Advice Request What extensions would you recommend?

[Enzo]

Hi everyone,

First of all excuse me if the subject has already been discussed before.

My question is intended to know what extensions you would recommend, differentiating by categories (security, privacy, utilities, etc.)

In this regard, I have seen in the forum topics intended to discuss recommended extensions to block advertising, or as much respect security, but I think it would be good to create a thread with the extensions to consider according to their function.

All this derives because in Chrome and Firefox I have multiple extensions that are sure to be unnecessary, repetitive or worse than other options.

I thank you in advance for any suggestions you make and I reiterate that an "official" thread on recommended extensions would be fine.

Thanks again.

 

[jetman]

I also use NoScript as I think it adds a layer of security. (Together with Adguard desktop and the Kaspersky browser extension). Any opinions on NoScript- DOES it add a layer of security ?

Although extensions are very useful on browsers used for day-to-day use, they can sometimes break websites. So I would also recommend installing a 'clean' browser with no tracking or advertisement blocking protection. It gives an alternative option for trusted websites. I use Vivaldi for this.

 

[Moonhorse]

To not open a new thread I will ask here:

I am going with Firefox with these extensions (antivirus is Kaspersky Cloud free):

- Adguard (was thinking of ublock origin but adguard seems simplier and better to me)
- HTTPS everywhere
- privacy badger
- disconnect

I always think that some extension like link checker is missing. I was going to try couple of these like Bitdefender Traffic light, Norton safe web or Avast online security but when I google it and look deeper into it I always find that it has some privacy problems. What would you recommend? Does Adguard that job of link checking and malware blocking or it is just ad block?

Adguard is fine, ive used it sometimes but with adguards own filters ;
- adguard base
- adguard privacy filter
- dguard social filter
- adguard annoyance

To keep only adguard filters enabled its most optimal imo, as some filter may overlap with -/+ rules

You can enable https only mode from settings or from about:config, wich makes https everywhere completely useless
Aswell privacy badger + disconnect are useless as you have adguard

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Thanks for answer. For Adguard I moved some sliders on like Phising and malware protection and I also activated Block WebRTC. I think that should be enough, custom filters I will not touch (don't know where to find them and how they will work)

About Kaspersky browser extension I read some bad news like this one:



Did you try it personally? I am trying to be privacy oriented, nothing to extreme. So Adguard can't replace Kasperky browser extension work?

From test done in this forum by @Evjl's Rain and my own testing I conclude that the phishing and malware protection of AdGuard is not that great.

Hot Take - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings

Comparison between browser extensions Test 29/12 Q&A - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings Test 24/11 Q&A - [Updated 24/11/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings Test 12/11 Q&A - [Updated 12/11/2018] Browser extension comparison...

malwaretips.com

IMO if you use and trust Kaspersky Security Cloud Free than also use its browser extension.
Together it's the best free protection out there.
The bug mentioned in the reddit post is fixed a year ago.

Next to it is Microsoft Defender, but that must be helped with tools like ConfigueDefender and a separate browser extension to fully block malicious downloads (like Bitdefender TrafficLight).

 

[lorcav123]

@jetman I think I will add on my list and CanvasBlocker, seems to do similar work (?) like noscript but it is less intrusive. It is important to me becasue my family is using my computer and they will not know what to do if noscript asks them something.

@Moonhorse
@Gandalf_The_Grey

OK, privacy badger and disconnect are going out then.

I will give a chance to Kaspersky browser extension, before I reinstall windows I will try this securtiy configuration to see how everything is working.

For AdGuard:

I found this video, seems that this guy know what he is doing:



from 10:45mn - he went on site

FilterLists | Subscriptions for uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, AdGuard, ...

and he subscribed to this filters:
0131 block list
Adblock youtube ads
Anti facebook list
Coinblocker domains list
Coinblocker host list
Easy privacy + EasyList
Fanboys ultimate list
Malware URLs
Malware URLs domains
Privacy filters
Ramsomware tracker domain blocklist
Ramsomware tracker IP blocklist
Ramsonware tracker URL blocklist

If I do it will I get a better protection with Adguard browser extension? I don't want to go blindly to put some settings that might break some pages....

What do you guys think?

 

[Soulbound]

@jetman I think I will add on my list and CanvasBlocker, seems to do similar work (?) like noscript but it is less intrusive. It is important to me becasue my family is using my computer and they will not know what to do if noscript asks them something.

@Moonhorse
@Gandalf_The_Grey

OK, privacy badger and disconnect are going out then.

I will give a chance to Kaspersky browser extension, before I reinstall windows I will try this securtiy configuration to see how everything is working.

For AdGuard:

I found this video, seems that this guy know what he is doing:



from 10:45mn - he went on site

FilterLists | Subscriptions for uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, AdGuard, ...

and he subscribed to this filters:
0131 block list
Adblock youtube ads
Anti facebook list
Coinblocker domains list
Coinblocker host list
Easy privacy + EasyList
Fanboys ultimate list
Malware URLs
Malware URLs domains
Privacy filters
Ramsomware tracker domain blocklist
Ramsomware tracker IP blocklist
Ramsonware tracker URL blocklist

If I do it will I get a better protection with Adguard browser extension? I don't want to go blindly to put some settings that might break some pages....

What do you guys think?

You can cut down on quite a few of the filters by using Steven Black Hosts (which contain other sources builtin).
I personally only use Easy Privacy + Easy List and Steven Black Hosts. No need to overload the filter lists.

GitHub - StevenBlack/hosts: 🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories.

🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories. - StevenBlack/hosts

github.com

 

[lorcav123]

You can cut down on quite a few of the filters by using Steven Black Hosts (which contain other sources builtin).
I personally only use Easy Privacy + Easy List and Steven Black Hosts. No need to overload the filter lists.

GitHub - StevenBlack/hosts: 🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories.

🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories. - StevenBlack/hosts

github.com

Seems to me that Steven Black Hosts mostly block some porn and some fake news. I don't want to touch fake news because it can be problematic - who can decide what is fake and what is not? fake news list also avoided that guy in video I posted.

What will happen if I overload filter list? I just want to add some more malware filters for better protection but too bad I can see on those list what is overlapping...

 

[monkeylove]

I got the Adguard lifetime promo recently, so I'm now using that in place of uBo with Firefox. Here's what I gathered so far:

The options in the settings generally work except for the ones with warning marks and "Hide your IP address," which doesn't cause FB videos to play.

The Adguard filters work fine, but I had to add one for anti-adblock. Someone mentioned the Admiral List in another forum; I tried it and it worked for one site. Also, the "I don't care for cookies" list helps. Otherwise, I had to copy and paste what I did for uBo to the Adguard filter editor.

I included the ABP version of OISD and the Web Annoyances Ultralist but left them disabled. I've been activating them for various sites that still had cookie and newsletter popups or floating videos and finding out which one would work.

I added several user scripts in the extensions section which were used for Stylish and ViolentMonkey to use a gray background for various sites that used white, so I could now remove those two addons.

I decided to retain the ff. addons:

ClearURLs - it cleaned some links from search results which I had to copy.

PrivacyPossum - one newspaper site kept asking me whether or not I wanted to log in using my Google account, and I think the addon prevented this.

 

[Jan Willy]

I just want to add some more malware filters for better protection but too bad I can see on those list what is overlapping...

Only to find out what is overlapping, I use now and then Ublock Origin (so most of the time disabled). For real ad blocking etc. I use NextDNS and Adguard Desktop.
Edit:
And why malware filters? Aren't Smart Screen and / or Google Safe Browsing enough?

 

[lorcav123]

Aren't Smart Screen and / or Google Safe Browsing enough?

Are those Smart Screen and / or Google Safe Browsing by default on?

I will try just with malware and ramsomware filters- other filter on list above I won't use - I was told that Adguard has some of those on default:

Join discussions, like, and share | AdGuard

Join our community in social media and discuss AdGuard there.

forum.adguard.com

And why malware filters?

Mostly Malware filters because of this link test couple of posts above:

Hot Take - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings

Comparison between browser extensions Test 29/12 Q&A - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings Test 24/11 Q&A - [Updated 24/11/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings Test 12/11 Q&A - [Updated 12/11/2018] Browser extension comparison...

malwaretips.com

Just wanted to little improve protection because Adguard finished last.

 

[Jan Willy]

Are those Smart Screen and / or Google Safe Browsing by default on?

I will try just with malware and ramsomware filters- other filter on list above I won't use - I was told that Adguard has some of those on default:

Join discussions, like, and share | AdGuard

Join our community in social media and discuss AdGuard there.

forum.adguard.com

Mostly Malware filters because of this link test couple of posts above:

Hot Take - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings

Comparison between browser extensions Test 29/12 Q&A - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings Test 24/11 Q&A - [Updated 24/11/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings Test 12/11 Q&A - [Updated 12/11/2018] Browser extension comparison...

malwaretips.com

Just wanted to little improve protection because Adguard finished last.

I understand that you use Firefox (FF). When you activate in that browser the option to block dangerous and deceptive content, then FF makes use of Google Safe Browsing. Besides that is in Windows10, Smart Screen active. In my eyes there is no need to add malware filters to Adguard.

 

[oldschool]

I understand that you use Firefox (FF). When you activate in that browser the option to block dangerous and deceptive content, then FF makes use of Google Safe Browsing. Besides that is in Windows10, Smart Screen active. In my eyes there is no need to add malware filters to Adguard.

Indeed!

 

[Tutman]

For AdGuard:

I found this video, seems that this guy know what he is doing:

FilterLists | Subscriptions for uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, AdGuard, ...

and he subscribed to this filters:
0131 block list
Adblock youtube ads
Anti facebook list
Coinblocker domains list
Coinblocker host list
Easy privacy + EasyList
Fanboys ultimate list
Malware URLs
Malware URLs domains
Privacy filters
Ramsomware tracker domain blocklist
Ramsomware tracker IP blocklist
Ramsonware tracker URL blocklist

If I do it will I get a better protection with Adguard browser extension? I don't want to go blindly to put some settings that might break some pages....

What do you guys think?

I went and added those filters to my adguard browser extension and they seem fine. One of them ACTUALLY stopped ads on one news site I always go to that nothing else would block!!! Good find! Thanks much.

 

[Jan Willy]

One of them ACTUALLY stopped ads on one news site I always go to that nothing else would block!!!

In Adguard logs you can see which filter list is responsable for ad blocking in that case.

 

[lorcav123]

I went and added those filters to my adguard browser extension and they seem fine. One of them ACTUALLY stopped ads on one news site I always go to that nothing else would block!!! Good find! Thanks much.

If you miss it here is the answer from Adguard moderator about that filter list:

Join discussions, like, and share | AdGuard

Join our community in social media and discuss AdGuard there.

forum.adguard.com

"That's wayyyyy too many filters.
You don't need EasyList, it's already included within the Base filter. You don't need those Coinblocker lists either, because anti-cryptocoin rules are already within AG's default filters.
Base filter + Tracking Protection filter + Annoyances filter is the best place to start. From there I'd personally recommend only enabling one or two more filter lists. This is to cut down on any false positives you might encounter, as subscribing to all the filter lists listed above no doubt has issues with false positives on websites. "

Good things that only problems with that many filters is that it will only make some false positives. I decided to leave only malware and ramsomware filters considering that Adguard covers some by default as said by Adguard moderator.

0131 block list - block some privacy, I decide to not use it
Adblock youtube ads
Anti facebook list I decide to not use it because I use facebook
Coinblocker domains list
Coinblocker host list
Easy privacy + EasyList
Fanboys ultimate list - I read that it is very aggresive and can break pages
Malware URLs
Malware URLs domains
Privacy filters
Ramsomware tracker domain blocklist
Ramsomware tracker IP blocklist
Ramsomware tracker URL blocklist

 

[Jan Willy]

I decided to leave only malware and ramsomware filters

Not my choice, but you made a step in the right direction by cleaning your collection of filter lists.

 

[Lenny_Fox]

I also use NoScript as I think it adds a layer of security. (Together with Adguard desktop and the Kaspersky browser extension). Any opinions on NoScript- DOES it add a layer of security ?

Although extensions are very useful on browsers used for day-to-day use, they can sometimes break websites. So I would also recommend installing a 'clean' browser with no tracking or advertisement blocking protection. It gives an alternative option for trusted websites. I use Vivaldi for this.

I use Edge wit two profiles, a default one (for online banking & buying) ,with no extensions and a strict profile (for searching & surfing) with tracking protection on strict and most site permissions on block. The strict profile runs with three 'on demand' extensions: Blank Tab only runs on new tab page, Super Adblocker for Youtube is only allowed to run on youtube.com and uMatrix runs with matrix-off (in hard mode only allowing CSS, images and media). Even with uMatrix off I can check what is running on a website.

 

[Tutman]

Not my choice, but you made a step in the right direction by cleaning your collection of filter lists.

I will remove the coin lists but keeping the ad ones because something in the list was not overlapped or on the easylist as it worked on a site that was showing ads down the side in articles. I will also keep the malware and ransomware lists.

 

[cryogent]

Ramsomware tracker domain blocklist
Ramsomware tracker IP blocklist
Ramsomware tracker URL blocklist

Where there are this in FilterLists? because these no longer appear there.
And Malware filters on site are: Hosts, Domains, IPs...did u enable all?

 

[lorcav123]

Where there are this in FilterLists? because these no longer appear there.
And Malware filters on site are: Hosts, Domains, IPs...did u enable all?

That video from which I wrote those filters is from 2018. Some of them are missing but I guess it is ok to add those with similar names...

 

[FireHammer]

Chrome is my standard browser, second Edge Chromium I have the same extensions in both.

Lastpass Password Manager
Adguard
Grammarly
Bitdefender Trafficlight
Bitdefender Anti-Tracker
Privacy Badger
EkspressVPN Extension
HTTPS Everywhere
Google Translate
Dark Reader