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WebShield – A new wide-spectrum content blocker for Safari

(github.com)
143 points tW4r | 8 comments | 28 Feb 25 11:21 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source | bottom
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layer8 ◴[28 Feb 25 16:11 UTC] No.43207233[source]▶
It would be useful to describe what specifically this adds over existing Safari content blockers in that space.
replies(2): >>43208573 #>>43208990 #
1. InfiniteVortex ◴[28 Feb 25 18:51 UTC] No.43208990[source]▶
Author here (I'm not OP): It converts filter lists to Safari's content blocking API using SafariConverterLib (by AdGuard) and stores advanced blocking (scriptlets, extended css, css & js) in a json file. The WebExtension then reads the json file through native messaging and injects the scriptlets, extended css, css & js. This means that things like YouTube ads can be blocked too, whereas using just the content blocking api won't allow YouTube ads to be blocked
replies(2): >>43209145 #>>43221692 #
2. layer8 ◴[28 Feb 25 19:09 UTC] No.43209145[source]▶
That’s a very technical description. The Safari extensions I use already do block YouTube ads. So it’s unclear what WebShield brings to the table in practical terms over existing extensions.
replies(2): >>43209278 #>>43224919 #
3. InfiniteVortex ◴[28 Feb 25 19:23 UTC] No.43209278[source]▶
Well, WebShield is free & open source, those extensions may or may not. It's also a single app/codebase across macOS/iOS/iPadOS/visionOS. If you're happy with your current ad blocking setup for Safari, continue using it. I'm not trying to conquer the world.
replies(2): >>43213998 #>>43218608 #
4. crossroadsguy ◴[01 Mar 25 00:31 UTC] No.43213998{3}[source]▶
Will it also show up as multiple extensions (like it does for AdGuard) if I want to use more than 1 type of blocking/lists? (I am aware that it is Apple's artificially forced limitation but thought I will still ask and whether you folks have found a way around it)
replies(1): >>43214348 #
5. InfiniteVortex ◴[01 Mar 25 01:08 UTC] No.43214348{4}[source]▶
WebShield shows up as multiple extensions, 1 content blocker for each category, and 1 for advanced blocking (a webextension). This is because each content blocker, I believe IIRC, has a limit of 150k rules.
6. layer8 ◴[01 Mar 25 12:29 UTC] No.43218608{3}[source]▶
If your motivation is to make it free and open-source because there is no alternative that isn’t, but otherwise it doesn’t add any new capabilities that aren’t already available in other products, then that’s very helpful to know. The problem when seeing a submission and GitHub readme like this one is that it’s missing that information. One wonders whether there is any new interesting capability that may be worth giving this a shot, or what else the motivation might be for starting a new software for which a number of well-established alternatives already exist.
7. baxuz ◴[01 Mar 25 17:54 UTC] No.43221692[source]▶
So in a way it's similar to Adguard pro?
8. emrah ◴[01 Mar 25 23:06 UTC] No.43224919[source]▶
What do you use that blocks YouTube ads?