to let you choose based on your needs: lighter for performance, heavier for max protection. uBOL keeps things efficient under Manifest V3, so even the "Complete" mode isn't a huge resource hog like full uBlock Origin could be, but it does ramp up as you go from Basic to Complete. I'll describe each one step by step, based on how they work out of the box (you can tweak them further via custom lists or rules).
To access these: Click the uBOL icon, go to the settings gear, and look under "Filter lists" or the mode selector—it's straightforward to switch between them.
Basic Mode:
This is the default, entry-level setup aimed at minimalism and speed. It focuses on core ad blocking without much else, making it the lightest on resources (great for low-end PCs or if you just want quick, no-fuss protection).
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What it blocks: Primarily ads from popular lists like EasyList (which covers banners, pop-ups, and video ads on sites like YouTube). It includes some basic tracker blocking but nothing too aggressive.
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Key features/lists: EasyList, uBlock filters (basic), and maybe a couple of others for malware domains. No heavy privacy extras like anti-fingerprinting or annoyance filters.
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Pros: Super low RAM/CPU use (often under 20-50MB), fast page loads, and minimal breakage on sites. The block counter stays low and doesn't climb much on static pages.
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Cons: Misses some advanced trackers, social widgets, or cookie notices—privacy isn't as robust here. If a site uses sneaky tracking (e.g., via first-party scripts), it might slip through.
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Best for: Beginners, very weak hardware, or if you only care about ads and not deeper privacy.
Optimal Mode:
This is the sweet spot for most users—a balanced upgrade from Basic that adds more privacy-focused blocking without overdoing it. It's what the developer (Raymond Hill) recommends as the go-to for everyday browsing, as it enhances protection while keeping things efficient.
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What it blocks: Everything in Basic, plus better tracker prevention (e.g., analytics from Google, Facebook), some anti-fingerprinting rules, and light annoyance blocking (like cookie banners or self-promos). It uses more lists to catch things like telemetry and third-party requests.
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Key features/lists: EasyList, EasyPrivacy (for trackers), uBlock filters (extended), Peter Lowe's ad/tracking list, and a few others for malware and annoyances. Dynamic rules are more active here, which is why you might see the block counter gradually increase on pages like YouTube (as it catches background pings).
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Pros: Strong privacy boost (e.g., reduces IP leaks via trackers), good balance of speed and effectiveness, and low risk of site breakage. Resource use is still light (50-100MB typically), with quick blocking.
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Cons: Slightly more potential for false positives (e.g., blocking legit site elements), and the counter can climb higher than Basic due to proactive filtering.
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Best for: General users who want solid privacy without maxing out resources—especially if you're on a mid-range PC and value that "immediate" blocking you mentioned.
Complete Mode:
This is the full-throttle option for maximum coverage, pulling in every available filter list for comprehensive blocking. It's like turning uBOL into a privacy fortress, but it can be overkill and might require more manual whitelisting.
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What it blocks: All of the above, plus aggressive filtering for annoyances (cookie pop-ups, newsletters, social buttons), advanced trackers, malware, and even some cosmetic fixes (hiding empty ad spaces). It catches a ton of background requests, so counters can skyrocket on ad-heavy sites.
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Key features/lists: Everything from Optimal, plus Fanboy's Annoyance/Social lists, AdGuard-specific annoyances, URLHaus malware filters, and more regional/language-based ones. Dynamic filtering is at its peak, enabling things like hard mode for certain domains.
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Pros: Top-tier privacy and ad-free experience—great against fingerprinting, telemetry, and invasive tracking. If customized (like
@Sampei.Nihira's setup with extra DNR rules), it can rival or beat AdGuard in effectiveness.
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Cons: Higher chance of breaking sites (e.g., videos not loading or login issues), slightly more resource use (100MB+), and the block counter will climb the most (as it actively scans for ongoing threats). Not ideal for weaker PCs without tweaks.
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Best for: Power users paranoid about privacy, or if you visit high-risk sites and don't mind occasional troubleshooting.
Which one do I suggest? I'd go with
Optimal for you, based on what you've shared—it's a great middle ground that boosts privacy (addressing your earlier question about uBOL vs. AdGuard/Ghostery) without the RAM creep of AdGuard or the potential delays in Ghostery. Since you're on a less powerful PC and like uBOL's snappiness, Optimal keeps things light while adding those extra layers (like EasyPrivacy) to make it more effective than Basic. It's customizable too—if you want to push it toward Complete levels, you can manually enable a few more lists without switching modes.
That said, start with Optimal, browse your usual sites (YouTube included), and monitor the block counter/RAM via Chrome's Task Manager (Shift+Esc). If it feels too aggressive, drop to Basic; if you crave more, bump to Complete and add custom rules. Have you tried switching modes yet, or got any specific sites where privacy is a big concern? Let me know how it goes!
